บท 97: Process and Situation

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"You took Kakashi's Sharingan, didn't you?" Sasuke asked suddenly, his voice low but pointed. "And you've been delving into Orochimaru's research on the Uchiha. What are you after, Menma? What do you hope to gain from all this?"

Menma had intended to leave after uttering those words.

But Sasuke's response made him pause.

He turned back, his expression calm as he observed Sasuke, who had just finished wrapping the bandage around his right hand. Sasuke's face was unreadable, his dark eyes sharp.

Menma smiled faintly. "Took you long enough to ask. I thought you didn't care, Sasuke."

After all, he had taken the Sharingan—right in front of him.

Orochimaru hadn't questioned it. The sannin already possessed an arsenal of Sharingan from countless experiments, harvested from the Uchiha clan before and after the massacre. Some had reached the three-tomoe form, and several had belonged to jōnin-level shinobi.

It was this overwhelming strength that had made the Uchiha clan both revered and feared.

Feared by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Feared by Shimura Danzō.

The thought of dozens of Uchiha jōnin was enough to terrify even the strongest of Konoha's leaders. Neither the Third Hokage nor Danzō could match the clan's power outright. Their fear had led to the massacre.

In its aftermath, the vultures circled. Obito, Danzō, and Orochimaru had all scavenged the remnants, each taking what they could for their own purposes.

The Sharingan became a currency of power.

Orochimaru saw no reason to stop Menma from taking one. To the sannin, a three-tomoe Sharingan was merely a tool among many.

But to Sasuke, it was different.

"That was a Sharingan, Menma," Sasuke said, his voice low and cutting.

Menma's smile didn't waver. "Of course it was. That's precisely why I'm interested."

He leaned slightly closer, his tone turning serious. "But like I told Orochimaru, I'm not after the Sharingan itself. What I need is its Yin Release—the spiritual energy that your clan's dōjutsu embodies. It's an important key in my research."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Research?"

"Yin Release is essential for reaching the highest levels of chakra mastery," Menma continued smoothly. "The ultimate balance of physical and spiritual energy. It's a stepping stone to something greater. Your clan's dōjutsu just happens to be the most direct path."

Menma's words carried weight, but he left much unsaid. Achieving the pinnacle of chakra manipulation—the Kekkei Mōra, the fusion of all chakra natures—required mastery on both physical and spiritual planes.

The Ōtsutsuki clan had embodied this concept, with figures like Uchiha Madara and Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki demonstrating its potential.

Menma was confident in his physical prowess. But the spiritual aspect, the Yin Release chakra, remained elusive.

The Sharingan, however, provided a shortcut.

His real goal was far more ambitious than Sasuke could imagine: the Rinnegan, or perhaps even the Tenseigan, the ultimate form of the Byakugan. These were the powers that lay in Menma's sights.

But revealing everything now would only complicate matters.

"You're suggesting I experiment with Yin Release myself?" Sasuke asked, his voice skeptical but laced with curiosity.

"It couldn't hurt," Menma replied with a sly smile. "Following tradition isn't the only way to power, Sasuke. The future belongs to those who think beyond the limits of their bloodline."

For a moment, Sasuke's gaze darkened.

The words stirred a memory from years ago, whispered by his older brother on the night that had shattered his world.

"Menma," Sasuke began, his voice barely above a whisper, "are you really... you?"

Menma's smile sharpened. His eyes glinted with unspoken knowledge. "Does it matter, Sasuke? Aren't there more important things to focus on?"

Sasuke froze, then slowly nodded. "You're right. It doesn't matter."

Whatever Menma's secrets, they didn't change Sasuke's goal: to grow stronger, to avenge his clan, and to destroy his brother.

As long as Menma didn't stand in his way—or better yet, helped him—Sasuke would tolerate his presence.

"I'll keep that in mind," Sasuke said finally, his tone neutral.

Menma turned to leave, raising a hand in a lazy wave. "We'll talk again, Sasuke. There's still plenty for both of us to accomplish."

He disappeared into the shadows, his faint smile lingering.

Sasuke stood alone, his fists clenched.

"Mangekyō Sharingan… Itachi… I will obtain your power," he muttered, his voice trembling with determination. "And I will drag you to hell."

---

Elsewhere in Konoha

The fallout from the Konoha Crush was finally beginning to settle. Under Tsunade's leadership, the village had not only repelled the invasion but quickly forged an alliance with Sunagakure.

This swift action had prevented the flames of war from spreading.

Unlike the previous three Great Ninja Wars, no other village had taken advantage of the chaos. Both Iwagakure and Kumogakure had watched from the sidelines, their leaders cautious of Konoha's strength.

Even the ever-aggressive Fourth Raikage had begun withdrawing his troops from the borders. Without a clear opportunity for conquest, maintaining such military posturing was unsustainable.

In her office, Tsunade exhaled in relief as she reviewed the latest reports.

"The worst is behind us," she murmured to herself.

But even as the tension eased, a shadow loomed on the horizon.

The ninja world was changing.

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As previously mentioned, after temporarily setting aside his ambitions concerning Konoha, the Fourth Raikage, A, turned his full attention to the search for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Menma. He deployed an extensive search force composed mostly of elite Chūnin. After all, they were hunting the Nine-Tails itself.

Despite Menma being only twelve years old, A treated him as a severe threat. Numerous Jōnin were included in the search teams, led by Darui, one of Kumogakure's most promising young shinobi. Renowned for his mastery of Lightning Release and the rare Storm Release Kekkei Genkai, Darui was already considered a shinobi with Kage-level potential.

To capture the Nine-Tails, the Fourth Raikage believed this force would suffice. Nevertheless, A remained ready to intervene personally if necessary. For the past month, Cloud-nin had combed through the smaller nations of the continent's core—such as the Land of Fields, Land of Rivers, and Land of Grass. Even within the borders of larger nations like the Land of Fire, Land of Earth, and Land of Wind, small teams of Cloud-nin infiltrated with single-minded determination to capture the Nine-Tails.

A's standing order was clear: Capture the Nine-Tails at any cost.

To the Raikage, the Nine-Tails was the final piece needed to secure Kumogakure's dominance.

Surprisingly, their aggressive actions faced little resistance. Only the Land of Earth responded with force, launching a full-scale counterattack. Iwagakure's forces were actively hunting any Cloud-nin they encountered. Other nations, however, quietly turned a blind eye.

Sunagakure, in particular, was in no position to act. Following the failed Konoha Crush, Gaara was still recovering from his injuries. The death of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, at the hands of Orochimaru, left Suna without strong leadership. Chiyo and Ebizo, though legendary in their prime, were well past their peak and no longer capable of leading the village's defense. At best, they were equivalent to elite Jōnin or quasi-Kage-level shinobi.

With Shukaku extracted, Suna's standing among the Five Great Shinobi Nations had grown fragile. The village had also suffered immense casualties—hundreds of elite Chūnin and Jōnin were lost during the invasion. With Kumogakure's sudden resurgence and aggression, Suna's Jonin Council, led by Baki and advised by Chiyo and Ebizo, decided to avoid unnecessary conflict. They confined their efforts to defending key positions.

If Sunagakure had been forced to tolerate Cloud-nin crossing their borders, the smaller nations and villages could do little but submit. For decades, the Five Great Nations had moved freely through smaller countries, issuing ultimatums that no one dared defy.

Konoha, however, was in a precarious but unique position. As Tsunade had declared, they had no interest in provoking Kumogakure further. Following years of tension, Konoha had already made concessions, including withdrawing its border patrols in sensitive areas. As long as Cloud-nin limited their activities and avoided direct confrontation, Konoha turned a blind eye to their movements.

For now, stability was Tsunade's priority.

This approach had the full support of the village's two senior advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. However, Danzo Shimura, frustrated by his inability to act, grew increasingly restless. While his influence over Root remained strong, he was tightly monitored by the Hokage's ANBU. Leaving the village to conduct unauthorized operations was no longer an option.

With Danzo effectively sidelined, the shinobi world enjoyed a tenuous peace. For Menma, however, this quiet period was fleeting.

Konoha's pursuit of Menma was far less aggressive than Kumogakure's. Tsunade preferred to focus Konoha's resources elsewhere and left the matter largely in Jiraiya's hands. The Sannin had been tasked with both monitoring Menma and dealing with Orochimaru.

For Menma, this restraint was a blessing. It gave him precious time to train, develop his abilities, and further his experiments.

"Had Danzo been in charge, I'd be on the run day and night," Menma thought. He had no doubt that the relentless nature of Konoha's shadow operative would have made his life unbearable. Constantly evading capture would leave little room for self-improvement.

For now, however, Konoha's hesitation, combined with Obito's silence, created a rare moment of equilibrium. This fragile balance allowed Menma to focus on his most immediate threat: Kumogakure.

Fortunately, with Orochimaru's backing, he felt prepared to counter any advances from the Cloud.

"Another team already? The Fourth Raikage really must be desperate," Menma muttered, standing in the dimly lit confines of Orochimaru's underground base in the Land of Grass.

Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses, his expression calm and composed. "Indeed, Menma-kun. This is the third wave of scouts we've intercepted. Lord Orochimaru believes this location has been compromised. We're to relocate in the coming days."

Menma sighed, nodding slightly. "Understood. I'll pack up. It's about time anyway."

Relocation had become second nature to him. As a rogue ninja and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, constant evasion was the price of freedom. Orochimaru's betrayal of both Konoha and the Akatsuki meant enemies were always watching, always waiting. Temporary strongholds were a necessity, but they were never permanent.

Kabuto smirked, watching Menma's expression. "You've adapted well. Most would have broken under this kind of pressure."

"I don't have a choice," Menma replied simply. "They're all after me. The only way to stay ahead is to keep moving—and keep getting stronger."

Kabuto's smile widened. "You'll find no shortage of opportunities to grow stronger under Lord Orochimaru's guidance. And with Kumogakure so eager to pursue you, you'll have plenty of chances to test yourself."

Menma's gaze hardened. "I'm counting on it."

As he turned to leave, the flickering light from the underground torches cast long shadows on the stone walls, reflecting the heavy burden he carried—and the resolve that had become his only constant.

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