Chapter 137 : Manda Dare Not Provoke Riku’s Summoning Beast
If Tsunade had known what Riku was thinking, she would’ve laughed herself to death.
In the current ninja world, there weren’t many who could actually kill Riku.
At the very least, no shinobi from any of the five great nations could do it.
Of course, there were plenty of ways for a ninja to die that didn’t rely on raw strength alone—but even so, Riku was not someone easy to kill.
The giant slug understood that, as Tsunade’s disciple, Riku would eventually sign a summoning contract with it.
Strictly speaking, Shizune wasn’t Tsunade’s formal disciple. She’d been taken in and raised by Tsunade after Kato Dan’s death, learning much of Tsunade’s medical ninjutsu along the way.
However, Shizune had never signed a summoning contract with the Slug.
That was in contrast to Tsunade’s relationship with Sakura. Once Sakura became Tsunade’s apprentice, she was allowed to sign a contract with the slugs of the Shikkotsu Forest.
The slug now looked at Riku with a gentle smile and said, "Master Riku."
Hearing the creature’s warm, slow voice, Riku couldn’t help but think that, of the three great summoning beasts, the slugs of the Shikkotsu Forest were undoubtedly the gentlest.
They were, after all, supportive summons with immense healing abilities.
Riku smiled.
Tsunade said flatly, "All right, the battle is about to start. Riku, assist me. I’m going to kill Orochimaru with my own hands."
Riku nodded. In truth, he didn’t particularly want to take part in this fight. He already knew how it would end, which made participating seem pointless.
And if he did intervene, the outcome would become even more lopsided.
On the battlefield, the three great summons had already appeared and were staring each other down.
A moment of tense silence settled across the scene.
Suddenly, Manda’s eyes widened as he looked at the giant slug.
"Why is that guy here?!"
Manda froze the moment he spotted Riku standing on the back of the slug.
He panicked. If Riku summoned Shinya, this battle was as good as lost.
"Riku!" Manda hissed. "Why are you standing on that slug’s back?!"
Gamabunta, hearing the outburst, turned to glance at Riku, who stood beside Tsunade.
Even the slug looked puzzled. "Does Manda... know Master Riku?"
Tsunade glanced at Riku. She already knew he had signed a contract with Ryūchi Cave.
She answered casually, "Riku is a Ryūchi Cave summoner. His contract beast is a serpent as well."
Orochimaru’s golden eyes narrowed with interest. In his usual hoarse rasp, he asked, "Manda, you know Riku?"
This time, Manda didn’t react with rage. He calmly said, "That brat also signed a contract with Ryūchi Cave. His summon is Shinya. You know how terrifying that one is."
Orochimaru and Kabuto both stiffened.
Kabuto was stunned by the revelation that Riku was under contract with Ryūchi Cave.
Orochimaru was even more shocked to learn that Riku had managed to tame Shinya.
Even Gamabunta was caught off guard. Riku had made a contract with Ryūchi Cave—and at such a young age? But then again, considering Naruto’s age, maybe it wasn’t that surprising.
Seeing all eyes on him, Riku gave a relaxed smile.
"Why are you all staring at me? Thinking of adding another summon to the mix?"
With that, he turned to look directly at Manda.
Technically, since Riku had signed the Ryūchi Cave contract, he could summon Manda as well.
But he’d never done so.
Manda caught his gaze and immediately flinched.
"No! He mustn’t summon Shinya here. If he does, this battle’s over before it starts."
"I’m no match for that monster."
Orochimaru frowned. "Maybe Tsunade drugged him. He hasn’t used Summoning Jutsu once this whole time."
But Manda shook his massive head. "I doubt that brat could be drugged so easily. Orochimaru, you don’t understand that kid’s strength. Even Shinya bows to him. I wouldn’t dare mess with him."
That stunned Orochimaru. It was the first time he’d seen Manda show fear.
That wasn’t in Manda’s nature.
Truthfully, Manda had clashed with Shinya multiple times in Ryūchi Cave. Each time, it ended in a decisive loss—always because of Riku.
If not for the rules of Ryūchi Cave, Shinya would have likely turned all the other snakes to stone.
In terms of speed, strength, and abilities, Shinya far outclassed Manda.
In every battle between them, Manda had been thoroughly overpowered.
Riku, however, didn’t even know the full extent of it. He’d only summoned Shinya once and, apart from spending a month training in Ryūchi Cave, hadn’t interacted with it much.
That said, Shinya had a nasty temper. It often disobeyed orders on the battlefield.
But Riku was strong—too strong. He could suppress Shinya with ease. That’s why the beast genuinely acknowledged Riku as its master.
Because of that, Shinya had warned Manda more than once: Don’t ever cross Riku again outside Ryūchi Cave.
Of course, Manda couldn’t stand being bossed around, and they’d ended up fighting multiple times over it. Each time, Shinya completely crushed him.
Eventually, Manda had to admit defeat.
He simply couldn’t win.
Orochimaru scowled.
Jiraiya laughed loudly. "Hah! Looks like Manda doesn’t want to cross Riku. Seems like you’re about to lose this fight, Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru growled, "I’ll offer you three hundred more sacrifices."
At the mention of that reward, Manda’s tongue flicked out eagerly. He loved to eat humans.
In fact, most snakes in Ryūchi Cave loved eating humans. Only a few—like the green serpent and Shinya—didn’t share the same appetite.
It wasn’t that Shinya didn’t like the taste—he just didn’t get many opportunities, since he stayed in Ryūchi Cave most of the time.
The green snake simply wasn’t interested in eating people.
Ryūchi Cave, the White Snake Sage, and the rest of the elder snakes all devoured humans—especially those who failed their training.
But Manda was different. He ate humans purely for pleasure.
Hearing that he’d get three hundred fresh sacrifices, Manda forgot all about his fear of Shinya.
He roared, "You said it yourself! If you back out, I’ll eat you too!"
Orochimaru replied coldly, "Then defeat those two first."
Riku chuckled. "This guy’s really just obsessed with eating people."
The slug beside him added gently, "Of the three great holy places, only Ryūchi Cave frequently devours humans."
"However, most snakes only consume those who fail in training."
"Manda is the only one who eats people for fun."
Riku nodded. He was already familiar with Ryūchi Cave’s nature.
"Yeah, people who fail the training don’t survive anyway. At Mount Myōboku, they turn into stone toads. In Ryūchi Cave, they get eaten."
He paused, then turned to the slug.
"So what happens in the Shikkotsu Forest when someone fails?"
The slug was quiet for a moment, then replied, "They become a part of me."
Riku nodded in understanding. "So that’s why you’re so big. All those who failed ended up merging with you."
It didn’t surprise him at all.
After all, the Slug Sage was truly enormous.
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