Uzumaki Kuronaru's plan was finally set into motion.
In the tense ninja world, every village and faction anxiously awaited the outcome of Uzumaki Naruto's actions. The stakes were high. Orochimaru's elusive nature meant that without cooperation, it would be nearly impossible for anyone, even someone as capable as Naruto, to track him down.
But the possibility of refusal from Orochimaru's subordinates loomed large. For them, refusal equaled death.
Naruto's objective was clear.
He knew why Orochimaru desired Sasuke. Jiraiya had explained it in detail—Orochimaru had mastered a forbidden jutsu that allowed him to occupy the bodies of others. By taking over someone's body, Orochimaru could inherit their physical capabilities and unique abilities.
And what ability did Orochimaru covet above all?
The Sharingan.
The night was calm, but a sense of unease filled the air.
Naruto intercepted Orochimaru's elite four—Tayuya, Sakon, Jirobo, and Kidomaru—just as they entered Konoha under the cover of darkness.
Tayuya froze, her instincts screaming danger the moment she saw Naruto.
"Y-you..." Tayuya stammered, her voice trembling as she felt the suffocating pressure of Naruto's chakra.
Naruto chuckled, his golden hair gleaming faintly in the moonlight. "What's this? The four of you sneaking into Konoha in the middle of the night? Insomnia, or are you here to relive old memories?"
The four of them were paralyzed with fear. The last time they crossed paths with Naruto, it had been during Orochimaru's failed attack on Konoha. Back then, Naruto had effortlessly thwarted their plans, reducing their confidence to rubble.
Tayuya's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way to escape.
Naruto, noticing their silence, sighed in mock exasperation. "What's wrong? You came all the way to Konoha and don't even have the courtesy to attack me? Or have you finally realized how hopeless it is to face me?"
It wasn't an exaggeration. The four of them couldn't even muster the strength to move under the oppressive weight of Naruto's chakra.
"Fine," Naruto said, his tone shifting. The smile disappeared from his face, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze. "Listen carefully. I'll give you one chance to live."
The four held their breath, waiting for the conditions of their survival.
"Take me to Orochimaru," Naruto commanded.
The proposition was terrifying. Betraying Orochimaru was a death sentence. But so was defying Naruto.
As if sensing their hesitation, Naruto added, "Relax. I don't want to fight Orochimaru. I'm here to talk business. If things go smoothly, you'll even earn some favor from him."
Favor?
The ninja world collectively scoffed at that notion. The audience, scattered across the ninja villages, couldn't help but laugh at Naruto's statement.
In Baiming's timeline, the same four had brought Uchiha Sasuke to Orochimaru, only to see Sasuke quickly overthrow and dismember their master. To bring Uzumaki Naruto into Orochimaru's lair now? They'd be delivering a catastrophe straight to his doorstep.
Naruto didn't give them much time to contemplate. He casually revealed a large scroll—Konoha's Book of Seals.
The sight of the scroll made the four gasp. This wasn't just any ordinary scroll; it contained Konoha's most forbidden and dangerous techniques.
"Consider this a peace offering," Naruto said. He twirled the scroll before putting it away.
Unbeknownst to the four, Naruto had already memorized every technique in the scroll. He had even removed the most dangerous jutsus, like the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, ensuring they wouldn't fall into Orochimaru's hands.
Tayuya exchanged a glance with the others. They were trapped.
Sighing, she finally said, "Fine. We'll take you to Lord Orochimaru."
With no other choice, the group began their journey.
---
The trek to Orochimaru's base was grueling. The four elite ninja, used to facing death in battle, found themselves constantly glancing back at Naruto. The boy was terrifyingly calm, his presence unnervingly composed.
Naruto, however, wasn't worried in the slightest. He could end them in an instant if they tried anything.
As they approached Orochimaru's hidden base, nestled within a deep underground cavern, Naruto couldn't help but wrinkle his nose.
"What's with this guy?" he muttered. "Does he really like living underground that much? Is he part snake or part mole?"
Tayuya, too scared to respond, simply gestured towards the entrance. "This is it... Lord Orochimaru's base."
Naruto gestured for her to lead the way, his piercing gaze ensuring she wouldn't dare try anything suspicious.
---
Inside Orochimaru's Lair
The eerie, dimly lit corridors of the base were exactly what Naruto had expected—cold, damp, and reeking of experiments gone wrong.
Tayuya and the others led him straight to Orochimaru's chamber.
The snake-like sannin was seated casually, his piercing yellow eyes narrowing as Naruto entered the room.
"Orochimaru," Naruto greeted, his voice steady.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Orochimaru replied, his lips curling into an intrigued smile. "What an unexpected guest."
Naruto smirked, tossing the Book of Seals onto the table between them. "Let's talk about cooperation."
Orochimaru's gaze shifted to the scroll, his interest visibly piqued.
"And what does Konoha's golden boy want in exchange for this little treasure?" Orochimaru asked, his tone dripping with amusement.
"Information," Naruto replied. "I want to know everything you've uncovered about Sharingan and its connection to the Nine Tails."
Orochimaru's expression darkened slightly.
"And why would I share that with you?"
Naruto's smirk widened. "Because I'm the only one who can give you what you want."
Orochimaru tilted his head, intrigued.
"The Uzumaki bloodline," Naruto continued. "Our clan's chakra reserves and vitality surpass anything you've ever experimented with. If you want to perfect your jutsu, I'm your best bet."
The room fell silent.
Naruto's words were bold, but they weren't wrong. Orochimaru had long been obsessed with immortality, and the Uzumaki clan's legendary vitality was the missing piece in many of his experiments.
"But let me be clear," Naruto said, his voice turning cold. "If you betray me, I'll kill you. And unlike Sasuke, I won't stop at just dismembering you."
Orochimaru chuckled, his snake-like tongue flicking out briefly. "You've grown bold, Naruto-kun. I must admit, you're far more interesting than I anticipated."
Naruto didn't respond. He simply waited for Orochimaru's decision.
Finally, Orochimaru nodded. "Very well. Let's cooperate."
---
In the Spiritual Realm
While Naruto negotiated with Orochimaru, the Nine Tails stirred uneasily within his seal.
"Naruto," Kurama growled. "Are you sure about this? Orochimaru is dangerous, even by my standards."
"I know," Naruto replied. "But we don't have the luxury of playing it safe. The ninja world is on the brink of chaos. If we don't take risks, we'll lose everything."
Kurama fell silent, acknowledging the truth in Naruto's words.
"But remember," Naruto added, "I'm not doing this recklessly. I've thought it through. If things go wrong, I'll deal with Orochimaru myself."
---
Conclusion
As Naruto walked out of Orochimaru's base, the four elite ninja followed silently behind him, their expressions a mix of relief and terror.
The ninja world watched in stunned silence.
Uzumaki Naruto had just forged an alliance with one of its most dangerous criminals. But was it a genuine partnership, or was Naruto merely setting the stage for his next move?
Only time would tell.
---
––-------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Samurai492