The fierce storm generated by the gathering Tailed Beast Bomb prevented Mito Uzumaki and Tsunade from clearly hearing what Orochimaru had shouted earlier. They assumed Orochimaru had mistakenly called out the Nine-Tails' name in a moment of panic.
However, the Nine-Tails, in the process of forming the Tailed Beast Bomb, possessed immense power. Upon hearing this millennia-unheard appellation, the chakra converging in its mouth suddenly paused. Its crimson-black vertical pupils constricted, and with a casual flick of its paw, it dispersed the nascent Yin-Yang Release chakra sphere.
The terrifying chakra unleashed a violent gale that raged within the Four Symbols Barrier. The body of the Zero-Tails, already shattered into a black mist, was scattered by this powerful chakra storm, making it impossible to reform.
The Nine-Tails paid no heed to the destruction its casual strike had wrought upon the barrier's interior. Its chakra surged once more, all the power drawn from its seal erupting as it seized Orochimaru's body.
The anger that had filled its eyes moments before was replaced by astonishment. The Nine-Tails stared intently at Orochimaru, who was not even as long as one of its claws, held in its grip. A fierce stream of chakra erupted from its bared, fangs-protruding maw, its rumbling roar echoing throughout the barrier.
"I have seen you!"
"A ninja contemporary of Uzumaki Mito's granddaughter!"
"What did you just call me?"
Whether in the past or in the future visions he had witnessed, this was Orochimaru's first time being held in the grasp of a Tailed Beast, conversing with the most powerful Tailed Beast in the ninja world, the Nine-Tails, at such close proximity.
Feeling the potent chakra stream from the Nine-Tails' mouth wash over his face, Orochimaru couldn't help but lament his miscalculation.
"If only I hadn't spoken earlier and had just stayed by Mito Uzumaki's side. The Nine-Tails wouldn't dare to ignore its own Jinchuriki, would it?"
"But this situation..."
"This creature is in its perfect state, and its heart still seethes with hatred for humanity. A wrong answer, and the Nine-Tails might not spare Mito Uzumaki's feelings."
"There's no other way, I'll have to take a gamble!"
Orochimaru's mind raced. Suppressing the myriad thoughts flashing through his head, he forced a calm smile onto his face and, in a voice barely audible, repeated:
"Kurama!"
The Nine-Tails finally confirmed that what it had heard was not an illusion. Its body involuntarily trembled, and a barely perceptible flicker of surprise and anticipation flashed in its eyes.
It slightly loosened its grip on Orochimaru, examining him from head to toe, its gaze lingering especially on Orochimaru's eyes for a long while.
The anticipation in the Nine-Tails' eyes slowly faded, and it shook its head with some disappointment.
"The eye color is wrong!"
"I don't know where you heard that name, but you are not the human from the prophecy my elder spoke of!"
Orochimaru nodded in agreement, his expression composed.
"Indeed!"
"I never claimed to be the child of destiny who, as Senior Sage of Six Paths foretold, would bring change to the ninja world!"
The Nine-Tails was startled again by Orochimaru's words and scrutinized him anew.
"Who exactly are you?"
"How could a frail human like you know the secrets of a thousand years ago?"
"Could it be that you are the reincarnation of one of the powerful beings from a thousand years ago?"
"Indra?"
The Nine-Tails furrowed its brow, shaking its head irritably and immediately dismissing its own guess.
"No, the shape of the eyes is also wrong!"
"You possess neither the Sage's Eyes nor the Sage's Body, yet you know of events from a thousand years ago. Who are you?"
"Or perhaps... like that fellow Void, you are a fugitive who escaped from the seal a millennium ago?"
"For the world left behind by my elder, I shall now..."
"Nine-Tails, wait, don't harm this child!"
Seeing that the Nine-Tails was about to kill Orochimaru after a few words, Mito Uzumaki urgently called out from beneath the beast.
This was the second time the Nine-Tails' attack had been interrupted today, and its anger became difficult to suppress.
Just as it was about to swat the chattering insect beneath it to death, it looked down and realized that the voice belonged to Mito Uzumaki.
Noticing the familiar golden glow subtly appearing on Mito Uzumaki's sleeve, the Nine-Tails let out an angry growl from its throat.
The Nine-Tails finally remembered that it was merely a strand of divine consciousness it had released, and the entire fox was still sealed within that dark space.
With this realization, the Nine-Tails' murderous intent vanished like a deflated balloon.
"Heh..."
"I am now merely a weapon, ordered around by others. Let my elder's world be managed by his descendants!"
"As for you..."
The Nine-Tails looked deeply at Orochimaru in its grip and casually tossed him onto the ground.
"Forget that name!"
"Do not mention having seen me before any other Tailed Beast, otherwise..."
"Hmph!"
Baring its fangs at Orochimaru, who was getting up from the ground, the Nine-Tails issued a casual threat and then paid no further attention to the ant it could crush at any moment.
A cold glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, but he maintained a nonchalant smile, nodding lightly as if to agree to the Nine-Tails' terms.
Seeing that Orochimaru was unharmed, Mito Uzumaki let out a long sigh of relief.
"Orochimaru, what did you say to the Nine-Tails? Why did it suddenly become so furious?"
Upon hearing this, the Nine-Tails lowered its head and looked at Orochimaru, its eyes filled with menace.
Orochimaru did not answer. Instead, he shook his head at Mito Uzumaki, his gaze fixed directly on the Nine-Tails.
"Nine... Tails!"
"The reason Senior Mito released you this time was at my request."
"Since you're getting a rare chance to stretch your legs, could you do me a small favor?"
These words struck a nerve with the Nine-Tails. How could it, the most powerful Tailed Beast, be spoken of by this insignificant human as if it were a pet raised by the Uzumaki family?
Just as it was about to erupt in anger, it looked down and saw Mito Uzumaki step in front of Orochimaru. The Nine-Tails became furious and angrily slammed its paw, creating a massive crater in the ground.
"You want me to help you?"
Its massive head lowered, its eyes fixed on Orochimaru, who appeared remarkably calm, the Nine-Tails spoke each word deliberately.
"Why?"
Orochimaru smiled and did not immediately answer the Nine-Tails' question. Looking at Mito Uzumaki, who stood before him, a warm current flowed through Orochimaru's heart. He gently placed a hand on her slender shoulder and pulled her behind him.
"Mito... Grandma!"
"Could you grant me and Nine-Tails some privacy? This junior has never seen a Tailed Beast before and is quite curious!"
"My desire to seek truth is overwhelming, and I wish to have a proper conversation with the powerful being that is Nine-Tails."
"There might be some matters involved that are inconvenient for you to know, so..."
Mito Uzumaki looked at Orochimaru's earnest expression and then at the Nine-Tails, which seemed somewhat surprised. She hesitated.
"Nine-Tails, Orochimaru is a junior I am very fond of."
"He... he called me Grandma for the first time and asked me to help him with something."
"So..."
"I have never asked anything of you..."
"If Orochimaru's request is not too difficult for you, could you please help him?"
The Nine-Tails knew what Mito Uzumaki meant; she was trying to move it with sincerity.
It understood that this might not be about bonds or emotions, but...
It, the Nine-Tails, was precisely susceptible to this kind of approach!
"Hmph!"
"At most, I will agree not to harm him casually. As for anything else, it depends on my mood!"
"Raise the barrier! I'd like to see what kind of show this little fellow is trying to put on!"
The Nine-Tails narrowed its eyes and snorted dismissively.
Mito Uzumaki looked at Orochimaru with concern, feeling helpless.
Orochimaru returned a comforting smile and gently patted Mito Uzumaki's back.
"Don't worry!"
"As the most powerful Tailed Beast, why would Nine-Tails bother with a mere Jonin like me?"
"Grandma, please raise the barrier!"
Mito Uzumaki's eyes welled up, filled with self-reproach.
She had readily agreed to seal the Zero-Tails for Orochimaru, but in the end, she had to rely on the Nine-Tails' power to accomplish it. Moreover, the Nine-Tails had inexplicably become temperamental, and she had to consider its stability after it was transferred into Kushina's body.
All these tangled matters were truly exhausting for the elderly woman.
"Then be careful!"
"At worst..."
"If the Zero-Tails truly cannot be sealed, I will forcefully control Nine-Tails' power to scatter it completely."
"It's far better than you risking your life."
Orochimaru's eyes were filled with a gentle smile as he nodded vigorously.
"I understand. Thank you for your concern!"
Seeing that Orochimaru had no intention of backing down, Mito Uzumaki reluctantly exchanged complex glances between the Nine-Tails and Orochimaru a few times before finally gritting her teeth and raising the sound-isolating barrier once more.
Within the space enclosed by the barrier, apart from the Nine-Tails' heavy breathing, there was no other sound.
The Zero-Tails' chakra outside had been too scattered to reform immediately.
Orochimaru let go of all his worries about the outside world and slowly walked towards the Nine-Tails' half-formed body. He looked up at its not-so-ferocious fox head, his face brimming with a smile.
"Speak!"
"Now it's just you and me here. I truly wish to hear why that woman, Mito Uzumaki, protects you so fiercely, and what you need to discuss with me that must be kept from her?"
Orochimaru chuckled and slowly stopped.
"Kurama, I intend to make a deal with you!"
The Nine-Tails was stunned. It lowered its head and looked at Orochimaru's earnest expression, letting out a disdainful scoff.
"Hmph, hmph!"
"A deal?"
"A mere human, even if you are among the elite of humanity, what right do you have to discuss a deal with me?"
Orochimaru smiled nonchalantly, looking directly into the Nine-Tails' eyes, and said slowly:
"I will ask Grandma Mito to break the summoning contract that Uchiha Madara imprinted on your soul, and I promise that when I reach the pinnacle of the ninja world in the future, I will restore your freedom."
The Nine-Tails' expression changed drastically. It completely ignored the latter part of Orochimaru's statement and asked with disbelief:
"What did you say?"
"My soul has a summoning contract left by Madara Uchiha?"