"Orochimaru... and Shura..." Kakashi's Sharingan fixed tightly on the two figures standing side by side, his breathing slightly ragged beneath his mask.
Judging from the state of the cave, it seemed the two had clashed… and Orochimaru had come out worse.
But now, they stood together as if they had reached some kind of agreement.
"What do you think of Kinoe's Wood Release?" Orochimaru's raspy voice carried a probing tone, his slitted pupils glancing toward Shura, eager to hear whether his 'creation' held any real value in the future.
"Average." Menma's cold, indifferent voice echoed from behind his mask. "Non-clan bloodline. His Chakra reserves are inherently limited."
"Beyond Wood Release, he's worthless."
Kinoe's greatest strength was indeed his Wood Release, but as an ordinary civilian Ninja, he lacked the vast Chakra reserves of the Uzumaki Clan or the formidable physique of the Senju Clan. His Chakra capacity was doomed to remain mediocre.
At best, he'd reach Elite Jonin-level.
Seeing that Shura had no interest in the still young Kinoe, Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips.
'So, Kinoe's growth is limited in the future… or perhaps, I'll create something greater later on.'
"I'll leave this place to you. I need to leave the Land of Fire for now." Orochimaru turned toward one of the exits.
"I'll continue researching the Iburi Clan's Kekkei Genkai. I assume you already know where to find me." As he said this, Orochimaru turned his head and cast a meaningful glance.
'I had been this forthcoming, surely the other party would show some sincerity in return?'
"Don't let me keep you." Menma's reply was as sharp and brief as a blade.
"Hmph-"
Not getting what he wanted, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes with a soft scoff before clutching his side and vanishing into the depths of the cavern.
"Orochimaru!" Kakashi tried to call after him, but a figure suddenly closed in on him.
The crunch of shattered stone beneath a footstep rang out clearly.
"Don't just focus on Orochimaru. Play with me for a bit." Menma said frivolously, wanting to test Kakashi's current strength.
Bang!
The dull thud of an arm blocking a kick reverberated off the cavern walls! Though Kakashi managed to guard against the sudden strike, the sheer force still sent him skidding back several meters.
"Kakashi!" After their earlier interactions, Kinoe had grown closer to Kakashi. Seeing a fellow Konoha's Ninja being kicked away, he immediately hurled a kunai at Menma.
After sending Kakashi flying with a kick, Menma didn't retreat from Kinoe's approach… instead, he lowered his stance and advanced.
"Too slow!" With a cold sneer, Menma blocked Kinoe's kunai strike with his left hand, twisted his grip to seize Kinoe's wrist, and then unleashed a barrage of punches with his right fist, hammering into Kinoe's chest like a storm.
Kinoe was beaten so hard that he coughed up blood, the kunai slipping from his fingers.
Chirp- Chirp-
A chirping-like sound erupted from behind!
Menma hooked his right foot around Kinoe's leg, released his grip, and sent Kinoe flying with a final punch… straight toward the charging Kakashi.
As Kinoe's body hurtled toward him, Kakashi's Sharingan trembled violently… a flood of agonizing memories surging forth.
The Raikiri in his hand was forcibly dispersed, and Kakashi caught Kinoe's body.
Holding Kinoe in his arms, Kakashi's Three-Tomoe Sharingan shook uncontrollably.
The memory of Rin dying by his hand haunted him like a nightmare.
Pfft-
Kinoe spat out a mouthful of blood, his chest heaving as if crushed by a thousand-pound boulder.
"Tsk tsk, is that all you've got?" Menma had already appeared beside Yukimi, his palm resting lightly atop the trembling girl's head.
The taijutsu he had just displayed was a fusion of traditional martial arts from his past life, the Gentle Fist Techniques learned from Big Sis Hinata, and Konoha's standard combat styles… blending soft strikes with explosive short-range power, featuring rapid bursts, unpredictable movements, and pressure-point disruption.
At the same time, it still carried traces of Konoha's fluid Taijutsu, making it impossible to predict.
Kinoe is only thirteen years old now, so his Taijutsu and Wood Release were still underdeveloped, leaving Menma thoroughly unimpressed.
"Yukimi!" Kakashi, still holding the injured Kinoe, gritted his teeth as he saw Yukimi under the enemy's 'control.
"Relax, I won't hurt her." Menma gently ruffled Yukimi's hair.
"After all… I'm not Orochimaru."
This little girl, trembling like a rabbit caught in an eagle's talons, was about to use her Smoke Transformation ability to escape.
"Shura-sama!" At this time, Gotta, who had recovered, emerged from the depths of the cavern.
The scorching pain of the Cursed Seal still lingered on Gotta's neck as he stepped behind Menma, deliberately maintaining a half-step distance.
He then said to Yukimi, "Don't resist the Lord. Our clan already belongs to him."
Orochimaru had been defeated, and according to their earlier wager, the Iburi Clan would now serve Shura for generations.
Gotta and other members of the Iburi Clan have already accepted this fate of submitting to the strong.
Under the reassurance of her kin, Yukimi's trembling gradually subsided. She raised her head slightly, still looking at Menma with lingering fear.
"I will free your clan from the flaws of your Kekkei Genkai, allowing you to walk proudly under the sun." Menma said, withdrawing his hand as he addressed both Yukimi and Gotta.
"The Iburi Clan will serve you for generations, my Lord!" Gotta dropped to one knee before Menma, bowing his head low and exposing the back of his neck… completely defenseless.
The oath of the Iburi Clan echoed through the cavern.
Menma nodded in satisfaction, his mood beneath the mask one of quiet delight.
If the weaknesses of Iburi Clan's Smoke Transformation Kekkei Genkai could be eliminated, it might even rival the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique.
Gotta's combat prowess was already at the Jonin-level. If his vulnerability to wind could be removed and he learned some proper Ninjutsu, he could likely grow into an Elite Jonin.
As Menma turned to walk deeper into the cavern, he cast a sidelong glance at Kakashi and Kinoe in the distance.
He had already obtained the Hashirama's cells, and Kinoe held no further value to him… especially since he had no means of brainwashing him.
And Kakashi, of course, would be left to deal with Obito.
Watching as Shura swept a dismissive glance over them before turning away, Kakashi's nails dug into his palms.
First, he had been ignored by Orochimaru… now, Shura treated him the same way!
This humiliation burned hotter than the blood Kinoe coughed onto his shoulder.
For the first time, Kakashi began to doubt his own strength.
"Yukimi, let's go." Seeing that their Shura-sama had no intention of dealing with the two Konoha's Ninja, Gotta wisely followed, calling out to Yukimi.
Yukimi hesitated for a moment. But as Gotta and Menma disappeared into the depths of the cavern, she finally dashed over to Kakashi and Kinoe.
"Tenzo, are you two alright?" Yukimi asked the two with concern.
"Cough…" Kinoe spat out a trickle of blood, "He's… so strong…"
Then, he passed out.
"I need to get him medical treatment immediately." Kakashi said, hoisting Kinoe onto his shoulder.
As the only Wood Release user in Konoha, Kinoe's life is no longer his own.
Compared to the information about Shura, Kakashi cares more about Kinoe's survival.
"Hurry and leave! Don't come back!" Yukimi bit her lip, whispering her farewell.
Orochimaru's scheme had failed, and the Iburi clan would likely relocate to a new settlement under Menma's guidance.
Yukimi didn't want to see these two new friends die, as too many of her companions had already perished.
"Yeah." Kakashi nodded, leaping toward the cavern exit with Kinoe slung over his shoulder.
He glanced back one last time, only to see the girl dissolve into smoke before his eyes.
"Until next time." Kakashi murmured.