Orochimaru had the intention of asking Kazuki for some blood to research Sage Mode, but after some thought, he abandoned the idea.

Besides mastering Sage Mode, Kazuki was also an Uchiha, and it would be very presumptuous to ask a ninja with a Kekkei Genkai for their blood. There were even Ninjutsu in the Ninja World that could curse others using blood.

A ninja's blood and cells contained information about them.

If someone asked him for his blood, Orochimaru would not agree, and would even turn hostile immediately.

Orochimaru prided himself on having a good relationship with Kazuki, but it wasn't good enough to openly demand blood.

"Later, I plan to research Sage Mode. I'd appreciate it if you could provide some assistance."

Orochimaru paused, then added, "Of course, if there's anything I need to pay for, you can certainly speak up."

Kazuki said, "My time is quite free, but researching Sage Mode is indeed difficult. One careless mistake can lead to death."

"Of course, I can help you avoid the risk of being backlashed by Natural Energy, but I'll also have to keep an eye on you."

Kazuki did not refuse. He understood what Orochimaru meant. The two exchanged a smile, with a sense of unspoken understanding.

This favor would not be easy to repay. At least in the future, when Kazuki asked Orochimaru to do something, Orochimaru would find it hard to refuse.

At least at this stage, Orochimaru couldn't refuse.

Kazuki also didn't mind cooperating with Orochimaru. This wasn't the later Orochimaru, he still had some humanity.

Moreover, even if Orochimaru went astray in the future and wanted to obtain Sasuke's body, he helped Sasuke a ton.

Kazuki strongly suspected that Orochimaru was actually manipulated. Itachi might have used Genjutsu to guide Orochimaru, on one hand asking him to train Sasuke, but on the other hand, not truly harming Sasuke.

Kazuki didn't mind having a good relationship with Orochimaru, even if it seemed that Orochimaru's strength was far inferior to his own and he wasn't qualified to cooperate with him.

However, Kazuki's future enemies were not just these guys from the Ninja World, but also the future Otsutsuki. It was very necessary to cultivate the strength of his own people.

Without the incident with Nawaki, Orochimaru was clearly humane and very reliable to his own people. At least, Kazuki did not feel any malice from Orochimaru.

If Kazuki had used his Sharingan to defeat Hanzo, then Orochimaru would probably have shown envy and jealousy, but Kazuki used ordinary Ninjutsu and Sage Mode, which changed the situation.

"Then I'll trouble you." Orochimaru felt that this favor might be a very large one.

He thought about what he could do for Kazuki. Could it be that in the future he would have to assist Kazuki in becoming Hokage?

It didn't seem impossible, after all, Kazuki was Tsunade's disciple, one of their own. Orochimaru himself had no aversion to Uchiha, and Kazuki was not an ordinary Uchiha.

Orochimaru acknowledged Kazuki's strength, and he had also saved his life. If Kazuki became Hokage, Orochimaru would not be unable to accept it.

Moreover, if Kazuki became Hokage, the benefits he would gain wouldn't be small.

Kazuki needed support, and he could provide help to Kazuki.

The current Uchiha could offer limited help to Kazuki, so he was the best choice.

Mikoto was his disciple, and they were related. He could become someone like Danzo.

As for supporting Nawaki to become Hokage, there was no need to even think about it. Neither Mito nor Tsunade actually supported Nawaki becoming Hokage. He was not suitable.

Thinking of the strength Kazuki had displayed earlier, and thinking of the Sage of Six Paths, Orochimaru felt that everything seemed worth it.

"However, it's a pity about Minato. If he knew that Jiraiya would rather teach strangers than teach him, he would probably cry."

Immediately after, Kazuki continued to complain about Jiraiya.

Indeed, Jiraiya was unreliable. During the Nine-Tails Incident in the future, Jiraiya was not present.

If he had been there, perhaps Minato wouldn't have had to die.

Later, Naruto didn't have a good life in Konoha. Hiruzen gave Naruto a considerable living allowance.

In some fanfictions, to make Hiruzen appear more villanous, Naruto didn't even get any money.

In reality, there was money, it's just that Naruto used it on random things, otherwise he wouldn't have had money to buy paint for mischief.

The spoiled milk was simply because Naruto had no one to teach him. He had money, but sometimes he couldn't buy things.

Sometimes, the cold shoulder is the most terrifying.

But during this period, Jiraiya seemed to have never visited Naruto.

Of course, you could also say that Jiraiya trusted Hiruzen, believing he could take good care of Naruto, and he was outside looking for a savior to change the Ninja World.

You could also say that Minato was Jiraiya's disciple, and Jiraiya taught Minato. Ultimately, Minato owed Jiraiya, not the other way around.

Jiraiya also had no obligation to raise Naruto.

Didn't Kakashi, as Minato's disciple, also not take care of Naruto?

However, this was indeed a bit too much.

"Minato?"

Orochimaru had a deep impression of Minato. He also came from a civilian background, seized an opportunity, and his strength significantly improved. He was very similar to himself.

Unfortunately, Minato became Jiraiya's disciple. Otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn't mind taking him as a disciple.

Now, being delayed by Jiraiya like this, it was truly a bit of a pity.

"That's right. When we go back, I'll tell Minato about this, so he, as Jiraiya's disciple, can feel how unreliable his teacher is." Tsunade sneered.

She had thought about having Jiraiya become Nawaki's teacher before. Now she was very glad that she chose Orochimaru for Nawaki instead of Jiraiya.

"Not a bad idea."

Orochimaru sighed lightly, his gaze subtly looking at Tsunade.

It wasn't that he had feelings for Tsunade, they were comrades who could entrust their backs to each other. He was more so reminiscing about the past.

When Jiraiya left, the team they had been trying to maintain was almost disbanded.

Logically, their team should have disbanded long ago, but all three had been trying to maintain it, and it turned out that Jiraiya, that idiot, was the first to leave.

Unbeknownst to them, they had all grown up.

***

New Book

Naruto: Getting Stronger With Intimate Acts

Shun transmigrates to the Naruto world as Uchiha Shun with a system that makes him stronger with each session.

[Ding, Host and Partner: Tsunade engaged in an intimate act. Affection +12%, Chakra Cap +4, Yang Affinity +0.01%.]

[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained the Kekkei Genkai: Incomplete Senju Sage Mode.]

[Ding, Host and Partner: Mikoto have engaged in an intimate act. Mangekyo Sharingan experience +50, Chakra Cap +3.]

As he gets stronger, he kills Danzo, forces Hiruzen to abdicate, eventually unifying the Ninja World.