"Interesting, interesting! Naruto-kun, you truly are bold. I'm curious to see just how much change this 'wind' of yours can bring to the shinobi world."
Orochimaru clapped his hands lightly, genuine amusement and intrigue flashing in his serpentine eyes.
"I'm in on this plan!"
Naruto's eyes brightened immediately. "With Orochimaru-kun participating, this plan will definitely become even more perfect!"
He was visibly thrilled. To him, this was more than cooperation — it was progress. If Orochimaru was already willing to join, then truly recruiting him into the Umbrella Organization couldn't be far off.
Compared to any material gain, Naruto valued Orochimaru himself — his knowledge, his ambition, his understanding of forbidden science.
The two sat down again. Naruto spread a few sketches and blueprints across the table. "The most important thing for the Sky City Project is energy."
He tapped the parchment with a finger. "For shinobi to power an entire city using only their own chakra — that's practically impossible."
"Although I've already constructed three Chakra Reactors, each time one is activated, it causes serious instability."
Naruto went on to explain what a Chakra Reactor was.
Orochimaru's expression shifted from surprise to fascination.
"Naruto-kun… to think you've devised something like this. A mechanism capable of converting chakra into sustainable energy… incredible."
With his genius intellect, Orochimaru immediately understood. The concept was somewhat like a chakra bank — storing and circulating energy — but on a scale far beyond what a single human could manage.
Naruto smiled faintly and continued,
"For now, I've even dismantled one of the reactors to use as a temporary power source for Sky City. But recently, I found something far better — the Dragon Vein. Have you heard of it?"
"Dragon Vein?" Orochimaru frowned, the name ringing faintly in his memory.
"Yes — the Dragon Vein. It possesses what could be called infinite chakra, making it the ideal energy source for Sky City."
The phrase infinite chakra made Orochimaru's eyes narrow. "Infinite, you say?"
He immediately thought of the Nine-Tails — a being said to possess limitless chakra. Of course, it wasn't truly infinite, but its reserves were vast, and its regeneration speed unmatched.
Then Orochimaru's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait… I remember now! Years ago, Minato-kun went on a mission to Rōran and sealed the Dragon Vein's power!"
"Yes," Naruto nodded, pleased that Orochimaru recalled.
"The Dragon Vein of Rōran has accumulated power for centuries. Its chakra is so concentrated it gained a terrifying property — space-time distortion. By channeling that power, one can slow down or redirect its energy eruption."
"The Dragon Vein is essentially the earth's chakra — natural energy condensed to an extreme degree. It's overflowing with both chakra and nature energy."
Naruto's tone grew thoughtful.
"In my eyes, the Dragon Vein is like the spiritual veins from legends — the foundation that sustains great powers or civilizations. I believe other Dragon Veins may exist across the world, but none as immense as Rōran's."
Orochimaru's expression became sharp and calculating. The words natural energy had struck a nerve. As someone who had already touched upon Sage Mode, his interest was immediate and profound.
"The Dragon Vein has been sealed for too long," Naruto said.
"If that energy isn't diverted, it'll eventually cause another eruption. That's also why my father — the Fourth Hokage — sealed it in the first place."
He leaned forward slightly, his blue eyes gleaming.
"So instead of letting that power run wild, why not use it? A fraction of its chakra could power Sky City, and the rest could be… experimented with."
That final phrase made Orochimaru's lips curl into a predatory smile.
If the Dragon Vein's energy could truly be absorbed — if its natural energy could be refined — then perhaps it could lead to a permanent Sage Mode.
Even Jiraiya and Naruto's own Sage training required stillness and time — or in Naruto's case, the help of shadow clones to gather nature energy. But this? This was different.
Naruto's words suggested something even greater — a constant, unending flow of nature energy.
Orochimaru's mind raced with possibilities. His pulse quickened. The thought of achieving a stable, eternal Sage transformation — one not dependent on a limited gathering process — was enough to make even him tremble with excitement.
Naruto, however, remained calm, almost indifferent to Orochimaru's growing obsession. To him, this was simply another step in a much larger plan — one that extended far beyond Sky City or even the shinobi world itself.
If Orochimaru had been merely intrigued by Naruto's plan before, now he was completely convinced — this was something he had to be involved in.
Sky City itself didn't particularly interest him; its function and purpose were secondary. But the Dragon Vein — now that was different. It was a phenomenon worthy of deep study. For someone like Orochimaru, it was irresistible.
A spark of excitement flickered in his golden eyes as his scientific curiosity surged.
"Since that's the case," he said, unable to contain his anticipation, "let's go see it for ourselves."
"Naturally," Naruto replied with a grin. "I was thinking the same thing."
But at that moment, a calm voice echoed within Naruto's consciousness.
"Are you really planning to interfere with the Dragon Vein, Naruto?" asked the spectral figure of Minato Namikaze, his father's soul still residing within him.
"The power of the Dragon Vein is extremely volatile."
Naruto nodded inwardly.
"Of course I know that, Dad. But I've already thought of a way to handle it — I just need to design a device to stabilize its output."
He spoke as if it were simple, but the idea itself was revolutionary — a mechanism akin to a chakra transformer. Instead of sealing the Dragon Vein entirely, his plan was to regulate its flow.
After all, trying to suppress such a massive source of energy indefinitely would only backfire. The more power that accumulated, the more catastrophic the next eruption would be.
"It's better to divert it than to block it," Naruto said confidently. "If we can channel its energy safely, the Dragon Vein won't need to be sealed again."
Hearing his son's determined tone, Minato could only sigh softly. He knew Naruto's current strength — it had long surpassed ordinary shinobi. Perhaps only Hashirama Senju, the legendary First Hokage, could stand on equal ground with him now.
And even that, Minato thought, wasn't certain anymore.
"Back then," Naruto continued, "when you sealed the Dragon Vein, its power had already reached a dangerous level. But sealing it was only a temporary fix — the energy kept building beneath the surface. It's better to utilize it directly. As long as it's under my watch, it won't get out of control."
Minato's expression softened.
"Perhaps… you're right," he admitted quietly. "Technology today truly is extraordinary."
And so, Naruto and Orochimaru set off at once for Rōran.
When they arrived, the once-thriving city was now a desolate ruin. The tall spires and winding bridges that once connected the city in the sky had long since collapsed into dust.
Minato looked at the ruins and sighed with quiet melancholy. "It's only been a few decades… and yet the world has changed so much."
Naruto and Orochimaru, however, focused on their objective. Deep beneath the ruins, they found the sealed location of the Dragon Vein — exactly as Minato had described.
The sealing ground was vast, spanning over ten meters, its surface covered with dense black sealing runes. The faint glow of chakra pulsed from within, like the heartbeat of the earth itself.
As the air trembled faintly around them, both Naruto and Orochimaru felt it — a deep, boundless power sleeping beneath the surface.
The Dragon Vein still lived.
And now, it was time to awaken it.
...
TN:
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