With his jet-bck hair, goldeical pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to his nose, pale skin, and blue-green magatama-shaped earrings, along with a light yellow sash tied in a vender knot at his back, he exuded an otherworldly aura.

  Orochimaru, the man known as the Wind of Camity, still carried an air of transdent elegance!

  He fixed his gaze on Naruto, his expression devoid of the disdain he once held.

  This was iable. Through Anko's body, he had already witnessed Naruto's current capabilities.

  "Naruto Uzumaki, the clumsy boy who used to trail behind Sasuke-kun, seems to have grown into something resembling a ninja... So, why have you goo such great lengths to meet someone like me, who once wronged you?"

  Naruto got straight to the point: "Orochimaru-san, I won't beat around the bush. I want to gain immense power and create a new ninja world. For that, your knowledge and jutsu are indispensable."

  Hearing this, Orochimaru's gaze deepened. "I thought it would be something simple, like letting you meet your father, Minato Namikaze. But it seems your ambition is far greater than I imagined..."

  Naruto replied, "It seems you're not too willing."

  Orochimaru responded, "My goal is to uncover all the truths of this world, not to serve any individual anization. Vilges, Akatsuki—they're all just shackles that hold me back!"

  Naruto said, "I won't bee your shackle. While helping me, you tinue your research, as long as..."

  Orochimaru interrupted with a smile, "As long as what? I don't harm this ninja world?"

  Naruto uedly replied, "pletely avoiding harm is impossible. I only hope you act withiain boundaries..."

  "Oh?" Orochimaru was slightly surprised. "Hearing such a pragmatic statement from you is intriguing. I wonder, what exactly happeo you..."

  Naruto said, "If you're ied, I tell you slowly iure~."

  Orochimaru chuckled, "I'd rather not. Rationality tells me not to delve too deeply into such matters..."

  At this moment, Konan stepped in to assist. "Orochimaru, you need a stable pce right now. If you're willing to assist Naruto, Amegakure is prepared to provide you with experimental facilities and prote."

  Orochimaru said, "That sounds appealing, but I'm afraid I'll have to dee."

  "Is that so? What a pity," Konan said coldly, gng at Naruto, who was deep in thought, his head lowered.

  Orochimaru seemed determio dash Naruto's hopes entirely. "Let me be ho with you, Naruto. I've long studied the power of the Uzumaki . Their immeality suppress a Tailed Beast's chakra, and their sealing teiques hold potential rivaling that of the Senju. But pared to these, the power of the Uchiha is far more alluring."

  The impact Itachi had left on Orochimaru rofound, fueling his obsession with Uchiha power.

  Naruto raised his head. "So, you still 't let go of Sasuke, you?"

  Orochimaru replied, "The pursuit of truth requires unwavering dedication. Naruto, even if your current strength surprises me, I won't give up on Sasuke. He is the perfect vessel I've chosen, with potential surpassing even Itao, perhaps even Uchiha Madara!"

  Unlike in his previous life, Orochimaru had not yet witnessed Kabuto's fate before being resurrected. Thus, he still harbored ambitions of taking over Sasuke's body.

  Naruto's gaze turned cold. "In that case, I 't let you leave..."

  "That’s not up to you..."

  Swoosh!

  Orochimaru's legs transformed into a sail, propelling him swiftly toward the exit of the cave!

  Whoosh!

  Naruto appeared at the cave entrance, where he had pced a Flying Raijin marker, blog Orochimaru's path!

  "The Flying Raijin Jutsu, is it..." Orochimaru's thoughts raced: My hands are still sealed in the belly of the Shinigami due to the Dead Demon ing Seal. Any jutsu requiring hand signs is unusable. From what I saw through Anko, Naruto's basibat abilities are on par with ae jonin. If he activates Sage Mode, the situation will turn dire for me...!

  —*Ninja Art: Soft Physique Modification!*

  Whoosh! While darting forward, Orochimaru's neck suddenly elongated, coiling around Naruto before sinking his sharp fangs into Naruto's neck!

  "I'll bind his body with the power of the Cursed Seal for now!"

  Buzz!

  Bck curse mark patterns spread from Naruto's neck across his body.

  But at that moment, Naruto suddenly raised his arm, log Orochimaru's neck with his elbow joint, preventing him from retrag his head!

  "Hmm!?" Orochimaru was startled. Could it be... he let me bite him on purpose!?

  "You i chakra into my body through your fangs. Likewise... I do the same."

  Naruto closed his eyes, meditating to enter Sage Mode without moving.

  Whoosh!

  Natural energy surged in, causing Orochimaru's beautiful face to tort in pain. "Ugh... Natural energy is flowing bato my body through our e—arghhh!"

  Naruto opened his eyes, smiling. "How does the sage energy of Mount Myoboku differ from that of Ryuchi Cave? Orochimaru-san, care to share your thoughts?"

  Snap!

  Orochimaru suddenly opened his mouth, and a hand emerged, followed by a head and body. Within seds, a new Orochimaru stood on the ground, putting distaween himself and Naruto.

  Sizzle!

  Naruto suppressed the curse mark, gng at the shriveled snake skin in his hand. "Orochimaru's substitution teique truly is unparalleled..."

  "It seems you won't let me leave so easily..."

  —*Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!*

  Orochimaru crouched on the ground, ughing as hundreds of snakes slithered from his mouth. Eaake opes jaws, spewing tless Kusanagi swords, f a torrent of bdes surging forward!

  "Konan-senpai, I'll leave Anko-san to you!" Naruto shouted, retreating outside the cave.

  Konan picked up Anko and moved to safety.

  Boom!

  Naruto's shadow e outside the cave dispelled, feeding Sage Chakra back to the inal body. e eyeshadoeared, and his exposed right eye took on the horizontal toad pupils of Sage Mode!

  Boom!

  A new shadow e appeared mid-air, assisting Naruto in shaping the Rasengan with a single hand.

  Buzz!

  The sharp sound of cutting apahe rising wind bdes. Naruto leaped into the air, hurling the deadly on toward the torrent of snakes and swords below!

  —*Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!*

  Boom!!!

  The white storm exploded, obliterating the advang serpents and shaking the cave to its core!

  Boom!!!

  Suddenly, with an even louder crash, the cave colpsed entirely. Standing before them was a colossal eight-headed serpent!

  Swoosh! Orochimaru's slimy, sticky body emerged from the tral serpent's head, ughing hoarsely. "Hehehe, too bad, Naruto... Your jutsu is strong, but it 't pletely defeat me!"

  "So that's Orochimaru's ultimate teique, the Eight Braeique..."

  Naruto nded, his expression solemn.

  Since my return, Kurama has refused to cooperate. Should I summon the Great Toad? But that might plicate the situation...

  From above, Konan asked, "Naruto, do you need my help?"

  "No need. Even if we forcefully capture Orochimaru, it won't mean much if he doesn't willingly cooperate..."

  Swoosh! As he spoke, Naruto removed the bandage from his left eye, revealing a pale purple iris with three trigs, radiating a divine glow!

  The Rinnegan, the symbol of the Six Paths!

  Orochimaru's pupils tracted. "Hmm!? That left eye... could it be..."

  Naruto smirked. "This should make things a bit more iing..."