A new plan

Naruto cared more about Sasuke's safety than getting Orochimaru to submit.

Orochimaru was unsettled as well. In so little time, he's brought an eye superior to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to this level... Naruto Uzumaki belongs to a branch of the Senju. Could he also have the potential to accommodate the Uchiha?

For the first time in his life, he thought he might have misjudged someone in the past.

Then his expression grew serious. "The loser has no right to complain. I'll give up on Sasuke from now on, but asking me to submit to you immediately is still a little difficult..."

A shinobi of Orochimaru's caliber would not yield to strength alone.

With Orochimaru's promise to leave Sasuke alone, Naruto's expression softened considerably.

Besides... Orochimaru had said he could not submit "immediately," not that he could never submit.

So Naruto removed the black rods from Orochimaru.

After getting up, Orochimaru asked with interest, "Naruto-kun, aren't you afraid I'll simply walk away?"

Naruto smiled faintly. He was no longer the naive boy he had once been. After years as Hokage, he understood how to handle people.

Combining kindness with authority was better than relying on force alone.

"You can leave whenever you like, Mr. Orochimaru. But I guarantee that one day, you'll return to my side of your own accord..."

Naruto's composure only piqued Orochimaru's curiosity further.

My last clash with Naruto was only six months ago... Back then, he was a reckless boy with nothing going for him besides his incomplete Nine-Tails power.

Yet in just half a year, he's become rather difficult for me to read.

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

Naruto considered for a moment. "Let's retrieve your arms from the Reaper of the Reaper Death Seal first!"

"Hmm!?" Orochimaru's slit pupils abruptly contracted.

Naruto wore an enigmatic smile. "The place I chose isn't far from the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Hall. That should make things very convenient for you..."

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

Banshō Ten'in!

Whoosh!

A White Zetsu watching them from the bushes was pulled over through the air.

Naruto gripped the White Zetsu's throat with his left hand. "Did Tobi send you? You've already tracked us here. Impressive."

"Naruto Uzumaki... you!"

"I won't let you pass any information to your companions."

Bzz!

Naruto focused the Rinnegan in his left eye, and the White Zetsu's gaze immediately went blank.

Naruto turned around. "Let's go, Mr. Orochimaru. Don't you want to reclaim the jutsu you've been dreaming of?"

Orochimaru gazed intently at Naruto's back. This wind called Naruto has already far surpassed Sasuke in strength. I'm truly curious to see where it will blow...

Among the dazzling array of masks in the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Hall, Orochimaru found the one described in the secret scroll.

The Hannya Mask housed the shikigami of the Reaper Death Seal and was the only key capable of undoing it.

"This is it," Orochimaru said. "I only learned of its existence after searching through countless documents. How did you know about it, Naruto?"

"..." Konan couldn't help glancing over. She was currently the only person who knew the truth, and she wondered whether Naruto would tell Orochimaru everything.

But after a moment's consideration, Naruto said, "The Reaper Death Seal is a sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki Clan. I'm a member of the clan myself, after all. It's hardly strange that I'd know about this..."

Konan looked away, feeling slightly reassured.

A secret this important could not be casually shared with someone whose allegiance remained uncertain. If he became an enemy later, revealing it would only bring serious trouble.

"Mr. Orochimaru, perform the jutsu right here," Naruto said seriously.

"Actually, in my plans, this scene would have taken place somewhere else," Orochimaru said wistfully.

He meant the Uchiha Shrine. Performing it there would have symbolized his yearning for the Uchiha and lent the occasion a greater sense of ceremony.

But choosing the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Hall now carried a different kind of ceremonial significance, didn't it?

Orochimaru took a deep breath and put the Hannya Mask over his face.

Boom!!!

"Ugh..."

A powerful storm of chakra erupted. Orochimaru swayed with it, his body trembling and his arms stretched out to either side... The Reaper of the Reaper Death Seal manifested its imposing form!

"Naruto-kun, besides the souls of my arms, four other souls will be released as well," Orochimaru said. "Among them is..."

"I understand. I have a way to handle it," Naruto said.

"Good, then," Orochimaru replied with a smile.

Reaper Death Seal: Release!

Slash!

The Reaper raised its sword and slit open its own abdomen.

"Aaargh...!!"

As the sacrifice, Orochimaru immediately suffered a fatal wound and let out an agonized scream...

Whoosh! The souls of Orochimaru's arms and those of the four Hokage flew out of the Reaper's opened abdomen, one after another!

Naruto crouched down and pried open the White Zetsu's mouth. Orochimaru spat his true White Phosphorus Snake form out of his own mouth and flew inside.

By substituting another in his place, he escaped the Reaper's curse!

Using the forbidden jutsu Living Corpse Reincarnation, Orochimaru usurped the host... His soul took over the White Zetsu's body!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

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

Four glowing souls hovered in midair.

Naruto focused on the fourth soul and murmured with a conflicted expression, "I'm sorry, Father. Now... isn't the time yet!"

He opened the Rinnegan in his left eye wide.

Naraka Path!

Fwoom!

Purple flames flared up, forming the imposing figure of Enma, who swallowed the souls of the four Hokage.

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

Orochimaru flexed his hands for the first time in ages. When he lowered them, his gaze toward Naruto held a little more genuine respect.

Konan stepped forward. "What do we do next? Return to Amegakure?"

"..." Naruto closed his eyes and considered the current situation.

The Five Kage Summit would be held soon. The Raikage had called it to discuss taking down Sasuke and the Akatsuki.

Danzo had stolen the Hokage position and would attend the summit. Meanwhile, Obito would goad Sasuke into attacking the Five Kage Summit, where he would clash with Danzo.

Naruto vaguely recalled traveling a great distance and kneeling before that Raikage to protect Sasuke... and meeting Sasuke's eyes after he killed Danzo, his vision nearly gone from overusing his ocular powers.

"The Feast of the Living World... Time truly flies..."

But Naruto knew this was no time to dwell on the past.

His skill with genjutsu had long been a weakness. In Kurama Mode, he could break genjutsu almost the instant it took hold, but that only applied to ordinary genjutsu. Against an ocular jutsu like Tsukuyomi, which could manipulate time within an illusion, that advantage meant little.

After all, members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan with similar illusion techniques were everywhere...

Moreover, an eye proficient in genjutsu was essential if he wanted to achieve his goals without bloodshed in the operations ahead.

Danzo's right eye... was undoubtedly the best choice available!

When Naruto opened his eyes, he had a new plan.

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

"To the Land of Iron, for the Five Kage Summit. We'll take down Danzo before Tobi and Sasuke get to him!"