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He was very satisfied, as he died under Orochimaru-sama\'s orders, rather than passing away on a warm, comfortable sickbed.

This was the best outcome.

Naruto didn\'t leave but instead heightened his perception to its maximum.

He stared intently at Kimimaro\'s corpse.

Before coming across the records of "Whirlpool Village," he wasn\'t aware of the concept of the "Pure Land" and hadn\'t considered that after death, a soul doesn\'t need to go through any process but can directly enter a place called the "Pure Land."

This understanding was different from what he knew as a "Shinigami."

But now, with this understanding, he could observe.

In a flash, a faint, nearly imperceptible soul force quickly emerged from the ground, grasping Kimimaro\'s soul. Once that force enveloped it, Kimimaro\'s soul also became difficult to detect.

Then, with a quick contraction, both the force and the soul disappeared into the ground.

Faster than a blink of an eye.

No wonder he hadn\'t noticed it before.

But what was that? It didn\'t seem like the power of the evil soul known as the "Shinigami."

There was even a slight scent of chakra.

Was it the god in charge of the "Pure Land"? It was so fast that, even though he paid attention, he couldn\'t clearly sense its presence.

What exactly are these entities?

Naruto landed and sealed Kimimaro\'s body.

It seemed that this man\'s purpose wasn\'t to capture him and bring him to Orochimaru as he had claimed, but rather to use the last moments of his life to demonstrate something.

Team 8 and Karin arrived.

"Why are you here?" Naruto was a bit surprised to see the four people beside Karin.

Kurenai raised her hand, grabbing Akamaru by the back of his neck, and said lightly, "It was Shino who sensed that you encountered an enemy."

"Kiba and Hinata insisted on coming to support you."

"But we didn\'t expect..."

"Naruto, you didn\'t need our help."

Naruto smiled, "That person just now used some interesting techniques, so I observed a bit."

"Sorry for worrying you, and thank you."

Kurenai shook her head, "No need to thank us; we didn\'t help at all."

Naruto looked in one direction, "Shall we head out?"

He was about to leave with Karin.

Hinata mustered her courage and called out, "Wait, wait a moment, Naruto-kun."

Naruto turned to look at her.

"I..." She took a deep breath, "I like you, Naruto-kun."

Hinata knew that now wasn\'t the right time to say such things, and the timing was off.

But she had a vague feeling that if she didn\'t say it now, she might never have the chance to say these words in her lifetime.

Kurenai was surprised.

Kiba and Shino were also shocked.

Naruto beamed brightly, "So Karin was right."

"Thank you for liking me."

"It\'s the first time a girl has said something like this to me."

Even when he was in the "Soul Society" as a captain, no girl had ever confessed to him—not because he lacked charm, but because most of the women in his squad treated him like a younger brother or a child.

How should Hinata interpret Naruto\'s response? Was it a rejection? Probably.

Hinata was at a loss. Before this, just the act of "liking" him had been enough to satisfy her, and she hadn\'t even hoped for a response.

"Naruto! Is that really how you\'re going to respond?" Kiba bared his teeth, and Akamaru followed suit, also baring his teeth in Kurenai\'s hands.

Naruto scratched his head and answered frankly, "I\'ve never thought about these things, so all I can say is thank you."

"I also haven\'t interacted with Hinata much. I\'m surprised she likes me."

Hinata opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Naruto waved goodbye to them.

"Naruto is quite an extraordinary person now," Kurenai patted Hinata\'s head, "If you want to be with him, you have to keep up with his pace."

Hinata remained silent, lowering her head.

Elsewhere...

"You rejected her so bluntly," Karin tilted her head and looked at Naruto, "That girl was quite cute."

Naruto shook his head, "But I don\'t know her."

"Besides..."

"Liking someone can be a very distant thing."

"She\'s over there, and I\'m over here."

"With such a distance between us, what can she really see?"

Karin looked at Naruto, puzzled, "A distant thing?"

"She hasn\'t communicated with me." Naruto said softly, "The person she likes is a version of me created by what she sees and hopes for, a version of me that exists only in her imagination."

"And when you look at someone with hope, it makes them seem better than they really are."

Just like how he once hoped for "Kakashi," only to find he was someone quite different.

Karin nodded thoughtfully.

She wondered, was she looking at Naruto with anticipation?

It didn\'t seem so.

Her fondness for Naruto had developed only after witnessing his actions.

That meant there was no issue.

She smiled contentedly and followed behind Naruto. However, after walking for a short while, she looked towards the tree branches and said, "Naruto, I think we might have taken the wrong path."

"This isn\'t the road to the next town."

Naruto responded, "That\'s right, we\'re not heading to the next town right now."

"We\'re going to meet someone familiar."

Familiar?

Karin tilted her head. Like those ninjas from earlier?

The path wasn\'t far, and it didn\'t take long to reach the destination.

In a clearing in the forest, a man with white hair looked up and gently adjusted his glasses, "Naruto-kun, you came as expected."

"With such a strong scent, how could I not sense you?" Naruto stood on a tree branch. "Orochimaru has been resurrected, hasn\'t he?"

Kabuto smirked insincerely, "You\'re very perceptive."

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama has indeed been resurrected."

"Kimimaro is a gift. Do you like it, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto sneered, "Orochimaru\'s gift is to send a battle fanatic to slash at me?"

"Then perhaps I should send myself as a gift to Orochimaru."

"Does he have the guts to accept?"

Kabuto shrugged, "Kimimaro is a loyal subordinate who worships Orochimaru-sama like a god. His beliefs differ somewhat from ours."

"But let\'s not dwell on that."

"Orochimaru-sama wants to collaborate with you, Naruto-kun."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Collaborate?"

"I\'m currently not interested in destroying Konoha. After all, it was my parents\' home."

Kabuto shook his head, "No, not to destroy Konoha."

"It\'s about the power you possess, Naruto-kun. Orochimaru-sama is very interested in it."

Naruto curled his lips and raised his hand.

Kabuto\'s expression became less relaxed, a bit tense, as he quickly added, "Naruto-kun, no need to be hasty. Why not first hear the conditions Orochimaru-sama is offering?"

"He can teach you the Edo Tensei technique."

Naruto remained unmoved.

Kabuto continued, "And that Reaper Death Seal technique. Orochimaru-sama invites you to research it together. In terms of technique research, Orochimaru-sama is undoubtedly the most powerful ninja."

Reaper Death Seal?

Naruto\'s expression showed some interest.

Kabuto breathed a sigh of relief, his tone gradually calming, "Besides that, whatever you wish to obtain, Orochimaru-sama is willing to discuss it with you."

"As one of the Sannin,"

"The knowledge Orochimaru-sama has accumulated over the years is an invaluable treasure."

Naruto lowered his hand, "That sounds fairly reasonable."

"The only question is."

"Does the current Orochimaru have the guts to meet me?"

Kabuto raised his hand and lightly adjusted his glasses, "Don\'t underestimate Orochimaru-sama."

"Shall we head out together now?"

Naruto nodded.

He and Karin adjusted their plans and set off for the Land of Rice Fields, reaching the Sound Village after a day\'s journey.

Of course, Kabuto didn\'t take them to the underground base.

Instead, he led them to a meeting room in the Sound Village.

After a short wait,

Kabuto wheeled Orochimaru out from a secret passage.

"It\'s been a long time, Naruto-kun." The man, tightly wrapped in bandages and sitting in a wheelchair, spoke, "I\'m so glad you came to see me."

"You look quite pathetic now," Naruto said softly.

Orochimaru grinned, his voice low, "Thanks to you and the Third Hokage."

"Where is Kimimaro?"

Naruto took out a scroll, "That guy with the bone-manipulating Kekkei Genkai?"

"He\'s here."

Orochimaru\'s eyes narrowed, "You\'re quite ruthless, Naruto-kun."

"He was the last user of the Shikotsumyaku."

Naruto played with the scroll, "If you want to take his body back, let\'s see what you can offer."

Orochimaru leaned forward, "What do you want, Naruto-kun?"

"Do you have any research on gods?" Naruto asked, throwing out a question.

Orochimaru paused, "Gods?"

"Are you talking about those mysterious powers beyond the ninjas?"

Naruto nodded and gently placed the scroll on the table, "So, you do have research?"

"Then answer a question for me first."

"I\'ve been staying in the Land of Whirlpools recently, collecting those lost stone tablets, and found something I don\'t quite understand."

"The Shinigami worshipped by the Uzumaki Clan is said to be older than the Sage of Six Paths."

"Is this a mistaken record?"

Orochimaru chuckled, "You never cease to surprise me, Naruto-kun, taking an interest in such matters."

"I do have a bit of knowledge on this."

"The record isn\'t wrong. The birth of these gods indeed predates the Sage of Six Paths."

Naruto\'s expression turned serious.

Karin took out a scroll and started recording Orochimaru\'s words.

"Before the existence of chakra, people and those powerful beings used a force called \'natural energy,\' also known as \'Senjutsu.\'"

"Those gods were born out of these forces."

"However, after the Sage of Six Paths appeared, the existence of these gods was limited to shrines, temples, or some secret societies."

"Speaking of which, I happen to know someone who received a blessing from one of these gods."

"I can introduce him to you, Naruto-kun."

Naruto shook his head, pondering the term "natural energy" that Orochimaru had mentioned.

"Then I\'ll ask my second question." After a while, he spoke again.

~~~

I\'m tired. My house got flooded. House filled with mud. Gotta clean. Only promise is getting 5 Chapters a day. That\'s all. Sigh~~

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