"Naruto-kun… I didn't expect we'd meet again."Orochimaru's voice was calm and measured, as if he had been expecting this encounter all along. There was no surprise on his face, only an unsettling serenity. Even Kakuzu, standing nearby, wore a strange smile, as if the appearance of Uzumaki Naruto was cause for genuine amusement.Kimimaro, on the other hand, stood tense beside them. His body was rigid, and his gaze burned with hostility as he stared at Naruto. His hands clenched at his sides.This guy… he must've followed me. That's how he found this place!Kimimaro gritted his teeth.I didn't even notice it! How could I be so careless?He blamed himself. As one of Orochimaru-sama's most loyal subordinates, letting such a thing happen was utterly unacceptable.But before he could voice his thoughts, Naruto's eyes turned to him. Their gazes locked—and in that instant, Kimimaro froze.A blood-red murderous aura poured from Naruto's eyes, slowly taking the shape of a massive demonic fox. The illusion invaded Kimimaro's mind without resistance."Little devil!" a deep voice growled in his consciousness.Just that one cold snort sent a wave of icy terror through Kimimaro's body. His hands and feet went numb. Cold sweat drenched his back in an instant."Th-this… what is this…?"He tried to move, but his limbs refused to respond. Not even a finger twitched."Kimimaro…" Orochimaru's voice called him back to reality, snapping the illusion.Kimimaro blinked, and the image of the demon fox vanished. Naruto now simply stood there with a gentle smile on his face, as if nothing had happened.This boy… he's dangerous. More than I imagined."Kimimaro, step outside for now," Orochimaru said. "Naruto-kun and I have something important to discuss.""Yes… Orochimaru-sama," Kimimaro replied, though his voice was reluctant. Despite his unease, he didn't dare disobey a direct order. He shot one last glance at Naruto before quietly exiting the room.Once the door closed, Naruto spoke."It seems Kimimaro is very loyal to you.""He is," Orochimaru replied. "The children who follow me are those who resonate with my ideals. I am not like the Third Hokage, who expects blind obedience without vision.""Tsk…" Naruto smirked but didn't pursue the matter further.---Meanwhile, the Live Broadcast Room:Ohnoki: "Those two shady figures are finally joining forces? That can only mean something horrifying is coming."Terumi Mei: "Are they really teaming up? From what I saw, Naruto used Orochimaru like a pawn during the Konoha Collapse. Not only did he get revenge and kill the Third Hokage, he even became a hero!"Fourth Raikage: "That's true. Orochimaru looks more like a scapegoat in Naruto's scheme."Shimura Danzō: "?"Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Hmph! For Orochimaru, at his age, to be manipulated by a child… utterly shameful!"Orochimaru: "Teacher Hiruzen, you just don't understand. The me in that world must admire Naruto-kun deeply—to the point I'd willingly aid him at all costs."Kurotsuchi: "Orochimaru, are you… actually a good person?"Orochimaru: "I'm nothing like that 'Will of Fire' old man. I'm more interested in ninjas who can transform the world. That's who I follow."Senju Hashirama: "This version of Orochimaru seems nice!"Senju Tobirama: "Brother, you're too gullible."Senju Hashirama: "(´･ω･`)"Shimura Danzō: "Keep playing your games, Orochimaru. But if this causes chaos in the ninja world, how will you fix it?"Orochimaru: "That's none of your concern. Maybe you should focus on how to kill the Fifth Hokage."Senju Tsunade: "Try it, Danzo. I dare you!"Shimura Danzō: "..."---Back in the hidden laboratory, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes."Tell me, Naruto-kun, what brings you here? Surely you didn't come just to chat."Naruto nodded slightly. "I want information on the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara."Orochimaru blinked in surprise. "Uchiha Madara? From the First Hokage's era?"He hadn't expected Naruto to be digging into such ancient history at his age. Even Orochimaru himself hadn't studied Hashirama and Madara until years into his time as a Sannin."What do you want to know about them?" Orochimaru asked, leaning forward with interest."It's simple," Naruto replied. "I want to understand what the 'Sage Body' is—and whether Madara possessed the so-called 'Sage Eye.'"Orochimaru raised a brow. This wasn't a casual inquiry. Naruto clearly knew more than he let on."Well…" Orochimaru began, curling his lips into a faint smile. "The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was indeed a terrifying existence. He had what we now call a 'Sage Body.' I've been researching how that came to be for years.""There's no doubt his strength came from it," he continued. "So, during my time in Konoha, I conducted experiments using the First Hokage's cells."Naruto didn't flinch. He had already read about this in the Third Hokage's scrolls.Many orphans from Konoha had been used as test subjects in Orochimaru's twisted experiments. Hiruzen Sarutobi knew about it—yet turned a blind eye. To him, those orphans weren't even real citizens. Even worse, Danzo had secretly funded the experiments, eager to gain results.Naruto's voice turned cold. "And? What were the results of those experiments?"Orochimaru grinned, licking his lips like a predator. "Out of dozens of babies, only one survived."Naruto's expression didn't change, but a chill passed through the room."That child," Orochimaru continued, "not only lived—but inherited the First Hokage's Wood Style.""Wood Style?" Naruto asked, though he already knew the answer."Yes. A bloodline technique unique to Hashirama himself. It even had the power to suppress the Tailed Beasts. Only by mastering Wood Style can we hope to uncover the secrets of the Sage Body."Naruto nodded silently. Kurama had mentioned that Madara and the Nine Tails once teamed up—only to be defeated by Hashirama's Wood Style.And the child who survived Orochimaru's experiment? Naruto remembered him. During the Chūnin Exam, when Konoha was devastated, one ninja had stood out during the rebuilding efforts.Tenzo. A man capable of using Wood Style. With a few hand seals, he could create fully furnished houses—three-bedroom, two-living-room layouts—all using ninjutsu.Still, he remained in Konoha freely. That meant…"That's right, Naruto," Orochimaru confirmed. "Even though the child survived and awakened Wood Style, his abilities are nowhere near Hashirama's.""He can't even use one-tenth of the First Hokage's power."Orochimaru sighed with visible regret. He had sacrificed so much, devoted his life to those experiments—yet every result was flawed. No success came close to replicating the true strength of Hashirama or Madara."They were all defective," he said. "None of them brought me closer to the secrets hidden in those two legendary bodies."Naruto was silent for a moment, then asked, "What if… you used the cells of both the Uzumaki and Uchiha clans?"Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock. His pupils constricted, and his voice trembled with both disbelief and raw excitement."Naruto… what are you saying?"Naruto said nothing. Instead, he patted a large wooden barrel beside him.A low, hollow thud echoed in the room."I've brought Uchiha Sasuke for you."
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