Therefore, Menma only needed to start explaining from the most critical part.
And in this aspect, there wasn't much intelligence he needed to hide.
Only Obito's identity.
For now, he still needed to describe him as an "unknown Uchiha."
It wasn't yet time to expose Obito's identity, especially to Sasuke. This wasn't because Menma didn't trust Sasuke, but because the current Sasuke wasn't mature or strong enough. Issues involving Obito, Madara, and Black Zetsu—the appropriate time for that would be at least when Sasuke could awaken his own Mangekyo Sharingan.
And with Menma's detailed, bit-by-bit description...
Sasuke gained a fuller understanding of the events from the Nine-Tails' attack thirteen years ago to the annihilation of his own Uchiha clan six years ago.
Especially when he heard that his brother Itachi Uchiha, and even the clan's pride Shisui Uchiha, were actually spies planted in the clan by the Leaf's high command, Sasuke clenched his hands tightly.
This was something Sasuke absolutely hadn't expected.
That the destruction of his own clan involved such complex inside stories.
No!
It sounded complex, but it also seemed very simple. Essentially, his clan was dissatisfied with the status quo and wanted to launch a coup to fight for more rights, but the Leaf's high command, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, struck first to wipe them out. And there was an extra unknown Uchiha from the outside involved in this!
It could be said that while Menma hid a tiny bit in this regard, everything he said was true and valid.
And he didn't add any embellishments.
What the Uchiha clan thought and did.
How the Leaf's high command considered and responded.
Combined with the intelligence obtained from the original story.
Menma told Sasuke the truth exactly as it was.
"So that's how it was? The clan's coup? Heh, so Itachi Uchiha was just an executioner arranged by the Leaf? Haha, how pitiful, how sad, how laughable!!!"
Sasuke clenched his hands so hard that his fingernails dug into his palms, piercing the skin due to excessive force. Blood slowly oozed out. Sasuke seemed oblivious to the subtle pain transmitted to his brain nerves, his face full of anger and mockery.
"Then why keep me alive!? Why!?"
Those words were like the low growl of a wounded beast.
This is to test my capacity.
In that instant.
The sentence Itachi Uchiha said at the end years ago flashed through Sasuke's mind.
"A test subject?"
Sasuke's expression became utterly twisted at that moment.
"Why keep you alive? Only Itachi Uchiha himself knows that. I'm telling you this just so you understand, Sasuke. If you want revenge, Itachi Uchiha is only one of them. The Hidden Leaf Village, or rather those old geezers in the Leaf, are also your enemies!"
Menma certainly knew Itachi Uchiha's intent in keeping Sasuke alive.
Although there were other theories in his previous life.
But judging from Itachi Uchiha's subsequent actions, it could be clearly determined that Itachi Uchiha was an ultimate brother-complex sufferer, even infinitely more exaggerated than Madara Uchiha. In Itachi Uchiha's heart, the clear hierarchy was—Sasuke > The Leaf > His own clan, including his parents.
Itachi Uchiha could destroy the Uchiha clan and even kill his own parents with his own hands for the so-called greater good and interests of the Hidden Leaf Village.
But he could also destroy the Hidden Leaf Village for his brother.
Of course, there might be a tiny bit of doubt about this point, but at the very least, in Itachi Uchiha's heart, Sasuke held equal status with the Leaf at the absolute lowest.
He would absolutely never kill Sasuke for the village.
This was the last and only reverse scale in Itachi Uchiha's heart.
But this point.
Menma wouldn't tell Sasuke.
This wasn't just because it was hard to explain why he understood Itachi Uchiha so well, saving Sasuke from unnecessary suspicion, but more importantly, not saying it was actually the most appropriate approach.
Sasuke was also a companion Menma valued.
Facing others like Orochimaru, Ohnoki, and the like...
Menma could use any means necessary, but when facing Karin, Utakata, and Sasuke, Menma hoped they could be companions who truly trusted each other.
Therefore.
Menma absolutely couldn't use inferior means and low-level lies to deceive them.
Even if some things were indeed the truth, they couldn't come from Menma's mouth. What Menma needed to do was tell them the objective facts and let them make their own judgments.
Specifically for Sasuke.
Itachi Uchiha was the key.
This was the biggest obsession in Sasuke's heart.
"Ah, you're right, Menma. The person to ask is that bastard. Thank you, Menma. If not for you, I would have continued to be kept in the dark!"
Sasuke took a deep breath. With his facial muscles twitching slightly as he forcibly calmed his emotions, Sasuke looked at Menma with a clear look of gratitude and said.
"It's nothing. Helping you is helping myself, Sasuke. So you don't need to be polite at all. We are fellow travelers."
Menma said with a light smile.
"Yeah, we are fellow travelers."
Sasuke nodded heavily, a sincere feeling clearly audible in his words.
Unlike in the original story where he walked almost alone until the end, deceived by his brother until death.
In this life.
With Menma's early revelation.
At least it was foreseeable that the path Sasuke would take would be vastly different from the original story.
Menma wasn't sure what Itachi Uchiha was thinking.
Was he really that confident that his brother's future path would go exactly as he predicted?
Of course, maybe the original "Crown Prince's" Talk No Jutsu played a part in that.
But in this life, Menma would absolutely not allow a similar scene to happen.
Whether Itachi or Obito.
Neither could con Sasuke anymore.
This "Second Pillar" (Sasuke) had to walk the same path as him.
Or to put it another way—if anyone was going to con him, it had to be Menma Uzumaki doing the conning!
Menma looked at Sasuke in front of him, thinking secretly in his heart.
"However, you can't be impatient now, Sasuke. Whether you want to ask Itachi clearly or seek revenge on the Leaf, you must become stronger. Especially for your Uchiha clan, those Sharingan are the source of your power. So, you must evolve your eyes to the level of the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Menma looked at Sasuke very solemnly, speaking in a slightly low tone.
"Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Sasuke frowned. A thoughtful look appeared, but only a second later, Sasuke shook his head very firmly.
"I know what you want to say, Sasuke. But trust me, that power doesn't necessarily require that method to obtain. It is definitely not some cursed power!"
Seeing Sasuke shake his head.
Menma knew what Sasuke wanted to say. He immediately waved his hand and said with a very firm tone.