"What condition?"
Orochimaru looked levelly at Naruto, the tone of arrogance in his voice gradually fading.
At this moment, he had already begun to regard Naruto as an existence of the same level.
Perhaps this Tenzo, a failed experiment from his hands, had been cultivated by Danzo into something formidable.
"If you do meet Jiraiya, Danzo-sama wants this attached to him. The Root needs his coordinates."
Naruto flipped his right hand, presenting a pre-prepared miniature tracking scroll to Orochimaru.
So far, he wasn't entirely sure who exactly held his parents' remains.
Judging from the memories Hattori provided, the most likely candidate was Orochimaru.
However, it couldn't be ruled out that they were initially held by people close to the Yondaime Hokage, like Jiraiya or Sandaime Hokage, and only later fell into Orochimaru's hands.
After all, in that memory fragment, Orochimaru invaded Konoha, turning the massive village upside down, and many important things also fell into that man's hands.
"Tracking, huh... Heh, fitting for you Root vermin."
Orochimaru took the scroll, a scornful smile curling his lips as he spoke sinisterly.
Unlike the straightforward, upright Jiraiya and Tsunade, he himself was an expert in underhanded methods, more proficient than anyone in all sorts of shady tricks.
Precisely because of this, he looked down on the Root, who relied on some elementary-level skills and called themselves Konoha's darkness.
These guys' skills weren't even up to par.
"Enough with the chatter. Just answer, agree or not?"
"No problem."
Orochimaru placed the scroll inside his clothes, a cold smile curling his lips, "But in return, if I discover the intelligence you provided doesn't match the truth, I will slowly, bit by bit, devour your flesh and bones."
Orochimaru was never a kind or benevolent person.
When making deals with him, one had better think of their escape route, or the outcome would be miserable.
"First piece of intelligence: Tsunade is connected to Shikkotsu Forest, and the connection is very close. The beast of Shikkotsu Forest seems to acknowledge her as its master... However, the good news is, although she still thinks of Jiraiya, she has no direct means to contact him."
Naruto looked at the ground, speaking word by word.
This intelligence came from the memory fragments Hattori had shown him.
Its authenticity was even more reliable than Naruto's own judgment.
After all, the things Hattori provided had never been wrong.
"Hmm, I see. And the second piece?"
Hearing Naruto's reply, Orochimaru nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.
'Acknowledged by the sacred beast of Shikkotsu Forest, huh.'
'It seemed that among us three Sannin, Tsunade was still the most outstanding.'
'The Senju Clan's talent, monstrous strength, ageless and immortal beauty, peerless recovery ability...'
'Even what I thought was an opportunity exclusive to Jiraiya, encountering a Great Sage Region, had also happened to her.'
'Just how many more times would this woman be favored by heaven?'
'If this continued, I...'
A sickly smile curled Orochimaru's lips.
A somewhat unnatural gleam also appeared on his pale face.
How could he resist the urge to include Tsunade as one of his experimental subjects?
If he could research the secret of her clan's eternal youth, wouldn't he be one step closer to his ultimate goal?
"Second piece of intelligence: Jiraiya and Naruto have not acknowledged each other, and they never will."
Looking at Orochimaru's face, Naruto spoke quietly.
He had seen that memory.
The scene of the Yondaime Hokage, his father, the village's hero, fighting the Kyubi alone.
In that battle, there was Sandaime Hokage.
Mockingly, whether due to old age or hidden selfish motives, that guy didn't immediately use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal the Kyubi.
However…
Since he participated in the battle, Naruto would reduce his share of responsibility by one portion for the time being.
To protect the village, he fulfilled his duty as Hokage.
But what about Jiraiya?
When the village was in crisis, when the Biju was about to kill everyone, why didn't he, one of the Sannin, the Toad Sage, step forward?
What was the difference between him, Tsunade, and Orochimaru?
Weren't they all absent?
Didn't they all run away?!
Didn't they all throw the entire responsibility onto the shoulders of the person who clearly owed the village the least and bore the least responsibility?!
Therefore, Naruto resented Jiraiya.
Not hatred, but resentment.
Resentment for teaching Minato, instilling in him the elusive Will of Fire, yet irresponsibly slipping away when he was most needed.
Generation after generation, everyone in the village was like this.
So cunning, truly so cunning.
Saying cool-sounding words on their own, then leaving on their own.
Leaving only those who shouldn't have had to sacrifice, desperately taking responsibility.
Therefore, Naruto considered the so-called Will of Fire as nothing but nonsense.
In this life, he would not have the slightest entanglement with the other two Sannin.
"Oh... I see."
Orochimaru nodded slightly, but his pale snake-like eyes fixed intently on Naruto, as if trying to discern something from his gaze.
Naruto looked back without concealment. His disguised, dull Tenzo eyes showed not a trace of emotion.
"Alright, since that's the intelligence, it's time for me to set off."
After watching for about three minutes, Orochimaru suddenly withdrew his gaze and said meaningfully.
Based on his sharp perception, this Tenzo was probably not as simple as he seemed.
However, the immediate priority was to quickly go to Mount Myoboku and acquire the Kyubi's Jinchuriki. Anything else could be postponed.
In Orochimaru's plans, Biju weren't originally part of his experiments.
Not because Biju were unworthy, but because too many people coveted them, and the great villages protected them too perfectly, making it difficult for him to act.
Now, a perfect opportunity lay before him.
How could Orochimaru, the scientific fanatic, let it slip away?