This was a strategy that could achieve multiple objectives at once.
Uzumaki Menma could already roughly infer the intentions behind Onoki's request for a personal meeting. Under such circumstances, inviting Orochimaru to accompany him was undoubtedly the most appropriate decision.
Whether the symbolic meaning of such an arrangement was significant or not did not matter.
What truly mattered was choosing the most suitable course of action.
"Yes, I understand. I will take my leave first."
After Kabuto Yakushi cast Menma a somewhat strange glance, he turned and departed.
Watching Kabuto's retreating figure, Menma's eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
There are still far too few people…
He could not help but sigh inwardly.
Building one's own force was never something that could be achieved overnight, nor through mere words. Many of the paths he would soon tread were fraught with extreme danger decisions that might even demand lives as payment.
How many people would truly be willing to follow such a road?
Even if someone agreed, the more difficult question remained whether they could be trusted.
In that regard, Orochimaru's methods were undeniably effective. Across the vast shinobi world, he sought out those who had lost everything children abandoned by society, individuals driven into desperation and granted them power, purpose, and the illusion of salvation.
Shinobi cultivated under such circumstances often developed fierce loyalty.
Examples such as Kimimaro, Guren, and even the elite operatives known as the Sound Four demonstrated this principle clearly. Even Kabuto himself once a wandering orphan without identity had been drawn into Orochimaru's orbit through a combination of manipulation, ideology, and personal charisma.
However, this was not something Menma could replicate immediately.
I still need to secure time in Takigakure… and there are other targets worth striving for if circumstances allow.
Several faces flashed through his mind key figures within the Hidden Waterfall Village such as Shibuki and the jinchūriki Fu, as well as wandering shinobi who existed on the margins of the ninja world.
For instance, Utakata, the jinchūriki of the Six-Tails, who was currently a rogue ninja, represented a highly valuable potential ally.
There was also the matter of the Isobu, the Three-Tails, which at this point in time was known to be roaming in an uncontrolled state.
If circumstances permitted, capturing and sealing such a tailed beast into a compatible host perhaps even Karin could drastically enhance Menma's strategic leverage.
One objective after another.
Each required completion within the shortest possible timeframe. Only by accumulating and integrating strength at an accelerated pace could Menma expand his sphere of influence in the future.
Even though he was effectively starting from nothing.
It seems I will still need to find time to travel to the Land of Water…
Menma inhaled slowly as his gaze drifted eastward toward the island nation separated from the mainland by vast seas.
Elsewhere within the stronghold, deep inside a restricted training chamber.
While overseeing the first stage of Sasuke Uchiha's training, Orochimaru listened to Kabuto's report.
At first, genuine surprise flickered across his pale face.
It was quickly replaced by a faintly sinister smile.
"Fufufu… Menma-kun never ceases to surprise me. At times, I cannot help but wonder what kind of existence he truly is. To possess such depth at merely twelve years of age…"
His golden, snake-like eyes gleamed with undisguised curiosity and desire.
This was not theatrical exaggeration.
Orochimaru genuinely entertained such thoughts.
Menma's performance had long surpassed conventional definitions of "genius" or "precocious talent." If Orochimaru had not personally verified that Menma was indeed the son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, and that he had lived under the watchful surveillance of Anbu within Konohagakure for twelve years, he might have questioned the boy's very origin.
Kabuto, standing respectfully below, nodded in quiet agreement.
"So, Orochimaru-sama, how should I respond to Menma-kun?"
"Of course we will accept," Orochimaru replied softly. "I am also curious why Ōnoki-san would wish to meet him personally. Choose a location in the northern region of the Land of Grass, near the border with Iwagakure. Such proximity can be interpreted as a gesture of sincerity."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Kabuto bowed and withdrew.
After relaying Orochimaru's intentions to Menma, preparations were swiftly made. There was little need for prolonged negotiation. Once the relevant information was transmitted, confirmation from the Third Tsuchikage arrived sooner than expected.
The meeting was scheduled for three days later.
Ōnoki's eagerness seemed even greater than Menma had initially anticipated.
This development prompted Menma to quietly ponder the deeper implications.
At around the same time Menma began final preparations for the meeting, news of the battle at the Valley of the End began to circulate albeit within limited intelligence circles across the shinobi world.
Although Sasuke was technically still a genin of Konoha, his identity as the last active heir of the Uchiha clan ensured that any major conflict involving him attracted intense scrutiny.
Within less than a month, two individuals of extraordinary strategic value had defected from Konoha.
Naturally, shinobi villages across multiple nations were paying close attention.
Most had only obtained fragmented intelligence. The precise sequence of events and final outcomes required deeper investigation.
There was, however, one notable exception.
With the assistance of Black Zetsu, Obito Uchiha possessed one of the most efficient intelligence networks in existence.
Although the majority of the White Zetsu army remained dormant, thousands were already active throughout the shinobi world. Combined with the long-term preparations left behind by Madara Uchiha, Obito could obtain battlefield intelligence faster and more accurately than almost anyone else.
Thus, when the relevant report reached him
His composure nearly shattered.
"Kakashi's Sharingan… was taken by Uzumaki Menma? And he was nearly killed as well?"
Obito turned sharply, his gaze freezing the White Zetsu informant where it stood.
"Ahh, of course it's true," the White Zetsu replied with exaggerated nonchalance. "Why would I lie? That Uzumaki Menma is terrifyingly ruthless. Not only Kakashi his own brother, Naruto Uzumaki, almost died at his hands. It seems his hatred for Konoha has truly reached the extreme."
The creature's wide grin stretched unnaturally across its face, as if it found the entire situation deeply amusing.