Menma desperately needed to establish his own force.
Even if there were many problems and drawbacks, and potentially hidden repercussions, Menma could no longer worry about them. He didn't have the luxury to pick and choose; taking a strategic step back was the wise choice.
Of course, there was one major prerequisite:
This force must belong solely to Menma.
Then, no matter how big the remaining problems were, they could be solved.
Therefore, Orochimaru was an obstacle that couldn't be bypassed. Menma had to confirm Orochimaru's attitude and thoughts. Whether it was dangerous or not was another matter; at least he needed to make preparations beforehand, right?
He absolutely couldn't just act recklessly based on wishful thinking.
That would never work.
"Personnel support?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly.
The moment Menma said those words, the Snake Sannin more or less grasped the deeper meaning behind them.
However, this was something to be expected.
Their relationship was indeed very special.
To be honest, Orochimaru was already suppressing his instincts—the instinctive urge to dissect Menma. It was only because the strength Menma displayed time and again exceeded Orochimaru's maximum psychological expectation that he hadn't made a move on Menma long ago.
And without complete certainty, or at least seventy to eighty percent confidence, Orochimaru wouldn't really do anything to Menma.
The Rinnegan and Sharingan.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
Tailed Beast chakra.
And confidential intelligence on the Akatsuki and the Hidden Leaf Village.
These things were obviously not something a 12-year-old boy should know. Orochimaru truly desired to decode the secrets on Menma one by one. He had ample reason to believe there was more, even more important intelligence inside Menma's brain.
Even just for this point alone, Orochimaru was willing to assist Menma.
The unknown was always the most mysterious and desirable existence.
"That is certainly no problem. I stand by my words: as long as you have a need, Menma-kun, I will do whatever I can."
Orochimaru looked at Menma with a face full of "sincerity."
"Then I thank you in advance, Orochimaru-san. Well then, if you'll excuse me."
Menma smiled slightly.
Then he prepared to get up and leave.
"Oh, right, Orochimaru-san. That matter from before should be confirmed by now, right? If possible, it's best to undo the effects of that jutsu as soon as possible. I imagine that should be the most important thing for you, Orochimaru-san."
After taking the first step, Menma seemed to think of something.
He turned his head, staring directly at Orochimaru's seemingly normal arms, and spoke with slightly emphasized tone.
"Oh? Yes, I understand. Please rest assured, Menma-kun. These are my own hands, after all."
Orochimaru paused slightly, then nodded with a strange expression.
"That would be best."
Menma raised his chin slightly. After saying this, he strode away directly.
Watching Menma leave, Orochimaru's expression instantly turned gloomy.
It felt like the temperature had plummeted directly.
Feeling the chilling aura emanating from his "boss" in the main seat, Suigetsu trembled involuntarily below.
'He's angry, right? Definitely angry, right? To dare joke about Orochimaru's hands, that guy must be ruthless.'
In that moment, Suigetsu's "admiration" for Menma also spiked to its highest threshold.
Anyway, in Suigetsu's view, no one in this world was more terrifying than Orochimaru.
Menma actually dared to face Orochimaru with such an attitude. Combined with the information he heard earlier, Menma reached a rather "terrifying" height in Suigetsu's heart.
"Suigetsu."
"Eh? Yes, Orochimaru-sama, what are your orders?"
Suddenly hearing Orochimaru call him, Suigetsu shuddered instantly.
Then he hurriedly bowed to his boss on the main seat, replying softly with a very cautious expression.
"You heard the conversation between Menma-kun and me just now. You will go assist Menma-kun. I will also deploy a few others to go along. On this trip, Menma-kun's orders are absolute. Do you understand?"
Orochimaru's extremely eerie snake eyes focused instantly on Suigetsu Hozuki at that moment. The words he spoke made Suigetsu's eyes widen abruptly.
Huh?
Nani?
Let him assist that "terrifying guy"?
No way, right?
In that moment, Suigetsu almost doubted his own ears.
"What? Is there a problem, Suigetsu?"
Orochimaru seemed to see through Suigetsu's inner thoughts. Leaning forward slightly, his words became even colder.
While his eyelids twitched wildly, Suigetsu immediately squeezed out an expression uglier than crying and said, "No, no problem at all, Orochimaru-sama. I will obey your orders."
"Mm, good."
Orochimaru nodded with satisfaction.
Then he waved his hand.
Suigetsu left directly with an expression of ultimate depression.
"Orochimaru-sama, do you really want to help Menma Uzumaki control the Hidden Waterfall Village? If so, he might very likely go out of control."
After Suigetsu left.
From the shadowy corner on the left.
Kabuto Yakushi stepped out, looking at Orochimaru with a solemn expression.
Menma's intention was practically known to everyone.
Leaving aside Menma's proactive confession later, Orochimaru's side had gained some insight even during the initial action.
As the Hidden Waterfall Village, which could still be considered in the first tier below the Five Great Ninja Villages, its own power was already quite formidable. Added to a Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, Kabuto couldn't imagine what height Menma would reach controlling such a ninja village's power.
Of course, the difficulty was certainly at the ceiling level.
But what if?
As Orochimaru's most trusted subordinate, Kabuto felt it necessary to remind him more in this regard.
"Out of control? Kabuto, it seems you are mistaken too. Menma-kun and I have a cooperative relationship. Where does 'control' come from? Isn't it a good thing for Menma-kun to be stronger? The Leaf, the Akatsuki, and whatever other enemies there are, we need to face them together."
Orochimaru turned his head, looking at Kabuto with a calm expression.
These words instantly stunned Kabuto.
What the hell?
Does he really consider it an alliance? Did I guess wrong?
That's not right either.
A look of obvious confusion appeared in Kabuto's eyes.
"There's no need to say more on this matter. You should also instruct Tayuya to take a few people and go with Menma-kun when the time comes."