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
The most frequent summoner, Orochimaru's techniques, personality and even appearance were snake-like. After many experiments and forbidden techniques, Orochimaru's form indeed became a snake. The first of Orochimaru's students to sign a contract with snakes. Anko learned several forbidden and snake-related techniques with Orochimaru such as the Twin Snakes Mutual Death Technique. Sasuke mainly used the snakes he summoned as shields to defend himself. 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 and has since then gained a contract with a hawk. At first Kabuto only aided Orochimaru in summoning snakes while his arms were disabled. He later began to summon snakes after implanting Orochimaru's remains within himself. Kabuto continued Orochimaru's research and discovered Ryūchi Cave, where he learned senjutsu from the White Snake Sage. He gained access to a Sage Mode which, according to him, has allowed him to figuratively transcended from a snake into a "dragon". A movie only character who used snakes mutated by the Chimera Technique.
 * 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.