"Ssshh! It hurts! This pain… it's coming from the inside out."
"Ugh! And it's poisonous too! You puppet brat, what are you, a hedgehog?"
Manda hissed in pain but still forced himself to keep running. His massive snake eyes burned with irritation, and he even started spinning on the spot in frustration, trying to shake off Sasori of the Red Sand's attack.
Unfortunately, Sasori was nothing but a puppet now. His limbs couldn't feel pain at all.
No matter how hard Manda tried or what tricks he came up with, it was useless.
And to make things worse, boulders were still pouring down from the sky.
Boom!
Manda barely dodged one, and his eyes widened. Was that still a boulder? It was a small mountain!
"Manda, return!"
As Manda thrashed about, Orochimaru's voice called him back. With such a massive body, if he wasn't going to serve as a shield, then he was wasted.
But who was Manda? He wasn't stupid. The moment Orochimaru spoke, he knew exactly what his summoner was plotting.
"Damn you, Orochimaru! Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do!"
"I—"
"Manda, come here."
Before his roar was even finished, another voice cut through.
In Manda's vision appeared a smiling face. That smile—more terrifying than a demon's—made his whole body freeze.
The great serpent skidded to a halt, then whipped around and charged straight toward Kazuyama Gekkō.
Seeing this, Orochimaru was left speechless, glaring at Manda with pure venom.
"That bastard. He's supposed to be my summoned beast, yet he ignores me and listens to you."
"Tch… seems I'll have to find a new summon."
Kazuyama Gekkō burst into laughter at Orochimaru's bitterness. After all, while both of them summoned snakes, their standing in Ryūchi Cave was completely different.
"Relax, sensei. If it doesn't work out, we can swap."
"I hear Danzō's summon isn't bad."
He didn't know why Danzō popped into his mind all of a sudden. Maybe because the old fossil had been hiding indoors under his curse for so long that he'd nearly forgotten him.
Hmph. Back when he had schemed against him in secret… that debt would be repaid sooner or later.
"Danzō's summon? Baku?"
Orochimaru recalled it clearly. That might be a mystery to most, but not to him. He and Danzō had worked together plenty, digging into each other's secrets. A mere summon? Nothing worth hiding.
"Forget it. That unnatural creature isn't worth a thing. Still worse than Manda."
So much for that option.
With more and more boulders raining down, Kazuyama grabbed Orochimaru's arm and warped away with Flying Thunder God. In the blink of an eye, they reappeared atop Manda's head.
"Huh? What's going on? Did you mark me?"
Still slithering forward, Manda froze in confusion.
Kazuyama just chuckled, shaking his head. He hadn't left a mark on Manda at all. Instead, he lifted his hand and whistled softly.
A tiny transparent bird landed in his palm, its crystalline body engraved with a glaring inscription: "Your father has arrived."
"Crystal Release coordinates?"
"Not bad… fast work. But what now?"
"Keep fighting, or do we leave?"
Orochimaru glanced at the rain of boulders above, his face still tight. The situation was dire.
And worse—inside Manda's belly, Sasori of the Red Sand was still squirming. That was another headache.
"Leave. Of course we're leaving. And we're taking that troublesome Sasori with us."
"It's just a few times you grossed him out with snakes. Is that really worth such a grudge against us?"
"Tagitsuhime, lend me your chakra."
With Rinnegan and Black Zetsu watching, Kazuyama wasn't about to use Chōmei's chakra. For long-distance teleportation, especially carrying a giant like Manda, he could only rely on Tagitsuhime's strength.
"Oh, fine—but three baskets of snakeberries!"
"Because of you, I didn't get to eat any last time. By the time we're back, they'll all be gone!"
As she poured chakra into Kazuyama, Tagitsuhime grumbled bitterly.
At the mention of snakeberries, Manda's eyes lit up. That fruit really was delicious. Forgetting the pain in his gut, he turned to Orochimaru at once.
"Orochimaru, I don't want sacrifices anymore. Just replace them with snakeberries."
"One basket of snakeberries each time, and I swear I'll behave during fights."
Kazuyama: Oh?
Orochimaru: …
Tagitsuhime: wide-eyed stare
"Little Manda, what do you think you are? I, the Snake Princess, only demand three baskets when I appear. Kinrin and the others get one basket."
"And you—some little runt—dare to ask for a full basket?"
Manda was stunned. He only wanted a basket of snakeberries!
How had he managed to anger this terrifying elder? Thinking of his lowly status in Ryūchi Cave, his face sank.
Without hesitation, he amended himself: "Half a basket! Half a basket is enough!"
Kazuyama nearly burst out laughing. Good grief, Manda was getting funnier by the day.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, stayed silent. He had already made up his mind—once they got back, he'd look for another summon. Too humiliating! Far too humiliating!
As Kazuyama laughed, Flying Thunder God activated once again.
In front of Nagato and Black Zetsu, the two shinobi and the great serpent vanished, taking Sasori from Manda's stomach with them.
"Damn it! Where did they go?!"
"Zetsu! Track them down! I'll kill those two bastards!"
Deprived of his target, Nagato's fury only burned hotter. His one thought now was to destroy Kazuyama Gekkō and Orochimaru.
To him, this master and disciple were the embodiment of evil.
"Flying Thunder God… with such a massive snake? How could he have that much chakra?"
Black Zetsu's voice carried doubt, but White Zetsu quickly offered the answer.
"Isn't there a Sage from Ryūchi Cave with him?"
"Senjutsu chakra can be shared, right?"
Black Zetsu froze. Of course. With senjutsu chakra, Kazuyama would never run out of chakra.
Damn it… the Three Great Sacred Lands were all obstacles.
"Nagato, enough. Don't waste your rage. Let's head back."
"Our mission failed here. Let's hope Madara's side has gone more smoothly."
They had split into two teams to recruit powerful shinobi and strengthen their organization.
But looking at things now—it was a poor start.
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
"If Madara fails too, why don't we just attack Konoha directly?"
"Why not just take the Nine-Tails by force?!"
Nagato's words were no longer thought through—his fury had burned away the last of his reason.