With the group taking turns using Ninjutsu to accelerate the boat, they didn't spend much time before arriving at an island.
This was one of Orochimaru's branch bases, referred to as the Southern Hideout.
One could say Naruto's luck this time wasn't too bad, as there were no incidents of getting lost at sea like before.
Or perhaps it was because the ones steering the boat were Orochimaru's subordinates.
'So… was it actually my fault before?'
Naruto began to doubt himself.
'No, no way. I've spent nearly as much time at sea as I have on land over the years. How could it be because of me?'
Unable to figure it out, Naruto ultimately chalked it up to unfamiliarity with sea conditions.
Completely ignoring the fact that the Eternal Pose had been doing most of the work all along.
After arriving on the island, the moment they disembarked, a group of fully armed Otogakure's Ninjas surrounded them.
Naruto didn't care about this at all.
Right now, he was fully expanding his Observation Haki, scanning the entire island in every direction.
By the time he finished, the Sound Four had already confirmed their identities with the Otogakure's Ninjas and were granted passage.
Meanwhile, Naruto strolled along as if he were taking a casual walk in his own home, completely indifferent to the guards and puppets scattered across the island.
Not far from the coastline, one can see the only building on the island… a cluster of low, fortress-like buildings.
Of course, under Naruto's Observation Haki, the underground prison facilities and laboratories were laid bare.
Similarly, he also found many guys who were imprisoned.
Some of them are Ninjas, while others are just ordinary people with special bloodlines.
"Tch…"
Naruto clicked his tongue in disgust.
'This guy Orochimaru… really is revolting.'
Speak of the devil and he will appear.
The few of them had just entered the fortress and taken the elevator underground when Orochimaru, whom Naruto had met twice before, appeared before them.
"Welcome… Naruto-kun."
Orochimaru's tone was gentle, even friendly.
But against the backdrop of the occasional wails and sobs echoing from the prison cells, it only made him seem all the more insincere.
"So, when you said you wanted to meet and talk, you meant sending this thing to come get me?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Naruto-kun."
As he spoke, cracks began to form on the skin of his current body.
This was just a clone… an experimental vessel. Due to the limitations of Orochimaru's current techniques, its lifespan was unstable.
"Is this unique sensing ability also from that other world? Or is it a special trait of the Uzumaki Clan?"
The 'special ability' Orochimaru referred to was the Uzumaki Clan's secret sensor technique, Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
Come to think of it, Naruto had read about that technique, but since its functions overlapped too much with Observation Haki, he'd simply ignored it.
The scroll containing its training methods was probably still with Karin.
"That's none of your business."
Naruto didn't bother hiding his distaste for Orochimaru. The only reason he'd agreed to come here was to get the location of Akatsuki's hideout.
However, Orochimaru wasn't bothered by Naruto's attitude.
"Please forgive me. Given your current strength, Naruto-kun, I couldn't risk appearing before you in person."
As mentioned before, Orochimaru always projected his own nature onto others.
If their positions were reversed, he absolutely would have broken the agreement and captured Naruto to interrogate him by force.
"Enough stalling. Just tell me… what do you want in exchange for Akatsuki's location?"
"If you're thinking of using my body for some experiment, don't waste my time."
"You should know that as time passes, more and more about that organization will come to light."
"I don't necessarily have to get their location from you."
Faced with Naruto's forceful response, Orochimaru merely shook his head noncommittally.
"Naruto-kun, there's no need for such intense wariness toward me."
"I bear you no ill will."
That was the kind of line only the unfortunate people Orochimaru had tricked into following him would believe.
As far as Naruto was concerned, this cunning snake was wrapped in greed so intense it made Morgans, that bird-brained newsman, look tame by comparison.
Seeing that Naruto had no intention of continuing the conversation, Orochimaru smoothly steered the topic back on track.
"Truthfully, the reason I invited you here was simply to test whether the 'Cursed Seal' I've created can bypass the so-called 'barrier' between worlds that prevents the transfer of matter."
"Cursed Seal?"
Naruto's gaze flicked toward the Sound Four who had brought him here.
'Weren't these guys had also mentioned something about a Cursed Seal earlier?'
"Indeed, the Cursed Seal."
With a glance from Orochimaru, Kidomaru stepped forward and immediately activated his second-stage Cursed Seal transformation.
Naruto then witnessed with his own eyes the other party's complete transformation from a 'weirdo with six arms' into an ugly monster that no longer looked like a human.
Of course, the grotesque appearance cannot conceal the increase in its power.
But that wasn't the main point.
Even though Kidomaru's seal wasn't the [Cursed Seal of Heaven] Orochimaru used for reincarnation, Naruto still sensed it… the slimy, reptilian essence of Orochimaru's Chakra coiled within the transformed body.
"He smells like you."
The phrasing was ambiguous, but Orochimaru understood it.
"As expected of you, Naruto-kun. I knew I wasn't wrong about you."
"To recognize this at first glance-"
"Correction. Not the first glance."
Naruto said after taking out his sake flask and taking a sip.
After being interrupted, Orochimaru simply glanced at the Sound Four, who dared not speak, then chuckled and muttered softly to himself.
"It seems there were some… unforeseen incidents along the way."
When the Sound Four heard Orochimaru say this, uneasy looks immediately appeared on their faces.
But Naruto was already getting impatient, so he simply stood up, walked in front of Orochimaru, and looked down at him condescendingly, "Get to the point, Orochimaru. What are you really after?"
"...No need for haste, Naruto-kun."
After seeing this scene, Orochimaru put away his desire to show off and began to explain the [Cursed Seal of Heaven] and [Cursed Seal of Earth] that he had created.
Of course, he conveniently omitted certain key details.
"…So you're saying that if you implant this so-called Cursed Seal on me, you can hitch a ride to the other world?"
"Precisely, Naruto-kun. Once that's done, our transaction will be complete."
Orochimaru's face, whose skin had begun to peel off, twisted into what might have been a reassuring smile, if not for how grotesque it looked.
"Damn it, Orochimaru..."
And Naruto, who was looking down at him, couldn't control his expression for the first time and laughed out loud.
"What did I ever do..."
"To make you think I'm that stupid?"
In that instant, his Haki erupted without restrain.