Orochimaru's apparent self-awareness—his willingness to provide information without being forced, his eagerness to demonstrate value—satisfied Naruto immensely.
This is exactly why I wanted to capture him in the first place, Naruto thought, studying the snake Sannin with calculating eyes. Not for his techniques, though those are useful enough. Not for his combat abilities, which can't threaten me anyway. But for his information network. His decades of accumulated intelligence.
Knowledge is more valuable than jutsu.
As for the scrolls Orochimaru was offering—the complete collection of forbidden techniques, secret research, experimental data—Naruto felt only mild interest. His path was Ultimate Taijutsu, physical perfection through body cultivation. Ninjutsu represented a completely different approach, one he had no intention of pursuing seriously.
Sasuke can have them, Naruto decided. He's still walking the traditional chakra path. These techniques will be more useful to him.
Seeing genuine interest kindle in Naruto's expression, recognizing an opportunity to cement his position, Orochimaru made a calculated decision.
Show complete submission, he reasoned. Demonstrate that I'm holding nothing back. Prove my value immediately.
"I'll tell you about my previous plans for Konoha," Orochimaru began, his voice taking on a confessional quality. "The operation was called Konoha Crush. A coordinated invasion designed to destroy the village during the Chunin Exams, when security would be strained and foreign ninja already present inside the walls."
He outlined the strategy with professional detachment—the alliance with Sunagakure, the assassination of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the plan to summon massive creatures during the exam finals to create chaos. Each detail revealed without hesitation, as if offering up his most precious secrets willingly.
Of course, Orochimaru carefully avoided mentioning certain specifics. Like the fact that he himself had killed Rasa. That particular detail remained conveniently omitted, blamed instead on "unknown circumstances."
Not my problem anymore anyway, Orochimaru rationalized. I've abandoned that entire operation. Changed objectives completely.
As Orochimaru spoke, describing invasion routes and coordination timing, Naruto's hand rose abruptly.
"Stop," Naruto said, his tone flat and disinterested. "I'm not interested in this kind of information."
The interruption caught Orochimaru mid-sentence, leaving him momentarily off-balance.
"If you want to crush Konoha, that's your business entirely," Naruto continued, his expression revealing complete indifference. "Attack the village, burn it to ashes, I don't care. The only thing that matters to me is protecting my friends. As long as they're safe, Konoha's political situation is irrelevant."
The words landed with absolute sincerity. No hesitation, no conflicting emotion. Just pure, honest apathy toward the village's fate.
Perfect, Orochimaru thought, barely suppressing a smile. He really doesn't have the Will of Fire. No loyalty to Konoha's institutions at all.
The entire Konoha Crush revelation had been a test, carefully designed to gauge Naruto's position. Because if Naruto possessed even a trace of that ideological devotion—that willing self-sacrifice for the village's greater good—then Orochimaru's position would remain precarious. A traitor couldn't be fully trusted by someone who valued Konoha above all else.
But Naruto's response revealed the opposite. No attachment to the village hierarchy. No concern for its survival beyond protecting specific individuals he cared about.
Which means entering Konoha itself becomes possible, Orochimaru calculated. With Naruto's endorsement, the village leadership won't dare harass me. They'll have to accept my presence, however uncomfortable it makes them.
The implications were significant. Freedom of movement, access to resources, proximity to research opportunities. All made possible by Naruto's lack of institutional loyalty.
Makes sense when you think about it, Orochimaru reflected. Jinchuriki never receive good treatment. In any village, across the entire shinobi world, they're viewed with suspicion and fear. Treated as weapons, not people. Why would Naruto feel loyalty toward a village that's given him nothing but suffering?
The logic was sound, the conclusion reasonable.
"Then let me tell you information that's more personally relevant," Orochimaru said, adjusting his approach smoothly. "Intelligence about Naruto-sama and Sasuke-kun specifically. Things that affect you directly."
Some of this information had been gathered through Yakushi Kabuto's intelligence network—careful observation, methodical data collection, patient compilation. Other pieces had been obtained through direct exchange with Danzo, traded for cooperation on various projects.
Now I'll see how much they actually know, Orochimaru thought. Test the limits of their awareness.
"Speaking of which," Orochimaru began, his tone casual despite the weight of his words, "I knew your father, Naruto-sama. Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage."
He used the personal name deliberately, not the title. Minato had been a generation younger than Orochimaru, technically a junior despite achieving the Hokage position first.
"After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, after your father sealed the demon inside you and died protecting the village," Orochimaru continued, watching Naruto's face carefully for reactions, "the Fourth Hokage entrusted you to Sarutobi Hiruzen's care. Not just your physical safety, but also all his property. His estate, his savings, his research, his jutsu scrolls. Everything."
Orochimaru paused, letting that sink in.
"The Fourth was quite wealthy, you know. S-rank mission payments add up substantially over time. Plus he developed the Flying Thunder God independently, created the Rasengan, maintained the village's seal barrier systems. All of that generated income."
Another calculated pause.
"I'm curious, Naruto-sama—now that you've graduated from the Academy, become a genin, has Sarutobi Hiruzen given you that inheritance? Has he turned over your father's property as he was supposed to?"
The question hung in the air, innocuous on the surface but loaded with implication.
Naruto's expression remained neutral, giving nothing away. He already knew the answer, of course. Knew exactly where Minato's property had gone—absorbed into Hiruzen's control, never transferred, conveniently "forgotten" while Naruto struggled with expired food and hostile shopkeepers.
But he let Orochimaru continue talking. Information was valuable even when you already possessed it. Confirmation from independent sources, additional details, new perspectives. All useful.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen is an extremely selfish person," Orochimaru said, his voice taking on an edge now. "He wants to make the Hokage position a family inheritance. A dynasty, passed down through his bloodline."
The snake Sannin's eyes narrowed with old resentment.
"Unfortunately for him, his eldest son Shinnosuke died during the war. But he still has Asuma, his second son. Even though Asuma lacks the talent and temperament for leadership, Hiruzen has been paving the way for him. Building connections, arranging opportunities, preparing the path."
Orochimaru gestured dismissively.
"His grandson is named Konohamaru. Konohamaru. You can read Sarutobi Hiruzen's ambitions right there in the name itself. The boy is being groomed from birth to eventually take the position."
The bitterness in Orochimaru's voice suggested personal wounds, old rejections still raw despite decades passing.
"After your father died, after the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself," Orochimaru continued, "many people—most people, actually—preferred Tsunade to succeed as Fifth Hokage. She was the logical choice. Senju bloodline, exceptional combat skills, one of the Legendary Sannin."
His expression twisted with something ugly.
"But Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped up instead. Took back the position he'd previously retired from. Said the village needed experienced leadership during the crisis, that Tsunade was too emotionally compromised by recent losses."
Orochimaru's laugh was sharp and bitter.
"To consolidate his reclaimed power, to prevent challenges to his authority, he systematically undermined major clans. Excluded potential rivals. Created conflicts that weakened anyone who might oppose him."
Now his gaze shifted to Sasuke, watching for reaction.
"The Uchiha clan's situation? That was Sarutobi Hiruzen's doing as well. He orchestrated the circumstances that led to their isolation, their growing resentment, eventually their attempted coup. All of it."
Orochimaru studied Sasuke's face carefully, looking for shock, anger, any emotional response.
But Sasuke's expression remained completely unchanged. No surprise, no outrage, not even a flicker of reaction. Just calm attention, as if Orochimaru was confirming information already known rather than revealing shocking secrets.
They already know, Orochimaru realized with a start. These things I'm presenting as revelations—they've already learned them somehow.
This won't work. I need something truly shocking. Something they couldn't possibly know yet.
His mind raced, sorting through intelligence files, searching for the most explosive piece of information he possessed. Something that would genuinely surprise them, particularly Naruto.
There, he decided. That should do it.
"Naruto-sama," Orochimaru said carefully, "do you know why I actually betrayed Konoha? The real reason, not the official story?"
Naruto glanced at him, tone utterly flat. "Isn't it because you were conducting human experiments on Konoha shinobi? Hiruzen discovered what you were doing and chased you out of the village?"
"That's the official narrative, yes," Orochimaru said with dismissive scorn. "But it's fundamentally dishonest. A convenient fiction."
He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping.
"Human experimentation, pursuing greater power through forbidden research—you think I was doing that alone? That I was some isolated rogue scientist working in secret?"
Orochimaru's laugh was harsh.
"The truth is, people under Sarutobi Hiruzen's command were conducting the exact same experiments. Still are, in fact. The Root organization, led by Shimura Danzo, is probably performing human experiments right this moment. Has been for decades."
His eyes locked onto Naruto's.
"The difference wasn't what we were doing. The difference was that I was doing it independently, outside Hiruzen's control. That made me a threat. So he manufactured a scandal, turned my research into a crime, and expelled me while continuing the same work under his own authority."
Naruto's expression remained neutral, but his attention had sharpened noticeably.
Now for the real bomb, Orochimaru thought.
"Also," he said, voice going quiet and serious, "they might still be studying your parents' remains, Naruto-sama. The Fourth Hokage's body. Your mother Kushina's corpse. Researching their bloodlines, analyzing their techniques, extracting their genetic material."
The words dropped like explosive tags into still water.
"What did you say?" Naruto's entire demeanor transformed instantly.
His hand shot out, seizing Orochimaru's collar, lifting the snake Sannin partially off his feet with frightening ease. Those blue eyes—usually calm and calculating—now burned with something dangerous.
"I understand Naruto-sama's emotional reaction," Orochimaru said quickly, keeping his voice steady despite the grip on his throat. "But the fact is undeniable. The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, made tremendous contributions to Konoha. Yet after his death, his body wasn't given peaceful rest. It was researched extensively by subsequent generations. All in the name of strengthening the village's power."
He reached up carefully, patting Naruto's hand in a placating gesture.
"This is standard practice for powerful shinobi. Their bodies become resources. The Fourth Hokage and his wife would be treated no differently. Possibly even more intensively, given their unique capabilities."
"Is what you're saying true?" Naruto's voice was dangerously quiet, his grip loosening slightly as he lowered Orochimaru back to the ground. "Or are you lying to manipulate me?"
"Of course it's true," Orochimaru replied solemnly, meeting Naruto's eyes directly. "If Naruto-sama doesn't believe me, the solution is simple. With your strength, you could go directly to Root headquarters. Force your way in, search their facilities. Then you can prove whether my information is accurate or not."
The suggestion was genuine. Orochimaru had nothing to gain from lying about something so easily verified.
Naruto's face had gone dark, expression grim with suppressed fury. But beneath the anger, there was something else—a sense of confirmation. As if Orochimaru's revelation fit perfectly with suspicions Naruto already held.
Coming to find Orochimaru was the right choice, Naruto thought, his mind cold despite the hot rage burning in his chest. This information is valuable. Worth the effort.
His gaze shifted to Sasuke, and a single word carried volumes of meaning.
"Sasuke."
Sasuke understood instantly. The shared look between them communicated everything necessary—years of friendship creating a wordless language.
In a blur of movement, Sasuke appeared beside the cage of cockroaches. He lifted the container smoothly, insects scrambling over each other inside, and returned to stand before Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's eyes widened, genuine fear flashing across his face as he processed what was about to happen.
"N-Naruto-sama," he stammered, actually taking a step backward. "I've joined your service. I'm yours now. You don't need to—"
"Don't be afraid," Naruto interrupted, his voice terrifyingly calm. "I just want to confirm whether you're lying or telling the truth. Simple verification, nothing more."
But beneath that calm surface, Orochimaru could sense something else. A storm building, pressure accumulating, rage being compressed into something dense and explosive. Once it erupted, it would be a natural disaster of catastrophic proportions.
He's barely holding it together, Orochimaru realized. If I've lied about this, if the information proves false, he'll kill me without hesitation.
When Sasuke approached with the cockroach cage, Orochimaru forced himself to remain still. Forced himself not to flee, not to fight, not to show any resistance that might be interpreted as guilt.
The cage opened.
Cockroaches swarmed out.
"AHHHHHHH!" Orochimaru's scream tore through the air, high-pitched and primal.
The insects crawled across his skin, antennae brushing sensitive areas, legs tickling and scratching. His phobia activated with full force, drowning rational thought in pure, instinctive terror. Every nerve in his body screamed wrongness, violation, unbearable horror.
Sasuke worked methodically, using the cockroaches to extract truthful responses. The technique was elegant in its simplicity—Orochimaru's overwhelming phobia made lying impossible. Any attempt at deception would be immediately obvious through physiological responses that couldn't be faked or controlled.
Meanwhile, Naruto stood to the side, completely ignoring the interrogation process. His silence was profound, heavy with implications. The kind of quiet that preceded volcanic eruptions.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Naruto thought, each name forming with crystalline clarity in his mind. Shimura Danzo. Wait. Just wait.
You'll both face my anger soon enough.
As if sensing the murderous intent radiating from Naruto's still form, detecting the barely-restrained fury, the System's voice manifested in his consciousness.
[Naruto,] it said gently, soothingly. [I know you can't wait to storm Root headquarters right now. I know you want to tear Danzo apart with your bare hands, consequences be damned.]
The System's tone carried understanding, sympathy even.
[But the opportunity for your breakthrough is already in front of you. Perhaps even today. This kind of breakthrough opportunity is extremely rare—once missed, it might not come again for years. Possibly never.]
A pause, letting that sink in.
[So you need to endure. Just a little longer. Wait until after you achieve spirit, energy, and body unity. Then, with your complete power unsealed, you can confront them properly. Make them answer for everything.]
[Otherwise, if you act now in your current state, you might not be strong enough to force the truth from them. Might not be able to protect your friends from the political fallout. Might fail to achieve your real goals.]
The logic was sound. The strategic thinking undeniable.
Naruto took a slow, deep breath, forcing his muscles to relax incrementally. His fists unclenched, fingers spreading.
"I'll listen to you," he said quietly, speaking aloud despite the System existing only in his mind. "I'll wait."
But know this, he added silently. Every moment I wait, the storm grows stronger. Every second of delay makes the eventual eruption more devastating.
Time won't calm my anger. It'll only make it more terrible when it finally breaks free.
After several minutes—minutes that felt eternal to Orochimaru, whose screams had gradually reduced to whimpers—Sasuke finally removed the last cockroach from the snake Sannin's trembling form.
Orochimaru immediately collapsed, curling into a ball with his knees against his chest, arms wrapped around his legs. His face was pale, eyes wide and glazed, expression pitiful and powerless. Small tremors ran through his body, aftershocks of phobic trauma.
Sasuke ignored the pathetic display entirely. He returned to Naruto's side, meeting his friend's eyes, and delivered his verdict.
"Orochimaru didn't lie," Sasuke confirmed, his voice flat and certain. "Every word was truth."
Naruto nodded once, sharply. His expression revealed nothing now—the fury had been locked down, compressed, stored for future release.
"Alright," he said, tone businesslike despite everything. "Then we're taking Orochimaru back to the farm."
The business here was concluded. The laboratory ruins held nothing more of value. Staying in this wretched place served no purpose.
"Sasuke, bring our new biological consultant home."
Sasuke nodded, approaching Orochimaru's still-curled form. He placed one hand on the snake Sannin's shoulder with clinical efficiency, establishing the physical contact needed for Flying Thunder God transport.
Orochimaru barely reacted, still lost in post-phobic trauma, eyes unfocused and distant.
Space distorted.
The three figures vanished, leaving nothing behind but destroyed equipment and the lingering echo of screams.
Somewhere in Konoha, in the depths beneath Root headquarters, certain people continued their research completely unaware that judgment was coming.
The storm was gathering.
And when it finally broke, nothing would be left standing in its wake.