Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 425 The Hidden Truth

In that cramped and small treatment room, everyone's eyes were fixed on Naruto Uzumaki, listening quietly to every word he spoke. Everyone's expression was so matter-of-fact, as if it were all perfectly natural.

This is Konoha Village, after all! For the villagers, Nagato had brought immense disaster and destruction, but now that he has decided to atone for the irreparable damage he caused, it is only right. After all, justice will ultimately prevail over evil, and those who commit wrongdoings must pay the price for their actions and strive to make amends. Therefore, when they heard this news, no one felt surprised or taken aback; on the contrary, they felt it was the most normal outcome.

Orochimaru's already somewhat sinister face was now filled with a deep sense of doubt, as if a fog of confusion shrouded his mind, something he couldn't shake off. His long, deep-set eyes narrowed slightly as he carefully considered every detail, trying to find the root of his unease and unease.

Nagato, possessing the Rinnegan, was able to discern Naruto's unwavering beliefs simply through his brief explanation. He knew that this seemingly ordinary boy possessed an extraordinary willpower beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

After all, Nagato himself had weathered countless storms and suffered the ravages of war. Moreover, he had personally created the Akatsuki organization, an extremely dangerous and feared force. With such profound experience, how could he easily believe that Naruto could sway his resolve for world peace with just a few innocent words?

This was all so unbelievable that Orochimaru couldn't help but doubt Naruto's true motives in revealing Nagato's true intentions. However, at that moment, a strange feeling suddenly welled up in Orochimaru's heart...

For the people of Konoha, Orochimaru no longer paid much attention to them. Over the long years, Orochimaru had weathered countless storms and witnessed the changes and rise and fall of Konoha. He had once considered Konoha his home, but as time went by, he gradually realized that the village was no longer the united and determined place it once was.

Looking back, Konoha Village was founded under the guidance of the great ninja Hashirama Senju, with the initial aim of achieving peace, allowing various clans to coexist harmoniously, and jointly protect this land. However, since Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, the various policies and propaganda over the decades have gradually deviated from their original course. Under the daily brainwashing propaganda, the villagers began to forget the purity and determination that Konoha Village had at its inception, gradually becoming lost in a false prosperity and appearances.

Orochimaru knew full well that while Konoha Village remained outwardly powerful, it was internally rotten to the core. Its so-called unity and beliefs were nothing but a fragile facade. What truly sustained Konoha to this day was perhaps merely the accumulated foundation of its predecessors and its once glorious history. But how far could such a Konoha Village go in the future? Orochimaru held no hope, for he clearly saw the village's inevitable decline.

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with cunning and deep thought. He knew perfectly well that Konoha was currently immersed in a seemingly dazzling but ultimately illusory prosperity. People still regarded Konoha as the undisputed number one ninja village in the ninja world, but this was nothing more than a self-deceiving illusion.

In fact, given Konoha's current situation, both its overall strength and future development have fallen far behind other ninja villages. Its former glory has faded, and its once-proud ninjas have begun to lose their edge.

The only village slightly inferior to Konoha at this moment, the Sand Village, is not lacking in ability. Back then, Orochimaru personally set a trap, severely damaging the Sand Village. Coupled with the pressure from Konoha behind the scenes and the adverse external environment, this led to the Sand Village's relatively weak position. But even so, who can say that the Sand Village won't one day rise again and catch up?

Orochimaru's already narrow mouth curled up slightly, like a venomous snake silently flicking its tongue, revealing a barely perceptible sneer. He thought to himself, "Nagato, that brat, is manipulating the terrifying Six Paths of Pain. The power he's displayed is beyond imagination. If he were to launch a full-scale attack and utterly destroy the entire Hidden Leaf Village, it would be a piece of cake." However, the foolish ninjas in the Hidden Leaf Village were completely oblivious to this! They remained oblivious to the extreme danger they were in. Instead, these guys were still indulging in the illusion that Naruto had successfully defeated Pain and thus become the new hero of the Hidden Leaf Village, smug and self-satisfied. Little did they know that while they were relying on others and ceasing their efforts, a massive disaster was secretly brewing, ready to befall them at any moment, bringing annihilation to this seemingly peaceful village.

However, time flies, and Orochimaru, who once held deep feelings for Konoha, has seen those feelings gradually dissipate like smoke. The familiar land and those kind faces of the past have gradually blurred in the torrent of time.

Back then, Konoha provided Orochimaru with the opportunities and resources to grow, helping him step by step embark on the path to becoming a powerful figure. However, as his experiences increased, his knowledge grew, and Konoha changed, he began to feel that Konoha was no longer the village he had always imagined, and it could no longer satisfy his endless thirst for knowledge and ambition. Therefore, he resolutely chose to leave the land that nurtured him to pursue his own path.

Years have passed, and Orochimaru has weathered countless storms, finally repaying the debt of gratitude Konoha had bestowed upon him. He is no longer the aloof and arrogant figure he once was, one of the "Legendary Sannin." Now, his sole purpose is to achieve that seemingly unattainable goal on his path of cultivation.

After listening to Naruto Uzumaki's detailed and urgent recount of the entire incident, Nara Shikaku's previously calm face instantly became unusually serious. His deep, pool-like eyes gleamed with contemplation, as if he were rapidly sorting through and analyzing this complex and shocking information in his mind.

As one of Konoha's most astute strategists, Nara Shikaku possessed extraordinary wisdom and insight. At this moment, with just a moment's thought, he easily grasped the key issues that Orochimaru was worried about.

Drawing upon his years of experience and keen judgment of the situation, Nara Shikaku began to meticulously verify and integrate every detail Naruto Uzumaki had recounted with the crucial information Orochimaru had previously provided. As his thoughts deepened, he increasingly realized that Nagato's sudden and dramatic transformation must conceal some unknown, significant conspiracy or secret. This realization weighed heavily on his mind, for it meant that the challenges they were about to face might far exceed their initial expectations.

Nara Shikaku could no longer suppress his curiosity and doubts, his gaze involuntarily turning to Orochimaru not far away. However, to his surprise, although Orochimaru's facial expression remained as calm as ever, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, his deep, narrow eyes seemed to burn with a raging fire, intensely intense. The emotions and meaning contained within this fire were so unfamiliar and obscure to Nara Shikaku, like a mysterious enigma hidden in the depths of darkness, utterly unfathomable. Nara Shikaku stared intently into Orochimaru's eyes, trying to decipher some clue from that firelight, but the more he tried to understand its meaning, the more he felt as if he were trapped in a bottomless vortex, constantly pulled deeper and deeper by an invisible force…

Orochimaru completely ignored Shikaku Nara's gaze, as if it were nothing more than an insignificant breeze. His long, narrow, and cold eyes were fixed on Naruto Uzumaki, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing an enigmatic smile.

Orochimaru slowly opened his mouth and said in a slightly hoarse yet oppressive voice, "The ninjutsu that Nagato used at the end, as far as I know, should be called 'Outer Path - Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique'! Kid, could you tell me in detail about the specific changes and various situations when he used this ninjutsu? After all, it is an extremely powerful and mysterious forbidden technique, and I am very curious about it."

Naruto frowned slightly, gathered his thoughts, and then opened his mouth without hesitation to describe Nagato's situation in detail and vividly. His gaze was focused and firm, as if those unforgettable scenes were replaying before his eyes.

Orochimaru sat to the side, leaning forward, listening intently to every word Naruto Uzumaki spoke. His narrow eyes occasionally flashed with curiosity and contemplation, and whenever he heard a crucial point or had a question, he would immediately interrupt Naruto to ask about certain details and variations.

After listening to all the details Naruto Uzumaki had recounted, and with nothing more to add, he withdrew his gaze and fell into deep thought.