The water splashed down, soaking the earth.
Just as it was about to drench Naruto, an invisible barrier split the streams, diverting them to either side.
Mei Terumi, lacking such an ability, could only dodge amid the water splashes to avoid getting wet.
"Thank you, Naruto," Mei Terumi waved at him, blowing a playful kiss. "Without you, I wouldn't have known that I could communicate with the Three-Tails."
Naruto turned back to look at her. "Tail Beasts, surprisingly, are quite simple-minded creatures."
"They are like mirrors," he continued. "The attitude you show them is reflected right back in the emotions they return to you."
Mei paused, momentarily lost in thought.
The Fourth Mizukage had never expressed it in such terms, though he'd said something similar.
Aren't the Tailed Beasts supposed to be mere tools?
She pondered this deeply.
Meanwhile, Naruto was already heading back towards the Hidden Mist Village.
Karin approached Mei, hands on her hips. "Naruto is only thirteen!"
Mei smiled sweetly and pinched Karin's cheek lightly. "You're such a cute little girl."
Karin glared at her, but Mei just waved and took her hand, prompting her to catch up with Naruto.
The inner world.
The Nine-Tails' eyes glimmered with a peculiar light. It was still communicating with the Three-Tails—though it was mostly chastising Isobu for being a blabbermouth.
Yet, its mood did not reflect its harsh words.
Naruto and Karin had stayed in the Hidden Mist for quite some time.
In the early days, they were always accompanied by Mei, who diligently served as their guide.
But once she realized that Naruto posed no danger unless provoked, she entrusted the "guide" duty to Chojuro, a young man with short blue hair, black-framed glasses, and a meek appearance, though he had chakra reserves on a jōnin level.
He felt a bit apprehensive about this task.
Interacting with someone like Naruto Uzumaki, a formidable figure, was nerve-wracking indeed.
However, his tension proved needless.
In the days that followed, Naruto scarcely ventured out, opting to spend most of his time indoors with Karin, delving into the contents of the scrolls.
The Land of Water had taken a remarkable trove from Uzushiogakure.
Although the sealing techniques were not entirely complete, a wealth of related knowledge was available.
There were also mentions of the "Dead Demon Consuming Seal," though only fragmentary, a mere glimpse into the formidable technique.
This left Naruto and Karin somewhat disappointed as they uncovered notes on another sealing technique called the "Four Symbols Seal," the very one used to bind the Nine-Tails within Naruto.
Again, as with the "Dead Demon Consuming Seal," only scattered mentions were found.
Naruto and Karin spent a month staying in Kirigakure before taking their leave. They traveled across the Land of Water, visiting shrines and temples in hopes of finding traces of divine presence.
Contrary to their expectations, these island tales rivaled those of the Land of Fire, consisting solely of folklore.
Eventually, they sailed back to the Land of Fire, making their way towards the Land of Fields.
Upon meeting Orochimaru again, he appeared as he did in Konoha long ago, sans the bandages—an indication that his body modifications were complete.
His visage was still as handsome and snakelike, albeit his arms still hung limply by his sides.
"Naruto-kun, long time no see. It's been nearly a year, hasn't it?" With time having soothed his emotions, his restlessness had mellowed.
"I've discovered some materials related to the Dead Demon Consuming Seal in the Land of Water," Naruto declared directly, wasting no time on pleasantries.
"Though there's no complete technique listed."
"Still, it should prove valuable."
He handed a scroll to Orochimaru, who had Kabuto Yakushi unfurl it.
"It seems Naruto-kun has been diligent," Orochimaru murmured after reading, "but I haven't been idle either."
With an exchange of glances with Kabuto, the session concluded.
A scroll was placed on the table.
Naruto opened it.
"I've been researching a few things during this time," Orochimaru spoke softly, introducing his findings. "Seeing the information Naruto-kun brought back from the Land of Water, I am more confident that my research is on the right track."
"Do you remember the records you gave me initially?" He paused, giving a brief summary: "The Death God is an ancient deity who signed a contract with the Uzumaki clan. The user could summon the Death God by forming hand seals, offering both their own soul and the enemy's as sacrifices."
He stopped for a moment.
"Such a description reminds me of some unpleasant things."
"I have a very unruly summoning beast."
"Its nature is somewhat similar to this Death God. Every time I summon it to battle, it always demands live human sacrifices."
Naruto looked up at him with a frown.
"Live sacrifices", the mere mention of this sounded sinister.
"Thinking about that summoning beast led me to ponder," Orochimaru continued, "Could this, although different in hand seals, be a unique summoning technique to call forth a special beast?"
"I considered the concept using reverse summoning techniques to deconstruct the ritual."
"I made some progress."
He focused on Orochimaru's hands—if it were successful, he doubted Orochimaru would resist retrieving his own soul but would instead wait for him to arrive to share the research results.
"Yes, it wasn't successful," Orochimaru licked his lips, bright-eyed but undaunted. "But the issue isn't with the ritual itself."
"It's an issue of the 'vessel'."
Naruto repeated, "Vessel?"
"To sign a contract with the Death God, this ritual must have a proper vessel," Orochimaru continued, "So to perform the dissolution technique, wouldn't a corresponding vessel also be required?"
Naruto asked, "Does that mean a contract with the Death God is necessary?"
"This was not obtained from the Land of Water."
"You obviously won't find it there," Orochimaru shook his head, "Don't forget, the last person to use this technique was my dear teacher, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"So that contract is in Konoha," Naruto's gaze at Orochimaru was icy. "Are you trying to persuade me to retrieve the contract from Konoha?"
Orochimaru licked his lips, eyes sparkling as if anticipating something.
"I will verify your results." Naruto spoke with a calm tone. "I'll be keeping this scroll for now."
He looked forward to unraveling the technique "Dead Demon Consuming Seal."
However, he had no desire to become someone else's pawn because of it.
Naruto formed a seal and stored the scroll away.
Orochimaru let out a hoarse laugh, "Naruto-kun, you still don't trust me enough."
Changing the topic, he suddenly mentioned another matter, "I've heard you've been searching for gods and great monsters recently?"
"You know?" Naruto queried.
Orochimaru shook his head, "It's no secret."
"Anyone who keeps an eye on you knows about it."
Naruto stared at him, pondering, "So, do you have any reliable information you want to trade with me for something in return?"
"I don't have time to study these things," Orochimaru shook his head. "I'm not young anymore and can't spare the time."
"But..."
"Naruto-kun, have you considered asking the toads of Mount Myōboku?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow in confusion, "The toads of Mount Myōboku?"
"It seems Jiraiya didn't introduce them to you, what a careless teacher he is." Orochimaru grinned sarcastically. "The toads of Mount Myōboku are no ordinary toads."
"Jiraiya once told me"
"The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku possesses the ability to foresee."
Naruto nodded, lost in thought, "Orochimaru, you wouldn't be this generous without reason."
Orochimaru eyed Naruto, licking his lips with a hint of greed, "I underestimated the power of the two words of power you brought me."
"Truly a marvelous thing."
"They are simple yet precise, making them difficult for me to study."
He paused for a moment.
"I have information on a place as famous as Mount Myōboku, the Ryūchi Cave." Orochimaru slightly restrained his eagerness. "The White Snake Sage there, though lacking the foresight of the Great Toad Sage, is an ancient being over a thousand years old."
"Perhaps you could extract some useful information from its mouth."
"Interested in making this deal, Naruto-kun?" Orochimaru's question hung in the air.
Naruto contemplated it, weighing his options.
Orochimaru opened his mouth, spitting out a sticky scroll. "You've already signed a contract with Mount Myōboku; another one with Ryūchi Cave might not be feasible," he said as the scroll thudded onto the table. "But a lack of a contract doesn't mean you can't go there."
"After all, they do exist in this world."
"Here, the location is recorded," Orochimaru added, tapping the scroll.
"I can offer you two more," Naruto countered.
"That's perfectly acceptable," Orochimaru agreed with a sly smile.
Naruto pondered for a moment.
He decided to write down the incantations for the Demon Arts number eight and ten on the scroll and handed it over to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's grin widened with satisfaction.
Karin proceeded to take out her long-unused ninja tool kit, carefully sanitizing the scroll that Orochimaru had just expelled, before storing it away.
"Such a pleasant transaction. Will you not stay a little longer, Naruto-kun?" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he jovially addressed the blond youth who was already on his feet.
Naruto shook his head, and with Karin, he departed.
"Using something so valuable just to trade for those two techniques, isn't that too generous?" Kabuto muttered quietly, concerned about Orochimaru's intentions.
Orochimaru chuckled silently, "Kabuto, you fail to grasp their true worth."
"It's merely a location of the Ryūchi Cave."
He gazed at the scroll on the table.
Those Arts.
They offered him not just the convenience of "Word Incantation," but included an essence of power buried within.
Although it was faint, and despite his extensive research, he couldn't augment the soul power it contained.
"Naruto-kun is not only powerful in body and chakra," Orochimaru remarked cryptically, "his soul is remarkably strong as well."
(End of Chapter)