---
This wasn't Menma's original plan.
For the past year, he had focused on physical conditioning and cellular enhancement, aiming to elevate his body's resilience to something akin to Senju Hashirama's legendary vitality. Building that foundation was supposed to be his primary goal.
But now, with Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan in his possession, he knew it was time to adapt his plans.
To unlock his true potential, both body and spirit needed to be honed together. While he doubted he could fully rival Uchiha Madara's strength, that was still a direction worth pursuing. With the Sharingan at his disposal, delaying any further made little sense. His path forward had shifted, and his timeline could advance accordingly.
He also had Karin's help with his experiments. Between her assistance and his resolve, he could balance both pursuits.
Of course, Orochimaru would soon learn of his acquisition of Kakashi's Sharingan. Rather than conceal it, Menma decided to broach the subject himself.
As he began explaining, Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. Even Sasuke, seated beside Menma, cast him a sidelong look of curiosity and skepticism.
"Oh? Menma-kun, are you taking an interest in the Sharingan's power?" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, the gleam of intrigue bright in his pupils.
"To be specific, I'm interested in the nature of Yin Release," Menma clarified. "The Sharingan, as an embodiment of Yin Release, is the pinnacle of bloodline limits. Naturally, it's worth investigating. Wouldn't you agree, Orochimaru-san?"
"Indeed, I quite agree," Orochimaru murmured, nodding slowly.
"So, what's your answer, Orochimaru-san?" Menma pressed.
Orochimaru chuckled, a faint smile curling at his lips. "I have no objections, Menma-kun. However, you understand that all knowledge comes at a cost. The contributions you've made thus far are only enough for preliminary data. If you want more advanced information, you'll need to offer something equally valuable—something that might surprise even me," he added, his gaze challenging.
Menma nodded, understanding instantly. "Of course."
There were no handouts here, and that was precisely why Menma enjoyed working with Orochimaru—their exchanges were clear and straightforward. Even if they eventually became enemies, their current dealings would remain "pleasant."
"Oh, there's one other matter, Menma-kun," Orochimaru added with a hint of amusement. "I've received a message from Iwagakure. It appears the Third Tsuchikage wishes to meet with you. Would you be interested?"
Menma, who had assumed their conversation was over, froze momentarily. Orochimaru's comment was unexpected, and his composure briefly faltered.
"Orochimaru-san, did you say the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, wants to meet with me? And through you?" Menma's voice carried a tone of disbelief.
"Yes, Onoki-dono," Orochimaru confirmed with a soft chuckle. "I understand your surprise. Over the years, I've had certain... dealings with the Tsuchikage. Like me, he holds a complicated relationship with his village. Onoki's methods and outlook might surprise you, Menma-kun."
Orochimaru's smile deepened, as though recalling the memories of their past collaboration.
Menma knew that the Third Tsuchikage had a history of working with rogue ninja and various factions across the shinobi world. The connection between Orochimaru and Onoki, however, was surprising.
In the original timeline, the Fourth Raikage revealed the questionable ties between the Five Great Nations and the Akatsuki at the Five Kage Summit. Iwagakure had a history of hiring Akatsuki more than any other village. Given that Orochimaru was a rogue shinobi from Konoha, it made sense that Onoki might see him as a useful tool for striking against the Leaf.
Menma nodded, understanding now how Onoki's alliance with Orochimaru could serve Iwagakure's interests. From their perspective, it was a calculated move.
"Very well," Menma said, inclining his head. "Tell the Third Tsuchikage that I'm willing to meet him. However, I will choose the location. I don't intend to cause any trouble for Lord Tsuchikage."
Menma understood the delicate balance between friend and foe. As the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, he was a target of immense value, giving him some room to maneuver. Onoki might be cautious, but he was still someone with whom Menma could negotiate.
"If that's your choice, I'll inform Tsuchikage-dono," Orochimaru replied with a casual shrug, seeming unbothered.
"Orochimaru-san, aren't you concerned?" Menma asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Concerned? Menma-kun, do you believe there's anything for me to be concerned about?" Orochimaru replied, his serpentine gaze glinting with amusement.
Menma stared at him briefly before chuckling. "No, I suppose not. Very well, I'll take my leave for today. I have an experiment to complete. Orochimaru-san, thank you for your time."
Menma rose to his feet, gesturing for Sasuke, who had been listening quietly, to follow. Without waiting for a response, he turned and exited the room, his footsteps echoing through the dimly lit chamber.
---
When Menma left Orochimaru's hideout, he made his way directly to his quarters. With Orochimaru's reincarnation technique confirmed as successful, Menma felt there was no immediate need to worry about Sasuke. Eventually, he intended to reach an understanding with him, but he knew the timing wasn't crucial.
They both had already severed their ties with Konoha.
They had all the time in the world…didn't they?
For now, Menma's focus shifted to his upcoming meeting with the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. It wasn't hard to grasp why Ōnoki wanted to meet. As the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki who had defected from Konoha, Menma was now a highly valuable asset—a walking weapon in the shinobi world. His actions had naturally caught the attention of other villages.
Even Orochimaru had hinted at other potential alliances interested in recruiting him.
However, Ōnoki's approach intrigued Menma. The Tsuchikage didn't seem to be resorting to force; instead, he was reaching out diplomatically.
"Or maybe it's all a smokescreen," Menma muttered as he paced, deep in thought.
Even if it was a trick, the meeting was necessary. Menma touched his chin, weighing his options.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure were forces to be reckoned with, especially after the Third Great Ninja War. With Minato and Kushina gone, and the Sannin dispersed, those two villages now held the advantage in terms of high-level combat power.
Konoha was weak.
Tsunade, though powerful, specialized in medical ninjutsu. She didn't possess the overwhelming combat strength to shift the tides in Konoha's favor. Jiraiya, with his Sage Mode, was strong enough to contend with the top shinobi of other villages, but he couldn't defend Konoha alone against multiple threats.
Kumogakure's Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer B, had power enough to challenge Jiraiya, not to mention the vast military strength Kumogakure held.
And then there was Might Guy. Despite his formidable power when using the Eight Gates, his strength was fleeting, a brief blaze that could only be used once before consuming him entirely.
Konoha was indeed at its lowest.
Menma had ample room to maneuver. Aligning with Iwagakure or Kumogakure could pose risks, but the potential rewards were worth it. And as for Akatsuki…Menma had plans of his own. Nagato was strong, but Menma believed he could be influenced if needed.
A faint smirk crossed Menma's face.
"There's a lot to do…" he thought, walking forward.
Karin approached, her chakra-sensing abilities always attuned to his presence. She offered him a gentle smile as he passed.
---
Meanwhile, back in the Land of Fire, in Konoha...
After a long and grueling mission, Naruto, Kakashi, and their team returned to Konoha. The atmosphere was somber, weighed down by the disastrous outcome of the mission.
Naruto looked more burdened than ever. The group had suffered severe injuries, and some had barely made it back. Danzo's elite ANBU unit—comprised of seven shinobi, each at an elite-chūnin level or higher—had been completely wiped out by Menma. Both Naruto and Kakashi had barely escaped him.
Kakashi had suffered greatly, losing his Sharingan to Menma. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, the pain remained intense.
Choji, Lee, and Kiba had narrowly survived the encounter.
Shino, Neji, and Shikamaru were also wounded.
This had been one of the most disastrous missions Konoha had faced in recent memory. As soon as they returned, the injured were rushed to the hospital. Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, personally attended to each of them, understanding how essential these young shinobi were to Konoha's future.
After several hours of intense treatment, Tsunade emerged from the emergency room, fatigue etched on her face. Shikamaru, who had been waiting anxiously outside, stood up immediately, the tension clear on his face.
Though the timeline had changed, the injuries were still severe.
The power of the Sound Four, especially in their Second State of the Cursed Seal, had proven overwhelming. Shikamaru's team had faced Kidomaru and Jirobo, with Choji forced to take the third red pill to hold off Jirobo. His sacrifice allowed Neji and Shino to defeat their opponents, though not without sustaining their own injuries.
Kiba and Lee had fought Sakon and Kimimaro. Kiba, alongside Akamaru, used his clan's techniques to defeat Sakon but was left gravely injured. Meanwhile, Lee opened the Fifth Gate to face Kimimaro in his Second Cursed Seal form. Ultimately, Kimimaro's terminal illness saved Lee, but Lee himself was left on the brink of death.
If not for the timely arrival of Chōza's reinforcement squad, they might not have made it back.
Noticing Shikamaru's worried expression, Tsunade offered him a gentle smile.
"They're out of danger. They just need time to rest and recover," she assured him, her tone soothing.
Shikamaru sighed, the tension finally lifting from his shoulders.
---