Transaction

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Orochimaru let out a slow breath, retracting his Kusanagi sword. His slitted eyes fixed on Menma, who stood a fair distance away. His voice, hoarse and serpentine as always, broke the tense silence. "I must admit, Menma-kun, I may have been a bit hasty earlier. What is it you want to discuss? Or rather, what sort of deal are you proposing?"

The shinobi world was simple: the weak fall, the strong thrive, and the victor claims everything. Menma, despite his youth, was no exception to this rule—perhaps even a threat to Orochimaru's ambitions. There was no way Orochimaru would entertain a conversation unless there was something to gain, and Menma was fully aware of this.

Truth be told, Menma was already considering a retreat. Neither of them wanted to be discovered by the Hidden Leaf Village. The recent eruption of the Fourth Tail had left Menma's skin tingling, still scorched from the raw heat of the Nine-Tails' chakra coursing through him. It was a power Menma had yet to fully control—something every Jinchūriki endures until they master the beast within and achieve perfect harmony.

"Heh, I knew you would be reasonable, Orochimaru-san." Menma offered a faint smile, noting the subtle shift in Orochimaru's murderous intent. His words were carefully chosen—crafted to deceive, even though his calm exterior suggested nothing of the sort.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, sharp with suspicion. "Out with it, Menma-kun. You've revealed my identity, and you've even tapped into the Nine-Tails' chakra. What do you hope to gain?"

Menma's smile remained. "Oh, I think you misunderstand me, Orochimaru-san. I'm not here to take anything from you. Rather, I'm proposing a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's voice dripped with skepticism. "By all means, continue." He considered Menma's offer carefully. While he acknowledged the potential of the boy—mainly due to the Nine-Tails within him—he doubted that a twelve-year-old could offer anything of true value, let alone something that could align with his greater ambitions.

"My goal is simple," Menma began. "I plan to leave the village soon—and I intend to join you, Orochimaru-san. Not as a subordinate, but as an equal partner. In exchange, I want access to your research—your resources, your materials: cells, forbidden techniques, you name it."

"Is that all?" Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Leaving the Leaf Village... if my old sensei knew, he'd be livid. But as the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, how do you plan to escape unnoticed? Surely, you don't expect me to assist in that?"

Menma shook his head, his expression unchanged. "No need to worry about that, Orochimaru-san. I have my own means of leaving the village. Besides, your return here wasn't a casual visit, was it? When the time comes, the decision will be yours—to take me in or not."

Menma was careful not to mention Orochimaru's dealings with Sunagakure. He knew revealing too much might raise questions about how he had obtained the information. For now, this was just the first step in securing an agreement. Trust between the two was scarce, and both knew they were playing a game of deception.

Orochimaru's gaze sharpened, his aura growing momentarily dangerous before he masked it once more. "You've done your homework, Menma-kun. But nothing comes for free. What's in it for me? Why should I provide you with the resources you ask for?"

"Patience, Orochimaru-san," Menma replied. "I assure you, what I offer will be worth your while. First, there's me—the last direct descendant of the Uzumaki Clan and the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. I'm sure you could find plenty of use for me in your experiments, right?"

Orochimaru's lips curved slightly, the faintest hint of intrigue creeping into his features. "You're offering yourself as a test subject? How bold."

Menma's smirk widened. "I've never lacked courage, especially when it comes to escaping this cursed village. I'm willing to make any trade necessary—just like you, Orochimaru-san."

"Very well," Orochimaru said, his tone shifting to one of interest. "I'll accept that condition. In fact, I would consider your proposal based on this alone. But it seems you have more to offer, don't you, Menma-kun?"

"Indeed." Menma nodded. "My second offer is something I think you'll find even more valuable: information on the relationship between the Sharingan and the Rinnegan."

Orochimaru's eyes widened, his usual calm mask cracking. "What!?"

His voice dropped, the weight of suspicion and shock seeping through. "Menma-kun, do you even understand the gravity of what you're saying?"

Menma held his gaze, unflinching. "Oh, I understand perfectly, Orochimaru-san. And there's no need to doubt me. You might wonder how a twelve-year-old like me could know such things, but remember—there are beings who have lived for centuries. And your own associates aren't exactly ordinary, are they?"

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes glinted with an unexpected sharpness. The answer had caught him off guard. To be honest, it seemed a bit outrageous, but somehow, it also made sense.

If it was the Nine-Tails, everything would be explained. The Nine-Tails was a true monster, an existence that had survived countless years. Still, Orochimaru sensed something off. Minor inconsistencies lingered—some that Menma had deliberately introduced—but Orochimaru didn't care. Much like his relationship with Danzo, the old man believed he was using Orochimaru, but Orochimaru thought the same of him.

Menma, standing before him, could be handled similarly to Danzo. Besides, what Menma could offer was far more valuable than what he was asking in return. Some doubts weren't worth the trouble.

A deal like this was one Orochimaru was happy to entertain. Once they were on his turf, who knew how things might unfold?

"The connection between the Sharingan and the Rinnegan, huh? Interesting. You're quite fascinating, Menma-kun. Very well, I agree to all the conditions you've set. When you come to me, you'll be treated with the highest standards. As long as the answers you bring satisfy me, whatever you want—if I can provide it—it's yours, Menma-kun."

Orochimaru licked his lips, his reptilian eyes gleaming as he gazed at Menma, a low chuckle escaping his mouth. To Orochimaru, this was a win-win deal. He didn't actually have to give anything—at least, not yet.

Hearing Orochimaru's agreement, Menma felt a surge of satisfaction. Although he'd been 80-90% sure he could convince Orochimaru, hearing the man accept filled him with excitement. Orochimaru wasn't his only option, but he was certainly the best one right now. No matter what plan he intended to pursue, Orochimaru was the ideal stepping stone.

"By the way, I have a small request, and I hope you'll agree to it," Menma said with a sly smile.

"Oh? And what might that be? Speak freely, Menma-kun," Orochimaru replied, intrigued.

"Before I leave Konoha to join you, could you take care of my companion? She's also from the Uzumaki clan, like me. I believe she might be of use to you in the future."

Menma gestured, and from a short distance away, a shadow clone emerged, guiding Karin, who looked uneasy. While negotiating with Orochimaru, Menma had communicated with Karin via his clone, explaining the situation.

Much like when she had first met Menma, Karin felt trapped. The choice Menma presented was more of an ultimatum—there weren't any real alternatives. And as she faced Orochimaru's unsettling gaze, she looked like she might cry. No matter how she tried to view him, he didn't seem like a good person.

"Karin, Konoha isn't suitable for you, and I'll be leaving soon as well. Trust me, within a month, I'll come for you," Menma assured her.

This was his promise. Karin trusted him because she had no other choice and because she wanted to believe in him. She trusted her instincts.

"Yes, Menma, I believe you'll come back for me," Karin replied, nodding, her voice trembling.

Her response revealed her inner turmoil. She was anything but calm.

"I will. This is our promise," Menma said softly, gently ruffling her hair.

"Orochimaru-san, do you have any issue with my request?" Menma asked, turning back to the Sannin.

"Haha, of course not, Menma-kun. As I said, as long as you satisfy my curiosity, I'll fulfill any request you have," Orochimaru replied with a sinister smile. Upon seeing Karin, Orochimaru had been momentarily surprised, but quickly hid his reaction, his smile never faltering.

The Uzumaki clan's bloodline... Orochimaru had long been intrigued by their immense vitality but had never had the opportunity to fully explore it. Now, with two Uzumaki—one being the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—it was a research opportunity he couldn't pass up.

"Go ahead, Karin," Menma urged gently.

Karin took a deep, steadying breath, casting one last look at Menma before gathering her courage and stepping toward Orochimaru. This was the biggest risk in her twelve years of life, and she hoped it would be her last. Despite her fear, she moved forward.

As they were about to leave, Orochimaru paused, turning back to Menma.

"Menma-kun, out of personal curiosity, why do you want to leave the village? While you're not treated the best here, it doesn't seem severe enough to warrant desertion. Of course, if it's inconvenient to answer, forget I asked," Orochimaru inquired, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"A reason?" Menma paused, taking a deep breath. He looked at Orochimaru calmly. "Is my parents' identity a reason? Perhaps. But the main issue is that I don't belong in this village. If you must know, I'm a bit like you, Orochimaru-san. This village doesn't offer the future I desire. The people, the atmosphere—it's suffocating. What I seek isn't here. If anything, Konoha stands in the way of my future, so I must leave."

Menma's words were sincere. Since arriving in this world, his desires had shifted beyond mere survival. He had ambitions and dreams—dreams that now belonged to him. He sought to live freely, happily, and to exact vengeance on those who had wronged him. "An eye for an eye" was his philosophy.

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