If only comparing the value of the traded items, soul creation technology was undoubtedly superior.
But transactions aren't just about item value; they also involve demand and the subsequent impact after the trade.
Regarding demand, Orochimaru naturally craved soul creation technology immensely. He'd willingly trade two different Scroll of Seals for it.
But Konoha might not.
Perhaps soul creation technology could bring great benefits, but current Konoha didn't need it, or rather, they couldn't see what concrete benefits it would bring or how long it would take to yield results.
Handing the Scroll of Seals to a Shinobi from another village could create an incredibly terrifying enemy.
Though Sunagakure was Konoha's ally, alliances could shift arbitrarily based on subjective stances… utterly unreliable.
As a Konoha's Shinobi and the Hokage's disciple, Orochimaru had to consider things from Konoha's stance.
Seeing Orochimaru deep in thought, Ryuji knew what he was pondering and said, "You don't need to give me an answer now. Go back and think it over carefully. Come find me once you've decided."
Orochimaru glanced at him slightly, nodding. "I will make my choice as soon as possible."
"Orochimaru, I must remind you..." Ryuji said. "Though I'll accept the trade whenever, I hope it won't take too long. If it's too prolonged, I might research corresponding forbidden techniques myself. By then, the Scroll of Seals' value to me would diminish. To continue trading for soul creation technology, you'd need to offer something else of equivalent value."
Orochimaru paused slightly.
He wanted to say: Young man, don't be too arrogant. Konoha has researched and developed forbidden techniques for so many years with so many people. Could you really produce comparable quantity and quality in a short time?
But remembering the other was only fifteen and had already developed soul creation technology, it wouldn't be strange if he truly produced forbidden techniques equal to the Scroll of Seals.
"...I understand."
After a moment's hesitation, Orochimaru replied. "Then, I shall take my leave."
"Take care. I won't see you out."
"Yes."
Orochimaru nodded, stood, and left.
At the doorway, he suddenly halted, turned back, and said, "Ryuji-kun, I have some intelligence related to you that might interest you."
"What intelligence?"
"Jiraiya will soon return to the village."
Here, a smile appeared on Orochimaru's face. "The Akatsuki's members, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko are his students from outside. Two died by your hand, and the other also died by Sunagakure's hand. He might come to trouble you upon returning."
The Shinobi World wasn't an electronic information age. Unless specifically sending Shinobi to gather news, many things remained unknown.
Take Minato.
His fame spread throughout the Shinobi World; virtually everyone knew his deeds. But encountering him, definitely no one would recognize him at a glance.
Even someone with high recognition like him was like that; others were even more so.
Including Ryuji and the Five Kage, it was the same.
No matter how renowned you were, others might know of you but not necessarily recognize you.
Regarding Nagato and Konan...
Outsiders only knew from surviving Akatsuki's members that their team encountered Ryuji's puppeteer unit on the way to the southern base and fought. The rest was unknown.
Even if someone investigated the scene, they'd only find Nagato and Konan's bodies missing.
As long as Nagato didn't appear prominently later, outsiders would think Ryuji killed them.
Ryuji didn't explain anything about this.
He smiled faintly, replying, "No need for Orochimaru-sama to trouble yourself over that."
"I just want to see what expression Jiraiya will have then."
After saying this, Orochimaru slid the door open and left.
Compared to Jiraiya troubling Ryuji upon return, he cared more about whether to trade the Scroll of Seals for soul creation technology.
As for Ryuji, he calmly drank his tea.
Whether Orochimaru agreed to trade, he didn't care at all.
Agreeing was better; not agreeing was fine.
As he said earlier, even Konoha's decades of accumulated forbidden technique research, he could also develop given time.
If not agreed upon, Ryuji would at most waste some time.
No, without need, he wouldn't research those things; it wouldn't even be wasting time.
Ultimately, his desire for the Scroll of Seals' forbidden techniques was just a thirst for knowledge, seeking more inspiration.
As for Orochimaru becoming invincible after obtaining soul creation technology...
That was overthinking.
Why do you think Ryuji proactively changed soul transfer technology to soul creation technology?
Besides soul transfer technology's insufficient value for trading the Scroll of Seals, more because even if soul creation technology was given to others, they couldn't utilize it.
A high-tech product requires countless other high-tech products to combine.
Soul creation technology was the same.
To thoroughly master soul creation technology, one needed to understand spiritual laws distinct from physical laws, then possess the technical skill to control over a hundred thousand processes.
With the Shinobi World's current technological level, unable even to detect souls, how could they create them?
And the knowledge regarding creation principles… he wouldn't reveal a bit.
Ryuji would only tell Orochimaru how to create a soul, not why it worked or whether he could actually do it… it's none of his business.
As for reverse-engineering from the finished product...
Heh, if Orochimaru truly had that ability, then even without soul creation technology, he'd be awesome enough to reach the heavens, beyond even the Sage of Six Paths' reach.
And Jiraiya returning to Konoha to trouble him... he didn't take it seriously.
Not to mention Jiraiya himself advocated mutual understanding between people, abandoning hatred to achieve peace… a spiritual thinker.
Just considering opposing stances, he couldn't possibly do anything crossing lines.
At most, he would come to question him.
"Master, the tea has cooled. Shall I prepare fresh?"
Aka appeared in the reception room at some point, standing by respectfully.
Ryuji waved his hand. "No need. Accompany me for a walk outside."
Tomorrow was the private meeting with Danzo. He needed to ensure ample energy to avoid mishaps.
Theoretically, Danzo couldn't possibly do anything unfavorable during tomorrow's private meeting. But it was Danzo; sometimes his brain seemed addled, capable of disastrously foolish operations harming Konoha, so it's not impossible.
Thus, he didn't plan any research today.