After leaving Orochimaru's chamber, Uzumaki Menma headed straight toward his temporary residence within the underground base.
Now that it had been confirmed that Orochimaru had already used Living Corpse Reincarnation, there was no longer any immediate need to worry about Sasuke Uchihabecoming a vessel.
Although Menma still intended to reach a certain level of understanding and cooperation with Sasuke, now was clearly not the right time.
There was no need to rush.
Both of them had already defected from Konohagakure.
There would be many opportunities in the future.
On the contrary, Menma himself had several matters that required careful reconsideration.
Among them, the most important was the sudden invitation from the Onoki.
Without needing to think too deeply, Menma could already guess the general intention behind the Tsuchikage's request for a meeting.
There was no need to underestimate his own value.
As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, and now a missing-nin separated from Konoha, he had effectively become one of the most coveted mobile strategic assets in the entire shinobi world.
Being targeted was only natural.
Hadn't Orochimaru's intelligence network already hinted at similar movements?
What surprised Menma slightly was that Ohnoki did not appear to be preparing any overtly forceful measures.
Or… is this merely a smokescreen to mislead others?
Menma walked slowly along the dim corridor, his thoughts turning silently.
Regardless, meeting this Tsuchikage is necessary.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Both Kumogakure and Iwagakure were villages whose overall military strength rivaled Konoha's.
Especially in the years following the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha's high-level combat power had gradually declined.
The deaths of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, combined with the departure of the Legendary Sannin for their own reasons, had significantly altered the balance.
Even now, although Jiraiya and Tsunade had both returned to the village, the loss of the Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with Menma's defection as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, still left Konoha in a weakened strategic position.
Tsunade possessed overwhelming physical strength and unparalleled medical ninjutsu.
But her battlefield role was often constrained by the responsibilities of leadership and healing.
Jiraiya, when entering Sage Mode, could elevate his combat ability to an extremely high level approaching the pinnacle of Kage-class shinobi.
Yet even he could not single-handedly counterbalance the pressure exerted by two major villages.
The Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, Killer B, when fully transforming into Gyuki, possessed destructive power that even elite Kage-level fighters had to treat with utmost caution.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Might Guy was one of them.
The Eight Gates Technique allowed a shinobi to temporarily exceed natural limits.
Before opening the Seventh Gate, Guy's strength remained within high-Kage territory.
Only upon opening the Eighth Gate would he achieve a level of power capable of overwhelming even legendary figures.
But such strength came at an irreversible cost.
Like fireworks
Brilliant, yet fleeting.
From this perspective, Konoha was currently experiencing one of the most fragile periods in its modern history.
For Menma's future plans, establishing contact with these two major villages might even be necessary.
Risk?
That would depend entirely on the potential benefits.
The same logic applied to the Akatsuki.
Menma already had preliminary strategies regarding them.
Whether those plans could be implemented successfully would depend on timing and execution.
However, he believed the probability of success was not low.
After all, Nagato had already demonstrated in another timeline that even someone revered as a "god" could still be influenced by ideology and persuasion.
The outcome would ultimately depend on Menma's own methods.
There are truly more and more variables…
Lost in thought, Menma returned to his quarters.
At the entrance, a red-haired girl approached him with visible excitement.
Seeing Karin Uzumaki, a subtle warmth appeared in Menma's usually calm gaze.
Meanwhile
In the Land of Fire, within Konohagakure.
After a long and exhausting journey through forests and rugged terrain, Naruto Uzumaki, Kakashi, and the remaining members of their unit finally returned to the village.
Their condition was vastly different from when they had departed.
Naruto, who had once been driven purely by determination, now carried an unmistakable heaviness in his expression.
The mission had ended in near disaster.
Several casualties had occurred.
The elite Anbu squad dispatched under the authority of Danzo Shimura had been completely annihilated.
Seven shinobi whose strength was at least at the elite chūnin level had died at Menma's hands.
Naruto and Kakashi themselves had suffered severe injuries.
Kakashi had even lost his Sharingan during the battle.
Despite receiving immediate treatment upon return, the phantom pain lingering around his empty eye socket remained difficult to ignore.
Among the younger generation, the situation was equally grim.
Choji Akimichi, Rock Lee, and Kiba Inuzukahad all been brought back in critical condition.
Shino Aburame, Neji Hyuga, and Shikamaru Nara had also sustained serious injuries.
It could be described as one of the most disastrous missions undertaken by Konoha's next generation.
All of them were immediately transferred to the hospital upon arrival.
As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade personally supervised their treatment.
These youths represented the future of Konoha's major clans.
Even aside from that, their close bond with Naruto alone was enough to ensure Tsunade's full attention.
After several exhausting hours of surgery and medical ninjutsu, Tsunade finally stepped out of the emergency ward, fatigue evident on her face.
Outside, Shikamaru who had been waiting the entire time rose to his feet instantly.
His usually lazy expression had been replaced by unmistakable tension.
Although certain events had diverged from the original timeline, the injuries suffered by the team remained severe.
The power displayed by the Sound Four in the second stage of their Cursed Seal of Heavenhad been terrifying.
Especially the combined assault of Jirobo and Kidomaru.
One possessed overwhelming physical strength and defensive capability.
The other specialized in long-range precision attacks.
Together, their synergy had been far more dangerous than either fighting alone.
Even with Shino's support, Chōji had ultimately been forced to consume the final red Three-Colored Pill to withstand Jirobo's pressure.
Without that sacrifice, the frontline would have collapsed, and the battle would likely have ended in defeat.
It was precisely because of Chōji's determination that Neji and Shino later managed to defeat their opponents without suffering fatal injuries.
Similarly, the battles fought by Kiba and Rock Lee had been extremely perilous.
Kiba, fighting alongside Akamaru, had pushed his clan's techniques to the limit to overcome Sakon.
Lee, on the other hand, had opened the Fifth Gate while confronting Kimimaro.
The clash between Lee's explosive speed and Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku had been devastating.
When Kimimaro's terminal illness finally overtook him mid-battle, Lee himself collapsed soon after, his body unable to withstand the strain of the Eight Gates.
Had the reinforcement unit led by Choza Akimichi not arrived in time, it was entirely possible that none of the younger shinobi would have survived.
Even so, the recovery process would take considerable time.
"Well… don't worry," Tsunade said with a tired but reassuring smile as she looked at Shikamaru.
"They're all out of immediate danger."
"With proper rest and treatment, they will recover."
Only then did the weight that had been pressing on Shikamaru's chest finally lift.