Kapitel 74: Takigakure Village

---

"Haha, there's no need to rush," Menma said with a chuckle. "It's getting late, and we'd be better off resting in a nearby town for the night. We can set off tomorrow—and we need to gather some intel first. The ninja world isn't exactly peaceful right now."

Menma glanced back toward the southeast, where the Hidden Leaf Village lay in the distance. A serious expression replaced his smile.

Thanks to Orochimaru, Menma had learned plenty about the world's current state during his time in the Land of Rice Fields. Orochimaru hadn't held back in sharing intelligence. In fact, Orochimaru believed that the more Menma understood the world's chaos, the more reliant he would become.

It was all part of Orochimaru's plan.

But Menma wasn't so easily led. He knew exactly what Orochimaru was doing and had no intention of playing along.

To Menma, the powers and factions scattered across the ninja world were obstacles to be overcome, not masters to serve. If he were the type to submit, there would have been no reason to defect from Konoha in the first place.

The ninja world was growing more dangerous every day. Though some events seemed to follow a familiar path, Menma's defection had already altered things.

Menma couldn't be sure if a new ninja war would break out among the five great nations, but he knew one thing: every step he took had to be calculated.

"Let's go, Karin."

"Right!" Karin replied, nodding with determination.

They set off toward a town to the northeast.

---

The night passed quietly.

After finding a small inn in the Land of Rice Fields, Menma woke at dawn, slipping out before the town was fully awake. Using **Transformation Jutsu** to mask his identity, he moved freely through the town, blending into public spaces and even slipping into a few underground establishments.

His goal was clear: gather as much intelligence as possible.

Though he couldn't uncover specific details, Menma picked up critical information—especially about major troop movements. It was easy enough to hear about the large troop deployments from Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Each had mobilized at least a thousand shinobi to their borders.

After confirming no open conflict had erupted among the great villages, Menma felt a trace of disappointment. Maybe Konoha had defused tensions, or perhaps its influence still held other villages at bay. Whatever the reason, Iwagakure and Kumogakure's forces had paused at the borders, waiting.

This wasn't what Menma had hoped for.

Whether for his revenge on Konoha or for his own ambitions, a war among the great nations would have served his purposes perfectly. After all, a weakened Hidden Leaf would benefit both the Akatsuki and Obito. The last thing they wanted was for the five great nations to remain in a peaceful stalemate.

But if a war didn't break out, there was little Menma could do. He couldn't single-handedly provoke every nation into conflict. Reckless actions would only end in disaster.

Besides, Menma knew he was a prime target himself. The other villages would be as eager to capture him as Konoha. As the **Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki**, he represented power no major village could ignore.

Until he grew stronger, Menma would need to avoid direct conflict with the great nations. For now, patience was his best ally.

He had exercised restraint during the Konoha Crush Plan, and he'd need the same patience now. A war of this scale couldn't be forced—it needed time to unfold.

With that, Menma returned to gathering intelligence.

Once he'd gathered enough information, he and Karin resumed their journey north, heading toward **Takigakure**.

The Hidden Waterfall Village held both the **Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki**, **Fū**, and the legendary **Hero Water**, which could enhance a shinobi's chakra tenfold. Though Takigakure's power had declined over the years, it was still strategically important, and the great nations avoided provoking it.

That's why Menma had chosen Takigakure for his next step.

"Wait… is Takigakure really hidden behind this waterfall, Menma? Are you sure?" Karin asked, looking incredulously at the cascading water in front of them.

Menma smirked and nodded. "Yeah, I confirmed it with the locals. This is the place."

No matter how secluded a village was, its location would eventually be known. After all, every hidden village still needed clients to survive, and even the most concealed locations had ways for missions to reach them.

With a quick hand sign, Menma led the way forward, moving through the waterfall and into the shadows beyond.

---

In the original events, Naruto and his team had entered Takigakure by passing directly through the waterfall. But Menma had discovered from locals that there was actually a hidden, winding path behind it, used to admit outsiders. It made sense—having every visitor, especially civilians, pass through a waterfall just to enter the village would be absurd.

"Let's go. The main entrance is in the other direction, and we'll need to disguise ourselves," Menma said, turning to Karin.

This time, they were here for reconnaissance, not to attract attention.

"We'll need to keep our identities hidden," Menma continued. "Especially since I'm one of the most wanted shinobi in the Bingo Book right now. Takigakure might already have information on me, and the last thing we need is a scene."

"Right," Karin nodded, understanding his caution.

"**Transformation Jutsu!**" they both said, weaving hand signs in sync.

In an instant, Menma and Karin used the **Transformation Technique** (*Henge no Jutsu*), altering their appearances to resemble men in their twenties. Without hesitation, they headed toward Takigakure's main gate. Menma wasn't hiding his identity as a shinobi but took care to appear unassuming.

After all, attempting to enter as a civilian would likely raise even more suspicion. Any well-guarded village, even smaller ones like **Hoshigakure**, had sensory-type shinobi on duty. Though their skill varied, even the least proficient could sense chakra over short distances.

The winding path soon came into view. Takigakure's setup was impressive, almost fortress-like. Whether it was the waterfall entrance or this hidden passage, the village's layout was crafted for security.

While suitable for regular visitors, these defenses would make invasion nearly impossible without overwhelming force. It reminded Menma of **Sunagakure's fortifications; even with an insider like **Yūra** aiding them, powerful shinobi like **Sasori** and **Deidara** had struggled to slip in undetected. Similar defenses protected the other Great Villages—**Iwagakure**, **Kumogakure**, and **Kirigakure**—each using its terrain to its advantage.

Konoha, however, was different. Built by **Hashirama Senju** and **Madara Uchiha**, its founders' immense power meant it was built without natural barriers. Relying on sensory barriers alone, Konoha could detect intruders but not prevent them.

Despite never having set foot in Takigakure before, Menma's understanding of its layout was sharp, thanks to his prior knowledge. Observing its geography, he was impressed by the strategic advantages of its location. Unless an enemy could match or exceed their strength, attacking Takigakure would be close to impossible.

"Halt! Who are you, and what business do you have in Takigakure?"

Two Takigakure shinobi appeared in front of Menma and Karin, moving swiftly and with precision. Menma and Karin had made no effort to mask their presence, allowing the village's sensory ninjas to detect them as they neared.

If they'd been civilians, the guards might have let them pass without question. But as shinobi, their affiliation needed verification.

Unphased, Menma gave a polite smile. "We are envoys of **Lord Tsuchikata**, Left Minister under **His Highness**, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire. We bring a mission for your village. Kindly inform your leader of our arrival."

Maintaining a calm demeanor, Menma reached into his cloak and pulled out a token crafted from rare metal, holding it out to the Takigakure shinobi with confidence.

This was a cover story Menma had prepared ahead of time.

Ninjas weren't unique to villages; the Daimyōs and high-ranking nobles of the Five Great Nations had their own personal shinobi, some raised from childhood, others recruited. Among the best known were the **Twelve Guardian Ninja** who served the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.

Though these personal shinobi often lacked the strength of village-trained ninja—some barely reaching **Chūnin** level—they held symbolic importance and were recognized by their status rather than power.

Menma's assumed identity was fake, but the token was real.

He'd obtained it from **Orochimaru**, who had handed it over without much thought. For Orochimaru, a token of a noble's guard meant little.

The green-haired Takigakure ninja examined the token briefly but made no effort to verify its authenticity. It was the symbol that mattered.

"Ah, I see. You're honored guests from the Land of Fire. Please, follow us. We'll notify our leader right away," the Takigakure shinobi replied, signaling for his partner to stand down.

The ninja gestured to his companion, who nodded and stepped aside.

"Come with me," he instructed Menma and Karin.

As they were led into the village, the guard added a warning. "While you're here, stick to the main areas. Certain zones are restricted, and there are traps set for protection. Outsiders are not permitted beyond designated areas."

Menma and Karin exchanged a glance but remained silent. They had expected Takigakure's strict protocols, knowing their mission would require more than just stealth.

This mission wasn't just about sneaking around—it was about playing their roles well.

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