"Yes, indeed, he didn't have much of a choice. So, he really did leave the Leaf just for a reason like that."
Kitsuchi nodded in understanding first, then shook his head as if he couldn't quite believe it.
"Young people are prone to impulsiveness. Besides, isn't Orochimaru there as well? We still don't know the exact reasons behind all this. Anyway, it has nothing to do with us. For now, we just need to do our part well. You will be responsible for the contact with this Menma-kun, Kitsuchi. Don't let others in the village know. And if there is any urgent intelligence, report to me immediately. After all, it's the Nine-Tails; we still need to be guarded."
Onoki said in a very serious tone.
"Yes, Father, I understand."
Kitsuchi nodded heavily.
As one of the few Kage-level combatants in the village, and having experienced the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, he could understand this aspect very clearly.
'The Leaf, the Akatsuki, Menma Uzumaki and Orochimaru, and other ninja villages? Heh, it's really getting more and more interesting.'
A sharp glint appeared in Onoki's eyes.
Whoosh!
With a burst of chakra, he sped back toward his own village.
This special meeting was not known to the outside world.
The alliance formed directly would inevitably affect the ecological environment of the entire ninja world to a great extent in the days to come.
Remember, this was a combination of the Hidden Stone + Orochimaru + Menma.
This in itself could achieve an effect far greater than 1+1+1.
Not to mention that all of this was still in the shadows.
Of course, to what extent this alliance could extend, or whether it would collapse shortly, all depended on Menma's methods and choices.
But at least for the current Menma, this was the best situation he could strive for.
He really didn't want to encounter a joint encirclement by several major ninja village forces in the ninja world. For the current him, that would absolutely be a disastrous result.
And just a few days after Menma and Orochimaru returned to the stronghold in the Land of Grass, one afternoon.
Sasuke visited the area where Menma lived for the first time.
This was also the first time Sasuke had visited since they returned together from the Valley of the End.
And as soon as he opened his mouth, it felt very "Sasuke."
"Do you have time? Fight me."
Sasuke looked at Menma opposite him with a cold expression, speaking without any emotional fluctuation.
"Oh? Fight you? Of course, that's fine. Time? Place?"
Menma raised an eyebrow. After scanning Sasuke, he said with a faint smile.
This was a scene that could have been foreseen long ago.
Menma wasn't surprised at all.
If Sasuke didn't do this, he wouldn't be Sasuke.
This guy's pride came from deep within his bones.
"Right now, Training Ground C."
Sasuke said concisely.
The cold aura emanating from his body seemed to express Sasuke's impatient emotions.
"Heh, alright."
Menma nodded lightly without any hesitation, agreeing with a smile.
"Karin, clean up the experimental residue for me, and by the way, help me prepare the experimental materials for the afternoon—the ones I told you about yesterday. Oh, right, help me with the auxiliary test; it's best to have ten sets of control data."
Before leaving, Menma turned his head and said to Karin, who was wearing a white coat in the laboratory.
"Mm, I know. Don't worry, Menma."
Karin waved her hand with a smile.
After this period of exploration and learning, Karin had completely adapted to this rhythm.
In the past few days, she had even started to get in touch with human experiments.
Although she didn't say it explicitly, Karin clearly showed her willingness not to fall behind Menma. She wanted to help Menma as much as possible in all aspects.
This was the resolution Karin had set in her heart after their first meeting.
"Mm."
After Menma responded with a smile, he headed toward Training Ground C with Sasuke following behind.
This was a spacious field located at the westernmost side of the stronghold.
Usually, much of Sasuke's training took place here.
The personnel responsible for guarding and maintaining this training ground hurriedly bowed upon seeing Menma and Sasuke arrive.
"Menma-sama, Sasuke-sama, do you need something?"
"Mm, we need to use the field inside for a bit. There's no one else inside right now, is there?"
Menma raised his chin slightly and asked in a calm tone.
"No."
"Very good. Then don't let anyone else in for now."
"Understood!"
After Menma nodded, he strode in. Sasuke followed behind, still with that expressionless face.
Meeting Sasuke's eyes subconsciously, the manager trembled slightly.
As the person in charge of managing this field, he had seen Sasuke undergo many inhuman training sessions in the past period, adapting easily to each one.
The cold aura on his body was truly unbearable for ordinary people.
Without exaggeration, the current Sasuke solidly possessed the strength of a Jonin. Combined with the three-tomoe Sharingan, ordinary Jonin were no match for him.
This was the strength of the Uchiha clan.
The Sharingan was simply too "bugged" for ordinary people.
In this direct confrontation, Menma could clearly feel the chilling aura radiating from Sasuke.
'Truly, after three days of separation, one should look at a person with new eyes.'
A look of wonder appeared in Menma's eyes.
Buzz!
Sasuke didn't waste any words.
He activated his Sharingan directly.
Pitch-black yet crimson eyes appeared.
Boom!
The moment their eyes met, a genjutsu was launched purely on instinct.
It felt like a momentary spatial distortion.
But in less than half a second...
"Hmph!"
Inside his body, the Nine-Tails snorted coldly.
The genjutsu was easily negated.
The next second.
Whoosh!
Sasuke's figure appeared directly in Menma's close range.
Compared to the Chunin Exams, the current Sasuke was indeed much stronger.
And the opening genjutsu feint was extremely skillful.
Menma's gaze focused.
Swish!
He assumed a defensive stance.
Bang!
He blocked the attack head-on.
In mid-air, Sasuke twisted his body using the momentum.
A kunai appeared in his right hand, thrusting straight for Menma's heart.