After calming down Spidey's anger, Kagami placed it back into the breeding box and covered it with the wooden board.

A few drops of green liquid splashed onto the summoning scroll. It was unclear whether it was Spidey's blood, but it was something he had obtained at great cost and effort.

Next, it was time for Kagami to take his own blood.

Using a kunai, he pierced his fingertip and squeezed out a few drops of fresh blood onto the summoning scroll.

Two types of blood were now on the same summoning scroll. In theory, he should now be able to summon Spidey directly using this summoning scroll.

Time to give it a try.

He formed the hand signs for the summoning technique with both hands, then slapped the summoning array on the scroll. With a bang, a puff of smoke appeared.

When the smoke cleared, Spidey had indeed appeared in the center of the summoning array.

"Yeah!" Kagami couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart when he successfully summoned Spidey and cheered out loud. It worked! I'm—We're one step closer now.

However, Spidey turned around, facing him with the human face on its back.

Although the pair of crimson eyes on the human face showed no emotion, he somehow read a deeper meaning from them.

Why is it you again? Isn't this over yet?

After giving Kagami a glance, Spidey moved its agile spider legs, climbed to the edge of the breeding box, pushed open the wooden board, and crawled back inside on its own.

It seemed Spidey did not appreciate being summoned.

Or rather, almost all of the Old Ones dislike being summoned. Most people who summon them without permission don't meet good ends.

But still, although Kagami wouldn't dare to claim himself as Spidey's master, it indeed couldn't do anything harmful to him.

Their relationship was more like that of partners.

Not the warmest partnership, but it'll have to do. He watched the spider retreat into the box.

Tomorrow, Spidey. Tomorrow we find you a new home, he carefully packed his ninja tools for the next day's journey.

The next day, Kagami put on various ninja tools and tied the Konoha ninja forehead protector on his head, setting out toward the village gates.

Today was his first day off since being promoted to genin, and with Hayate away on a mission, it was the perfect time to take care of something.

That something was moving Spidey to a new home.

Just act normal. You're a genin now, this is allowed.

At the village gates, the guards were not the well-known duo but two older, unfamiliar ninjas.

When they saw the forehead protector on Kagami's head, they just made a simple record and let him pass.

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"First solo outing, kid?" one of the guards asked. "Don't wander too far."

Kagami managed a casual smile. "Just some training, sir. I'll be back before sundown." Freedom at last, even if it's just for a day.

People without ninja forehead protectors are considered ordinary citizens in Konoha, and it's quite troublesome for ordinary people to leave the village.

Konoha has a strict curfew system, and non-ninjas need to apply a day in advance if they want to leave the village. People with regular routes even need to have their travel reviewed periodically.

This is mainly to protect the village's secrets, as ninja villages in this world are similar to military bases in terms of strategic importance.

However, once someone becomes a ninja, the curfew becomes more relaxed. When there's no mission, they only need to register and can leave and return on the same day.

If they don't return by the end of the day, the village considers them rogue ninjas, a serious offense, and the ANBU won't stop tracking them until they recover the body.

Thanks to this curfew system, many exclusive ninja errands and escort missions emerged. It's not just because ninjas are fast or need protection, but more because ninjas have the privilege to freely enter and exit Konoha.

After leaving the village, Kagami headed straight to the predetermined location.

Guided by spider vision, Kagami spent over two hours arriving at a secluded spot. As he trekked through the changing landscape, doubts began to creep in. Two hours of walking. Is this really worth it for Spidey? But he quickly pushed the thought aside. It has to be. Spidey is my key to survival.

In an unremarkable forest stood a towering tree, beneath which was a vertical well.

There were no houses nearby, so it was obviously not a well for drawing water.

This is it. Orochimaru's secret lab. Hidden in plain sight, he cautiously approached the well. He paused for a moment, looking back towards Konoha. Last chance to turn back. No, I've come too far. Spidey needs this.

I need this.

After Orochimaru's defection, most of his labs in the Forest of Death had been discovered, except for this one, which Kagami found using his spider vision.

It could be a long time before anyone discovered this place.

During this time, he could take over and use it as Spidey's new breeding ground.

Jumping down the well, he landed in an underground cave about the size of three tatami rooms. Thank you, chakra control lessons, he steadied himself in the dark, damp environment.

Looking around, he saw a massive iron door.

When he approached the door, he noticed a prominent white sealing talisman stuck between the two sides of the iron door.

A few days ago, during his training, Kagami specifically asked Yuki about the basic method of undoing seal talismans, and a simple snake hand sign was enough to break it.

Forming the snake hand sign, Kagami's chakra surged, and a scarlet light flashed across the white talisman, indicating the seal had been undone.

But the next part was tricky.

While the seal talisman appeared ordinary, touching it after unsealing it would trigger an explosion.

Guy could dodge this. I'm not Guy. Time to put the Third's jutsu to use.

However, Kagami could make some preparations.

"Earth Style: Underground Shark Jutsu!"

After forming the hand signs, his feet sank into the ground like quicksand.

Once he sank just enough to reach the talisman, he stopped.

He tore off the talisman and continued sinking while maintaining the hand signs.

After his entire body was underground, a series of explosions rumbled overhead.

When the blasts ended, Kagami emerged unharmed from the ground.

Thank you, Deidara, for choosing this jutsu, he brushed dirt from his clothes.

It's quite effective for escaping attacks.

This jutsu was undoubtedly something Kagami had stolen from the Third Tsuchikage, and Deidara was the one who chose to learn it. Akatsuchi thought the technique didn't suit her, so she never learned it.

However, Deidara's choice was the right one. This technique indeed will help him escape from enemies later on.

The explosion blew a hole in the iron door, and Kagami stepped inside. Beyond was a straight hallway made of black bricks.

Stay alert. There could be more traps, Kagami reminded himself as he cautiously advanced down the eerie, empty hallway.

There were no rooms along the hallway, only a wooden door at the far end.

Opening the wooden door revealed Orochimaru's secret lab.

The large lab tables were empty, and there was no remaining liquid in any of the equipment.

Clean as a whistle. Orochimaru didn't leave anything behind.

There was another door at the back of the lab. Opening it led to another empty room.

At the back of this room was a long, straight corridor, leading to one final door.

This is it. The White Snake's chamber. Spidey's new home.

Behind that door was where the experimental White Snake was kept.