The essence of the God of Light is a replicator.

"Grant wishes? Taking over my body is also to fulfill my wish?"

Orochimaru snorted derisively. "This is not hard to explain. Proving I have the power to do as I please with you can dispel some of your unnecessary wariness."

The genie said slowly, "Fulfilling your wish requires our close cooperation. Trust is the foundation of everything."

"I don't understand."

Orochimaru looked puzzled. This genie was somewhat different from what he had imagined.

"To grant a wish requires a price to be paid."

The genie patiently explained,

"Those who postpone the price until after the wisher's wish is granted, then take everything away, are called evil spirits in our genie world."

"Those who bear the price themselves without regard for loss are suckers."

"I am different from the above two. I provide information for the wisher to fulfill their own wish."

Hearing this interpretation of genies for the first time, Orochimaru fell into contemplation.

After a while, Orochimaru asked, "So what price do I pay for the 'information' of immortality?"

"No price."

"No price?"

"Or rather, the process of you achieving immortality is the price you pay."

The genie chuckled softly. "In this process, you will create information, create knowledge, rather than consume my power."

Orochimaru looked thoughtful at these words. Compared to the spiritual beings he had imagined, the genie before him was more like a businessman making an investment.

And in this model, the genie would profit either way, whether he succeeded or failed.

Of course, he wouldn't lose out either, as long as the information provided by the genie was correct.

The genie could perceive Orochimaru's mental fluctuations. He knew that without seeing facts before his eyes, this cautious, suspicious snake would not fully let down his guard. But reaching this degree was good enough for now and wouldn't hinder later cooperation.

The genie smiled slightly and brought up a new topic. "Orochimaru, what kind of immortality do you seek?"

"The undying spirit that persists eternally?"

"Or a lifespan equaling heaven, living as long as this planet?"

"Or just simply not dying, lasting till the end of the human era?"

Orochimaru's heart stirred. He badly wanted to say his current goal was merely not dying.

Nothing more. Reincarnation with Impure World Reincarnation had many limitations but was the most viable option.

But hearing the grandiose tone of the self-demoted genie who claimed they were partners, choosing the third option would seem too petty.

Orochimaru didn't want to show weakness. He also worried that answering now would set this as the final goal.

"No need to rush an answer."

The genie said slowly, "See the heights your predecessors in the shinobi world have reached, then make your decision. It won't be too late."

"As coincidence would have it, there's a big show tonight."

...

A figure darted through the Forest of Death under the pitch dark night, leaving footprints embedded deep in the tree trunks.

A man and a genie were on their way to watch the Fourth Hokage Minato's predicament. The body was under the genie's control.

Orochimaru calmly sensed his body's movements.

The genie wasn't using normal chakra control to climb trees, but the Body Flicker technique, the same as what he had used to dodge the genie's attack.

The force, distance, chakra consumption...all were precisely measured.

In other words, the genie was repeating his previous actions.

This was the genie showcasing the price he could extract for immortality.

Orochimaru thought of the failed kekkei genkai body from tonight. His heart burned hotly.

Since the genie could replicate his actions, naturally he could replicate others' as well.

While the path to immortality was still distant, the shortcut to obtaining other kekkei genkai abilities lay right before him.

"Regretfully, I cannot do that."

Facing Orochimaru's anticipation, the genie declined. "I can copy your actions because we have a contract. I cannot switch contractors until the contractor dies or it's determined the wish cannot be fulfilled."

"However, some of the powers my previous contractors possessed can be recreated in you."

Just doused with cold water, Orochimaru reignited. His heart burned.

From earlier conversation, he had learned this genie was not of this world and this wasn't his first contract.

The wealth of another world, another contractor, truly worth looking forward to.

"But I won't do that now."

Orochimaru's brows furrowed slightly. "Why?"

"That is the fortune I acquired from another world. It belongs to me. Why would you think I'd readily hand it over to you?"

"Yet you copied my abilities."

"But that wasn't a transaction." The genie slowly said, "Everything you have now cannot be considered your bargaining chips. I can obtain them without trading."

Hearing such shameless words, Orochimaru was silent.

He suddenly realized although this genie was more reasonable than an average evil spirit, he was also more cunning, making no move until he spotted the prey.

"Wait, genie, you can't use the Body Flicker perfectly."

Orochimaru's face suddenly smiled. "Like right now, it seems you can only copy abilities I've used before."

"Indeed, I've never concealed this."

The genie was unconcerned. "For you to act in this world, it's impossible not to use your own abilities. Soon I'll be able to copy your walking, sitting, lying, even your kukuku laugh."

"Then I can rest assured."

Orochimaru's tone turned calm again. Not to mention basic chakra training, chakra control skills, and ordinary nature transformation ninjutsu, even restricted techniques like the Eight Branches Technique that he didn't normally use could handle trouble and serve as bargaining chips.

Orochimaru made no attempt to hide his psychological fluctuations. The genie sneered inwardly.

What's there to be smug about? You have bargaining chips only because I haven't taken them.

Knowledge in the hands of its wielder can be copied at negligible cost, but sown as a seed, who knows what flowers may bloom someday.

Even if Orochimaru had no chips, he would still impart the knowledge of another world to Orochimaru.

After becoming a genie, he never stinted on sharing knowledge, as long as the other party could use it to create new knowledge.

But, when obtained too easily, one would not cherish it.

As a seasoned professional genie, he naturally wouldn't make this mistake.

Besides, copying knowledge wasn't without cost. Orochimaru's body might not be able to withstand it.

...

With each having their own thoughts, the man and genie soon arrived at the scene of the Fourth Hokage Minato's crisis.

The area was covered by an inverted bowl-shaped crimson barrier, surrounded by crowds who came to watch the spectacle, led by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Under the genie's control, Orochimaru arrived just in time for the most thrilling, poignant part.

As a mother, Uzumaki Kushina used the last of her strength to employ the Adamantine Sealing Chains to temporarily halt the Nine-Tails.

And to give mother and child a chance to meet again in the future, Minato sacrificed his life to summon the Death God, sealing half of the Nine-Tails' chakra along with Kushina's into Naruto.

Seeing this scene, even Orochimaru changed colors. Though he didn't have an overhead perspective to guess Minato's intentions, there was no doubt this meant certain death for the couple.

"Save your laments for later. I didn't bring you here to enjoy this tragic farewell."

The genie pointed at the figure behind Minato with Orochimaru's finger. "You seek immortality. And right before you is an immortal being."