Chapter 21:
The python took the contract scroll, and with a puff of white smoke, disappeared from Orochimaru's room.
Orochimaru looked down at the snake skin in his hand, murmuring to himself, "I felt the aura of this white snake skin, and couldn't resist coming up from the basement? How fascinating… Could this snake skin have belonged to the White Snake Sage?"
The White Snake Sage, ruler of Ryūchi Cave, was one of the three legendary sages, alongside the Slug Sage and Toad Sage. The snake skin in Orochimaru's possession exuded a unique aura, one that could only be associated with a creature as powerful as the White Snake Sage.
But as far as Orochimaru remembered, the White Snake Sage was enormous far beyond the size of the snake skin he held in his hands. The pieces didn't seem to fit together.
"Forget it," Orochimaru shook his head, dismissing the thought. "I can't access Ryūchi Cave now anyway. Thinking too much won't lead to answers."
With no clear direction to investigate the mystery, Orochimaru decided to shelve the matter for now. After all, Ryūchi Cave was a sacred and hidden place accessible only to those who knew its location. Unlike the toads of Mount Myoboku, the snakes of Ryūchi Cave couldn't use reverse summoning techniques to bring others to their domain.
In the end, Orochimaru knew that if he wanted answers, he would have to find Ryūchi Cave himself someday. For now, he could only wait and focus on his current goals.
His next issue was the Kusanagi Sword, which he had recently acquired.
While he wasn't particularly skilled in swordsmanship, Orochimaru recognized the sword's immense value as a weapon. He had obtained it and didn't intend to just hand it over to someone else for free.