章 53: Necessary Preparations

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Orochimaru, Menma, and the leaders of Sunagakure had been conspiring, each preparing their own schemes. Meanwhile, the Hidden Leaf Village wasn't completely oblivious to these developments.

The mere news of Orochimaru's reappearance after years in the shadows was enough to put Konoha on edge. Once hailed as a prodigy of the village, no one believed that Orochimaru had returned just to observe. Even if his interest in Sasuke was real, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, suspected a much larger conspiracy.

Almost immediately after the second round of the Chuunin Exams concluded, Konoha went on high alert. Under Hiruzen's orders, not only were the standard village troops mobilized, but even the ANBU Black Ops, under his direct command, were placed on round-the-clock shifts, patrolling and gathering intelligence.

"Leave no stone unturned," Hiruzen had instructed. "Monitor anything suspicious."

At first, it seemed that Orochimaru had returned solely for Sasuke. After their brief encounter in the Forest of Death, Orochimaru disappeared. But Hiruzen couldn't afford to let his guard down.

He knew Orochimaru's strength well—enough to pose a grave threat to the village. However, Hiruzen was no longer the man he once was. In his youth, he might have had a chance against his former student. But now, at 69 years old, his abilities had naturally declined. If it came to a confrontation, he would be forced to rely on his forbidden techniques.

The inevitability of aging was something even a shinobi like Hiruzen could not escape.

Once known as the "God of Shinobi," Sarutobi Hiruzen understood his limitations. His days of peak combat strength were long gone. That reality led him to summon another one of his former students—the Toad Sage, Jiraiya.

Upon receiving Hiruzen's urgent call, Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, immediately returned to the village.

Hiruzen sat in his office, shuffling through mission reports when he paused, sensing a familiar presence. Setting down his pen, he glanced towards the window, a faint smile touching his lips. "You got here quicker than I expected, Jiraiya."

A figure emerged from the shadows—a tall man with waist-length white hair, red lines extending from his eyes, and the kanji for 'oil' on his forehead protector. Jiraiya approached with his usual boisterous grin.

"Haha, well, if the old man calls, I can't exactly drag my feet, can I?" Jiraiya chuckled, stepping into the room.

"As sharp as ever." Hiruzen's smile faded. "I'm sure you've already guessed why I called you."

The humor left Jiraiya's face as he studied his teacher. "It's Orochimaru, isn't it?"

Hiruzen nodded gravely. "There's no doubt. Anko and the ANBU confirmed his presence during the exams. Even Naruto's team encountered him in the Forest of Death. His target is likely Sasuke."

Jiraiya's expression hardened. "So, it's true… What's the plan, then? You want me to go after him?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "No, Jiraiya. If things take a turn for the worse, I need you to protect the village."

Jiraiya frowned, surprised by the Hokage's words. "Old man, you're not planning to face him alone, are you?"

"I may be old, but I'm not helpless," Hiruzen replied, his tone resolute. "I let Orochimaru escape once before. This time, I won't make the same mistake. Enma and I will handle it."

Jiraiya looked at his sensei with a mixture of concern and understanding. "Alright. I'll keep an eye on the village. But don't hesitate to call for backup."

Hiruzen gave a reassuring nod. "I trust you, Jiraiya. Thank you."

Jiraiya turned to leave, but before he did, he glanced back one last time. "Just… don't overdo it, old man."

With that, Jiraiya leaped out of the window, vanishing into the night.

Hiruzen watched him disappear into the shadows. He lit his pipe, taking a long drag as smoke swirled around him. His mind wandered to the past—especially to the day Orochimaru had defected.

"This time, I won't hesitate…" he muttered under his breath.

While the village bustled with the excitement of the Chuunin Exams, with merchants, nobles, and shinobi from across the lands flooding into Konoha, only a few knew of the storm that was brewing in the background. The village's vibrant energy masked the growing threat, as Orochimaru's shadow crept ever closer.

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Time passed slowly in the Hidden Leaf Village, which had become bustling with life. Despite the liveliness outside, Menma paid no attention to it. He was deeply engrossed in his training. Since his last battle with Orochimaru, Menma had fully adapted to wielding the power of the Four-Tails. He even believed he could draw out more of the Nine-Tails' chakra if necessary.

He was close to achieving a partial transformation into the Nine-Tails, but it posed a significant challenge for his body. Whether he could endure the corrosive effects of the Nine-Tails' chakra and fully adapt to it remained uncertain. Menma knew he had to tread carefully when using the Nine-Tails' power. There was no rush; the strength equivalent to four tails was sufficient for now. In the entire Hidden Leaf Village, only the elderly Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya in Sage Mode, and Might Guy with his Eight Gates could pose a serious threat to Menma.

There was also Yamato, with his rudimentary control over Wood Release. Although his abilities paled in comparison to the First Hokage's mastery, Yamato's Wood Release still had a natural suppressive effect on tailed beast chakra. Yamato could keep Menma in check when he accessed the power of four tails. Apart from these few, no one in the village could take Menma down in a one-on-one fight—not even Kakashi, who had yet to realize that his Sharingan had evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The power of the Nine-Tails' chakra wasn't something Menma could rush. It required time for his body to gradually adapt and strengthen to handle it perfectly. So, in the meantime, he focused on refining other aspects of his abilities. He dedicated himself to further developing his Rasengan and exploring the unique abilities of his Uzumaki lineage. Just as the Uchiha clan's Sharingan evolved based on an individual's talent and the concentration of their bloodline, the Uzumaki clan had their own powerful techniques. However, not every Uzumaki had access to abilities like Kagura's Mind's Eye or the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Menma was naturally adept with Kagura's Mind's Eye, but the Adamantine Sealing Chains had eluded him. He had once believed he lacked the potential to use the technique altogether. However, after his battle with Orochimaru, Menma felt a shift. He wasn't sure if the Nine-Tails' chakra had further awakened his Uzumaki bloodline, but he sensed that the powerful sealing technique was now within his grasp.

Shortly after the second round of the Chūnin Exams, Menma made his way to a secluded mountain far from the village, eager to test his ability to wield one of the most formidable jutsu in the ninja world.

"Kagura's Mind's Eye!"

Menma clapped his hands together, releasing his chakra to scan the surroundings. His senses extended over a radius of more than ten kilometers, confirming that he was alone. Since graduating from the Ninja Academy, Menma had noticed that the intrusive surveillance of Hiruzen's Crystal Ball Technique had waned. This newfound freedom allowed him to act more boldly.

Refining his chakra meticulously, Menma closed his eyes, delving inward and honing his self-awareness. Time passed in silence before a sudden realization flashed through his mind. His eyes snapped open, and he thrust his hands forward.

A surge of chakra drained rapidly from his body, and a golden light flickered between his palms.

"Hua la la!"

A glowing, golden chain materialized, shooting out from his hands. Menma's eyes widened in surprise, but the moment was short-lived. A sharp crack echoed, and the chain disintegrated, vanishing into the air. Menma's brief excitement turned into disappointment.

"Why did it collapse?" Menma muttered, frowning. "Was it the chakra amount? No, I used more than enough—at least as much as for two Rasengans. Could it be control? That doesn't make sense. I've never heard of this technique needing such precise control. What's the missing factor?"

He furrowed his brow, lost in thought. If the issue lay in timing, intensity, or the volume of chakra, he could work on strengthening it gradually. He didn't need to instantly control multiple chains like his mother, Uzumaki Kushina, who had once wielded over ten chains effortlessly. For now, he simply needed to stabilize one chain.

He hadn't even managed that yet.

"No, I need to try again."

Menma took a deep breath, closed his eyes once more, and focused on his chakra, pulling from a deeper reserve. He wouldn't be deterred.

"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

With a fierce shout, his chakra surged again, golden light forming in his palms. This time, the chain extended farther—about a meter—before it trembled violently.

"Buzz!"

Once again, the chain disintegrated, disappearing as quickly as it had formed.

"Damn it!" Menma cursed under his breath, frustration creeping in.

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