Naruto and Orochimaru reached a temporary agreement to cooperate.
Just as Naruto was about to release Orochimaru's restraints, Orochimaru opened his mouth, and a new Orochimaru, covered in saliva and mucus, crawled out.
The newly emerged Orochimaru grinned at Naruto.
He seemed to be saying, See that, kid? Breaking out of restraints like these is easy for me.
Naruto shrugged, then pointed at the window, signaling that Orochimaru could leave.
Seeing this, Orochimaru shook his head. "Since we're working together now, could you do me a tiny favor?"
As he spoke, Orochimaru rather comically held his thumb and forefinger just a tiny distance apart.
"What favor?" Naruto asked.
"Tell me about the Rinnegan. And... where did you learn about it?"
Orochimaru wasted no time asking for the information he-or rather, Danzo-wanted.
He hadn't forgotten that Danzo still had half of the Hashirama Cells waiting for him!
"Oh... I almost forgot about Danzo!"
Naruto lifted his shirt as he continued, "Send a strand of your consciousness, carrying your chakra, into the Sealing Space inside me. You can do that, right?"
Although Orochimaru didn't know why Naruto wanted this, he nodded anyway. He extended an index finger, which glowed with blue chakra, and pressed it against Naruto's abdomen.
Meanwhile.
Inside the Sealing Space.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, waited there alone.
This time, Naruto intended to let Danzo learn of the Fourth Hokage's existence ahead of schedule.
Naturally, once Danzo knew that, he would probably dream up his own explanation for why Naruto knew so many secrets.
Minato Namikaze wasn't standing in the area where they usually spent their time, but outside the cage that had once held Kurama.
To help with the act, Kurama had voluntarily returned to the cage.
"After sleeping in that sunny place all this time, coming