Orochimaru was in disbelief.
After more than four months of interacting, it was only after being reminded that he realized the peculiarity about Naruto—
A lifeform completely different from "normal people."
He had discarded his physical body and existed as only a soul.
"The soul really is a mysterious thing." He circled the blond figure several times before stopping, unable to resist the urge to touch—but was immediately struck away by a sword sheath. "To discard the body and still live..."
"I used to think..."
"That after death, the soul simply dissipates."
"Or, like that old man, gets taken away by some strange death god."
Naruto spoke calmly, "I've said it many times before."
"The decay of the body doesn't mean death—it's just the beginning of another kind of life."
Orochimaru shook his head, "Even with someone like you as an example..."
"I wouldn't dare try it so easily."
Naruto tilted his head and looked at the Uchiha beside him, who was holding a newly forged sword: "Sasuke can also wield this kind of power."
He walked over and unsheathed Nine-Tails.
After returning to the Soul Society, he had learned the technique that allowed a soul to separate from the body.
It was simple, and he engraved the technique onto the end of his sword's hilt.
Sasuke didn't dodge, though he was clearly tense and stiff.
Nine-Tails flipped in Naruto's grip, and the sword's pommel tapped Sasuke's forehead.
His body immediately went limp and collapsed to the ground.
But another "Sasuke" remained standing in place—
His soul.
It resembled the souls Naruto had seen before—his father's, and the First Hokage's—a mix of chakra and spirit. But different from them, Sasuke's soul already possessed faint traces of Shinigami power.
Of course, he hadn't become a Shinigami yet. The reason he had such a trait was because the "Indra" who shared his soul had been reforged into a Zanpakutō.
However—
His attire still resembled the kimono he wore in life, not a Shihakushō.
That made sense.
A Shihakushō is a uniform crafted specifically after joining the Gotei 13. While it becomes a part of a Shinigami's power when worn, before that it's just like any normal outfit.
Should he learn how to make Shihakushōs too?
Underground.
With the birth of a new soul, the Six Paths power surged forth once more.
This time, it moved cautiously.
Sensing Naruto's presence, it hesitated, and upon noticing the unusual traits of Sasuke's soul—especially the aura of the sword in his hand—it paused, coiled itself underground, and continued to observe, waiting to determine Sasuke's status—alive or dead.
Naruto frowned.
Still couldn't avoid the Sage of Six Paths...
He waved his hand, and golden chains shot out, lifting Sasuke's physical body.
With a gentle push, Naruto returned Sasuke's soul to his body.
The Six Paths power immediately withdrew.
This strange phenomenon left Sasuke shocked and confused as he examined his own body.
"Is it because of that sword?" Orochimaru's eyes sparkled, examining everything intently. "To live on after discarding one's body..."
"Would one have a normal human lifespan?"
"Or…"
Naruto spoke softly: "The soul's decay doesn't follow the same rules as the body's."
"With your potential, your life will only be longer than that of an ordinary person."
Orochimaru's eyes grew even more fanatical.
He craved "eternity."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have developed techniques like Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Though abandoning the physical body was odd…
Still…
If Naruto could live as a soul and walk the world like a normal human—
Then why couldn't he?
Sasuke, still dazed, had the clearest understanding: "So the world after death… really does exist."
"Then I might still…"
"You'll meet them," Naruto nodded, cutting him off.
"Then I'll join," Sasuke said firmly, his gaze becoming clearer.
Orochimaru licked his lips, "Can I get a sword like that too?"
"Haven't you already learned how to forge one?" Naruto gave him a strange look.
They had done experiments together.
At first, Naruto took the lead, but later, even without him, Orochimaru could proceed independently.
His talent was no less than Mayuri Kurotsuchi's.
His madness, too.
"Knowing how and actually doing it are two different things," Orochimaru shook his head, openly admitting, "My control over 'spiritual power' isn't strong enough to forge something on your level."
"And—"
"Materials that can be forged into such blades are rare in the ninja world."
"Things like Tailed Beasts… or the Dragon Vein, or that rumored entity in the Land of Demons."
"My hands are currently in your possession, Naruto-kun, and I don't have the strength to 'hunt' those things."
"Sasuke probably won't listen to me anymore either."
Naruto was thoughtful: "What are those rumors about the Dragon Vein and the Land of Demons?"
"They're quite interesting rumors," Orochimaru leaned in with a sly smile. "Want to make a deal?"
"I have an interesting proposal—"
He paused meaningfully, "Naruto-kun, your body is still in your possession, right?"
"How about we use that—"
Before he could finish, a slender golden chain flew in and smacked him hard in the face.
It wasn't Naruto's Adamantine Sealing Chains—
It was Karin's.
"You perverted old man! Stop thinking about Naruto's body!" she snarled, gritting her teeth. "There's no way we'd give it to you!"
Naruto spread his hands: "Exactly."
"You've grown, Karin," Orochimaru grinned with blood trickling down his face, shaking his head, "Since that's not an option—"
"Then—"
"When Naruto-kun forges Karin's sword, how about he makes one for me too?"
Naruto tilted his head: "Then join the Seireitei."
"Is that necessary?" Orochimaru replied softly, "I'm not one for following orders."
"How about another deal?"
[You're required to join.]Naruto nodded, his tone absolute: "I've already figured out your placement."
"Captain of the Research and Development Division."
Orochimaru clicked his tongue.
He was now starting to regret the curiosity he had about Naruto during the Konoha Crush plan.
If he hadn't been so curious, he wouldn't have gradually fallen into this "situation."
But—
There was no turning back now.
Naruto had completely locked onto him.
"Let me tell you about those two things," Orochimaru changed the topic.
"The Dragon Vein is a strange existence. Supposedly—"
"It contains endless chakra."
"And might even have the ability to affect space-time."
Naruto echoed, "Space-time?"
Orochimaru nodded with a wide grin: "But no one's ever seen it personally, and—"
"It was sealed by your father, the Fourth Hokage."
"Ordinary people can't unravel that seal."
Naruto acknowledged that.
Orochimaru tilted his head, voice lowering slightly, "There are many legends about the Dragon Vein, but at least it's real."
"But the thing in the Land of Demons…"
"That goes back even before the Sage of Six Paths."
"They say a monstrous entity once existed in this world, and a group of people borrowed its power to nearly destroy the world."
"Eventually, the monster was sealed by an unknown hero in the Land of Demons."
Karin raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Before the Sage of Six Paths?"
"That's the era of deities and spirits that used natural energy…"
Orochimaru looked past Naruto and stared at Karin with a bit of disbelief: "You seem to know more than I do?"
"I don't know if the story is true or not," he admitted.
"But the reason I believe it—"
"Is because decades ago, a group of 'immortal ninja' appeared in the Land of Demons. According to the shrine maiden, it was due to someone using the monster's power."
He paused and licked his lips: "Perfect—two different kinds of power."
"They can each be used to forge a sword."
"One for Karin. The other for me. How about it?"
Naruto didn't immediately agree—he just smiled at him.
A warm smile, but one that made Orochimaru's instincts recoil with unease.
He couldn't shake the feeling—
That this blond boy was plotting something.
After the swords were forged—
Naruto remained in Orochimaru's base for another month, exchanging knowledge on "natural energy."
In this area, Orochimaru had achieved quite a lot.
Aside from his studies on Ryūchi Cave—
He also found a boy named Jūgo.
The White Snake Sage claimed Orochimaru's Cursed Seal was created through her venom, but Orochimaru said the inspiration and execution actually came from this boy.
He was a natural-born Sage Mode user.
However—
Unlike those who acquired it through training, Jūgo couldn't control it.
Whenever in an area with dense natural energy, he would passively enter Sage Mode, then lose control and go berserk.
Why?
Orochimaru had long figured it out.
"Natural energy" is a violent force that transforms weak matter—such as the human body.
When the body is affected, hormones go haywire, and emotions become unstable.
Training in Sage Mode requires one's chakra to merge with natural energy, and the point is simple: to use the "will" within chakra to suppress the natural energy's violent nature.
To bring it into a usable balance.
That's why those with greater chakra reserves are more suited for Sage Mode.
During that month—
Sasuke bonded with his Zanpakutō. He could vaguely hear some sounds, but nothing clear.
The exact reason?
Naruto didn't know.
There are too many possible reasons why a Zanpakutō can't "shikai."
Not confronting one's inner self, or lacking strength—any of these could be it.
And this Zanpakutō was a special case.
Naruto didn't know if Sasuke's Shikai would awaken his own power—or Indra's.
But he had no time to wait.
Once he had some mastery of Sage Mode, Naruto left the Sound Village with Karin—
And headed toward the two nations that held those powerful forces.
(End of Chapter)