Plan

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After several rounds of grueling experimentation, Menma had begun to adjust to the harsh realities of his work. Initially, he thought he could handle human anatomy experiments without issue, but during his first attempt, he'd found himself doubled over, retching in frustration.

In that moment, he truly grasped the horror his friend from a past life, a medical student, had once described. Human experimentation demanded courage of a different caliber.

Only after forcing down his nausea time and time again did Menma manage to continue.

But Karin? No. He wouldn't involve her in human experimentation—not yet.

"It's far too gruesome for her at this stage," he thought. "I'll handle it myself for now. There's no need for her to be involved; she can handle the support work."

If she ever needed to participate, he'd wait until she was prepared for what it entailed.

Taking a steadying breath, Menma told himself, This isn't something you can just jump into. You have to ease into it.

With that, he revised his approach and resumed the experiment. His goal hadn't changed, but he adapted his methods as the situation required. Stabilizing his operations—whether by fortifying himself or forming alliances—was his priority. Yet, he understood that nothing moved by one person's will, least of all for someone like him, a key figure caught in the whirlpool of political and military maneuvering.

Every action he took drew scrutiny.

And for now, he depended entirely on Orochimaru.

Orochimaru might not know every foundation Menma had laid in Takigakure, but he was perceptive enough to pick up on his movements. Menma still needed Orochimaru for many things, though he kept his plans for strengthening himself and amassing allies close to his chest.

It's like I'll be playing 'hide and seek' across the shinobi world, he mused with a bitter smile. Constantly evading the larger villages while I build myself up.

Especially now, with the Fourth Raikage on high alert, having strengthened ties with Sunagakure. Menma, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was their top target.

Orochimaru's intel made that clear—Kumo's shinobi presence in various nations had nearly doubled.

Menma wasn't afraid of regular Kumo-nin, but endless cycles of ambushes and retreats would turn his plans into a mockery.

If I can't even protect myself, what right do I have to lead others?

That was why he'd made an agreement with Orochimaru before leaving Konoha.

He needed a powerful ally.

If possible, he wouldn't mind keeping this "special partnership" with Orochimaru indefinitely. Based on his knowledge of Orochimaru's goals from his past life, the sannin's ambitions seemed clear enough, perhaps even aligned with Menma's own path.

Of course, there were other complications—Sasuke, for one.

But Menma had time to weigh his options. There was no rush; he just needed to take each step with care. And so, time passed slowly in the quiet tension of his plans.

Then, at last, Menma received a response from Iwagakure. Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, had accepted his request for a meeting. The rendezvous would take place at a neutral location far from Iwa, with each party allowed only one companion.

"Oh? The old man actually agreed?" Menma arched an eyebrow, visibly surprised by the news Kabuto brought.

Given Onoki's position as one of the Five Kage and his advanced age, Menma had half-expected a refusal. It wasn't often a Kage agreed to such a one-sided arrangement, especially to meet a younger man outside the security of his village.

But it seemed Onoki was taking him seriously.

"Yes, Menma-kun. Tsuchikage-sama specified that his companion will be his son, Kitsuchi. You are free to choose the time and place," Kabuto replied with his usual calm smile.

This response revealed both Onoki's sincerity and his confidence. Despite being over seventy, Onoki remained one of the strongest shinobi alive, his mastery of Dust Release (Jinton) putting him on a level above most Kage.

Alongside his ability to fly, Onoki was still a formidable force.

"And he's bringing Kitsuchi… interesting." Menma smirked, impressed by the Tsuchikage's boldness. After a pause, he continued, "Kabuto, why don't you pick the location? And while you're at it, see if Orochimaru would like to come along. It's been a while since he caught up with an old friend."

Kabuto's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, you want Orochimaru-sama to accompany you?"

"That's right. Send him the invitation."

Menma chuckled to himself. The idea had just come to him, but the more he thought about it, the more it felt like the perfect move.

While Onoki's acceptance of the meeting was promising, Menma couldn't afford complacency. After all, Onoki was still the leader of a hidden village. Menma needed to be vigilant.

Orochimaru would be his insurance at this meeting.

Negotiations weren't about trust alone; they were about power. Menma needed both sides to approach this as equals.

Any show of weakness would be his downfall.

Besides, having Orochimaru present served another purpose. Menma couldn't let too much distance develop between himself and his most important ally at this stage.

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This plan would kill two birds with one stone.

Menma could easily guess Onoki's intentions in arranging this meeting, so bringing Orochimaru along seemed the most appropriate course of action.

Whether it held significant meaning or not didn't matter. The goal was to focus on a suitable strategy.

"Understood, Menma-kun. I'll take my leave now," Kabuto said, his eyes flickering with a strange expression as he glanced at Menma before turning away.

Menma watched Kabuto's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing in thought.

'There just aren't enough people...'

He sighed internally. Cultivating loyal followers was no easy task, and it certainly couldn't be accomplished overnight. Building trust took time, especially in a world where risks were high and death lurked at every corner. Finding people willing to put their lives on the line was difficult enough; trusting them was another matter entirely.

Orochimaru's approach, however, had proven effective in this cutthroat world. He sought out the desperate, those who had lost everything, and offered them power and purpose. This method bred loyalty. Kimimaro, Guren, the Sound Four—even Kabuto himself—were each testaments to Orochimaru's manipulative brilliance. He offered hope in the form of strength, earning their unwavering devotion.

But Menma... Menma wasn't there yet.

'I still need to secure some allies in Takigakure... and other places,' he mused. Faces flashed through his mind—Shibuki, Fū, Shizuku, and others from the fringes of the ninja world. The likes of Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, currently wandering in exile, would make a valuable ally.

Then there was Isobu, the Three-Tails, currently roaming wild. If they could seal the beast inside Karin, it would be a massive boost to their forces.

One by one, he had to secure these allies quickly. Only by gathering and uniting such forces could Menma truly expand his influence—even if he was starting from scratch.

'A trip to the Land of Water is unavoidable,' Menma thought, his gaze shifting toward the eastern sea.

In a nearby stronghold, in a forbidden area, Orochimaru was guiding Sasuke through his first stage of training when Kabuto arrived with Menma's request.

A flicker of surprise crossed Orochimaru's pale face before he grinned in amusement, his serpentine eyes glinting. "Heh, Menma-kun never ceases to surprise me. What kind of twelve-year-old boy could be so... unique?"

There was genuine intrigue in Orochimaru's words, as if his fascination with Menma grew with each day. Menma's accomplishments far exceeded those of an ordinary prodigy. If Orochimaru didn't already know Menma was Minato and Kushina's son, and had been under the watch of Konoha's ANBU for twelve years, he might have wondered whether Menma was truly human.

Kabuto, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, a trace of recognition in his eyes.

"So, Lord Orochimaru, how should I respond to Menma-kun?" Kabuto asked respectfully.

"Of course, we'll accept," Orochimaru replied smoothly, his voice low and hoarse. "I'm curious why Onoki would want to meet Menma in person. The location they suggested, near the northern border of the Land of Grass, is close enough to Iwagakure to show their sincerity."

Kabuto bowed. "Understood, Lord Orochimaru."

With that, Kabuto left to relay Orochimaru's decision to Menma and make preparations for their trip to Iwagakure. There wasn't much to discuss—everything moved swiftly. Onoki's eagerness to meet Menma was clear, scheduling the meeting just three days later.

This urgency caught Menma off guard, but he muttered inwardly, 'So, the old man can't wait to see me, huh?'

As Menma prepared to meet with Onoki, rumors of a battle at the Valley of the End began to spread. Though Sasuke Uchiha was officially only a Genin of Konoha, his lineage drew much attention. Konoha had already lost two high-profile individuals in quick succession, making the other villages keenly interested in the details of Sasuke's defection.

However, the specifics of the battle remained shrouded in mystery. Most nations had only managed to gather partial information. The finer details were unknown—except to one individual.

Uchiha Obito, with Black Zetsu's assistance, had unparalleled access to information through the widespread network of White Zetsu. Though most of the one hundred thousand White Zetsu were still dormant, enough had been deployed throughout the ninja world, gathering intelligence at a pace unmatched by anyone else.

When Obito received the report, he nearly lost his composure.

"Kakashi's Sharingan... taken by Menma Uzumaki!? And Kakashi nearly killed by him!?" Obito's voice was icy, his gaze cold as he glared at the White Zetsu who had brought him the news.

"Why would I lie?" White Zetsu's exaggerated grin remained as obnoxious as ever. "That Menma Uzumaki is ruthless. He nearly killed both Kakashi and his brother Naruto. His hatred for Konoha has clearly reached its peak."

Zetsu's voice dripped with amusement, clearly fascinated by the chaos Menma was creating.

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