Chương 80: Orochimaru's Request

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At the high-level meeting, Danzo found himself once again walking away empty-handed.

This wasn't the first time he'd been denied. In fact, over the past few decades, such moments had become familiar. It wasn't that Danzo was obsessed—he simply used each opportunity to make his presence felt.

After all, Danzo was a master of political maneuvering. He knew that even actions that appeared insignificant could serve a purpose.

Root was his creation, bound to him by the "Binding Tongue Curse." Yet, there were those within his ranks who followed him out of genuine loyalty, even admiration. These followers were drawn not just by his ideology but by his sheer, unyielding will.

Today, he clashed with Tsunade openly, letting his ambition and pride bleed into his words.

"Hmph, do as you please," he muttered coldly, staring her down. "But let me be clear: whoever makes the decisions must bear the consequences. Root will continue as planned. Everything we do is for Konoha."

Without waiting for a reply, Danzo snorted, struck his cane against the floor with a sharp *thud*, and left, showing no deference to Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage. At least with Hiruzen, he had feigned loyalty. But to Tsunade, a mere junior in his eyes, he owed nothing.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, the remaining elders, exchanged resigned glances. They'd known Danzo for decades—long enough to understand his views and grudges.

"Tsunade, don't worry about Danzo," Homura said calmly. "We'll handle him. Remember, though, everything he does is, in his way, for Konoha. His methods may be…extreme, but we still need him."

Tsunade clenched her fists under the desk, biting back a thousand retorts. *Extreme? More like fanatical!*

She took a breath and forced herself to respond with calm restraint. "I understand, Elder Mitokado. I'll take care of it."

"Good," Homura nodded, satisfied. He and Koharu rose, evidently relieved to let Tsunade bear the weight of these decisions. They trusted her judgment, though their own unwillingness to fully step aside remained a lingering shadow over the village's leadership.

Once the doors closed, Tsunade released her pent-up frustration, slamming her fist on her desk and sending a stack of documents flying.

"Those idiots!" she snarled, her voice echoing through the room.

Shikaku Nara and Shizune, who had silently witnessed the exchange, wisely stayed silent, pretending not to notice.

After a moment, Tsunade drew a deep breath to regain her composure. "Shikaku," she commanded, "proceed with the orders. And contact Sunagakure. I want their immediate presence in Konoha to discuss our strategy."

Shikaku gave a slight bow. "Yes, Hokage-sama."

With her orders, Konoha's gears began to turn, and Tsunade's choices would soon echo throughout the other hidden villages.

Both Iwagakure and Kumogakure had been watching Konoha closely. The Hidden Cloud had already tested Konoha's defenses, stirring up tensions at the border. Now, with Konoha showing a stronger stance, the Fourth Raikage's suspicions would only grow.

But for Iwagakure, things were different. Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, had no illusions about provoking Konoha into a war. Unlike the aggressive Raikage, Onoki's ambitions were quieter. He saw no advantage in rekindling an open conflict with the Leaf.

Instead, Onoki's interest lay with Uzumaki Menma, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

It was a bold gamble, but Onoki believed it was worth the risk. His strategy was not direct confrontation but persuasion. After all, Menma was just a boy of twelve. How difficult could it be to influence him?

"What could an old man like me fear from a child?" Onoki often mused with a sly smile.

Meanwhile, in Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage was less restrained. News of Tsunade's strengthened defenses and her alliance with Sunagakure reached him swiftly, and he shattered his desk in frustration.

But no matter his anger, A knew better than to act rashly. Forcing Konoha's hand without careful timing could spell disaster, and he had learned well the dangers of recklessness.

Whatever his temperament, the Raikage was no fool.

---

The tension in the shinobi world simmered just beneath the surface, an uneasy peace hanging in the balance. This fragile calm brought relief to the smaller villages, who were acutely aware of the devastation a full-scale war could unleash upon them. For them, a clash between the major hidden villages often meant destruction; caught in the crossfire, they would face high-stakes choices on alliances and survival.

For now, with the threat of another Great Ninja War seemingly averted, these smaller villages could breathe a little easier.

However, the absence of open conflict only intensified the scrutiny on Menma. Konoha had many valuable assets, but the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was by far its most coveted one, drawing the attention of every major village. Surveillance intensified as shinobi from across the nations—elite Jōnin among them—were dispatched to track any movement related to Menma.

But for now, these outside threats had yet to reach Menma. After his latest mission involving a summoning beast and a brief visit to Takigakure, Menma had returned to Otogakure with Karin at his side.

After a few days away, Menma found that Orochimaru had already departed, likely on his way to meet Tsunade near Tanzaku Town in the Land of Fire. Menma paid it little mind; he returned to his routine of research and experimentation, immersing himself in Orochimaru's notes.

If he could master the physical enhancement techniques Orochimaru had introduced him to—or rather, fully understand all the research Menma could soon push into the next phase of his development. He was determined to use himself as a test subject, testing the limits of his Uzumaki bloodline and his own resilience.

For now, though, Menma focused on honing his physical and mental strength. It was a gradual process, requiring precision and patience—he couldn't afford any recklessness.

As Menma dedicated himself to his studies, Otogakure's preparations for relocation neared completion. Orochimaru had ordered the move, knowing Otogakure couldn't continue to operate so openly now that it was exposed. The Land of Sound bordered the Land of Fire, and Konoha wouldn't overlook Otogakure for long. Despite losses in Konoha during the recent invasion, Orochimaru still commanded hundreds of shinobi, most of whom were fiercely loyal to him.

Finally, just as the preparations wrapped up, Orochimaru returned—alongside Kabuto, both appearing worn from their journey.

Menma observed them with a calm smile, crossing his arms. "Looks like Orochimaru-san didn't have much luck this time," he remarked.

Orochimaru, ever composed, managed a faint smile in return. "Indeed, Menma-kun. But I anticipated this. Tsunade is no ordinary opponent—she's the granddaughter of the First Hokage and a student of Sarutobi-sensei. Oh, and Menma-kun, you might not have heard yet: Tsunade has agreed to return to Konoha as the Fifth Hokage. I also happened to cross paths with Naruto-kun."

Menma's expression remained neutral. "The Fifth Hokage? Not surprising. If anyone were to take that role, it would've been either Jiraiya or Tsunade—certainly not Danzo."

A slight smirk appeared as he continued, "As for Naruto, Orochimaru-san, there's no need to test me. Naruto is Naruto, and I am myself. I've long since discarded any attachment to that brother of mine. To me, he's no different from Jiraiya—just another idealist."

Menma's tone was firm, his words devoid of emotion. As far as he was concerned, Naruto was nothing more than a stranger now. If Naruto stayed out of his way, Menma would ignore him, but if he interfered, Menma would handle him like anyone else. He no longer viewed people through the lens of his past life—everything now depended on the choices they made.

Orochimaru, seasoned in reading others, recognized Menma's sincerity. A part of him felt relief, though he couldn't deny a hint of regret; if Menma had maintained even a sliver of attachment to Naruto, it might have been useful.

"Haha, Menma-kun misreads my intentions," Orochimaru replied, his voice light. "I simply thought you should know. It appears Naruto-kun is quite fixated on finding you. You may want to keep an eye out."

"Thank you for the warning, Orochimaru-san," Menma replied, his tone unchanged. "But I assume you didn't come here just to tell me that. If there's something you need, speak plainly. No need to dance around it."

Orochimaru's eyes glinted with interest, a serpentine smile forming. "Very well, Menma-kun. I do need your assistance. There are matters that require my attention, and I find myself in need of reliable hands. Naturally, I wouldn't ask without offering something in return."

Orochimaru's gaze locked onto Menma, his words carrying a weight that was unmistakable.

---

"Huh? Orochimaru-san actually wants my help? Let's hear it, then," Menma's eyes glinted with curiosity as he studied Orochimaru, already speculating on what the request might involve.

"It's a simple task," Orochimaru replied smoothly. "I just need you to go to a specific location and pick up my subordinates at an arranged time."

Orochimaru gestured for Kabuto to unroll a map on the table. Kabuto nodded, carefully drawing attention to a marked point on the map.

When Menma saw the location, a flicker of recognition crossed his face.

"The Land of Fire, near the Valley of the End. You're asking me to slip back into the Land of Fire so soon after my defection from Konoha? Isn't that a bit risky, Orochimaru-san?"

Menma fully understood what Orochimaru was asking. The timeline had already veered significantly from what he remembered of his past life. While some events—like Tsunade returning to Konoha—remained the same, many variables had shifted, largely due to his presence.

As Menma weighed the risks, he recognized an opportunity. It wasn't just about whether he'd accept the mission; it was about what he could gain from it. Orochimaru possessed a wealth of forbidden knowledge, especially in research and experimentation—areas Menma was deeply interested in.

"Haha, Menma-kun, you're as sharp as ever," Orochimaru chuckled. "But you needn't worry. I've made arrangements. The border in that area is lightly guarded, and you won't need to go far into enemy territory. Just wait at the rendezvous point. If anything goes wrong, you won't be held responsible."

Orochimaru's serpentine eyes gleamed as he watched Menma, waiting for his response.

Menma smirked. "If that's all, I don't see any major issues. But I'm curious, Orochimaru-san. What's the reward for this task?"

Orochimaru's gaze narrowed, clearly pleased with Menma's interest. "I'm prepared to offer you research materials from your own Uzumaki clan. Additionally, I'll share some of my findings on the body of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. How does that sound, Menma-kun?"

Menma's eyes gleamed with interest at Orochimaru's offer. It was exactly what he'd hoped for. "It seems you know what I'm after, Orochimaru-san. Consider it a deal. I'll head to the Valley of the End at the agreed time. But remember—I'm only responsible for the extraction, nothing more."

Menma tapped the map, directly over the Valley of the End. This was the legendary battleground where Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara had once clashed—a place steeped in the history of the shinobi world.

For reasons he couldn't quite understand, the thought of going there stirred something deep within him. **This is where I'll make my final decision,** he mused.

With the negotiation settled, Orochimaru and Kabuto left hurriedly. Menma noticed Orochimaru's health deteriorating; even without his knowledge of the original timeline, he could sense the decay spreading through Orochimaru's arms—a consequence of the Third Hokage's Reaper Death Seal.

Menma knew Orochimaru's body was reaching its limit. In the original timeline, Orochimaru had regained limited use of his arms by switching to a new body, but it was only a temporary fix. The constant body transfers would worsen his condition over time.

Menma wasn't worried about Orochimaru uncovering his true motives. This was an open conspiracy. Orochimaru had no choice but to follow his own path, and Menma was eager to see how it all unfolded.

With the day's plans solidified, preparations to relocate Otogakure began in earnest. Orochimaru, Menma, Kabuto, and the most vital experimental data were the first to be moved. They couldn't afford to wait for Konoha's inevitable assault on the Land of Rice Fields, where Otogakure was based. The time to act was now, before Konoha's forces closed in.

Though the relocation was conducted with utmost discretion, a few sound-nin were left behind as a decoy to mislead Konoha's operatives. Meanwhile, the Four Sound Ninja, who had once aided Orochimaru in erecting the **Four Violet Flames Formation** during the Konoha Invasion, were sent on a mission—to infiltrate Konoha and retrieve someone important to Orochimaru.

Their target was a figure who still haunted Orochimaru's mind.

---

**In the Hidden Leaf Village:**

Under the cover of night, a figure moved through the deserted Uchiha District, the crest of the Uchiha clan emblazoned on his back. He moved silently, weaving through the shadows until he reached a shrine deep within the Uchiha compound.

This figure was none other than Uchiha Sasuke.

Sasuke approached the shrine with a determined expression. He knew this place well—it was where his clan had once held their most secretive gatherings. After a quick glance around, he lifted a stone slab, revealing a hidden passage.

Without hesitation, Sasuke descended into the depths of the shrine, his footsteps echoing softly as he ventured further in.

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