---
Under normal circumstances, Menma wouldn't have crossed paths with him. Just the thought of it gave him a headache.
No one raised any objections as Hayate emphasized the rules for the final stage of the Chunin Exams before dismissing the group. As Team 7 left the Forest of Death, they spotted Kakashi waiting at the exit, smiling and waving.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei! Did you see that? We all made it to the final round!" Naruto shouted, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Haha, of course, I knew you would. Why else would I recommend you for the Chunin Exams?" Kakashi replied with a grin.
As he spoke, Kakashi's eyes flickered briefly to Sasuke. It was a casual glance, but it didn't go unnoticed by Menma. Naruto and Sakura, however, were oblivious.
Menma knew Kakashi was worried about the curse mark on Sasuke's neck. When they had reached the tower the day before, Kakashi had appeared, and upon hearing about Sasuke's mark, he immediately took him away with a serious expression. Naruto and Sakura assumed it was just a routine examination or treatment, but Menma knew the truth. With Konoha's current capabilities, removing the curse mark placed by Orochimaru was impossible. Kakashi could only seal its power temporarily, and that, too, would require Sasuke's own willpower to resist its influence.
If Sasuke ever sought that power willingly, no seal would be enough to stop him.
Kakashi understood Sasuke's character well enough to be worried. It was natural. Sakura and Naruto were unaware of these concerns, and Kakashi and Sasuke wouldn't tell them. Menma had no intention of revealing what he knew, either.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei, shouldn't you say something to celebrate us making it to the finals?" Naruto asked, grinning as he moved closer to Kakashi.
"Haha, sure. Today, eat and drink as much as you want. Consider it a celebration!" Kakashi said, ruffling Naruto's hair playfully.
"Awesome! You said it, so I won't hold back, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed, his face lighting up.
"Yeah, I did."
Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, who maintained his usual stoic expression. Seeing no change in Sasuke's demeanor, Kakashi felt a little more at ease.
"Haha, you better be ready, Kakashi-sensei! Right, Sakura? Menma? Sasuke?" Naruto turned to his teammates, his excitement bubbling over.
"Sure!"
"Hmph."
Sakura and Sasuke responded, while Menma, walking behind them, nodded slightly, a faint smile on his face.
To an outsider, it might have seemed like a harmonious scene, but Menma saw the cracks forming between them.
"Alright, let's go!" Naruto's voice rang out, full of its usual enthusiasm.
As they walked side by side, the setting sun cast long shadows on the ground. None of them—Kakashi, Naruto, or Sakura—realized this might be their last outing as Team 7.
To Menma, this wasn't fake friendship, but it felt like an empty bond. Beneath his calm exterior, there was no place for Sakura or Kakashi in his heart. Even Naruto, despite their shared blood, was only a "so-called brother"—someone who could very well become an enemy in the future.
Since that night in the Land of Waves, Menma had distanced himself from them. Only Sasuke held a slightly different place in his mind, but that would depend on the choices they made. It wasn't the right time to decide.
After enduring the evening's celebration with his usual polite demeanor, Menma returned to his residence. As he approached, he sensed a familiar presence.
"Hmph, since you're already here, why bother hiding?" Menma called out.
The chakra was as obvious to him as a beacon in the night. As Menma neared the entrance, the visitor's aura became clearer.
"Well, well, it seems Orochimaru-sama didn't overestimate you. Menma-kun, at only twelve years old, you have such sharp perception. Is this the power of the Nine-Tails? Or perhaps it's due to your Uzumaki lineage?" a voice echoed from the end of the corridor.
A figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the dim light—a man with silver hair, black-rimmed glasses, and a familiar, deceitful smile. It was none other than Kabuto Yakushi, Orochimaru's right-hand man.
"Hmm, a Konoha forehead protector, yet I can sense Orochimaru's presence on you. So, you're his spy in the village?" Menma asked coldly, his eyes sharp as he scrutinized Kabuto.
Kabuto, meeting Menma's gaze, felt a chill, like a predator stalking him. Orochimaru's orders had piqued his curiosity about Menma. As Orochimaru's top operative, Kabuto knew all about Menma's circumstances. He hadn't expected such a drastic shift in a boy who had once seemed loyal to Konoha.
A boy willing to meet with Orochimaru alone and discuss leaving Konoha—such audacity was surprising. While Kabuto trusted Orochimaru, it was only natural to have doubts until he saw things with his own eyes.
After just a brief encounter, Kabuto realized Menma was not ordinary.
"Yes, you're correct, Menma-kun. I am a spy for Lord Orochimaru. My name is Kabuto Yakushi. I look forward to working with you," Kabuto said, bowing slightly, a smirk lingering on his face.
---
"Let's cut the pleasantries. Orochimaru sent you to see me, didn't he? So why don't you get straight to the point? We're in Konoha, after all. Time is not something we can afford to waste."
Menma's tone was cold and impatient, his sharp gaze fixed on Kabuto, whose ever-present smile remained intact.
"Heh, still as direct as ever, Menma-kun. My purpose is simple: on behalf of Lord Orochimaru, I formally invite you to join our plan. What do you say?" Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his tone polite but with a clear air of insincerity.
Menma kept his expression neutral, though inside, a mixture of emotions churned.
"A plan, huh? You can't expect me to play along with vague hints. What's this really about?"
Menma's eyes narrowed in irritation as a faint trace of Nine-Tails' chakra began to leak from his body, the pressure in the air intensifying.
Sensing the rising tension, Kabuto's smile faltered briefly.
"My apologies. As you already know, Orochimaru-sama didn't return to reconnect with his past. His true aim is to destroy Konoha. And if I'm not mistaken, Menma-kun, you've held a grudge against this village for quite some time. This is your chance."
Kabuto's voice turned serious, his gaze locking onto Menma's as he made the proposal.
Despite expecting such words, hearing them still sent a jolt through Menma, his pupils shrinking slightly.
"Destroy Konoha?"
Menma's voice hardened, eyes narrowing with intensity.
"Yes, destroy Konoha. That is Orochimaru-sama's true goal." Kabuto replied calmly, his smile widening.
"So, what do you think, Menma-kun? This aligns with your desires, doesn't it?"
Kabuto's words hung in the air, leaving Menma deep in thought. As someone who had traveled through time, he knew all about the Konoha Crush plan. However, the timing of Orochimaru's invitation felt odd. After all, Menma had anticipated a moment like this ever since his first encounter with Orochimaru.
Still, it made sense. Orochimaru wouldn't offer an invitation without a clear purpose.
"Sure, I've thought about seeing Konoha fall, but I'm not naïve enough to underestimate Orochimaru's enemies. Konoha's not what it used to be, but it's still protected by Jiraiya and Tsunade. Even without them, the village isn't defenseless. Orochimaru's been gone for over a decade. Does he really think he has the power to take on Konoha?"
Menma raised an eyebrow, deliberately showing skepticism.
"You've fought Orochimaru-sama before, Menma-kun. You know his strength firsthand. Since then, his influence has only grown stronger. And we have a significant ally: Sunagakure. One of the Five Great Shinobi Villages stands with us!"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses again, his smile widening with pride.
"Sunagakure, huh? That's no small alliance, but it doesn't erase my doubts. How does he plan to pull this off? Orochimaru knows Konoha's defenses better than most. The village is packed with shinobi, even if many are away on missions. There are still thousands here, ready to defend it."
Menma's gaze sharpened, pressing Kabuto for more.
"Even with Suna's support, how many troops can you sneak past Konoha's borders? A small force wouldn't be enough, and a large one would definitely be noticed. Are you planning a border ambush or something more subtle?"
Menma's questions were valid. The original Konoha Crush plan had always left some things unclear. How did Orochimaru expect to bypass Konoha's security so easily? After all, if Konoha's defenses were truly that weak, the village would have been overrun long ago.
Kabuto's smirk remained, though it had stiffened slightly as Menma's pointed questions pierced through his smooth demeanor.
"Menma-kun, you truly are cautious and thorough..."
"Without caution, I wouldn't still be here, Kabuto."
Menma's tone dripped with mockery, his eyes locked onto Kabuto's in defiance.
"It seems I need to show you more, then. Rest assured, we've already prepared a way to bypass Konoha's security. Our forces, both from the Hidden Sound and Hidden Sand, are positioned to infiltrate at the right moment. As you said, the target is Konoha itself."
Kabuto's confidence returned, his voice calm and smooth.
"While a large-scale attack may seem unfeasible, a skilled unit of over a thousand shinobi can certainly slip through. As a former member of Konoha, Orochimaru-sama knows the village's weaknesses well. And don't forget, he has insiders—some in key positions of influence—who will assist when the time comes."
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