The three women of Ryūchi Cave each had their own distinct identities.
In addition to Tagorihime, the graceful and mature one, there were Tagitsuhime, the dignified elder sister, and Ichikishimahime, the mischievous one.
For centuries, they had been living in the cave, their days marked by monotony. Most of the time, they entertained themselves by playing with the snakes that roamed Ryūchi Cave.
Occasionally, a human would arrive, only to unwittingly become their next meal.
The three women had a low opinion of humans, seeing them as greedy and utterly worthless.
A rare few would capture their attention, but that was the extent of their interest. They weren't the type to change their opinions because of a small exception.
That was, until Orochimaru appeared.
In all their centuries of existence, they had never encountered someone like him.
This made Orochimaru particularly fascinating to them, and they found great amusement in teasing him.
Feeling the ticklish sensation on his ear and body, Orochimaru's patience reached its limit. He slowly opened his eyes, raised a hand, and pushed Ichikishima-hime's head away from him.
"Don't make jokes like that with me," he said coldly.
Without hesitation, he moved her aside, his tone firm and unyielding.
While the three women's appearances did align with Orochimaru's tastes, and they had been quite close to him during his stay, he hadn't forgotten their true nature.
To him, they were snakes through and through.
The idea of anything more than an alliance between them never crossed his mind.
"Ah! That hurts!" Ichikishimahime pouted, clutching her forehead and feigning grievance. "You're so rough! Can't you be gentler with a lady?"
Her petite form and aggrieved expression made her look undeniably cute, but Orochimaru remained unmoved.
To him, having Ichikishimahime lying on his back felt no different than having a snake coiled around him.
Even though her transformation made her appear human, her cold, unnatural touch was a stark reminder of her true nature.
Though she could use senjutsu to warm her body to mimic human skin, Orochimaru was well aware of the reality beneath the illusion.
For that reason, he couldn't muster any interest in her.
If it had been a real human woman in her place, Orochimaru—who hadn't been with a woman in quite some time would have acted without hesitation. Emotional attachment wasn't a requirement for him.
Hearing Orochimaru's blunt words, Ichikishima-hime smiled mischievously.
"Now, hand me my clothes."
Ichikishimahime pouted but reluctantly complied, picking up his shirt from a nearby rock and handing it to him.
"You really are something else," she muttered. "You practice the senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave, yet you look down on us as snakes…"
"Are those two things related?" Orochimaru said dismissively as he put on his shirt. "Enough chatter. I need to leave. Take me to say farewell to the White Snake Sage." R𝘼₦Ộ𝔟Ёʂ
"Hmm? Leaving already?"
"Of course. I've learned nearly everything I needed. Staying here any longer would be pointless."
"Ugh, what a heartless man," Ichikishimahime said with a feigned look of disappointment.
She looked as though she had just been abandoned, making Orochimaru feel as if he were burning bridges the moment he no longer had use for them.
"What's the matter? Don't want me to leave?" Orochimaru asked with a teasing smile. "If you don't want to part ways, you could always become my summoned beast. That way, we could see each other anytime in the future."
"Huh? That's an idea!" Ichikishimahime's eyes sparkled, though it was hard to tell if she was serious or just playing along. "I'm sure my sisters would agree to it as well…"
Orochimaru was momentarily speechless.
He had only been joking, but her response left him wondering if she was actually serious.
The thought lingered in his mind. If he could summon the three of them during battle, they would undoubtedly be an incredible asset.
The idea of having such powerful "snake girls" as his summoned beasts amused him.
When Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime heard Ichikishimahime's suggestion, they were equally stunned.
"Become his summoned beast?"
"Seriously? We've never considered such a thing."
Despite their arrogance, the proposal intrigued them.
"Well, it's not a bad idea," Tagitsuhime finally said.
"I agree," Tagorihime added. "While we don't think much of humans, something about him… he's different. Fighting alongside him could be interesting."
With the unanimous agreement of the three women, Orochimaru unexpectedly obtained summoning contracts with them.
The contracts, however, were exclusive, only Orochimaru would be allowed to summon them. They refused to be bound to anyone else.
Although Orochimaru was surprised by how things unfolded, he didn't complain.
The outcome was advantageous, after all.
After bidding farewell to the White Snake Sage and leaving Ryūchi Cave, Orochimaru felt a sense of lightness.
Power always brought confidence.
Though he wouldn't claim to be invincible, he now believed that few in the ninja world could match him.
If he were to face a siege by the Kages again, the outcome would be vastly different.
Looking up at the clear sky, Orochimaru smirked, casually choosing his next destination.
He began walking toward Nono's orphanage. Now that he was in the area, it would be a waste not to pay a visit.
As he approached the outskirts of civilization, Orochimaru suddenly stopped.
In the distance, he spotted three familiar figures.
Night had fallen, and the orphanage was quiet.
The soft chirping of birds could faintly be heard in the surrounding forest.
Inside one of the rooms, a dim candle burned on a small table, its flame flickering gently.
Sitting at the table was Nono, her expression unusually serious.
Behind her stood two individuals: a portly woman and an older man wearing glasses.
However, they weren't the source of Nono's solemn demeanor.
Across from her sat a man with one eye covered by a bandage—her former superior, Shimura Danzo.
"Who would've thought," Danzo said with a faint smirk. "The Wandering Miko, reduced to being a nanny. Long time no see, Nono. You're looking a little worn out these days."
"I gave up that title a long time ago," Nonou replied coldly. "I've already negotiated aid funds with the village. What are you doing here?"
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