Chapter 11: A New Plan

Compared to making Orochimaru submit, Naruto was more concerned about Sasuke's safety.

Orochimaru, too, was unsettled. *To think he could wield these eyes—superior even to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—to such an extent in such a short time... Uzumaki Naruto, a branch of the Senju clan, could he also possess the potential to embrace the Uchiha?*

For the first time in his life, Orochimaru began to suspect he had misjudged someone.

He straightened up and said seriously, "The defeated have no right to speak. I will abandon my pursuit of Sasuke from now on. However, asking me to immediately pledge allegiance to you is still a bit difficult..."

A ninja of Orochimaru's caliber would never simply yield to strength alone.

Naruto's expression softened somewhat upon receiving Orochimaru's promise to leave Sasuke alone.

Moreover, Orochimaru had said he couldn't "immediately" submit, not that he couldn't submit at all.

With that, Naruto removed the black rods from Orochimaru.

After standing up, Orochimaru asked with interest, "Naruto-kun, aren't you afraid I'll just leave?"

Naruto smiled faintly. He was no longer the naive boy he had once been. After years as Hokage, he had become well-versed in the art of leadership.

A balance of kindness and authority was far more effective than brute force alone.

"Orochimaru-san, you are free to leave anytime you wish. But I assure you, one day, you will willingly return to my side."

This calm confidence only piqued Orochimaru's curiosity further.

*The last time I clashed with Naruto was only half a year ago... Back then, he was still reckless, relying solely on his incomplete Nine-Tails power, with nothing else to his name. Yet in just six months, he's become someone I can no longer see through.*

Orochimaru said, "Very well. Let me see what you do next. That will determine my choice."

Naruto pondered for a moment and said, "We'll go to the Shinigami who casts the *Dead Demon Consuming Seal* and retrieve your hands first."

"What!?" Orochimaru's slit pupils contracted sharply.

Naruto smirked. "The place I've chosen is not far from the Uzumaki clan's Mask Shrine. It's quite convenient for your purpose, isn't it?"

As he finished speaking, he suddenly extended his hand to the side.

"*Banshō Ten'in!*"

SWOOSH!

A White Zetsu, who had been observing the scene from the bushes, was pulled over by an invisible force.

Naruto grabbed White Zetsu by the throat with his left hand. "Did Tobi send you? So, he's already scouting this place. Impressive."

"Uzumaki Naruto... you!"

"I won't let you relay this information to your companions."

ZZZT!

Naruto's left Rinnegan glowed, and White Zetsu's gaze instantly turned vacant.

Turning away, Naruto said, "Let's go, Orochimaru-san. Don't you want to reclaim the technique you've longed for?"

Orochimaru stared deeply at Naruto's back. *This storm called Naruto has already surpassed Sasuke in intensity. It's truly intriguing... Where will this storm blow next?*

---

At the Mask Shrine of the Uzumaki clan, amidst a dazzling array of masks, Orochimaru found the one described in the secret scroll.

The Hannya Mask, which housed the spirit of the *Dead Demon Consuming Seal*, was the key to undoing the seal.

Orochimaru said, "This is it. I only discovered its existence after scouring countless documents. Naruto, how did you know about it?"

Konan couldn't help but glance at Naruto. As the only one who knew the truth, she was curious whether Naruto would reveal everything to Orochimaru.

After a moment of contemplation, Naruto replied, "The *Dead Demon Consuming Seal* is a sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan. As a member of the clan, it's not surprising that I know about it, right?"

Konan withdrew her gaze, slightly relieved.

Such a significant secret couldn't be casually shared with someone whose loyalty was still uncertain. If they became an enemy in the future, it would only spell trouble.

Naruto said seriously, "Orochimaru-san, perform the technique here."

Orochimaru sighed. "In my original plan, this scene was supposed to take place elsewhere."

He was referring to the Uchiha Shrine. Performing the ritual there would have symbolized his reverence for the Uchiha and added a sense of ceremony.

But performing it here, in the Uzumaki clan's Mask Shrine, carried its own sense of ritual, didn't it?

Taking a deep breath, Orochimaru donned the Hannya Mask.

BOOM!!!

"Urgh..."

A powerful storm of chakra erupted. Orochimaru, swept up in the torrent, trembled as his arms stretched outward. The Shinigami of the *Dead Demon Consuming Seal* revealed its imposing form!

Orochimaru said, "Naruto-kun, aside from the souls of my arms, four other souls will also be released. Among them is..."

Naruto interrupted, "I understand. I have my own solution."

Orochimaru chuckled. "Good."

"*Dead Demon Consuming Seal: Release!*"

SLASH!

The Shinigami drew its blade and sliced open its own stomach.

"AAAAHHHH...!!"

As the sacrifice, Orochimaru immediately suffered a fatal backlash, letting out a piercing scream...

SWOOSH! From the Shinigami's slit abdomen, the souls of Orochimaru's arms and the four Hokage flew out one after another!

Naruto crouched down, prying open the mouth of the White Zetsu. Orochimaru regurgitated his true form, the White Phosphorus Snake, and slithered into the Zetsu's body.

A substitution—transferring the Shinigami's curse to another!

Using the forbidden technique *Living Corpse Reincarnation*, Orochimaru took over the White Zetsu's body!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The souls of his arms returned, restoring the jutsu he had lost!

The four Hokage's souls hovered in mid-air.

Naruto's gaze lingered on the fourth soul. With a complex expression, he murmured, "I'm sorry, Father. Now... is not the time."

His left Rinnegan opened.

"*Naraka Path!*"

WHOOSH!

Purple flames ignited, manifesting as the imposing King of Hell, which devoured the four Hokage's souls.

Naruto silently hoped, *But I believe the day we meet again will come soon.*

Orochimaru flexed his long-lost hands, then lowered them, looking at Naruto with newfound respect.

Konan stepped forward and asked, "What's the next step? Are we returning to Amegakure?"

"..." Naruto closed his eyes, reflecting on the current situation.

The Five Kage Summit was about to convene, initiated by the Raikage, with the main agenda being the pursuit of Sasuke and the Akatsuki.

Danzō, having seized the position of Hokage, would attend the summit. Meanwhile, Sasuke, goaded by Tobi, would attack the summit and confront Danzō.

Naruto vividly remembered how, back then, he had knelt before the Raikage, begging to protect Sasuke... and how, after killing Danzō, Sasuke had nearly blinded himself from overusing his ocular powers, their eyes meeting in that fateful moment.

*"The banquet of the present... how swiftly time flies."*

But Naruto knew now was not the time to dwell on the past.

For a long time, his genjutsu skills had been a weakness. While the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode allowed him to resist most illusions, it was ineffective against ocular techniques like *Tsukuyomi*, which could manipulate time within the illusion.

And among the Ōtsutsuki clan, many possessed similar illusionary powers...

To achieve bloodless victories in the future, a pair of eyes proficient in genjutsu was essential.

Danzō's right eye... was undoubtedly the best choice for now!

Opening his eyes, Naruto had a new plan.

Under the watchful gazes of Konan and Orochimaru, Naruto took a mask from the wall and slowly put it on.

"To the Land of Iron. The Five Kage Summit. We will strike before Tobi and Sasuke—our target is Danzō!"