Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

"Is that so?"

"The White Snake Immortal, and those three goddesses, left a very deep 'impression' on me."

"You saw them all?"

Orochimaru's golden snake eyes narrowed slightly.

He sensed a different meaning in Qingwu's words.

Was the trip worthwhile? It left a deep impression on me.

This kid not only escaped unscathed, but it seems he also... gained something?

No way, this kid has a spiritual contract with the Wet Bone Forest. Could it be that the White Snake Immortal's capricious temperament has changed?

"Heh heh...is that so?" Orochimaru chuckled dryly, his curiosity growing even stronger.

"To receive such praise from Lord Qingwu, it seems that Dragon Land Cave truly lives up to its reputation. I wonder if Lord Qingwu could share what kind of experience you had in that sacred place...?"

"What did the White Snake Immortal say to you again?"

Qingwu looked at Orochimaru's insatiable thirst for knowledge and sneered inwardly.

This old snake spirit has used himself as a stepping stone, and now he wants to get intelligence for free? There's no such thing as a free lunch.

"The process is nothing more than fighting and killing, and playing with snakes."

Qingwu said casually, "As for the white immortal..."

Seeing Orochimaru's breathing quicken, Qingwu changed the subject: "The sage forbids me to say!"

"??"

Orochimaru's expression changed.

Nobody likes being fooled like that; he felt like he was being played.

He wanted to press further, but Qingwu had already brushed the snow off his body and looked up at the sky.

"It's getting late, Orochimaru-senpai. I should return to the front lines. The peace talks are still ongoing, and it's not good to stay away for too long."

"you--"

"Thank you very much for Orochimaru-senpai's guidance on this trip to Ryuchi Cave. Our six-month agreement is now settled!"

"no--"

Until we meet again!

Qingwu didn't give Orochimaru a chance to ask questions, and directly waved his hand to find the Silver Pegasus and rode on it.

The magnificent silver Pegasus spread its wings and neighed.

Qingwu waved his hand and, without waiting for Orochimaru's response, soared into the sky.

The silver Pegasus quickly turned into a white dot and disappeared into the vast, snowy horizon of the Frost Kingdom.

"..."

On the icy plain, only Orochimaru remained.

He gazed in the direction where Qingwu had disappeared, his golden snake eyes flashing continuously.

Orochimaru had considered using force, but having already experienced it multiple times, he knew he couldn't handle the kid alone.

Perhaps... next time I can bring my new "teammates" along?

a long time……

Orochimaru let out a low, ambiguous chuckle.

"Hmm...see you later?"

"Qian Shou Qing Wu... you are becoming more and more dangerous, and also... more and more interesting to me."

"It seems that 'that plan'... needs to be re-evaluated."

"Perhaps, you are more suitable to be..."

The wind and snow drowned out his final whispers.

Orochimaru turned to leave, his golden snake eyes still pondering Qingwu's vague account of his experience in Ryuchi Cave.

Just then, buzz—

The serpentine ritual pattern behind him, which had long since faded and was almost buried by snow, suddenly lit up again with a faint, eerie purple light without warning.

"Ok?"

Orochimaru paused, looking warily at the light.

The purple light suddenly surged, and a petite phantom figure, as if forcibly "squeezed out," staggered and appeared above the pattern.

It was Ichikishima-hime who had taken Seigo to Ryuchi Cave before!

As soon as the phantom appeared, the vertical pupils locked onto Orochimaru.

His eyes burned with a fury and killing intent that was almost bursting forth, far purer and more violent than when he faced Qingwu in Longdi Cave!

"Big! Snake! Maru!"

Princess Ichikishima's phantom emitted a sharp, piercing screech, her voice trembling with rage.

"You damned, stupid, idiot who let the wolf into the house!!"

Orochimaru was completely bewildered by the insult: "???"

However, before she could finish speaking, Princess Ichikishima's phantom arms suddenly rose up.

Although not a physical entity and unable to fully unleash the "snake limb hardening" technique, the highly condensed natural energy still formed gradually materializing energy claw blades at her fingertips.

With a flash, Princess Ichikishima's arms, accompanied by a shrill whooshing sound, lashed down at Orochimaru's head!

Orochimaru's expression changed slightly.

Although he was not afraid of the powerful phantom attack, the sudden and inexplicable ferocity of the attack set off alarm bells in his mind, and filled him with doubt.

He retreated swiftly like a ghost, simultaneously drawing his Kusanagi sword from his sleeve to parry the claws that were reaching out.

laugh!

The claw blades collided with the Kusanagi sword, producing a piercing friction sound and exploding into a burst of energy sparks.

Orochimaru's arm went numb from the shock, and he was even more surprised that the attack power of this phantom was stronger than he had expected!

It seems Princess Ichikishima is truly enraged!

"Princess Ichikishima, please tell me your reason for doing this. Why?"

While wielding his sword to parry and dodge the barrage of claw attacks, Orochimaru asked in a deep voice.

He didn't want to be enemies with Ryongji-dong, so he had no choice but to be patient.

Could it be that Qingwu did something that angered both heaven and man in Longdi Cave, causing Longdi Cave to hold him accountable?

But judging from the way Qingwu looked when he came out, it doesn't seem like it!

"Why? How dare you ask?!"

Princess Ichikishima's phantom attacks became even more rapid, with claw shadows filling the sky, almost sealing off all of Orochimaru's evasive space, forcing him to repeatedly swing his sword to parry.

"It's all because of you! You brought that plague into Ryuchi Cave! Do you know what he did?!"

Princess Ichikishima was furious. If Orochimaru hadn't lied and said he'd brought a "trial participant," she wouldn't have let the wolf into her house!

She grew angrier as she spoke, and her attacks became increasingly fierce, as if she wanted to vent all her anger and frustration on Orochimaru.

"Snake offspring..."

"Longdi Cave..."

"Natural essence..."

Princess Ichikishima, filled with rage, almost revealed the whole story, but remembering the White Snake Sage's order not to tell anyone, she swallowed it back.

But this only made her more unable to suppress her anger.

"what--"

Amidst the sharp screech, deep claw marks were left on the icy plain.

"Even...even my older sister got snatched away by him! It's all your fault, all your fault, you idiot!!"

Finally unable to contain herself any longer, Princess Ichikishima practically shouted these words!

"What!?"

Orochimaru's sword-wielding motion abruptly halted, and for the first time, an expression of undisguised shock appeared on his face.

Even because of that momentary lapse in concentration, a claw blade grazed his shoulder, leaving a trail of blood, but he seemed oblivious.

Other information was incomplete, but the last piece of information alone was enough for him to analyze a great deal.

Princess Tashin!?

She is the head of the three great goddesses of Ryuchi Cave, with a revered status and unfathomable strength.

That person actually signed a psychic contract with a human boy who just caused a ruckus in Ryuchi Cave!?

There's so much information in this!!

This is absolutely unbelievable!

Orochimaru instantly understood why Princess Ichikishima was so furious.

That kid probably caused huge losses to Ryuchi Cave, and even the eldest sister whom Princess Ichikishima respected most "ran away with someone."

If this anger isn't directed at him, the "culprit," then who else can it be directed at?

"Lady Ichikishima, about this matter..."

Orochimaru tried to explain that when he introduced Qingwu, he did have the intention of using and testing him, but he never expected it to develop to this point.

"Shut up! Prepare to die!"

Princess Ichikishima ignored her completely, her phantom speed increased even further, and her Sage Chakra surged as she launched an even more ferocious attack on Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's eyes turned cold; he knew that explaining was useless.