Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

Sasuke turned back and glared at Kabuto.

The white-haired man smiled innocently, appearing completely harmless.

He had only said that Orochimaru wanted to see him.

Sasuke hadn't expected that the true reason for bringing him here was to meet Naruto.

Right now, Naruto was the last person he wanted to see!

"I heard from Orochimaru that you fought that man," Sasuke asked, "Was he strong?"

The image of those Sharingan eyes from the Land of Whirlpools flashed in his mind.

Naruto shook his head. "When he fought me, it didn't seem like he was going all out."

"I don't know exactly how strong he is."

"But..."

Naruto glanced at Orochimaru. "If you can kill this guy and evolve your Sharingan into the Mangekyō, you might be able to take him on."

Sasuke lowered his head and softly repeated, "Mangekyō, huh?"

Orochimaru clicked his tongue and joined in the conversation. "Naruto-kun, saying it so bluntly is rather hurtful."

"In your heart, am I just a tool?"

Naruto gave him a sideways glance. "When did you ever think you weren't?"

"I've always thought of you that way."

Orochimaru grinned wider, his smile radiant. "You're so concerned about Sasuke-kun. How about we make a deal?"

"I can give him to you."

"As long as you're willing to tell me..."

"The secret behind your two swords, and the method of modifying summoning techniques."

Naruto looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke clenched his fists, but didn't lift his head.

"Is it because I've been too kind, that you've mistaken yourself as someone qualified to negotiate with me?" Naruto's voice was soft—

But razor sharp.

His aura, mixed with the Nine-Tails' presence, bore down directly on Orochimaru.

That snake-like face changed slightly in expression, and he stepped back half a pace. "Naruto-kun has grown stronger again. I was just speaking casually."

"I want to take Sasuke with me. I don't need your permission," Naruto continued, "But he has his own thoughts."

"And he's prepared to bear the consequences."

"I won't interfere."

He could see that Sasuke didn't want to accept a "handout."

But he still didn't quite understand—

Why in Sasuke's eyes, his help felt like "charity."

Orochimaru squinted. "Is that what you think, Naruto-kun? Then I'm relieved."

Sasuke raised his head, his expression less heavy.

"Everyone must choose their own path," Naruto returned his gaze to the black-haired boy with the three-tomoe Sharingan. "As long as you're ready to face the price, whatever path you take is your own will."

"But..."

"Orochimaru, I believe in the end, Sasuke will come out on top."

Orochimaru spoke lightly, "Naruto-kun thinks so highly of him?"

"Let me think..." Naruto tilted his head, sensing something odd about Sasuke. "If I use the same words that both you and that guy Uchiha Itachi once said—"

"Then it's that Sasuke's potential far surpasses either of you."

His gaze settled on Sasuke's forehead.

He captured that sense of "something different."

Naruto walked over and plucked the headband from Sasuke's forehead, tossing it to the ground. "Since you've chosen to leave Konoha, don't wear something that holds you back."

Sasuke looked up slightly.

In just a year and a half, Naruto had already grown half a head taller than him.

Back in Konoha, he had even been shorter than Sakura.

"Is that so?" Orochimaru wasn't offended by Naruto's words; instead, he looked more excited. "Then I suppose I can't afford to let Naruto-kun down."

Naruto tilted his head, looking at Sasuke's neck. It was bare. He continued, "Two pieces of advice."

"Don't accept Orochimaru's Curse Mark. Yes, it does grant power."

"But..."

"It's just a poor substitute for Sage Mode."

"You can try to get the scroll of Ryūchi Cave, one of the Three Great Sage Grounds, from Orochimaru, and learn Sage Mode there."

"If you fail to master that, then consider accepting the Curse Mark."

Sasuke was stunned.

Sage Mode?

That was a new term to him. If Naruto regarded it so highly, it must be an extraordinary power.

He nodded.

Naruto continued, "Second, he's been researching the power of the soul lately."

"You can try studying that too."

"It might benefit your Sharingan."

Sasuke blinked again, then nodded.

"Sage Mode" and "soul power," huh?

Naruto turned and smiled brightly at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, don't be stingy with your power."

"Give everything to Sasuke."

"If you hold anything back..."

"Even if you win in the end, I'll kill you without hesitation."

Orochimaru licked his lips. "Naruto-kun really does favor Sasuke."

"He's my friend," Naruto replied without hesitation. "And I've already killed you once before, haven't I?"

He paused, a hint of deeper meaning in his voice. "I have an immature idea—one day I might need him."

Orochimaru said nothing.

Sasuke lowered his head, lost in thought.

Kabuto quickly brought over what Naruto needed.

The laboratory equipment was far more extensive than expected. Orochimaru's lab was nearly comparable to the 12th Division's, aside from scale.

Orochimaru also provided a wealth of information on criminals.

Most of them were rogue ninjas who threatened the Sound Village. With Orochimaru not showing himself publicly and Kabuto being the apparent leader, the village's situation was rather precarious.

After getting what he needed, Naruto left immediately.

He picked a confirmed criminal nearby and took Karin back to Konoha.

They sneaked in without alerting the ANBU.

There weren't many traces related to the Uzumaki clan in the village.

But soon, they found one: at the edge of Konoha stood an abandoned shrine once belonging to the Uzumaki clan.

It was in ruins, long neglected. Most of the building had collapsed.

Only the plaque above the entrance remained, bearing the Uzumaki clan emblem—a spiral pattern revealing the shrine's former owners.

They walked in through the half-collapsed, low entrance.

Karin exclaimed, "There are so many masks here!"

As soon as they entered, the walls inside were lined with three rows of Shinigami masks.

Kurama peeked out, eyes scanning over them. "Which one could it be?"

They all looked similar—ferocious and monstrous faces with two horns on their heads. Only minor differences in facial features gave each mask a unique appearance.

"That one," Naruto reached out and took the sixth mask from the second row.

Kurama sniffed at it. No special scent.

"How do you know?" it asked.

"Because it looks the same," Naruto replied. "That demon had this exact face."

Karin pulled out a scroll. "Then I'll summon that person now and release the Fourth Hokage's soul—"

Naruto shook his head and handed her the mask. "Wait. Let me prepare first."

Karin tilted her head. What more was there to prepare?

They had the tools, the technique, and the person.

Naruto walked out of the shrine.

He pressed his hands together, activating an incantation.

A massive barrier sprang up, surrounding the entire shrine.

Then several sealing jutsu spread across the floor within the barrier.

And finally—

"Binding Spell #73: Tozan Shō."

A giant blue inverted pyramid materialized, floating in mid-air.

Once everything was ready, Naruto picked Karin up and stepped into the pyramid.

"Naruto?" Karin was confused.

She didn't understand why he needed so many layers of sealing techniques.

Konoha didn't seem worth all this trouble.

"It's in case that guy from the Pure Land shows up," Naruto said.

Karin recalled, "You mean the Sage of Six Paths?"

Though the Great Toad Sage hadn't stated it directly, there were enough hints in its words to draw the conclusion.

"We can't confirm it's him yet," Naruto said, taking the scroll from Karin. "But the guy in the Pure Land is definitely powerful. I could only barely sense traces of his moves."

"When the soul is released—"

"If he drags it back, all our work would be for nothing."

As he spoke, Naruto unrolled the scroll and pressed his hand onto it, activating a summoning jutsu.

A wooden barrel appeared out of thin air.

Naruto opened it and pulled out the man inside.

"Lord Uzumaki!" The middle-aged ninja cautiously greeted him.

Naruto handed him the mask. "As agreed."

"Use this mask to perform the jutsu for me."

"If you survive, you're free to go."

The man nodded respectfully, accepted the mask, and put it on.

He formed the seals.

All his chakra was drained. A phantom figure appeared behind him.

Karin still saw nothing.

But Kurama, who had experienced the "Reaper Death Seal" once, could see clearly.

The "Shinigami" had the same twisted, evil face as the mask.

Naruto drew his blade.

"We met briefly before."

"Now let me see what you really are."

He flash-stepped to the Shinigami's front.

The demon didn't react, its expression vacant, eyes fixed only on the caster of the jutsu.

It seemed solely concerned with its new "host" and what they would do next.

Naruto's sword slashed straight at its belly.

The demon still didn't respond.

Even as its stomach was split open and five souls burst from its body.

But unless the jutsu caster moved, it made no action at all.

At the moment the souls were released—

Naruto looked down.

In his senses, a force rose from beneath the ground, crashing into the barrier—its target clearly being four of the souls just released.

(End of chapter)