Chapter 74: Transaction

Naruto pointed at the scroll and said, "This person, when fighting me, used a technique called the Cursed Seal."

Orochimaru grinned, "That's one of my proud inventions."

"But I'm a bit disappointed," Naruto's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was calm.

Orochimaru's smile froze.

"That Cursed Seal can summon a peculiar kind of power," Naruto continued softly, "different from chakra."

"But he only used that power to enhance his own chakra, which I found somewhat regrettable."

"I was really looking forward to seeing what else he could do with that power."

"Was it developed based on the transformation of tailed beasts?"

Orochimaru's expression softened slightly, "So that's why, Naruto-kun, you're disappointed."

"It's because, to some extent, the Cursed Seal is a poor imitation."

"However, the model it was imitating wasn't the transformation of tailed beasts as you thought."

Naruto pushed the scroll a bit closer to Orochimaru.

"You always make me feel like you're not a child," Orochimaru glanced at Kabuto, who stepped forward and took the scroll.

Only then did Orochimaru continue, "Naruto-kun, have you ever heard of Sage Mode?"

"Sage?" Naruto was momentarily taken aback, "Do you mean the Toad Sage or the Sage of Six Paths?"

"Of course, it's Jiraiya's kind," Orochimaru immediately replied, "But from the look on your face, Naruto-kun, it seems you haven't seen Jiraiya's Sage Mode?"

Naruto nodded.

Orochimaru sighed, "Speaking of Jiraiya's Sage Mode, it truly is something remarkable."

"Do you remember when I mentioned 'natural energy' before?"

"Sage Mode is a special state that one enters by mixing natural energy with their own chakra."

"The Cursed Seal is an imitation of that."

Naruto didn't say anything, replaying Orochimaru's words in his mind.

"If you're willing, Naruto-kun, I could also plant a Cursed Seal on you," Orochimaru suggested, grinning with his sharp teeth glinting ominously, "Though it would carry some risk."

"But with Naruto-kun's strength, there would be absolutely no problem."

Naruto looked at him calmly, "If I want to master such power, why wouldn't I just learn Sage Mode from Jiraiya? Why would I use your inferior imitation?"

He recalled what Orochimaru had just said.

Orochimaru didn't seem upset, he just smiled, "Naruto-kun, you mentioned earlier that you've been in the Land of Whirlpools recently. How many techniques related to the Reaper Death Seal have you managed to collect?"

"May I take a look?"

Naruto formed hand seals, summoned a scroll, and pushed it over.

Kabuto stepped forward, unrolled each scroll one by one, and displayed them for Orochimaru to see.

Orochimaru started off excited, but as he read further, his expression grew more and more serious.

After the fourth or fifth scroll, he began to look impatient.

"Is this all you have, Naruto-kun?" Orochimaru's tone was low.

Naruto's calm expression contrasted sharply with Orochimaru's, "Karin and I have made copies of all the inscriptions."

"This is everything."

Orochimaru sneered with mockery, "It seems those people have thoroughly plundered the Land of Whirlpools."

"Which countries were involved in the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools?" Naruto asked, "I remember you're over fifty years old, so you should know about the fall of the Land of Whirlpools."

Orochimaru replied casually, "Aside from Konoha and Sand Village, almost every other country was involved to some extent."

"Mist Village and Cloud Village probably contributed the most."

"Why, Naruto-kun, do you plan to avenge the Land of Whirlpools?"

Naruto shook his head, "When I meet members of the Uzumaki Clan in the future, I'll ask them what they think. If they want revenge, they can handle it themselves."

This caught Orochimaru off guard.

What did he mean by meeting members of the Uzumaki Clan?

This clan has been destroyed, leaving only a few remnants scattered across the major ninja villages and small countries.

What right do these fragmented forces have to seek revenge?

"I just want to know which villages might have techniques related to the Reaper Death Seal," Naruto continued, "so I can retrieve what belongs to the Uzumaki Clan."

"That's all."

Orochimaru squinted his eyes, sizing up Naruto.

"I have one more question for you," Naruto continued. "It's about the Akatsuki. What do I need to offer to get information about this organization from you?"

Orochimaru's pupils dilated, and his voice momentarily distorted. "Akatsuki?"

"How do you know about this organization?"

"And why are you interested in them?"

Naruto casually waved his hand. "They approached me not long ago, and we had a brief encounter."

"It seems they won't let things go so easily."

Orochimaru squinted, intrigued, and asked, "Who attacked you? To escape from the hands of that organization, Naruto-kun, you must be quite capable."

"Uchiha Itachi and someone with a shark-like face named Hoshigaki Kisame," Naruto replied, mentioning two names.

One of those names made Orochimaru's expression change.

Uchiha Itachi—the one name he least wanted to hear in his life and the one person he most dreaded facing.

In front of those eyes, he felt utterly humiliated.

"To escape from the two of them," Orochimaru sincerely marveled, "and still be able to carry this Uzumaki clan..."

Naruto interrupted him. "I didn't escape."

"They escaped."

"That shark-faced guy even lost an arm."

Naruto formed a seal, summoning a scroll, which he unrolled, releasing a sealing technique.

A wisp of white smoke appeared.

A fresh, blood-dripping blue left arm appeared on the scroll.

"Interested in this?" Naruto pushed it forward. "I remember that in the information Jiraiya-sensei gave me, it was mentioned that this guy named Hoshigaki Kisame is also known as the tailless tailed beast."

Orochimaru lifted his head, looking at Naruto.

In his heated gaze, there was curiosity, there was inquiry.

"Itachi's genjutsu is unparalleled. How did you break it?" he asked, his tone intense and eager. "The illusions cast by those eyes are not something ordinary people can compare to."

Naruto nodded in agreement. "Itachi's genjutsu is indeed extraordinary."

"You never know when it will activate, and it can even deceive my senses, making the false seem real."

"But there's a very simple way to break a genjutsu."

Orochimaru immediately caught on. "Naruto-kun, you are a Jinchūriki."

"Would the Nine-Tails be willing to help you?"

Naruto just smiled and said nothing.

There was no need for him to answer that question.

The answer held no value for Orochimaru, nor could it be exchanged for any useful information.

Orochimaru gazed at Naruto.

Jinchūriki indeed had an innate advantage in breaking genjutsu.

This method, however, was not something he could use.

"Kisame's arm is a valuable material," Orochimaru suppressed his desire to "break Uchiha Itachi's eyes" and focused on a more practical matter, "but just this isn't enough to trade for information on the Akatsuki."

Naruto softly asked, "What else do you want?"

"Naruto-kun's sword," Orochimaru began, but Naruto cut him off before he could finish.

"If you want to experience death once more, I don't mind taking action here and now."

Orochimaru chuckled and shifted his tone. "No need to get agitated, Naruto-kun. Since the sword is so important to you..."

"Could you perhaps give me some of those techniques you release using words?"

Back in the Forest of Death, he hadn't been particularly interested in the techniques Naruto wielded.

But things were different now.

His own hands were missing, and as a ninja, he had lost the ability to form hand seals. Without the ability to form seals, he couldn't perform ninjutsu.

Naruto tilted his head, looking at Orochimaru's hands resting on his knees. "The value of a trade isn't determined merely by the object's intrinsic worth."

"I'll give you two."

Orochimaru shook his head. "Two are too few."

"Orochimaru, you're in no position to negotiate," Naruto's tone was light. "I'm not in urgent need of information on the Akatsuki."

"But your situation is different."

Orochimaru grinned. "You're really taking advantage of the situation, Naruto-kun."

"Indeed," Naruto nodded, smiling without a hint of embarrassment. "This is the nature of our relationship, after all."

"You should be glad I'm just taking advantage of the situation."

"And not taking this opportunity to kill you again."