Naruto and Orochimaru reached a temporary agreement.
Just as Naruto was about to release Orochimaru from his restraints, Orochimaru opened his mouth, and a new Orochimaru, covered in saliva and mucus, emerged from it.
The newly appeared Orochimaru grinned at Naruto.
It was as if he was saying, "See, kid? It's easy for me to break free from these restraints."
Naruto shrugged, then pointed to the window, signaling that Orochimaru could leave.
Seeing this, Orochimaru shook his head and said, "Since we've already partnered, do you think you could do me a small favor?"
As he spoke, Orochimaru comically made a tiny gesture with his thumb and forefinger.
"What favor?" Naruto asked.
"Tell me about the Rinnegan, and also… how do you know about the Rinnegan?"
Orochimaru didn't waste any time and directly stated the information he, or rather Danzo, wanted to know.
He hadn't forgotten that Danzo still had half of the Hashirama Cells to acquire!
"Oh, I almost forgot about Danzo!"
As he spoke, Naruto lifted his shirt and continued, "You can infiltrate a wisp of your Chakra-infused consciousness into my Sealing Space, right?"
Although Orochimaru didn't know why Naruto wanted him to do this, he still nodded. He then extended an index finger, from which a blue Chakra glow emanated, and touched Naruto's abdomen.
At the same time.
Inside the Sealing Space.
Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze waited there alone.
This time, Naruto intended to let Danzo know about the Fourth Hokage's existence in advance.
Naturally, once Danzo knew this, he would likely be able to deduce why Naruto knew so many secrets.
Minato Namikaze was not standing in their usual activity spot, but outside the cage where Kurama was previously held.
To cooperate with the act, Kurama had also voluntarily returned to the cage.
"Sleeping in that sunny place all the time, it's really hard to get used to being back here!"
Kurama complained a little.
"Heh heh…" Minato Namikaze chuckled and said, "Just bear with it for a bit. Once Orochimaru leaves, you can go back to sleep!"
Just as Minato Namikaze finished speaking, a wisp of Chakra entered the Sealing Space.
Soon, this wisp of Chakra transformed into Orochimaru's likeness.
Orochimaru hadn't expected his consciousness to enter the Sealing Space so easily.
When he saw Minato Namikaze smiling at him, Orochimaru was even more shocked.
Seeing Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru instantly understood what was happening.
"Heh heh heh, Minato Namikaze, you truly have excellent methods…"
"After sealing the Nine-Tailed, you left your wife's soul and a wisp of your consciousness inside this child, didn't you?"
At this moment, no matter what Orochimaru imagined, Minato Namikaze maintained a "yes, yes, yes" attitude.
And Orochimaru's storm of speculation continued.
"You sealed the Nine-Tailed inside your son, and you also left a clone and Kushina Uzumaki's soul inside your son."
"This way, you can not only teach Uzumaki Naruto, but also revive yourself through some means when he grows up!"
"Heh heh heh heh… I can only say, truly worthy of Konoha's Hokage, your schemes run deep!"
"My coming to find Uzumaki Naruto this time should also be considered walking right into your trap. I suppose even if I hadn't come this time, you would have sought me out, Minato Namikaze!"
With that, Orochimaru stared intently at Minato Namikaze with his snake-like eyes.
He suddenly felt that Minato Namikaze, this man, was even more cunning than Danzo, and even more so than his teacher, the Third Hokage.
You see… if the Fourth Hokage were to suddenly revive and appear now, how immense would his prestige in Konoha be?
Although the Fourth Hokage died young, his feat of defeating the Nine-Tailed alone and saving all the Konoha villagers from peril had been deeply etched into the hearts of all Konoha villagers and Ninja.
Now, as Orochimaru looked at Minato Namikaze's smile, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was still planning something…
Minato Namikaze also deeply understood the Way of the Kage of the Pot; no matter how Orochimaru speculated, slandered, or theorized conspiracies, he simply maintained a "yes, yes, yes, it's all my fault, it has nothing to do with my son" attitude.
"Lord Orochimaru, now that you've seen me, you should know where Naruto's information comes from, right?"
Orochimaru nodded and said, "I know."
"However… I still have one question: does the Third Hokage know about the organization you secretly established?"
Minato Namikaze: …
"Eh? When did I ever establish an organization?"
Seeing Minato Namikaze's stunned expression, Orochimaru smiled confidently and said, "Heh heh heh, did I guess correctly? Indeed, I suppose my Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu was also investigated by your secret organization!"
Minato Namikaze: …
"The organization's name is the [Ninja World Republic Kage of the Pot Association]."
"Don't even think about investigating this organization; you won't find anything. Besides me and Naruto, no one can make anyone in this organization show themselves."
"Heh heh heh," Orochimaru chuckled, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, we are collaborators. I only need information. As for the source of the information, I never ask…"
In Orochimaru's eyes, his true collaborator was not Naruto, but Minato Namikaze before him.
"Alright… now that we've met, you should leave."
Just as Minato Namikaze finished speaking, a voice suddenly came from the giant cage nearby, followed by a surge of malevolent Chakra that assaulted Orochimaru.
Seeing this, Minato Namikaze snapped his fingers, and the Chakra that Kurama had leaked instantly vanished into thin air.
"Minato Namikaze…"
"How can you be so strong, you… you're even stronger than Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama!"
Orochimaru: ? ? ? ?
"Uchiha Madara? Senju Hashirama?"
Hearing Orochimaru's words, Kurama was also stunned; he seemed to have mixed up the names.
Seeing this, Minato Namikaze quickly made amends.
"Kurama, has your head been bashed silly by me?"
With that, Minato Namikaze pointed one hand at the cage.
Immediately, Orochimaru saw Kurama inside the cage begin to thrash wildly, his expression one of extreme pain, even drooling.
Orochimaru watched Minato Namikaze's current actions, secretly alarmed.
"I never thought that just a wisp of Minato Namikaze's consciousness could suppress the Nine-Tailed… Minato Namikaze is truly unfathomable."