What is the truth?

After saying this, Orochimaru quickly walked to the other side of the laboratory and took out a stack of papers and a pen.

Naruto quickly followed.

"Very interesting, very interesting."

Orochimaru spoke in a hoarse voice, almost gleeful, "Naruto, let's sort this out, starting from your first life. That... the reference point for all reincarnation."

For the next while, the laboratory was filled with Orochimaru's questions and Naruto's answers.

Naruto once again recalled every critical juncture of his first life.

From graduation to the battle at the Valley of the End after the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Orochimaru, like the sternest record keeper, relentlessly pursued details, especially those parts that were changed in subsequent reincarnations.

The life or death of a certain person, the outcome of a certain battle, the moment of a certain decision.

Then he meticulously recorded it on paper.

Afterward, the two of them, holding the papers densely filled with items and plots, reviewed them one by one, comparing them against the countless reincarnations in Naruto's memory.

Every attempt, every failure, every reincarnation.

Orochimaru paid particular attention to the events that led to an "immediate reincarnation," strictly comparing them with events that "normally progressed to October 11th, Year 68."

As the analysis deepened, many underlying rules became clearly apparent.

Although Naruto knew them before, he had never systematically organized them.

First point: Tolerance for change.

Using the first life as the absolute reference system, between Year 63 and October 10th, Year 68 of Konoha, no matter what Naruto did.

For example, saving those who should have died, like the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, Chiyo, Neji, and others.

Killing those who should have lived or caused disaster prematurely, like Obito, Nagato, Madara, and others.

Even directly reviving the deceased using Impure World Reincarnation and Life Reincarnation, like Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki.

Or attempting to prevent wars, such as the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Konoha Crush Plan.

These changes did not trigger the reincarnation mechanism "immediately"; time continued to flow, until that fated date.

October 11th, Year 68 of Konoha.

The world seemed to tolerate these changes, but ultimately led to the same end.

Second point: The boundary of "existence."

Naruto's own survival status was an absolute no-go zone.

If he died during a reincarnation, whether in battle, by suicide, or by accident, reincarnation would immediately restart.

Similarly, stripping away the Nine-Tails, his core power, regardless of whether he later used forbidden jutsu, such as Life Reincarnation, to survive...

The act of stripping away the Nine-Tails itself, or the near-death state it caused, would be immediately considered the end of "existence," forcibly initiating a new reincarnation.

Naruto's life and his coexistence with the Nine-Tails were the foundation for maintaining the current reincarnation's operation.

Third point: The power of space-time.

The Dragon Vein in the Rōran Ruins of the Land of Wind possessed the power to traverse space-time.

However, once Naruto used it for time travel and performed actions that could alter his first life or the "predetermined history" of the future, such an action itself would immediately become a trigger for restarting reincarnation.

Combining the above three points.

The reincarnations Naruto constantly experienced seemed to be guiding him to actively discover and change something.

Orochimaru clearly restated these conclusions, his voice sounding particularly excited in the empty laboratory.

He put down the pen in his hand, turned, and gazed at Naruto, who was leaning against the laboratory bench. His golden eyes seemed to pierce through the confusion deep within Naruto's soul.

"Combining these three rules, Naruto," Orochimaru's voice held a hint of inquiry, "after experiencing so many reincarnations and trying so many variables, have you... derived any more useful information about the essence of this reincarnation?"

Naruto's azure eyes still showed a confused expression.

He desperately searched his mind; the vast memories from countless attempts felt incredibly heavy at this moment.

Killing Obito? Useless.

Saving the Pervy Sage? Useless.

Reviving his parents? After a brief happiness, the reincarnation would still not stop.

The Dragon Vein? Even more of a taboo that couldn't be touched.

He had tried different paths, different identities, different emotional destinations, but the end was always the same.

That is, starting from Year 63 of Konoha, and experiencing another reincarnation.

Orochimaru was not the first to know about reincarnation. In previous instances, Kakashi, Jiraiya, and even his parents had given him useful advice.

Finally, facing Orochimaru's question, Naruto could only shake his head heavily and say in a voice full of frustration:

"I don't know what this inexplicable reincarnation wants me to do!"

Naruto felt like a person trapped in a giant maze, no matter which direction he ran, he would eventually hit an invisible wall.

Orochimaru looked at the despair in Naruto's eyes and let out a soft sigh.

There wasn't much sympathy or pity in that sigh; it was more a calm contemplation of a phenomenon never before encountered.

After a long pause.

Orochimaru suddenly said, "Naruto-kun, you haven't gained nothing."

"On the contrary, the three rules we just summarized have revealed the core key to Reincarnation for us."

"What?"

Naruto looked at Orochimaru.

"It's very simple." Orochimaru took a step forward, gripping Naruto's shoulders tightly, and said in a low voice, "First, you, Naruto Uzumaki, are the undisputed 'protagonist' of this infinite Reincarnation."

"Your existence is the foundation upon which Reincarnation can continue; this is by no means accidental."

At this point, Orochimaru paused and said with an inquisitive tone, "This world, or rather this period of time you've experienced, is it like a meticulously designed... stage play? Or a constantly repeating experimental scenario?"

"The true purpose is definitely not to simply let you change someone's life or death, or to stop a certain war."

"These changes were permitted, but the fact that they couldn't change the outcome of Reincarnation, which still occurred, shows they are not the key."

Naruto frowned, pondering Orochimaru's answer.

Indeed, Orochimaru offered a different perspective than Pervy Sage or his father.

So he pressed on, "Then what is the key?"

"The key must be that you, Naruto Uzumaki, need to 'discover' an extremely important 'truth' that was overlooked or concealed in the first life, within these constantly repeating five years!"

"This truth might be related to someone or something you've never doubted, or it might even... be closely related to a secret of your own existence."

"It must be found or changed within the period from Konoha 63 to 68, October 11th, to break this cycle."

"Otherwise, no matter how many lives you save, how much power you gain, or how grand historical events you change, it will only be a futile journey along a predetermined track back to the reset point."

Naruto's heart pounded as he listened. The hope that had just been extinguished instantly ignited a faint spark. "Discover what? Change what?"

Orochimaru slowly shook his head, the expression in his eyes turning into an unfathomable calm.

"That, I do not know. My wisdom, my research, can help you deduce the rules, can help you pinpoint the core direction of the problem, but that specific 'answer' that belongs only to you..."

Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of helpless frankness.