Shinta shook off the coiling remnants of "Inorganic Reincarnation" wrapped around its body, raised its snake head, and stared at Saitama with a complex gaze in its single eye.
Although it had a fierce temper, it was not stupid.
Throughout thousands of years, the number of ninja who had successfully mastered Sage Art remained extremely rare. In recent centuries, those capable of achieving "Snake Sage Art" seemed to only include the one standing before it.
Regardless of potential, at least in terms of raw power, this figure already stood atop the Shinobi World.
Following a stronger master had always been a vow of Boss Summons, regardless of freedom or otherwise.
Feeling the faint oppressive aura radiating from Saitama's body, Shinta slowly lowered its head and approached near Saitama's feet.
In theory, both Shinta and Manda belonged to Ryuchi Cave, so their Summoning Contracts should have been shared. However, in reality, Orochimaru's contract with Manda could only summon Manda and weaker ninja snakes, but not stronger ones like Shinta and Hebihime who stood at the same level as Manda or even surpassed it.
Therefore, what came next became very simple.
Saitama first reached out his hand and patted the red scales on Shinta's body, accepting its submission. Then he began drawing the Summoning Contract runes onto the ground.
Since Saitama wanted to form a personal Summoning Contract alone with Shinta, there was no need to use a scroll specifically for recording the summoner's name.
Soon, Saitama finished carving the runes. He then dripped some of his own blood onto them, completing the procedure.
Watching Saitama finish everything, Shinta's single eye didn't reveal much emotion. Having once formed contracts with powerful figures in the Shinobi World, it was no stranger to the process.
Twisting its body, Shinta turned its head back toward its original position.
Its lone eye landed on a scale different from the others across its body. A cruel glint flashed in its eyes as it directly bit down and tore that particular scale away.
This scale was Shinta's "Adamant Scale"—its most sensitive spot. Losing it wouldn't kill Shinta, but would make it significantly more docile.
The blood used for forming the contract also needed to come precisely from this Adamant Scale location.
Because this area represented the essence of the serpent, the blood drawn here was known by another name—Essence Blood.
Drip!
After tearing away the Adamant Scale, the blood did not spray forth like a fountain but instead slowly trickled down.
Beneath the torn scale lay another layer of seemingly soft and pale-colored scales.
These were new scales that would gradually grow to cover the gap left behind after losing the Adamant Scale.
As the blood dripped down, the Summoning Contract on the ground sprang to life. Slender beams of light began to glow.
The light ran along the lines of the runes, soon illuminating every part of the design.
Snap!
Seeing this, Saitama coated his palm with Chakra, slammed one hand onto the ground while letting out a low shout:
"Haa!"
At the same time, Shinta did the same—lowering its head and pressing its mouth firmly against the glowing runes, channeling Sage Chakra from within.
Whoosh!
The markings on the ground shined brilliantly, then gradually faded into the earth, scattering into countless white glowing motes filling the air.
At this point, the contract between Saitama and Shinta had been completely established.
Moreover, Saitama could now sense an indescribable bond connecting him and Shinta, unrestricted by space-time.
"Alright, done!"
Saitama clapped his hands and signaled Manda to come over.
"Let's get along from now on!"
He then waved at Shinta cheerfully.
"Hey hey, Senior Shinta! From now on we're partners. Like, what humans call 'colleagues'—people who work together!"
Manda approached, its snake head moving in and out.
According to seniority, Shinta was indeed much higher than him, since Shinta was from the same generation as Hebihime, while he himself had only grown up within these past hundred years.
Although he had a proud and wild personality, he wasn't foolish.
"Mm."
Shinta didn't want to interact with Manda. Having lived in such an environment for years without any other snakes to communicate with, he had developed a rather silent nature.
"Well then, I'll head back. Reach out if anything happens!"
Saitama looked satisfied at the relatively harmonious scene between the two snakes.
...
Amegakure Village.
After sealing away the tailed beasts they'd previously captured, Akatsuki fell silent again.
With rumors stirring through the Shinobi World, the organization also withdrew into the shadows, lurking beneath the surface until the timing was right.
Pain's Deva Path stood atop the highest tower, gazing indifferently at the streams of people below, tiny like ants.
Amegakure's growth was starting to take off like wildfire—a place teeming with potential, full of demand but still lacking in real industries.
Akatsuki's leadership—more specifically, Konan and Nagato's decisions—was actually pretty solid. At the very least, the villagers no longer had to suffer from hunger or the cold.
"Zetsu has new intel about the Tailed Beasts. Want to hear it?"
Outside, drizzle continued falling softly, and cold wind kept blowing into Pain's wide sleeves.
Numerous white sheets of paper drifted down from somewhere, slowly gathering into a human shape, soon forming into Konan's figure.
As soon as Tu Yi appeared, she spoke directly to Pain.
"Tell me."
Pain turned around, his pale blue eyes glowing steadily, betraying no emotion whatsoever.
"White Zetsu detected the Six-Tails in the Land of Fire. The host is likely Ephemeral, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki who recently fled the village."
Facing Pain's gaze, Konan had raindrops dripping continuously from her bangs down her forehead.
"The Six-Tails, huh..."
Pain's eyes seemed to be contemplating something, looking deep and unfathomable.
"Right now isn't quite the appropriate time to act again."
From Zetsu he'd already learned that among the Five Great Nations, three had allied together and begun operations targeting both the organization and Saitama.
Therefore, going out to provoke action at this moment wasn't a wise choice.
But letting the Tailed Beast slip away before their very eyes wasn't Nagato's style either.
"Who do we have nearby? We could send someone to probe cautiously."
After pondering for a while, Pain asked Konan. Although he was the leader, many matters were actually handled by Konan—he was just responsible for deterrence and military support.
"Kakuzu and Hidan are operating in the River Country. Saitama seems to be in the Rice Country, while Sasori remains at the Secret Base, not having gone out."
Konan thought for a moment and replied.
Pain didn't issue orders right away, instead pausing in thought before continuing, "Send Saitama to test it out. He's got the greatest strength and unmatched speed. Although the three great shinobi villages are hunting him, without concrete information, it's hard to track him down effectively!"
"Alright, I'll have Zetsu inform him!" Konan nodded. White paper fragments peeled off her body before she dissolved into a flurry of butterfly-like sheets, fluttering through the door, down the stairs, and out of sight.
Turning around, Pain kept his gaze fixed on the stormy scene outside, a faint and peculiar upward curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't disappoint me, Uchiha… Saitama… Saitama! This is our promise!"
...
Returning from Ryuchi Cave, they landed once again at Orochimaru's Secret Base.
Scanning for chakra signatures, Saitama noticed neither Orochimaru nor Kimimaro were around—they must've gone out.
Without greeting anyone, Saitama slipped out of the Secret Base using the route he remembered.
This was one of Orochimaru's hidden strongholds deep within The Rice Country. In recent years, Orochimaru had been preparing a plan. Based on past memories, Saitama knew that Orochimaru must be planning to establish his own ninja village—*Otogakure*.
That was why he'd been gathering orphans and children with special abilities or extraordinary willpower across various parts of the Shinobi World.
After slipping out of Orochimaru's Secret Base and changing clothes, Saitama made no effort to hide his chakra as he strode through a forest.
Soon, a chakra signature that felt extremely familiar followed closely behind Saitama, rapidly drawing near.
Hissing!
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