Chapter 107: The Snake-Wielding Boy, Xu Shewan

At this moment, Orochimaru had finished his lunch and began toying with the little white snake coiled around his shoulder.

As Orochimaru chatted with Kato Mikaze, he watched the little white snake with a gentle smile, letting its crimson tongue flicker against his pale fingers.

Kato Mikaze munched on his food while steering the conversation toward the little white snake, curious about why Orochimaru seemed so cheerful today.

“Orochimaru, is there something to celebrate?” he asked.

“Why would you let your precious little white snake out to get some fresh air? I’ve never seen you release it with so many people around,” Kato added.

Looking at the little white snake in Orochimaru’s hand, Kato recalled how he had once touched it before. It was still as adorable as ever, and he couldn’t help but want to reach out and play with it.

But Orochimaru’s attention was fixed on the snake, unaware of Kato’s intention to touch it.

Sensing Kato’s approach, the little white snake lost its previously docile demeanor on Orochimaru’s hand. Its tail flicked, head snapped, and it swiftly lunged to bite at Kato’s approaching finger.

“Careful!” Orochimaru shouted urgently.

“Don’t worry, Orochimaru. It can’t hurt me,” Kato said calmly.

Kato had noticed the snake’s intent to bite and had cast a faint turquoise chakra shield over his arm. A sharp, biting aura emanated from it.

“I was cautioning the little white snake, not you, Kato-kun,” Orochimaru replied.

“Of course I know it can’t hurt me. I’m just worried your wind chakra might harm the snake,” Orochimaru said, carefully inspecting the little white snake in his palm to ensure it hadn’t been startled or injured. His voice shifted from gentle to its usual hoarse, cold tone.

“Ah, haha,” Kato chuckled nervously, retracting his chakra.

The little white snake coiled protectively in Orochimaru’s hand, its white tail swaying cautiously as its ruby eyes watched Kato’s fingers warily, still tempted to strike.

“So fierce? It looks so pure and cute—must be a boy,” Kato guessed.

“...Little White is a beautiful female. Usually, male snakes have more attractive appearances, but she’s special,” Orochimaru explained, soothing the snake and confirming it was unharmed before returning to his gentle tone.

“‘A white snake, female, raised from youth; in the future, you will merge flesh and spirit with her intimately!’” Kato’s mind mocked Orochimaru silently. “‘You’re such a snake tamer, you might as well rename yourself Serpent Maru, not Orochimaru.’” His lazy eyes gleamed as he watched the little white snake flick its tongue at him.

The ruby-like snake eyes and flashing crimson tongue reminded Kato of the trail of serpents he’d seen outside his office.

“Orochimaru, can’t you control it? Let me touch it—I remember I used to pet this little fellow,” Kato persisted.

“It’s been a short while since you last saw her, but she’s gotten so fierce,” Orochimaru replied.

‘Orochimaru’s good mood today must be related to this little white snake,’ Kato thought.

“She’s recently entered her mating season and is quite sensitive. Kato-kun, it’s better if you don’t try to touch her,” Orochimaru warned.

‘Did I just hear mating season? Is this crazy scientist’s approach really this wild? Such a tiny little female snake...’ Kato’s mind raced.

‘Could it be that Orochimaru has already begun merging flesh and spirit with this white snake so early?’ His imagination ran wild.

Examining Orochimaru’s skin closely, Kato noticed it was paler than when they last met. Orochimaru’s complexion now matched the white snake’s pale hue almost exactly.

Moreover, the snake-like scent emanating from Orochimaru seemed stronger than before.

“The reason I’m so happy is that I, like you, Kato-kun, left the Hidden Leaf Village recently,” Orochimaru said, guarding the little white snake from Kato’s probing hand while steering the conversation back to the original question.

Kato’s lazy eyes still spun as he stared at the little white snake, responding, “You left the village too? Where did you go? You never mentioned it before I left.”

“Kato-kun went outside the village on a mission, whereas I went to the Earth Dragon Pool to train my ninjutsu and gained some valuable insights,” Orochimaru answered.

“Earth Dragon Pool? The legendary sacred site of the Three Great Summoning Beasts? No wonder you’re so cheerful!” Kato exclaimed.

As they talked, Kato’s curiosity about the little white snake deepened. He remembered fondly how he had once touched it, but now, seeing Orochimaru’s protective attitude, he figured there was no chance to touch it today.

At the height of his curiosity, Kato had already used soul sensing to observe the connection between Orochimaru and the snake, sensing a faint bond.

If he used greater soul sensing powers or a soul clone to contact the snake directly, he might gain clearer information, but he wasn’t sure if that would alert Orochimaru.

Torn between curiosity and caution, Kato pondered his next move. Using a soul clone to approach the snake so closely linked to Orochimaru seemed unwise.

He looked at the little white snake’s ruby eyes, then at Orochimaru’s yellow serpent pupils, and finally at his own handsome pale blue starry eyes—though now they were more like lazy fish eyes.

‘To confirm the bond between Orochimaru and the little white snake without touching or using ninjutsu, maybe this newly acquired lazy fish power could help?’

‘Last time, the lazy fish power was activated through Wind Release: Wind: Thousand Needles technique...’

‘Using ninjutsu now isn’t a good idea. Even though Wind Release: Wind: Thousand Needles is very covert, Orochimaru is so close and so protective...’

‘Maybe I could activate the lazy fish power through eye contact, like how the Uchiha use the Sharingan to cast genjutsu. But do lazy fish eyes even “open”?’

As Kato’s thoughts coalesced, he clearly felt the lazy fish power flow through his starry eyes and transmit through his gaze into the ruby eyes of the little white snake.

At that moment, the little white snake remained in Orochimaru’s palm, its white tail flicking, tongue flickering, eyes alertly fixed on Kato’s gaze.

-------------------------------------

P.S.: Please bookmark! Please vote! Please subscribe!