The steel chamber atop Amegakure's highest tower gleamed dully under flickering lights, its cold walls slick with rain that seeped through unseen cracks. Naruto stood at its heart, the sealed scroll from Jugo clutched in his hand, its weight a promise of power. Before him lay Mitarashi Anko, unconscious on the stone floor, her dark hair fanning out like spilled ink. The air thrummed with anticipation as Konan approached, her voice soft but edged with resolve. "Ready, Junior Brother?"
Naruto nodded, his gaze steady. Konan knelt beside Anko, gently lifting her and peeling back her coat to reveal the curse seal—a trio of black tomoe etched into her neck, pulsing faintly with dormant malice. Nagato, perched atop his launcher, watched with a furrowed brow, his Rinnegan glinting as he murmured, "I thought only the Six Paths' reincarnation could bring back the dead. Orochimaru… his methods defy even that."
Naruto's lips quirked into a faint smile. "He's the ninja world's top scientist for a reason, Senior Brother. Nothing's beyond him." He stepped forward, unfurling the scroll with a rustle, pressing it against Anko's curse seal. Sasuke's words echoed in his mind—the curse seal's a living backup, a tether to Orochimaru's soul. It wasn't unique, but it was a key, a beacon to unlock the serpent's essence. With Jugo's power as the catalyst, Naruto could pry that window open.
He positioned himself behind Anko, hands flashing through seals, chakra surging. "Evil Sealing Method—Release!" His palm slammed onto the scroll, channeling Jugo's cursed energy into the mark. A white light flared, blinding and sharp, and Naruto lifted his hand slowly. From the seal writhed a massive white snake, its scales glistening as it swelled, coiling upward until its jaws parted. A figure emerged—Orochimaru, slick with mucus, his pale form unfurling like a nightmare reborn.
Naruto wrinkled his nose, stepping back. "Uncle Snake, seriously—can't you tweak this entrance? It's revolting."
Orochimaru straightened, golden eyes glinting as he turned, voice a hoarse rasp laced with surprise. "Well, well… Uzumaki Naruto, my resurrector? I never saw that coming." His tongue flicked, tasting the air, a predator sizing up its savior.
"Didn't see myself in this cloak reviving you either," Naruto shot back, gesturing to his Akatsuki garb. "Life's full of twists."
Orochimaru's smirk widened, his gaze sharp with curiosity. "Indeed. Something's shifted your path, hasn't it? Something big."
Naruto met his stare, voice firm. "Yeah. That's why I brought you back, Uncle Snake—I need your genius to forge a new ninja world."
"A new ninja world?" Orochimaru's tone turned playful, a hiss of intrigue threading his words.
"Exactly," Naruto said, unwavering.
Orochimaru chuckled, a low, dry sound. "Tempting, but I'll pass. I don't play lackey to anyone's grand vision."
Konan's wings rustled as she stepped forward, amber eyes blazing. "Orochimaru, don't be a fool. Naruto pulled you from death—he can shove you back just as easily." Six Paths Pain loomed closer, Nagato's will a silent threat—cooperate, or be undone.
Naruto raised a hand, halting them, his tone calm but edged. "No need for that. Force won't sway Uncle Snake—he's too slippery for it. Even I can't kill him yet, and I'm not sure anyone can."
Orochimaru's golden pupils narrowed, surprise flickering as he studied Naruto. "You've tamed Konan and Nagato? Impressive." His gaze lingered on Nagato's Rinnegan, a treasure he'd coveted for years, now wielded by Naruto's ally. "What's your game, boy?"
Naruto stepped closer, voice earnest. "They're my comrades now—part of the Heavenly Organization. I want you in too, Uncle Snake, as one of us."
Orochimaru's laugh was sharp, skeptical. "And why would I join your little club?"
"Because I know you," Naruto said, conviction burning in his words. "You live for the truth—the raw, unfiltered meaning of existence. Hokage titles, villages—those mean nothing to you. You're after the mysteries, the secrets that keep this world spinning. I'm offering you that chase."
Orochimaru tilted his head, hair sliding over his shoulder as he smirked. "You've pegged me well, I'll give you that."
Naruto circled him, pressing his advantage. "I get it—you crave freedom, hate bowing to anyone. Research is your lifeblood—unlocking life's riddles, chasing the next thrill. Join Heaven, and I won't chain you. I'll fuel your work—hell, I'll dig into it with you. There's power out there I can't crack alone."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed, intrigue piqued. "Power that stumps even you? Do tell."
Naruto's voice dropped, grave and deliberate. "Plenty. How does Sharingan become Rinnegan? What's the Sage of Six Paths' true strength? If we gather all ten tailed beasts, can we summon the Ten Tails? Mysteries like that—I want answers, same as you."
The chamber fell silent, Orochimaru's breath catching as Naruto's words sank in. His golden eyes flared with a rare, wild light—excitement, hunger, a spark dormant since his death. "Naruto…" he rasped, tongue flicking eagerly. "I thought I was alone in this madness. You're outpacing me—those questions…" He paused, mind racing. Sharingan to Rinnegan—the Uchiha's legacy. The Sage's power—the Senju's shadow. Forces he'd chased for decades, piecing together fragments through Sasuke, through whispers of Naruto's lineage. Now, Naruto laid them bare, a banquet of enigmas.
"A kindred spirit," Orochimaru murmured, almost to himself. Naruto had become the wind he'd tracked—the Senju echo to Sasuke's Uchiha flame. This was no mere alliance; it was a convergence of obsessions.
Naruto grinned, sensing the shift. "So, Uncle Snake—up for it? Research with me?"
Konan stepped in, voice smooth but firm. "Join us, and you'll have a lab, resources, protection—everything you need."
Orochimaru's gaze flicked between them, weighing his freedom against the lure of the unknown. At last, he nodded, a sly edge to his smile. "Fine—a partnership, not servitude. I'm in."
Naruto's grin widened, triumph lighting his eyes. "Perfect. From today, you're Heaven's chief scientist."
The rain outside slowed to a drizzle, the chamber's tension easing as Orochimaru stretched, his serpentine form coiling with renewed purpose. Anko stirred faintly, unharmed, her role as vessel complete. Nagato's launcher hummed softly, his Rinnegan tracking Orochimaru with wary approval. Konan folded her wings, a silent nod to Naruto's victory. Heaven grew stronger—Orochimaru's mind, a blade honed by curiosity, now theirs to wield. The ninja world trembled on the edge of transformation, its deepest secrets within reach.
-----------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Oskin