Chương 69: Information and Transactions

---

Black Zetsu, acting on Obito's orders, wasted no time.

He dispatched hundreds of White Zetsus across the ninja world to gather intelligence, focusing on how the major countries were reacting to recent events. The more detailed the information, the better Obito and his allies could manipulate tensions between the nations. As Obito had said, provoking conflict among the Five Great Nations would weaken them, making it easier to execute the Eye of the Moon Plan.

After all, the most important tailed beasts were in the possession of these nations.

Obito and Black Zetsu both understood that the Five Great Nations would not stand idly by while their jinchūriki were targeted. They would protect their most powerful assets at all costs.

Meanwhile, within the Akatsuki, Nagato received the same intelligence from Obito—who was still posing as Madara Uchiha—via Black Zetsu.

Upon hearing the news, Nagato immediately used the Akatsuki's communication rings to relay orders. He tasked Sasori and Uchiha Itachi's teams with separate missions. Sasori's team was assigned to track down Orochimaru and Uzumaki Menma, while Itachi's team was tasked with gathering intelligence on Konoha.

This division of labor had long been established.

"The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki has defected? And the Third Hokage... killed by Orochimaru?" Itachi's voice remained calm, though his mind raced. "Who is leading Konoha now? Jiraiya... or someone else?"

Though outwardly composed, the news stirred conflicting emotions within Itachi.

As a former member of Konoha's Uchiha clan, Itachi had placed his trust in the Third Hokage. That trust allowed him to leave Sasuke behind in the village, believing Hiruzen would protect him. In Itachi's mind, Sasuke would grow strong, become a hero, and live in peace.

But now, with the Third Hokage gone, that plan seemed to unravel. Sasuke was still too young, and without Hiruzen, the man Itachi had relied on was no longer there. The thought of Danzo taking control of Konoha sent a chill through him.

If Jiraiya or Tsunade took over, Itachi could rest easier; he respected both Sannin. But if Danzo seized power…

Itachi's fists tightened imperceptibly. If that happened, drastic measures might be necessary to ensure Sasuke's safety.

Without Nagato's orders, Itachi had already planned to return to Konoha to confirm the situation. The orders simply aligned with his own intentions.

"Itachi-san, should we head out now?" Kisame asked, lounging nearby, oblivious to the storm of emotions Itachi concealed. Ever the loyal partner, Kisame deferred to Itachi in these matters.

"Yes. Several days have passed since the incident. We can't delay any longer," Itachi replied, his voice calm and measured.

'Stay safe, Sasuke,' he thought, his mind briefly drifting to his younger brother still in Konoha.

---

The ninja world was in turmoil. Iwagakure and Kumogakure had already deployed large forces along their borders with the Land of Fire, further intensifying the rising tensions. Even smaller villages like Kusagakure, Takigakure, and Yugakure had begun raising their defenses in preparation for potential conflict.

For these smaller nations, peace was a fragile commodity. Each of the previous three Great Ninja Wars had devastated them, caught between the larger nations as pawns. They knew that siding with the wrong nation could bring swift retribution.

Even Konoha, victorious in previous wars, had failed to assert total dominance over the other nations. If a small village like Kusagakure or Takigakure allied with Konoha, they risked the wrath of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, or even Sunagakure. Only the Five Great Nations could appoint leaders known as 'Kage.'

No small village would dare challenge the might of even a weakened Sunagakure.

Unless, of course, they had a Kage-level shinobi like Hanzo the Salamander once was. Hanzo's strength allowed Amegakure to stand up to the Five Great Nations during his reign. His fearsome reputation as a master of poison and deadly combat techniques made even the strongest villages wary. No one wanted to face his wrath.

But such figures were rare. With Hanzo's death, no one had risen to replace him. Without a leader of his caliber, no small village could challenge the Five Great Nations. As the threat of war loomed, these smaller nations could only prepare as best they could.

---

Menma, a key figure in this brewing storm, remained oblivious to the chaos swirling across the ninja world. After several days of rest in the Land of Rice Fields, at one of Orochimaru's many hideouts, Menma prepared to meet the legendary Sannin once more.

Stepping into the dimly lit chamber, Menma frowned at the sight of Orochimaru, who was draped in shadows, his snake-like eyes locked onto him. Despite everything, Menma couldn't help but wonder why Orochimaru, Danzo, and others like them always favored such bleak and foreboding aesthetics.

'Seriously, what's with these gloomy lairs?' Menma thought dryly. 'It's like they're trying to out-creep each other.'

Behind him, Karin was visibly tense. Even though she had met Orochimaru before, his presence always unsettled her. To Karin, he wasn't just a man—he was a predator, like a snake lying in wait for the right moment to strike.

Menma, however, kept his composure. He had his reasons for allying with Orochimaru, but he never allowed himself to forget just how dangerous the man truly was.

---

Karin stood close to Menma, her hand clutching the fabric of his cloak tightly, almost using him as a shield. Despite her heritage as an Uzumaki and her remarkable healing abilities, Orochimaru's presence always set her on edge. The dim lighting in the underground chamber only made it worse.

"Ahem," Orochimaru rasped, his tone both polite and menacing. "My apologies for the delay, Menma-kun. I trust the accommodations have been... satisfactory during your stay?"

The snake-like shinobi was still recovering from the damage caused by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal (Shiki Fūjin), a technique performed by the Third Hokage. Though weakened and without the use of his arms, Orochimaru's aura still radiated power and danger. Menma knew better than to underestimate him, even now. His current state was just a temporary setback—Orochimaru always found a way to adapt.

Menma offered a thin smile, his gaze briefly shifting to Orochimaru's heavily bandaged hands. "No need to apologize, Orochimaru-san. These quarters are far more comfortable than the prison that was Konoha. As for your condition, it's no surprise the Shiki Fūjin left a mark. To be honest, I didn't expect the Third Hokage to pull it off at his age. Surviving with even one limb intact is no small feat, especially for someone as resourceful as you."

Orochimaru's expression remained neutral, but there was a gleam of interest in his golden, snake-like eyes. Behind him, Kabuto Yakushi's face tightened, his hands still as he observed the exchange.

"So, Menma-kun is aware of the Shiki Fūjin?" Orochimaru said, his voice low and dripping with intrigue. "You continue to surprise me."

"Orochimaru-san, there's no need to test me," Menma replied, his tone smooth and calm. "I've already told you—I'm no ordinary shinobi. Besides, I'm an Uzumaki. The Shiki Fūjin is derived from our clan's sealing arts. The nature of the jutsu is obvious to someone like me. After all, the price of that technique is one's very soul."

Menma met Orochimaru's gaze without flinching. At this moment, they were partners. As long as Menma remained strong enough to deal with Orochimaru as an equal, the partnership would continue to serve him. Revealing pieces of knowledge like this would only strengthen his position.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, a predatory glint crossing his features. "Then, Menma-kun, I assume you've deduced a way to undo this damage? As you can see, my arms are... unusable."

There was no pretense in Orochimaru's question. He knew Menma wouldn't bring up the technique unless he had something to offer in return. No games, just business.

"Naturally," Menma replied, his voice light but calculated. "But I think you understand, Orochimaru-san—nothing in this world is free."

Orochimaru let out a dark chuckle. "Of course. Equivalent exchange, as always."

Menma nodded in agreement. "Good. I've prepared some notes on the Shiki Fūjin. They're not complete, but they should provide a useful reference for your research. If you manage to gather more data on its core mechanics, we can collaborate further."

He pulled a scroll from inside his cloak and tossed it toward Orochimaru. Kabuto caught it with practiced ease and unfurled it, his eyes scanning the contents quickly. Orochimaru glanced at the scroll for a brief moment, his face impassive.

"Haha, Menma-kun," Orochimaru hissed, a hint of amusement in his tone. "This is quite the offering. And what is it you want in return?"

"It's written there," Menma said with a slight smirk. "I'll leave you some time to go over it, but I expect the request to be fulfilled soon."

Orochimaru's gaze flickered to the scroll again before nodding slowly, a smile creeping across his face. "Consider it done."

Menma's smile widened. "That's all I ask."

But Orochimaru wasn't finished. His eyes sharpened as he leaned forward, his voice lowering. "But, Menma-kun, have you forgotten something?"

Menma raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what might that be, Orochimaru-san?"

Orochimaru's lips twisted into a sinister grin. "The information you promised about the Sharingan... and the Rinnegan."

"Ah, of course." Menma chuckled, shaking his head. "I assumed your priority would be restoring your arms. But if you're so eager..."

Menma pulled out another scroll and a vial of blood from his cloak. "This contains the key details regarding the connection between the Sharingan and the Rinnegan, along with a sample of my blood. It should aid in your research. If you need more, I'm willing to cooperate. That includes... some of the Nine-Tails' chakra."

Without hesitation, Menma tossed both items to Kabuto, who caught them gracefully. Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest as he studied Menma, as if reassessing him.

"You didn't even hesitate," Orochimaru mused, his voice filled with curiosity. "Aren't you concerned that I might use this against you?"

Menma met his gaze with a calm smile, one that held both sincerity and a hint of mockery. "Haha, of course not. I trust Orochimaru-san's... reputation. You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

The unspoken challenge lingered in the air for a moment. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly before his lips curled once more.

"Naturally," Orochimaru said smoothly, his tone as sharp as ever. He turned to Kabuto. "Kabuto, prioritize Menma-kun's requests. Everything else can wait."

Kabuto bowed slightly. "Understood, Lord Orochimaru."

----------------------------------------

Get early access to the next 15 chapters by joining my Patreon. Support my work and dive deeper into the story by becoming a member today!

Patreon.com/Shinchan_37