Facing Orochimaru's question, Naruto smiled composedly, as if the person sitting beside him wasn't a Kage-level rogue ninja from Konoha, but a good friend with whom he could sit knee-to-knee and have a long talk.
"The Kekkei Genkai I possess is, in fact, one that grants mastery over Reiatsu."
As Orochimaru looked on with considerable puzzlement, Naruto continued to explain, "All matter in the Pure Land is composed of Reishi, even human souls are made of Reishi. When a soul cultivates to strengthen itself, Reiatsu is generated within its body, which is the energy my Kekkei Genkai manifests."
"Hado Number Four: Byakurai," Naruto said, extending a finger to demonstrate.
A white light shot out from his fingertip, directly blasting a hole through a tree.
Naruto retracted his finger. "This is one method of using Reiatsu: Kido. Kido is quite versatile, useful for both combat and support."
He went on to demonstrate several different Kido, which greatly opened Orochimaru's eyes.
"Of course, aside from Kido, another application of Reiatsu is in taijutsu-related techniques like Shunpo," he continued.
"Beyond that, there's the Zanpakuto."
"Zanpakuto?" Orochimaru was very interested in this new term, murmuring thoughtfully, "That would be your Kyoka Suigetsu, I presume."
"Correct." Naruto nodded. "This is also why I experiment with Reiatsu."
"By infusing Reiatsu, an ordinary soul can undergo a new evolution. If the evolution is successful, they will enter a new state of being and will possess a Zanpakuto similar to mine! But if it fails…" A slight smirk touched Naruto's lips. "They will become irrational Hollows."
Naruto stood up, hovering above the blood-soaked ground, his smile warm and gentle. "I know you've been conducting human experiments for a long time and yearn for immortality. To some extent, we are the same kind of people—we'll stop at nothing to achieve our goals, willing to abandon everything for the sake of research."
"I want to collaborate with you. I provide the resources, and you help me with my soul experiments. I believe that Shinigamification will be the path to eternal life."
Faced with Naruto's invitation, Orochimaru flashed a perverse smile and let out a hoarse laugh.
"Naruto-kun, is it really alright to show your true self so directly in front of me? You do know I have cooperative ties with Konoha's higher-ups, don't you?"
"Orochimaru really is still in contact with Danzo," Minato said anxiously from within the seal space. "Does he have some scheme for infiltrating Konoha this time?"
But then, on second thought, he remembered that he himself no longer had any connection to Konoha, and Minato's expression immediately turned grim.
Beside him, the Nine-Tails instantly jeered, "Kekeke, you yourself promised Naruto you wouldn't meddle with Konoha anymore and would just be a good little tool." He tilted his head high, an arrogant expression on his face.
"I know," Minato sighed.
Outside.
"I don't care if you have ties with Konoha's higher-ups, nor do I worry about you revealing my true nature to them," Naruto chuckled softly, looking directly into Orochimaru's snake-like pupils, his tone certain.
"You and I are the same kind of person. As long as my research has value, you won't betray me."
"Sssshahaha," Orochimaru stuck out his tongue, once again licking his slightly dry lips, and laughed perversely. "I never thought the real Uzumaki Naruto would be so confident. It seems you've thoroughly deceived those rotten and foolish Konoha higher-ups."
Orochimaru also stood up, his smile sinister. "Tell me your ideas."
Naruto handed Orochimaru his long-prepared research notes and explained, "My idea is to use large-scale Reiatsu experiments to push souls into a Hollow or Shinigami state, and through research, explore the boundary between Hollows and Shinigami. At the same time, we can also find the equilibrium point among humans, Hollows, and Shinigami, ultimately creating life forms like myself—beings that are human yet can wield Reiatsu."
"From a soul perspective, becoming a Shinigami or undergoing Hollowfication is equivalent to obtaining eternal life. They don't age, so they won't die naturally. This aligns with what you seek."
"Therefore, your research focus will be on new evolutionary paths for humans, Hollows, and Shinigami."
"This will require a vast amount of experimentation, as well as an extremely large laboratory space." Naruto gave Orochimaru a meaningful look. "I trust this won't be a problem for you."
"Of course not," Orochimaru responded.
"Shinigami can become stronger through Reiatsu cultivation, and Hollows can gain greater power and consciousness by devouring others," Naruto continued.
"And humans… can possess the powers of both." Kyoka Suigetsu suddenly appeared in Naruto's hand.
The blade vibrated softly, Reiatsu suffusing the air.
"This is the power of a Shinigami—a Zanpakuto. Care to experience its Shikai?" Naruto said with a smile, looking very much like a researcher sharing his experimental results.
"Naturally. I too would like to understand the capabilities of a Zanpakuto on a deeper level," Orochimaru replied.
He had learned from Danzo that Naruto's Zanpakuto was a Kekkei Genkai adept at weaving illusions.
Orochimaru was very curious about this; he wondered how this Kekkei Genkai would fare against a Kage-level powerhouse.
"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu," Naruto said with an enigmatic smile. Kyoka Suigetsu in his hand shattered into mirror fragments and vanished into the air.
"I don't feel like I'm under a genjutsu; everything seems natural," Orochimaru thought, throwing a shuriken at a tree. "Touch, sound… no problems there."
He began to circulate the chakra in his body to instantly break Kyoka Suigetsu's effect.
Only to discover with astonishment that the tree the shuriken had hit didn't exist at all, and the shuriken itself had long since been thrown elsewhere.
"An unbelievable ability," Orochimaru murmured, his eyes blazing, unable to contain his excitement. His desire for research reached its zenith.
"If every Zanpakuto possesses similar potential, then these Shinigami hold immense research value."
He looked at Naruto. "And the power of a Hollow?"
But he saw Naruto shake his head. "Hollow powers have not yet been mastered. More experiments are needed."
A smile appeared on Orochimaru's pale face. "Very interesting research. But Naruto-kun, how do you plan to provide me with resources? Are you perhaps going to defect from Konoha and come with me to Otogakure? Our Otogakure can't quite withstand Konoha's wrath, you know~"
The next moment, Orochimaru's eyes widened, as if he had seen something beyond imagination.
"The Four… Fourth?!" he blurted out in astonishment.
In his line of sight, the figure of Minato Namikaze had materialized beside Naruto.
"Yo, Orochimaru, long time no see. I didn't expect that the next time we met, you'd be a rogue ninja," Minato said, his expression complex.
"I also didn't expect to see you again," Orochimaru replied, a malicious smile on his lips. "May I ask if Lord Fourth Hokage is currently standing with Konoha, or with us?"