"I've come today to deliver a notice and to give you a few things while I'm at it," Orochimaru said to the trio, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Because the village is currently facing immense pressure on three battlefronts, the Sandaime and the Council of Elders have decided to deploy your batch of Genin into combat teams. You will assemble in five days and head to different battlefields in groups."
His slightly raspy voice reached their ears as Orochimaru looked down at them, observing the expressions of his three disciples. Sarutobi Enjun was excited, Uzuki Ruri was nervous, and Uchiha Gen was deep in thought.
Regarding heading to the battlefield, Gen had actually been mentally prepared since the moment he graduated. No powerhouse was ever forged without being tempered in the fires of war. For shinobi of this era, stepping onto the battlefield was an inevitable experience; the only difference was whether it happened sooner or later. It could not be avoided.
"Orochimaru-sensei, which front are we going to? Which unit will we be assigned to?" Gen asked.
With Sarutobi Enjun present, and with the precedent of Nawaki's death, it was unlikely the Third Hokage would assign this squad to a high-mortality zone.
"The Land of Rain. The three of you have been assigned to the Strategic Support Force. You won't be on the front lines, but it is still the front, and the danger is far greater than within the village. When I'm not around, Gen will be responsible for tactical command and coordinating with other squads," Orochimaru replied.
Although he hadn't reached his peak yet, he was already a top-tier expert close to Kage-level, unlike ordinary Jonin. Combat power of this level would never be wasted; the Third Hokage had other arrangements for him, so he wouldn't be staying with Gen and the other Genin.
As he spoke, Orochimaru summoned a snake, which spat out a scroll.
"This is the contract scroll for Ryuchi Cave. Sign your names on it in blood. I will notify the Snake Sages in the cave to perform the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to bring you inside. However, before you go, I must warn you: do not believe what you see there. Stay alert at all times. That place is not friendly to shinobi who are weak-willed or slow-witted; it's easy to get in, but hard to get out."
Compared to Mount Myoboku and Shikkotsu Forest, the snakes of Ryuchi Cave were mostly sinister and cruel, and the Snake Sages were truly the type to swallow a person whole. Gen was fine, but Orochimaru was still a bit worried about the other two, so he gave them a few extra pointers.
"Once you pass the Snake Sages' trial, you can truly sign a contract with Ryuchi Cave. However, the snakes there cannot be summoned immediately just because a contract is signed. Most ordinary snakes are manageable and can be tamed through conventional means—or like me, you can undergo Snake Body Modification. This grants the body greater flexibility and physical fitness while providing the ability to directly intimidate and control ordinary snakes."
"But for those giant snakes with significant strength, you must defeat them personally to tame them. Even then, the most powerful snakes might not obey you even if you have the strength to defeat them; at most, they will only form an equal contract with you, requiring sacrifices as an exchange to call upon their aid."
At this point, Orochimaru took out another scroll.
"Snake Body Modification requires a large amount of precious materials. If you are willing, the formula is here. Take it with you. Once you have gathered the materials, you can bring them to me, and I will help you complete the modification."
The scroll was passed among the three of them in turn.
The process of Snake Body Modification was extremely tedious and complex, consisting of multiple stages. Each stage required a high quantity of medicinal ingredients, including many rare ones. Orochimaru had only recently perfected this secret technique with the help of his teammate, Tsunade.
Each completed modification could enhance flexibility and elasticity to a certain extent, while also boosting endurance, explosive power, and agility. It also increased resistance to most toxins. But even Orochimaru himself had not yet fully completed the modification—if he had, he would be like his future self, able to stretch his neck to bite someone from over ten meters away.
The first few stages of the modification were manageable. Although they required resources, even Uzuki Ruri, who had the most modest background of the three, was supported by a ninja clan. Having become Orochimaru's disciple, she had certainly received strong support from her family; it would just be a matter of time.
The true threshold for this secret technique lay in the quality of chakra and the shinobi's own willpower. The secret techniques Orochimaru devised were never simple; even for a technique like this with no side effects, it was easy for the modification to fail if the ninja's qualities weren't up to par.
"Now, the time is almost up. Are you ready?" Orochimaru suddenly said.
Ready for what?
Gen was startled, but then a sense of being called washed over him, and he realized it was the Reverse Summoning from Ryuchi Cave.
"Goodbye, Orochimaru-sen..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the calling sensation intensified abruptly, forcibly pulling him away.
"...sei—"
Poof!
A thick cloud of smoke dispersed. Gen instinctively pressed his right hand onto the hilt of his sword, warily scanning his surroundings. They were surrounded by a mist so thick it was hard to see with the naked eye; he could only make out things in his immediate vicinity.
His Sharingan quietly activated, and his sensory ninjutsu spread out. Instantly, Gen located Sarutobi Enjun and Uzuki Ruri nearby, who had been reverse-summoned a step ahead of him.
His current strength was greater than his two teammates, so his resistance to the Reverse Summoning Jutsu was naturally stronger. He wasn't entirely defenseless; it was only when the other party increased the chakra output that he was forcibly pulled over. This was actually why a thousand-year-old giant snake of Manda's caliber dared to demand sacrifices from Orochimaru—because he truly had the ability to refuse a summons.
The snakes of Ryuchi Cave didn't have the gentle temperament of the toads from Mount Myoboku, so even Orochimaru often had to hold his nose and accept their terms. However, the one who reverse-summoned them this time was a Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave who had mastered Senjutsu. They were high-level members with whom even Orochimaru could not yet form a contract, and their strength far exceeded that of Gen and the others.
Not only could she summon them directly here, but she also made it impossible for them to detect her presence. But it was certain that she was peering at them from somewhere within the mist. Thanks to Orochimaru's warning, everyone in the squad was on high alert.