Chapter 107: Orochimaru's Research Results
The azure light illuminated the entire secret underground laboratory, and paired with Naruto's scarlet eyes, it was indescribably beautiful, yet possessed a unique danger.
"Jiraiya taught you this move, did he?"
Orochimaru naturally recognized the Rasengan; he had suffered under this move before, and his memory of it was particularly deep.
"Yeah, not only did he teach me, he almost shattered my Shadow Clone!"
Naruto retracted the Rasengan. Thinking back to the scene yesterday where Jiraiya had been so ruthless, he still felt a lingering fear even a day later.
If not for the extraordinary quality of the Yin-Yang Release Chakra, Naruto's Shadow Clone would have long since dissipated under Jiraiya's relentless bombardment, and Naruto's identity would naturally have been exposed.
Fortunately, this did not happen; otherwise, Naruto's losses would have been significant!
"Orochimaru, have you heard of Sage Jutsu?"
"Sage Jutsu?" Orochimaru was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I naturally know about Sage Jutsu, and I even know the specific cultivation methods for it. But this thing doesn't just depend on the person; it relies even more on talent."
A trace of reminiscence appeared on Orochimaru's face, as if he were recalling times from the past. Such scenes had been occurring constantly over the past few days, and they were gradually becoming more frequent.
"Orochimaru, have you thought of something interesting again?"
"Indeed." Orochimaru's cold eyes narrowed. "I was thinking of my mentor, my close friend, and many things I had deliberately ignored."
"I really couldn't tell; as cold and cunning as you are, you have a sentimental side." Naruto didn't want to distinguish the truth from the lies in Orochimaru's words; pondering the human heart was exhausting, especially with this Cold Master Orochimaru before him.
"The past is in the past. Why don't I tell you about Sage Jutsu, and while I'm at it, show you the research I've nearly perfected?"
Naruto certainly wouldn't easily pass up the opportunity to peek at Orochimaru's research results. This would not only allow him to discern Orochimaru's trump cards but also help him analyze whether Orochimaru had any ulterior motives against him.
Cooperating with someone like Orochimarurequired keeping one's guard up. Naruto clearly remembered the time he had been backstabbed by Orochimaru; if it hadn't been for the Little Nine-Tails, Naruto would have died long ago.
"This is a Cursed Seal. It's a Physique I discovered in a very special test subject, which I then combined with Sealing Jutsu to improve upon." Orochimaru was very proud of his research results. "For certain reasons, I cannot Cultivate Sage Jutsu, but I didn't want to miss out on the Natural Energybehind it, so I had to come up with this method."
Orochimaru called over a boy with six arms and pulled down his collar to let Naruto clearly see the Cursed Seal engraved on his neck.
"This is the Earth Cursed Seal, a form of the Cursed Seal." Orochimaru's eyes shone. "When the Cursed Seal is activated, the user's body will develop a Pseudo-Sage face pattern, reaching a Pseudo-Sage Jutsu state. While increasing physical strength and Chakra levels, it can also absorb a small amount of Natural Energy floating in the natural world."
"The side effects must be significant…"
At a glance, Naruto saw the strange energy contained within the Earth Cursed Seal. He couldn't quite describe this energy, but it felt very uncomfortable. It seemed only natural for Narutoto guess that the Cursed Seal had side effects.
"All Jutsu are imperfect; that is something you often say, Naruto-kun." Orochimaru used Naruto's own words to block him. "The Earth Cursed Seal is not perfect, so I improved it and researched the Cursed Seal of Heaven!"
"While gaining more powerful strength, the side effects are relatively smaller, the degree of bodily alienation is greatly improved, and it is now possible to use a small amount of Natural Energy, rather than just passively enduring it."
"Then what is your purpose in showing me this?"
"If you don't have the talent to Cultivate Sage Jutsu, I think the Cursed Seal of Heaven can help you achieve that goal."
Naruto didn't know Orochimaru's goal, but even if he were foolish, he wouldn't personally test the strange things Orochimaru had researched. He couldn't trust Orochimaru.
"You are a Genius, but I have always resisted power that is not under my control, so I refuse."
"That is truly a pity…" Orochimaru didn't show any obvious disappointment. If Naruto were really so easily tricked, Orochimaru wouldn't have been having such a hard time. "You have missed another opportunity to become stronger."
"I've seen it, and I've heard it, so shouldn't we be setting off now?"
"No rush. Haven't you already left a Flying Thunder God Mark on the members of Rasa's guard? We have the complete advantage in terms of speed."
Unhurriedly, Orochimaru picked up another test tube, handed it to Naruto, and gestured for him to examine it.
"This is something separated from your cells. After testing, besides having a certain suppressive effect on Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyo Sharingan, it also has a certain effect of promoting the recovery of ocular power. It is contradictory, but also complementary."
"I…"
"Don't be in such a rush to refuse; just consider it a retreat path I'm leaving for myself for the future." Orochimaru spoke very sincerely. "I know you don't trust me, and I don't trust you either. After all, we were tied together by interests from the very beginning."
Orochimaru had understood this from the very beginning, and he was very open-minded about it. "I seek immortality, that is correct, and I am still seeking it now. But until I met Uchiha Itachi and you, I realized I was too naive."
"The Ninja World is not as simple as I thought, and the price of immortality is ultimately pain. This is not what I want, nor is it what I was pursuing from the start."
Naruto didn't interrupt; he kept quietly listening to Orochimaru's narration, very much wanting to find the fake parts in it, but unfortunately, Naruto didn't find any.
"Until I researched your body cells, I discovered that the Ninja World is far more exciting and far smaller than I thought."
Orochimaru picked up the petri dish containing Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan and the test tube containing Hyuga Hinata's blood. After placing the two different items before his eyes to observe them closely, a bewildered look appeared in his eyes.
"Can you imagine a scene where the origin that created these three Bloodline Limits actually came from the same person, and was far more powerful than these current Bloodlines?!"
"What!"
Naruto was now completely unable to remain calm. Although he had speculated before that there was a connection between the Sage Bodyand the Sage Eyes, Naruto really hadn't expected that the Byakugan also had a connection with both.
"I was like that at the beginning too." Orochimarulicked the corner of his mouth, a look of madness appearing on his face. "But this is the truth! It is the result I obtained after multiple studies and continuous correction!"
"Your cells can suppress the Sharingan and the Byakugan, and so can Hashirama cells!" Orochimaru's tone gradually became passionate. "Similarly, both of your cells have the same promoting effect on the Sharingan and the Byakugan, and as long as the quality and energy can keep up, both of these eyes show signs of evolution!"
"And the energy born from both eyes has the same effect on both of your cells; to a certain extent, it also promotes evolution!"
"After the three are combined, or after more similar Bloodlines are combined, evolved, and traced back to their source, the power that can be born from it is so great!"
"And humble immortality, in the face of such power, is completely like an ant; besides hiding and dodging, it simply cannot withstand a casual pinch of such power!"
"Then wouldn't the immortality I am currently pursuing become a joke?!" Orochimaru looked fanatically at the silent Naruto, his expression even containing a hint of reverence. "You are the key for me to unlock all these mysteries, the ladder for me to realize my own pursuit, so!"
"So what?" Naruto tilted his head and asked with a smile.
"Before that, please give me your greatest trust, Naruto-kun!"
Naruto nodded. Looking at Orochimaru, who didn't seem to be faking it, he not only didn't relax his vigilance but became even more guarded, because for Orochimaru to tell Naruto such an important secret, his intentions must be absolutely massive!