Sora didn't dwell on the chakra affinity results for long. Instead, he eagerly sifted through the scrolls inside the parcel.
This time, there were significantly more than before. Along with the previous scrolls, three new genjutsu techniques had been included, Mist Servant Technique, Hell Viewing Technique, and Bewitching Fox Heart, as well as one C-rank ninjutsu for each of the five basic chakra natures.
No doubt, this was the kind of generosity only a high-level shinobi like Orochimaru could afford. Only someone of his caliber would casually send over scrolls encompassing all five elements.
For an ordinary orphan in Konoha, learning even one of these techniques in their lifetime would be nearly impossible.
Yet Sora's attention wasn't fixed on those precious scrolls.
Because nestled among them… was the one he'd been longing for.
The Ryūchi Cave Summoning Scroll.
One of the Three Great Summoning Realms, Ryūchi Cave stood alongside Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest as a legendary training ground.
With a contract to summon a beast like Manda, whose power rivaled a Tailed Beast, a shinobi would hold an overwhelming edge in nearly any battle.
Even elite jonin would struggle against a summon of that caliber.
And more importantly, Ryūchi Cave also held the key to Sage Mode training, a path that, once mastered, could elevate a shinobi to the summit of power. Even in the Fourth Great Ninja War, such strength would stand out among legends.
Granted, unlike the gentler training of Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave's trials were cruel, laced with malice and lethal danger. But Sora wasn't afraid.
With the Door-Door Fruit in his arsenal, he believed he could overcome even the deadliest of challenges.
Without hesitation, he bit his thumb and scrawled his name in blood on the scroll, pressing his five fingertips down firmly.
He couldn't wait to try it out.
The hand seals for the Summoning Jutsu were straightforward, so simple that even early-stage Naruto had learned it in one go.
"Boar. Dog. Bird. Monkey. Ram, Summoning Jutsu!"
Fingers spread, palm slammed to the ground.
Sora felt a third of his chakra drain instantly.
POOF!
A burst of white smoke exploded around him.
As the haze cleared, Sora could finally make out the form of the creature he had called forth.
It was a large serpent, as thick around as an adult's neck, with emerald slit-pupilled eyes and scales patterned in turquoise diamonds down its sinuous body.
It looked… oddly familiar.
"Who dares summon me, Ao Hebi? Can't you see I was SLEEPING?"
The serpent's eyes glinted with hostility, narrowing at Sora.
"It was you… brat?"
So it was Ao Hebi.
Sora immediately recalled the scene where Sasuke had used Manda to block Deidara's C0 detonation, resulting in Manda's death.
Ao Hebi was the replacement summon Sasuke had signed afterward.
In the Fourth Great Ninja War, Ao Hebi would stand beside Gamakichi and Slug, becoming one of the New Three Great Summons.
The Ao Hebi in front of him now, however, had not yet reached full maturity.
"Yeah, it was me. Nice to meet you, Ao Hebi. I'm Sora Hanyu, disciple of Orochimaru-sensei," he greeted with a smile.
"Even if you're Orochimaru's brat, that doesn't mean you can summon me at will!" Ao Hebi bared its fangs, eyes locked on Sora.
"Then why don't you test whether I'm worthy?"
Sora raised his kunai calmly.
He knew all too well, the snakes of Ryūchi Cave weren't obedient.
Without displaying strength, the summon wouldn't just ignore you, it might outright eat you.
If he had summoned Manda, maybe he would've been afraid.
But you?
Just a snake who hadn't even grown up yet?
Please.
"What did you say?"
Ao Hebi had planned to intimidate this kid out of courtesy for Orochimaru.
But this runt had the gall to draw a blade and challenge its authority?
"Then let's see what you've got!"
The serpent shot forward like a bolt, winding swiftly around Sora from his ankles up, until only his head stuck out, bound tight in coils.
"Tch. Brat full of empty threats."
With a sinister hiss, it began to tighten its grip, waiting for the child's scream,
POOF!
The body in its coils exploded into smoke, a substitution log.
"Up here."
Sora now stood atop its head.
"HYAAH!"
He dropped a savage elbow down onto its skull.
"SSSSss, !"
Ao Hebi hissed in pain, thrashing wildly.
Its tail lashed out, Sora parried with his kunai.
CLANG!
Steel clashed against scale.
Sora absorbed the blow, then grabbed the tail mid-swing.
With one fluid motion, he looped the serpent's body into a binding knot, then stomped down hard on its head.
He brought the kunai's tip to hover just above its right eye.
"Well?" Sora asked.
"Do I have the right to summon you?"
"…Y-Yes! Absolutely!"
"Good. From now on, call me Boss. Understood?"
"But in Ryūchi Cave, the Boss is usually Manda, "
"Hmm?"
Sora's gaze turned sharp.
"U-Understood! Yes, Boss! Got it!"
"Good. Go home."
"Uh… Boss? Could you… untie me first? If the others see me like this, I'll lose face..."
"...Tch. Annoying."
Sora unwound the knot with a sigh, then released the summoning.
POOF!
Ao Hebi vanished in smoke.
Sora finally let out a relaxed chuckle.
He'd gained a valuable subordinate.
Ao Hebi might not be much now, but in another year or two?
He'd become a serious powerhouse, not far behind Manda himself.
Night had fallen.
Deep beneath Konoha, in a shadowy underground chamber, a figure wrapped in bandages sat bathed in darkness.
His hawk-like gaze stared down at the masked shinobi kneeling before him, face hidden beneath a fox-like ANBU mask.
"Is it true… that Sora Hanyu has become Orochimaru's disciple?"
The man's voice was low and cold, like a venomous serpent coiled in shadow, ready to strike.
"Jiraiya has confirmed it, sir. So far, the intel appears reliable."
The figure stepped forward into the light.
His head and eyes were tightly wrapped in bandages, and a grotesque X-shaped scar stretched across his chin.
Shimura Danzo.
"Have we determined why Orochimaru took him in?" Danzo asked, voice icy.
"The reports say this child ranks dead last in his class. What use does Orochimaru have for him?"
"Sir, our current theory is that Sora's father, Hanyu Harano, was once one of Orochimaru's subordinates. It's believed he saved Orochimaru's life on the battlefield."
"…Old war ties? Hah. What a pathetic excuse."
Danzo's tone turned cutting.
"Investigate further. I want the truth."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
"Has anyone in Root come into contact with Sora?"
"Yakushi Nono treated his injuries at Konoha Hospital. Their interaction was brief."
"Summon her. Now."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>