With everyone taking turns using ninjutsu to accelerate, the small boat didn't take much time to reach an island.
This was a branch base that Orochimaru called the "Southern Hideout."
It could be said that Naruto's luck was pretty good this time. There wasn't another navigation incident like before.
Or perhaps it was because this time the boat was operated by ninja under Orochimaru's command.
So, could it be my fault?
Naruto began to doubt himself somewhat.
Impossible, impossible. He had lived all these years, spending almost as much time at sea as on land. How could it be because of him?
Unable to figure it out, Naruto ultimately attributed everything to unfamiliarity with local sea conditions.
Completely ignoring the contributions of the Eternal Pose all these years.
After reaching the island, just as the group disembarked, a group of fully armed Sound ninja surrounded them.
Naruto didn't care about this at all.
At this moment, he was operating his Observation Haki at full power, scanning the entire island comprehensively.
After he completed his scan, the Sound Four had also confirmed their identities with those Sound ninja and received clearance.
Meanwhile, Naruto walked casually as if strolling in his own home, completely ignoring the guards and puppets scattered throughout the island.
Not far from leaving the coastline, they could see the island's only structures: a cluster of low fortress buildings.
Of course, under Naruto's Observation Haki scan, the underground prison facilities and laboratories were all clearly visible.
Similarly, he also discovered many imprisoned individuals.
Some were ninja, while others were simply ordinary people with certain bloodlines.
Tsk...
Naruto spat lightly.
That Orochimaru guy really was disgusting.
Speaking of the devil, and the devil appears.
The group had just entered the fortress cluster and taken an elevator to the underground level when Orochimaru, who had met Naruto twice before, walked up to greet them.
"Welcome, Naruto-kun."
Orochimaru's tone was very gentle, even friendly.
But combined with the occasional desperate cries from the surrounding prison cells, it seemed even more hypocritical.
"So when you said we should meet and talk, you meant sending this thing to find me?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Naruto-kun."
As he spoke, cracks appeared on this body's skin.
This was just a clone body used as a test subject. Limited by Orochimaru's current technology, its vital signs couldn't be guaranteed to last long.
"This special sensing ability, does it also come from that world? Or is it your special ability as an Uzumaki?"
The special ability he mentioned referred to the Uzumaki clan's sensing secret technique, "Kagura Mind's Eye."
Speaking of which, Naruto had looked at materials related to this secret technique, but since its function overlapped too much with Observation Haki, he simply gave up on it.
The scroll recording the cultivation method should still be with Karin.
"That's none of your business."
Naruto didn't show Orochimaru any kindness. The only reason he agreed to come here was to obtain the location of that Akatsuki organization's base.
Orochimaru didn't mind Naruto's attitude.
"Please forgive me. After all, with Naruto-kun's current strength, I couldn't rashly come here in my true form."
As mentioned before, Orochimaru always judged others by his own standards.
If their positions were reversed, he would definitely be able to break the agreement and directly capture the other party to force information out of them.
"Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, what exactly do you want before you'll tell me where Akatsuki's base is?"
"If what you want to say is taking my body for some research, then don't waste my time."
"You should know that as time passes, that organization will only expose more and more."
"I don't necessarily need to get their location from your mouth."
Regarding Naruto's forceful response, Orochimaru just shook his head dismissively.
"Naruto-kun, you don't need to be so wary of me."
"I bear you no ill will."
Perhaps only those unfortunate souls deceived by Orochimaru would believe such words.
At least in Naruto's eyes, this cunning snake was wrapped in extremely intense greedy desires.
It was several times more greedy than that bird Morgans when he saw the news.
Seeing that Naruto fell silent after saying this, Orochimaru had to bring the topic back.
"Actually, having Naruto-kun come this time was just to try whether the 'curse mark' I created could break through the 'barrier' between worlds that prevents material transmission."
"Curse mark?"
Naruto's eyes swept over the Sound Four, who had brought him here.
These guys had mentioned something about curse marks before, hadn't they?
"That's right, curse marks."
With a look from Orochimaru, Kidomaru from the Sound Four stepped forward first and directly used Curse Mark Level 2.
Naruto personally witnessed the opponent's complete transformation from "a weirdo with six arms" into an ugly monster that no longer looked human.
Of course, the change in appearance couldn't mask the increase in power.
But none of this was the most crucial point.
Although the curse mark on Kidomaru wasn't the "Cursed Seal of Heaven" that Orochimaru could use for reincarnation, Naruto still keenly sensed from the chakra contained in the opponent's body the cold, slimy aura unique to Orochimaru's cold-blooded nature.
"He has your scent on him."
This statement was somewhat ambiguous, but Orochimaru could understand.
"As expected of you, Naruto-kun. I really didn't misjudge you."
"To realize this point when seeing curse mark mode for the first time..."
"Let me interrupt. It's not the first time."
Naruto took out his sake gourd and took a light sip before speaking.
After being interrupted, Orochimaru just glanced at the Sound Four, who didn't dare speak, then chuckled softly to himself.
"It seems some little accidents I didn't know about occurred..."
When the Sound Four heard Orochimaru say this, unease immediately appeared on their faces.
But Naruto was already getting impatient. He simply stood up directly, walked in front of Orochimaru, and looked down at him from above.
"What exactly are you trying to say? Orochimaru?"
"Don't be hasty, Naruto-kun."
Seeing this scene, Orochimaru also put away his showing-off attitude and began explaining in detail the "Cursed Seal of Heaven" and "Cursed Seal of Earth" he had created.
Of course, he concealed certain key information.
"So what you mean is that as long as you plant this so-called curse mark on my body, I can take you to that other world?"
"That's right, Naruto-kun. At that point, our transaction will be complete."
A persuasive expression appeared on Orochimaru's face, which had already begun shedding skin, but it looked incredibly hideous.
"Really, Orochimaru..."
For the first time, Naruto, who was looking down at him, couldn't control his expression and laughed out loud.
"What exactly did I do wrong?"
"To make you think I'm that stupid?"
In that instant, his Haki erupted at full power.