Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 423 Information Exchange

Nara Shikaku's brows were furrowed so deeply they resembled twisted ropes, revealing his inner worry and confusion. He was completely baffled by Orochimaru's sudden question and had no way of knowing what Orochimaru's true intentions were.

If the confidential information about Naruto's knowledge of Pain were leaked, it could have other consequences. Therefore, Shikaku Nara decided to keep Naruto's secret under any circumstances, ensuring that Orochimaru would not have any opportunity to obtain the crucial information about Naruto's final exchange with Pain.

Orochimaru's cold gaze, like that of a venomous snake, slowly swept over every Konoha ninja present. When his gaze landed on Nara Shikaku, he keenly caught a fleeting, subtle change in the man's expression. In that brief glance, Orochimaru had already discerned Nara Shikaku's thoughts—this seemingly composed man was plotting how to conceal crucial information without his knowledge.

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, a barely perceptible sneer appearing on his face. He had long anticipated Konoha's uncooperative attitude. After all, Konoha had always been wary and suspicious of him; how could they easily hand over such important information? However, Orochimaru was unconcerned. He was already accustomed to dealing with various forces and firmly believed that with his wisdom and methods, he would eventually obtain what he needed from them.

Orochimaru's cold eyes were fixed on Naruto Uzumaki, as if trying to see through his appearance to the secrets hidden deep within his heart. He stood there quietly, motionless, only the slight flicker in his eyes revealing that he was in a state of high alert and deep thought.

For Orochimaru, every word Naruto Uzumaki uttered could be a key clue to unraveling the mystery. He knew that this young ninja carried many untold stories and immense power, but the extent to which these powers could be wielded, and whether they could influence his plans, remained unknown. Therefore, he desperately wanted to hear more information from Naruto.

However, if Naruto chooses to remain silent or deliberately conceals important details, Orochimaru will not let him off easily. As a villain known for his ruthlessness, Orochimaru has always only cared about his own interests and the achievement of his goals. If he cannot obtain the necessary information, he will not only refuse to provide any assistance to Konoha, but will also unhesitatingly sever ties with the village and take all necessary measures to protect his own safety and interests.

The atmosphere was incredibly tense, with a confrontation between Orochimaru and Naruto seemingly on the verge of erupting. The air around them felt thick with tension, creating an invisible pressure. Naruto met Orochimaru's gaze head-on, silently considering how to handle this difficult situation and whether he should reveal Nagato's details.

Orochimaru's narrow, cold eyes were fixed on the hesitant Naruto Uzumaki before him, a sly smile playing on his lips. He thought to himself that while the boy possessed immense potential, his indecisiveness could be a fatal weakness. Therefore, Orochimaru decided to put more pressure on Naruto, to make him clearly realize the terrible crisis that continuing to conceal crucial information about Pain would bring to the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

Orochimaru slowly took a step forward, emanating a chilling aura. In a low, threatening voice, he said, "Kid, do you know Pain's true strength and the conspiracy behind him? If you continue to hesitate and refuse to tell me everything you know, the consequences will be unimaginable if Akatsuki attacks Konoha again!" As he spoke, Orochimaru stretched out a pale hand, pointing to the ruins of Konoha in the distance, as if he could see it about to be engulfed in war once more.

Naruto felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing Orochimaru's words. He understood the danger posed by the Akatsuki, but how could he easily trust Orochimaru, his former enemy? However, faced with the relentless pressure from Orochimaru, Naruto's resolve began to waver.

Nara Shikaku's exceptionally intelligent mind began to work at breakneck speed, like a finely tuned instrument spinning at high speed. Faced with the current situation, he silently considered various possibilities and countermeasures.

He knew full well that revealing information to Orochimaru was unwise, given that Orochimaru was still a traitor to Konoha. However, at the same time, he was acutely aware that Konoha could no longer withstand another fierce attack from the Akatsuki. Every clash with a powerful enemy had cost Konoha dearly, and the village's peace and the lives of its inhabitants were constantly threatened.

From Orochimaru's tone when he asked the question, Nara Shikaku keenly sensed that things might be far more complex than he had imagined. The true nature of the enigmatic Akatsuki organization seemed to have always been shrouded in mystery. Especially Pain; although he was seen as one of the core members of Akatsuki, perhaps he didn't fully represent the organization's true strength and intentions. Thinking of this, Nara Shikaku felt a chill run down his spine; he knew the challenge he faced would be exceptionally difficult.

At such a critical moment, the safety of Konoha Village is undoubtedly of paramount importance and cannot be compromised. Analyzing the current complex, volatile, and unpredictable situation, it's clear that while Orochimaru remains a dangerous figure, he is unlikely to directly oppose Konoha Village, at least in the short term. However, what truly puts Konoha Village on high alert is the mysterious and powerful Akatsuki organization.

If we can gather as much accurate intelligence as possible about the Akatsuki organization, including their membership, operational plans, and hidden motives, Konoha Village can develop a more comprehensive and detailed countermeasure and make thorough preparations before battle. In this way, when Konoha Village is attacked by the Akatsuki, it can retaliate with greater strength and superior wisdom, thereby maximizing the safety of every villager's life and property and protecting this peaceful land from external invasion.

"Lord Orochimaru, you are eager to obtain detailed information about Pain, but shouldn't you also show sufficient sincerity? With your abilities and methods, you must possess some crucial information that even Konoha hasn't been able to gather! In that case, could we conduct this information exchange fairly? You must know that Konoha Village can no longer withstand any more ravages of war." Nara Shikaku's expression was solemn as he weighed the pros and cons. After much deliberation, he finally gritted his teeth and made this difficult decision—to have Naruto Uzumaki reveal the specific information to the other side. He knew that Konoha was currently in a precarious situation, and if they couldn't quickly obtain more crucial information and prepare accordingly, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Orochimaru knew perfectly well that if he didn't reveal even the slightest bit of information to Konoha, they would keep their mouths shut like an iron barrel, making it impossible for him to obtain the specific information he so desperately wanted. The mysterious power of rules that Pain unleashed at the end was even more crucial! This power directly determined whether he could quickly grasp its mysteries and break through his current cultivation bottleneck, achieving a leap in strength. This mysterious power of rules seemed to conceal endless secrets and immense energy, captivating Orochimaru and making him unable to resist its allure. He believed that if he could understand its true essence, he would definitely grow to a higher level, allowing him to advance even further.

Orochimaru slowly began to speak, “Some of the information I possess was collected by me personally, and some was revealed to me by Hyuga Kanan.” His cold gaze swept over everyone, as if he could see into the depths of each person’s heart.

Then, Orochimaru recounted the shocking news in detail. From the mysterious composition of the Akatsuki organization to the series of conspiracies they secretly plotted; from the intricate relationships between the various ninja villages to the unknown powerful forces... he described every detail vividly, making one's blood run cold.

However, Orochimaru's expression grew increasingly grave as he finished speaking. He lowered his voice and said, "Even with my current enhanced strength, I still have no confidence in my ability to contend with the being hidden behind Akatsuki. Therefore, I am telling you all this truthfully in Konoha, hoping you will consider it carefully and make the wisest decision." After saying this, he stood there quietly, waiting for Naruto and the others' response.

Nara Shikaku, Naruto Uzumaki, and the others were all stunned, especially Naruto, whose mind was in turmoil. He had always believed that Akatsuki was an evil organization entirely controlled by Nagato. Since Nagato's death, Naruto naively thought that even if the organization didn't completely collapse, it would at least fall into chaos. After all, without a leader as charismatic as Nagato, Akatsuki should have struggled to maintain its former power.

Moreover, the Akatsuki still has Konan, a member known as the "Angel." In Naruto's plan, with Konan in charge, the Akatsuki will most likely abandon their plan to capture the Nine-Tailed Fox, and naturally, they will no longer attack Konoha.