---
Karin pulled back slightly, breaking free from Menma's embrace.
Menma noticed her hesitation and stepped back, giving her space. As the warmth of his arms faded, Karin felt a surprising pang of disappointment. The realization left her conflicted, confused, and a bit ashamed.
How could I let my guard down like that? she thought, nervously fidgeting with a strand of her red hair.
Taking a deep breath, Karin composed herself, though a faint blush still colored her cheeks. She tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to regain her usual composure.
Menma, pretending not to notice her discomfort, smoothly changed the subject. "Have you been here the whole month? Did they do anything to you?"
Karin nodded. "Yes. Since Orochimaru-sama took me from Konoha, I've been here. They didn't make me do much, but they took blood samples. Other than that, they just said I couldn't leave the base."
Menma's expression darkened at the mention of blood.
Orochimaru, he thought, always so obsessed with research. He can never resist a new experiment.
He was relieved it hadn't gone beyond taking her blood.
"Is that bad?" Karin asked nervously, noticing the concern on Menma's face. She wondered if she had unknowingly made a mistake. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No," Menma reassured her, shaking his head. "It's nothing serious. Don't worry about it. But from now on, stay close to me. And tell me anything unusual you've noticed since you've been here."
Karin relaxed a little and nodded. "Okay."
She then began to describe her time in Orochimaru's hideout, sharing observations about the people, the layout, and the security.
Menma listened carefully, planning his next steps. Orochimaru really is a rare kind of genius, he mused. It's not just about his power or his knowledge—it's his ability to command loyalty.
Menma compared Orochimaru to Danzō. Danzō used the Cursed Tongue Eradication Technique to control his subordinates, a clear sign of how little trust he had in them.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, didn't need such methods. His followers—Kimimaro, Guren, Kabuto, and the Sound Four—stayed by his side out of loyalty or for their own reasons. The cursed seals he used weren't just for control; they also boosted his followers' powers, providing protection and a failsafe.
Even though Otogakure had grown stronger, it remained fragile. After ten years of preparation, Orochimaru had a small army, but only a fraction of his shinobi were strong enough to be useful. Karin's sensory abilities confirmed there were about three or four hundred shinobi at the base, but only a few were at jōnin level.
Konoha might not pursue us after the failed invasion, Menma thought, but this base is already half-destroyed. It won't hold for long.
"Menma," Karin's voice interrupted his thoughts, her tone hesitant. "Are we... going to stay here forever?"
She seemed nervous, her eyes flicking to him as she spoke. Menma could see the uncertainty in her expression.
"No," Menma replied softly. "We won't stay here forever. But for now, we have to. My deal with Orochimaru and the fact that he needs us—your Uzumaki bloodline, and my own... condition—means we can't leave yet."
Karin blinked, processing what he had said.
Earlier, Menma had revealed his true identity to her—why he had left Konoha and his reasons for working with Orochimaru. As a fellow Uzumaki, Karin quickly became someone Menma could trust. She understood him in ways others couldn't.
Learning about Menma's past had deeply affected Karin. She felt a connection with him—both of them were outcasts, rejected by their villages. That shared pain forged a bond between them, one built on trust and understanding.
"But this is only temporary," Menma continued, his voice softening. "I have bigger plans. It will take time, but we'll get there."
Menma wasn't just comforting her; he had ambitions of his own. Orochimaru, while useful, was merely a stepping stone. Unlike Sasuke, who fixated on revenge and the restoration of the Uchiha clan without a clear strategy, Menma was methodical. He knew success required more than just power—it required people, alliances, and careful planning.
Sasuke might have dreamed of reviving the Uchiha clan, but Menma understood that such dreams needed more than raw strength; they required foresight.
For now, however, Menma knew he was tied to Orochimaru in the eyes of the world. As long as he was labeled a "collaborator," true freedom eluded him.
"I believe you, Menma," Karin said quietly, her voice filled with determination. She didn't need to know every detail of his plan. What mattered to her was staying by his side, supporting him however she could.
---
Over the next few days, Menma rested, allowing both his body and mind to recover from the recent battle. For the time being, he set aside his dealings with Orochimaru, knowing the Sannin would be preoccupied with his own problems.
Orochimaru, with his pride and ambition, couldn't tolerate losing his hands. It wasn't just the loss of his jutsu that stung—it was his inability to continue his experiments. Menma knew that restoring his hands would be Orochimaru's top priority.
As Menma enjoyed this brief respite, news of the attack on Konohagakure by Otogakure and Sunagakure spread quickly across the ninja world. The fallout was massive.
The deaths of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, along with the capture of the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Gaara, and the crushing defeat of Sunagakure, shook the other Hidden Villages. But the biggest shock was the defection of Uzumaki Menma—son of the Fourth Hokage and the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
This scandal couldn't be contained.
Intelligence networks, especially those with operatives in Konoha, leaked the story within days. The entire ninja world now knew of Konoha's greatest shame: the son of the village's Hokage had betrayed them.
And to make matters worse, he was also the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
Almost immediately, the leaders of the other Hidden Villages mobilized their most trusted shinobi to track Menma. The Nine-Tails was the most powerful of the tailed beasts, and every village saw Menma as a prize too valuable to ignore.
Though Konoha hadn't unleashed the Nine-Tails in decades, the First Hokage's decision to keep the beast in the village was a testament to its power. The memory of the Nine-Tails' rampage twelve years ago was still vivid in everyone's minds.
With Menma's defection, Iwagakure and Kumogakure were on high alert. They reinforced their borders with the Land of Fire, ready to capitalize on any sign of Konoha's weakness. If Konoha faltered, the threat of another Ninja World War loomed large.
Konoha, sensing the growing tension, raised its alert level. Under the guidance of the village elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the village was placed on full combat readiness. After the funerals for the Third Hokage and other fallen shinobi, Jiraiya set off to find Tsunade, hoping to bring her back to lead Konoha through this crisis. The village needed strong leadership now more than ever.
While the major nations scrambled to react, far to the south, in a remote country, a different conversation unfolded.
---
In a dimly lit underground chamber, a voice broke the silence.
"Orochimaru killed Sarutobi Hiruzen and Rasa... and took the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?" The voice was low, tinged with amusement.
Footsteps echoed in the chamber, revealing a figure clad in a black cloak with red clouds. His face was hidden behind an orange spiral mask, with only one eye visible—the eye of the Sharingan, spinning faintly in the dim light.
Uchiha Obito.
Before him stood Black Zetsu, a being born from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself, there to deliver the news.
"This information is confirmed," rasped Black Zetsu. "Uzumaki Menma now fully understands his true identity. Should we act now? This might be our best chance to capture the Nine-Tails."
Obito chuckled, the Sharingan in his eye gleaming with amusement. "How interesting... Orochimaru managed to lure Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki away? Uzumaki Menma has betrayed the Leaf... What delightful news." He paused, savoring the thought. "I wonder what sensei's face would look like when he hears of this."
The smile behind his mask was audible. But then, his tone shifted, growing more serious.
"However, there's no need to act too soon. Neither we nor Nagato are fully prepared. And remember, we must follow the correct order in capturing the tailed beasts. For now, the entire ninja world is fixated on Uzumaki Menma. Moving now would attract too much attention. It's not worth the risk."
Obito's voice grew colder. " "The Nine-Tails will fall into our hands eventually. There's no rush. In fact, we can use this to fan the flames of conflict between the villages. If another Ninja War breaks out, it will work to our advantage."
Black Zetsu, ever the strategist, nodded in agreement. "But we should still gather intelligence. Konoha and Orochimaru both warrant close observation."
Obito was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Keep me informed of their movements. We must stay ahead of them."
"Understood. I'll inform Nagato," Black Zetsu replied before sinking into the floor, disappearing into the shadows.
As silence returned to the chamber, Obito's lone Sharingan glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Konoha... Orochimaru... Uzumaki Menma... How amusing," Obito murmured, a mocking tone lacing his words. "Let's see what happens next."
Obito's gaze was fixed on the future, knowing that every event was a step toward the fulfillment of the grand plan—the Eye of the Moon project.
----------------------------------------
Get early access to the next 15 chapters by joining my Patreon. Support my work and dive deeper into the story by becoming a member today!
Patreon.com/Shinchan_37