Chapter 98 - 28

Chapter 28: Multiple Wives, Multiple Blessings! Cooperation Proposal!Late at night a week later, the real "cooperation proposal" arrived.Kushina met an uninvited guest in the secret room of the Ivy Garden.It was not Orochimaru himself, but his capable assistant, the 14-year-old Yakushi Kabuto.The young Yakushi Kabuto wore round-rimmed glasses and had a gentle, harmless smile, but the sharpness in his eyes could not escape Kushina's gaze."Lady Uzumaki Kushina, I have long admired you." Yakushi Kabuto bowed respectfully. "Lord Orochimaru asked me to send you his regards and bring you a... cooperation proposal."He took a scroll from his bosom.Kushina took it, unfurled it, and her expression grew more solemn the more she read.The scroll listed detailed terms of cooperation:1. Technology Sharing: Orochimaru provides "Bloodline Limit Safety Development Schemes," "Chakra Precision Control Training Methods," and "Special Constitution Adaptability Modification Theory."2. Personnel Exchange: Guren and Tayuya will be stationed at Ivy as the first batch of "exchange students." In the future, more children with "cultivation value" may be dispatched.3. Intelligence Exchange: Orochimaru will share partial intelligence regarding the "Akatsuki Organization," "Tailed Beast," and "ancient ruins."4. Research Support: Orochimaru hopes to obtain "partial non-core materials on the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu" and "the right to anonymous analysis of Ivy member training data."In exchange, Orochimaru requires:1. Regular physical examination data of Naruto.2. Partial non-confidential progress reports of the ivy project.3. Assistance in certain future "experiments" (specific content to be negotiated separately).4. Ensuring the safety and growth of Guren and Tayuya.After reading it, Kushina placed the scroll on the table and crossed her arms. "Orochimaru thinks quite highly of himself. He wants too much and gives too little."Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "Lord Orochimaru said this is just a draft. The specific terms can be negotiated. And..." He paused. "Lord Orochimaru also prepared a 'gift of sincerity.'"He took out another small scroll.Kushina opened it, and her pupils suddenly contracted.The scroll contained thirteen phased Sealing Jutsuimprovement schemes on how to safely guide the Nine-Tailed Chakra. Each one was ingeniously conceived, and some methods were not even recorded in the ancient books of the Uzumaki Clan."This was designed specifically for Naruto by Lord Orochimaru, based on the principles of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu and combined with years of research on Tailed Beasts." Yakushi Kabuto smiled. "Lord Orochimaru said that Naruto's Chakra volume is astonishingly huge, but his control is crude, and the Nine-Tailed's power is like a volcano that could erupt at any moment. These schemes can help him... safely borrow the volcano's heat without getting burned."Kushina's heart pounded wildly.The value of this gift was too great. If these schemes were truly effective, Naruto's growth speed would increase several times over, and the risk of him losing control could be greatly reduced.But she quickly calmed down. "What is the price?""We only need you to record Naruto's physical data and reactions after each use of the schemes and share it with us." Yakushi Kabuto said. "Of course, we only need to study the data itself; it will have no impact on Naruto."Kushina fell silent.She weighed her options rapidly in her mind.Orochimaru's danger was unquestionable. But this proposal... it was too tempting for Naruto and for Ivy. Moreover, since he had sent Guren and Tayuyaas "hostages," he should at least be genuinely interested in cooperation in the short term."I need time to consider." Finally, she said. "And the terms must be changed. First, all experiments and data collection involving Naruto must be conducted in Konoha and under my full supervision. Second, all technology and training methods provided by Orochimaru must undergo dual review by me and Senior Uzumaki Ashina. Third, the status of Guren and Tayuya must be clarified! They are now official members of Ivy and are no longer people of the Sound Village. Orochimaru must not order or contact them in any form."Yakushi Kabuto's smile deepened. "Very reasonable requirements. I will convey them truthfully."He stood up to leave, and when he reached the door, he suddenly turned back."By the way, Lord Orochimaru also had one more thing he wanted me to convey.""Speak.""'Uzumaki Kushina, you are an amazing mother. And I... have always been very interested in the subject of 'how far a mother can go to protect her child.'"Yakushi Kabuto left.The secret room returned to silence.Kushina sat alone in the darkness, the scroll in her hand feeling heavy.She knew she was playing with fire. Cooperating with Orochimaru was no different from making a deal with the devil.But for Naruto, for those children of Ivy, and for that potentially darker future...She had no choice but to play with this fire.Just then, a familiar figure walked out. She happened to place a stack of materials on the table."Lady Kushina, all the places where the improvement schemes were tampered with have been marked. Even the correct procedural plans have been clearly written out.""Yakushi Nonou, can this child handle this task?""That child is even more outstanding than I imagined!"