Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.

You can now get early access up to Chapter 161 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon.

Up to Chapter 11 of Marvel: Star Wars System is also available on my Patreon. Each chapter averages 5,000 words.

patreon.com/riojiyo131

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The first 5 chapters of Marvel: Star Wars System are now available, completely free on my Patreon!

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[Tayuya: I offer you my Summoning, the Doki!]

Upon hearing her offer, Naruto, lips slightly stained with barbecue sauce, rolled his eyes in annoyance.

The Doki are three gigantic humanoid demons summoned by Tayuya. Each has their mouth, ears, and eyes covered.

But there was a catch with them...

[Naruto Uzumaki: Do you really think I'm dumb enough to fall for that? I know those ugly freaks only obey when they hear a specific melody… One that only you know how to play on your flute!]

[Tayuya: I'll teach you the melody! And how to play the flute if necessary! I just don't want to see Orochimaru's shitty face again…!]

[Orochimaru: ...]

[Hashirama Senju: Shitty face? I admit Orochimaru isn't the most handsome, but I've seen worse men and women in my life.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Like who, exactly?]

Naruto crossed his arms, skeptical. He thought of several ugly people he knew… but none that Hashirama could've known.

[Hashirama Senju: Madara, for example.]

[Madara Uchiha: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT UNPROVOKED ATTACK, YOU BASTARD?! WHAT DID I DO TO YOU NOW?!]

[Hashirama Senju: I'm bored. You haven't talked to me in hours, you only speak through the group, like you're depressed. You don't even want to fight me!]

[Madara Uchiha: I have a lot on my mind, you idiot! Leave me alone!]

[Hashirama Senju: But—]

[Madara Uchiha: AND I'M NOT UGLY! I'M THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN YOU'VE EVER MET IN YOUR LIFE, YOU TASTELESS MORON!]

[Tobirama Senju: You're not ugly. Just hard to look at.]

[Madara Uchiha: ...]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Tayuya, all I want is EVERYTHING you've got. Is that too much to ask?]

Naruto ignored Hashirama and Madara, used to this situation, and continued negotiating with Tayuya.

[Tayuya: EVERYTHING, you say?! You bastard…!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: If it bothers you, you can go back to Orochimaru and reconsider.]

[Tayuya: NO! NO! AND A THOUSAND TIMES NO! I ACCEPT, DAMMIT!]

[Tayuya has transferred to the group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, the entirety of her power!]

[Orochimaru: Well... She actually did it. I thought her pride would stop her.]

[Tayuya: WHAT OTHER CHOICE DID I HAVE?!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: So, Orochimaru… What would you give me in exchange for betraying my word and handing Tayuya over to you?]

[Orochimaru: Kuhuhu… you're far more twisted than I imagined, Naruto Uzumaki. I think I'm starting to like you.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I don't think I like that, honestly...]

[Tayuya: BETRAY YOUR WORD?! You're trash! Scum like you deserves to disappear from this world!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Come on, Tayuya… it's just business. That's life.]

[Orochimaru: I imagine you want something specific. What is it? Speak clearly.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I want to know everything about your Juinjutsu, the Cursed Seal of Heaven and the Cursed Seal of Earth.]

[Orochimaru: Interested in immortality, perhaps?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I'm not a lunatic like you. But the Cursed Seals of Heaven and Earth enhance physical abilities and Chakra control. They could be valuable for the Uzumaki Clan… as long as I completely eliminate your influence.]

[Orochimaru: Hmph… fine, I accept. After all, what good are those seals if I'm dead?]

[Orochimaru has transferred to the group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, all his knowledge about the Cursed Seal of Heaven and Earth!]

Naruto bit into a rib drenched in barbecue sauce, savoring it with a satisfied, amused smile.

Orochimaru used to grant the Cursed Seal of Heaven or the Cursed Seal of Earth to his most powerful disciples or his most promising guinea pigs, whether to enhance their strength or as part of his personal experiments.

Both seals were created during his research with Jūgo, a subject with the Kekkei Genkai of Sage Transformation, a rare ability that allowed him to passively absorb natural energy without training in Senjutsu.

Using Jūgo's bodily fluids as a base, Orochimaru created both seals, granting bearers the same transformation ability by absorbing natural energy. However, unlike Jūgo or members of his clan, seal bearers didn't suffer from insanity or uncontrollable fits.

It all seemed like an advantage... until the hidden price was discovered.

Both seals were imbued with Orochimaru's Chakra, containing fragments of his consciousness. This way, he could be revived if one of his former hosts was combined with his DNA and the Evil Releasing Method was performed.

Currently, the only one who knew this technique was Kabuto Yakushi, who was confined in Konoha under strict surveillance after Naruto brought him in. Without Kabuto, Orochimaru had no means to return to life or escape the chat group.

Naruto stayed thoughtful, chewing slowly, as he contemplated ways to alter and purify both cursed seals, thus preventing Orochimaru from returning by taking advantage of them. Maybe he could even strengthen them, removing traces of their creator and improving their effectiveness.

After all, he was much better at Fūinjutsu than Orochimaru.

He didn't need them for himself… but they could prove valuable for his followers in the future.

His gaze briefly drifted toward Reika.

He couldn't help but picture her in the future with the Second Level Transformation of the Cursed Seal of Heaven, with her complete Susanoo and the Six Tomoe Rinnegan.

She was going to be ridiculously strong someday.

Naruto had no doubts about it. Reika would be an unstoppable force.

But his moment of daydreaming was interrupted by a notification in the chat group.

[Orochimaru: I've upheld my part, now give me Tayuya…]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I don't want to.]

There was a brief silence in the group.

[Orochimaru: What did you say?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I don't want to.]

[Orochimaru: That's what I thought...]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I never break my word, you damned crossdressing lolicon.]

[Tayuya: YES! TAKE THAT! SCREW YOU, OROCHIMARU! YOU DESERVE IT, YOU WORM!]

[Orochimaru: …]

In the Pure World, Orochimaru's teeth ground audibly. Each molar seemed on the verge of turning to dust from the rage bubbling inside him.

Since he'd met Naruto Uzumaki, he hadn't had a single moment of peace. He'd been humiliated, ridiculed, and ultimately killed… by a brat.

And now, he'd been tricked.

A cheap trick, one he would've used himself. Orochimaru had never felt so furious at another human being.

Not even when he was humiliated by Hanzō of the Salamander in his youth.

Naruto didn't feel he'd broken his word by tricking Orochimaru.

Because come on, we're talking about Orochimaru.

Who the hell cares?

With a final message, Naruto closed the chat group and turned to Reika, determined to spend the afternoon with her.

After all, they both deserved a break before facing the little detail of telling their parents about her pregnancy.

[Naruto Uzumaki: Kimimaro, Sakon and Ukon, Jirōbō, Kidōmaru. Follow Tayuya's example. Give me all your power, and I will bring you back to life. You have 24 hours to decide, live… or remain trapped in the Pure World, alone, forever.]

With the chat group now closed, Naruto ignored the notifications that kept coming without remorse.

It was then, just as he brought another rib to his mouth, that he saw them from the corner of his eye — the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had just entered Yakiniku Q.

Reika, upon seeing them enter, frowned in annoyance.

"I hope they don't see us… especially Ino," she murmured.

Naruto nodded with resignation. He didn't want Ino to notice them either. If she did, she'd make a scene.

But just as Chōji pointed them out and waved at Naruto, the door opened again.

Sakura and Shion had also just entered Yakiniku Q.

"Ah!" Ino, upon seeing Reika, pointed at her, visibly upset. "What are YOU doing here?! I don't want to see you!"

Reika looked at her indifferently, rolling her eyes as she elegantly bit into a rib. Then, she wiped her mouth with a napkin, meticulously.

"Then go to hell," she replied, unfazed.

Naruto let out a small laugh.

Reika always tried to behave with class… until she opened her mouth.

"I guess you can't be elegant in everything..." he thought, amused.

Chōji, without thinking too much, plopped down next to Naruto, nudging him slightly with his hip — though if you asked Naruto directly, he'd say it was with his butt.

"Make some room, Naruto, I don't fit," he said with a smile. "Come on, let's all eat together, it'll be fun."

"I'm NOT sitting next to her, much less eating at the same table!" Ino shouted, pointing at Reika in fury. "She not only played with my feelings but also with Sakura's! Because of her, we grew apart and stopped being friends for years!"

Upon hearing that, Naruto slammed his fist on the table, making the glasses shake.

The restaurant went silent for a moment.

"Don't blame Reika for your mistakes. No one forced you to fall in love with her. And she didn't force you to be a spoiled brat who treated the only friend you had like garbage. Own your actions, you spoiled girl."

Reika smiled arrogantly at Naruto's words, looking at Ino as if savoring the moment.

Ino was really making him mad right now.

But before the argument could go any further, Sakura and Shion arrived at the table.

"Naruto's right, Ino," Sakura said firmly, intervening, sitting next to Reika. "We were the ones who were wrong."

Shion stopped in front of Chōji and crossed her arms, looking at him coldly. She didn't say anything, just stared at him, serious, waiting.

Under her gaze, Chōji shrank a bit and slid to the side, making room for her to sit next to Naruto.

"Well done, fatass."

Once seated next to him, Shion smiled with satisfaction and clung to Naruto's arm naturally, as if it belonged to her.

"Feed me, Naruto," Shion requested with a mischievous smile, leaning closer to him.

Naruto just looked at her in annoyance and ignored her.

Was it too much to ask for just one normal day?

Watching everything from the far end of the table, Shikamaru let out a long sigh as he scratched his neck, his other hand still in his pocket.

"What a drag… I should've stayed home sleeping..."