Snake

, also known as, are the signature summons of Orochimaru, his right-hand-man, Kabuto Yakushi, and his students: Sasuke Uchiha and Anko Mitarashi. They reside at the Ryūchi Cave.

Overview
They vary greatly in size, from small enough to hide in one's sleeves to larger than most buildings. Orochimaru frequently summons them as allies in battle, either having them attack for him or instructing them to carry out other tasks. Despite this, he treats them as disposable pawns, typically sending them into battles during which they are likely to be killed. Sasuke is equally unattached to these snakes, often summoning them only for use as a shield. While most snakes are very obedient and do what is instructed of them, the largest snake, Manda, will not help others without payment, demanding a sacrifice of a hundred humans in exchange for helping Orochimaru, yet even then would readily turn against Orochimaru if he thought he couldn't win.

Summoners
All the summoners in the series (except for the movie) were linked to Orochimaru. The most frequent summoner, Orochimaru's techniques, personality and even appearence were snake-like. After many experiments and forbbiden techniques, Orochimaru's form indeed became a snake. The first Orochimaru's student who signed the contract with snakes. Anko learned several forbbiden and snake-related techniques with Orochimaru. A notable fact about her is that even after Orochimaru leave Konoha, there remained a bit of his chakra inside of her because of the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Sasuke mainly used the snakes as shields to defend himself or to. After Orochimaru and the Cursed Seal of Heaven were removed from him during his fight with Itachi, Sasuke has not been seen summoning any snakes, but used a Hawk instead of it. Began to summon snakes after implanting Orochimaru's remains within himself. Kabuto continued Orochimaru's researchs and discovered Ryūchi Cave, where he learned senjutsu the White Snake Sage. He gained access to a Sage Mode which, according to him, meant that he was a snake no longer, but had instead transcended into a dragon. Kabuto absorbed and kidnapped all the known snakes summoners. He also surpassed Orochimaru's snakes' power. Used snakes mutated by the Chimera Technique. A movie only character.
 * Contract::Orochimaru (Incapacitated)
 * Contract::Anko Mitarashi (Incapacitated)
 * Contract::Sasuke Uchiha
 * Contract::Kabuto Yakushi
 * Contract::Ichi (Deceased)

Trivia

 * It was mentioned by Hiruzen Sarutobi to his grandson Konohamaru that the rainbow symbolises snakes, and is deemed an omen of the coming of evil. This was recalled during the Invasion of Konoha led by the snake-themed Orochimaru.
 * Snakes have long since been associated with dragons a testament to this, after entering Sage Mode, Kabuto stated that he had evolved from being a simple snake into a dragon. Orochimaru's Eight Branches Technique is also described as ascending beyond snakes, becoming a dragon god.