Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

While Jiraiya was still sleeping off the alcohol in his room, Naruto quietly left behind a letter and slipped away without a sound.

Half a day later, the two of them arrived in the Land of Rice Fields, at the Hidden Sound Village.

"Naruto-kun, you've come again," Kabuto Yakushi greeted him at the village entrance, not surprised in the least by Naruto's return after just a few days. "Have you already heard the news?"

Naruto blinked.

"What news?"

"You don't know?" Kabuto looked genuinely surprised. "I thought you came to see Lord Orochimaru because of it."

"Something related to me?" Naruto narrowed his eyes.

Kabuto smiled slightly. "You'll see soon enough. For now, let's treat it as an unopened surprise."

"Please, follow me."

This time, instead of leading Naruto to the usual meeting room, Kabuto turned into a secluded building, winding through a few corridors until they reached an underground entrance.

"A snake's nest, huh," Naruto chuckled. "Orochimaru trusts me this much already?"

Kabuto shook his head. "Lord Orochimaru recently learned that the Uzumaki clan possesses a secret technique called Kagura Shingan."

"Combined with Naruto-kun's powerful sensory ability…"

"Lord Orochimaru figured it would be better to be open with you. After all, you'd find out one way or another."

As he spoke, he opened a heavy door.

The path leading underground was cold and dark, though not damp.

After several turns, they stopped before a door. Kabuto respectfully knocked.

"Lord Orochimaru, Naruto-kun has arrived."

A muffled voice responded from within: "Let Naruto-kun come in."

The door opened.

Orochimaru was revealed to the three of them.

He stood before a lab table, his jaw opened wide like a snake's maw. From each tooth extended a fine chakra thread, allowing him to manipulate two puppets simultaneously while dissecting a corpse on the table.

"It hasn't been long, Naruto-kun. I heard you made quite a scene with your Tailed Beast transformation in the Land of Fire… Was it that foolish beast, the Nine-Tails, acting up again?"

Naruto didn't answer.

Instead, an old, gruff voice came from his shoulder: "Naruto, kill this bastard."

"How dare he speak of me like that."

"A filthy, crawling, disgusting creature!"

As it spoke, a beam of white lightning shot out.

It struck one of the puppets, igniting it in flames. The chakra threads burned away, and it collapsed to the floor, useless.

Only then did Orochimaru notice the small creature on Naruto's shoulder.

A nine-tailed, fluffy, crimson-red fox.

An intense, oppressive aura radiated from its body, no weaker than Naruto's.

"The Nine-Tails?" Orochimaru was stunned.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Orochimaru, you look disgusting right now. Tone it down a little."

The Nine-Tails bared its teeth, tails swaying up and down.

"Amazing," Orochimaru hissed, cutting the chakra threads with his tongue. "A technique that lets a Tailed Beast escape from its Jinchūriki's body…"

"But Naruto-kun, I doubt that's the reason you're here."

Kabuto entered the room and began collecting the disabled puppets.

"Kabuto, go bring him in," Orochimaru ordered.

Kabuto nodded and left.

"I don't know what misunderstanding you're under," Naruto said, shaking his head. "But I came this time for experimental equipment."

Orochimaru paused.

Naruto continued, "And I'm looking to obtain information on certain extremely evil ninja."

Orochimaru glanced back at his lab table and grinned. "Naruto-kun, are you starting to take interest in human experimentation?"

"After all, the human body holds many secrets."

"But why go through all that trouble?"

"My laboratory is always open to Naruto-kun."

Naruto's voice turned cold. "What I want to do is not the same as what you want to do."

"I'll trade you a linguistic sealing technique," Orochimaru offered, sticking out his tongue, "Name your price."

Naruto didn't respond. He walked over to the lab table.

The body lying there emanated a familiar force.

It wasn't chakra—but a power stemming from the soul.

"You achieved this much with just those few jutsu?" Naruto picked up a research log and read the notes.

He had to admit—Orochimaru was a genius.

With only three Kidō-based techniques, he'd begun researching spiritual power and had even made some progress.

Of course, to Naruto, the work was rudimentary—filled with errors.

Compared to the 12th Division's research, or even basic courses at the Shinō Academy, it was crude.

But to think he'd come this far in just a year, in a world where souls disappear into the Pure Land and cannot remain… that was truly impressive.

Even the puppet jutsu using his teeth to manipulate chakra threads…

While still based in chakra use, it was undeniably developed from Kidō foundations—what one might call an "unbranded" jutsu.

What could he achieve with more time?

Orochimaru proudly declared, "For someone like me, all it takes is a single flash of inspiration to accomplish a great deal."

"And of course…"

"The more inspiration, the better."

Naruto placed a hand on the table and activated a summoning technique.

Orochimaru's eyes lit up.

No hand seals?

But before he could analyze the formula, white smoke burst forth, blocking his vision. When it cleared, a scroll lay on the table—and the symbols had vanished.

"Was that… a new version of the summoning technique?" Orochimaru leaned in eagerly. "How did you do that?"

He was filled with desire.

Over the past year, he'd tried to modify his own jutsu. Aside from those he had already designed to be "unbranded," most couldn't be changed. Especially techniques he'd learned from others—they always required hand seals.

Kabuto could mimic hand signs for him, but… that wasn't his ability.

He could also tattoo the seals on his body in advance, but that lacked flexibility—and it cost him tactical versatility.

He had thought it was impossible.

But Naruto's demonstration shattered that belief.

No hand seals, no pre-prepared marks, not even verbal incantations—just direct activation.

Exactly the result he'd dreamed of.

Naruto smiled. "The payment for this transaction is ready."

He didn't answer Orochimaru's question.

This snake of a man was every bit as dangerous as Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

Perhaps more so.

At least Mayuri had the Gotei 13's captain commander to rein him in. Orochimaru had no such limits.

Naruto had learned how to deal with these mad scientists—persuasion didn't work. Fighting them was meaningless. Normal moral logic didn't apply.

Only by dangling something interesting could you keep them in check.

"Naruto-kun is truly…" Orochimaru licked the scroll and swallowed it. "I'll have Kabuto prepare what you want."

"I haven't slacked off on researching the Reaper Death Seal either," he chuckled darkly. "I'm really looking forward to our next exchange."

Naruto smiled wordlessly.

The Nine-Tails grimaced, stomach churning.

I used to eat stuff like that too. Not a good habit at all…

As they spoke, Kabuto returned—bringing someone with him.

"Orochimaru, have you decided what you're going to teach me?" a boy's impatient voice called out before he even entered.

But as he stepped through the door, his voice gradually died down.

"Sasuke," Naruto said in shock.

He now understood why Kabuto had said what he did when they first met today.

He just didn't expect to see him again in a place like this.

"Naruto?" Sasuke looked equally stunned. "Why are you here?"

Orochimaru licked his lips and leaned closer. "Naruto-kun and I are close collaborators."

Naruto coldly cut him off: "He's got some use, so I'm here to do business. Nothing more."

"The moment his value drops…"

"Or the threat he poses outweighs his worth…"

"I'll kill him again."

Orochimaru clicked his tongue. "After all our meetings, not even a little affection between us?"

"Who would feel anything for a cold-blooded, ugly crawling creature," the Nine-Tails snapped bluntly. "Especially someone like you."

"So self-obsessed. And you don't even have hands."

Naruto nodded in agreement.

Orochimaru eyed the Nine-Tails with curiosity.

Honestly…

This was his first time dealing with a Tailed Beast like this.

Was this fox always so foul-mouthed?

And a bit petty, too?

"Why are you here?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke turned away, voice icy. "I gave up on my illusions about Konoha."

"I had nowhere else to go."

"Orochimaru is the only one who can give me what I want."

Naruto looked at Orochimaru. "He's not a good person."

"I know," Sasuke replied without fear. "So what? He can give me power."

"Do you know what he wants from you?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke looked directly at Orochimaru. "He told me the day I arrived."

"He wants my body."

"A body with the Sharingan."

He said it plainly, without hesitation. "It's a fair deal."

"I want something from him."

"He wants something from me."

Naruto spoke softly. "Is that your choice, then?"

Sasuke nodded.

(End of Chapter)