Chapter 20:
The unexpected joy from Orochimaru discovering the white python overwhelmed him momentarily. His instincts, however, did not lead him to attack. Instead, his first thought was to step back.
Why attack a snake when I should be one of them? he mused. If he attacked this snake, how could he expect to forge a bond with them later?
Luckily, the flower-patterned python didn't seem hostile, but Orochimaru remained cautious. After all, sudden kindness from a snake wasn't something to be taken lightly. Glancing at the scroll the python had dropped, he quickly formulated a plan. While keeping a wary eye on the snake, he reached for the scroll.
Upon inspecting it, he found that the scroll itself wasn't particularly unique, save for what it recorded the origin of this snake.
"Was this snake raised by my parents?" Orochimaru thought aloud, his golden eyes narrowing. "Could it be that they implanted a spiritual mark in its subconscious, so it wouldn't attack me?"
His gaze returned to the massive snake. Orochimaru was well aware that each of the Sannin had their own signature summon creatures. Jiraiya had the toads of Mount Myoboku, Tsunade had her slugs from Shikkotsu Forest, and he, Orochimaru, would eventually summon the snakes of Ryūchi Cave.
But this snake in front of him? It wasn't speaking, unlike the high-level toads or the intelligent slug Tsunade summoned. Most snakes from Ryūchi Cave didn't have the gift of speech unless they were particularly special.
It can't speak? Orochimaru thought, pondering the situation. So how did the original Orochimaru control these snakes?
His mind worked through the possible explanations.