In the Land of Rice Fields currently, besides the interwoven and chaotic forces of the Ninja Village Alliance, the Akatsuki organization, and Orochimaru, there was actually another hidden force: Karin and Haku, executing Shinji's orders.
Their mission was simple: to ensure the safety of Naruto, or rather, Menma.
However, Menma, who mastered the 'Nine-Faced Sutra', possessed the ability to summon 'Vermilion Bird' and move quickly in the air. Therefore, even Karin, with her 'Kagura Mind's Eye', couldn't keep a close watch on Menma at all times, as was the case now.
Rumble rumble...
Listening to the continuous roar from afar, Karin's expression beneath her mask was solemn.
Haku glanced and whispered: "Has he completely entered Tailed Beast Transformation? It looks like Naruto must have encountered a powerful enemy!"
"Mhm, let's go!"
Karin nodded and immediately rushed towards the direction the roar came from.
The two of them had barely rested these past few days. If both weren't powerful, just this non-stop rapid travel would be enough to exhaust them.
Just as the two were about to arrive, the massive Nine-Tails in the distance gradually shrunk and shriveled.
"Not good!"
This scene, which had occurred during the Chunin Exam battle, immediately made the two realize something was wrong, so they sped up again.
But by the time the two arrived at the battlefield, the 'Chimera Technique' jointly performed by Hiruko and Ranmaru had already forcibly extracted the Yang Nine-Tails from Menma's body and temporarily stored it within Hiruko.
Thud...
As the Nine-Tails was forcibly extracted from his body, Menma collapsed to the ground exhausted, his breath gradually weakening, but his entire face was still twisted with anger.
Clearly, even at this moment, the effect of Hiruko's 'Yumota' was still influencing him, essentially overpowering him completely.
Hiruko and Ranmaru quickly spotted Karin and Haku rushing over, immediately looking vigilant.
Ranmaru said: "It's 'B' and 'C'! Senpai, what do we do?"
"Bad luck!"
Hiruko spat lightly.
'B' and 'C' were proven powerhouses in battle. In his eyes, they couldn't be lumped together with Menma just now. Moreover, he had lost a right arm, couldn't form hand seals, and his combat power was drastically reduced. If he truly confronted 'B' and 'C', the consequences would be hard to predict.
Therefore, he had originally planned to conveniently extract the other half of the Nine-Tails from the Fourth Hokage's 'Impure World Reincarnation body' as well, but now hesitated due to the appearance of 'B' and 'C'.
Looking at Menma lying on the ground, his breath gradually weakening, Karin and Haku's expressions instantly darkened. They immediately informed Shinji of the current situation through 'Jikibi'.
Although Shinji's 'Jikibi' sensing range had greatly increased again after activating the 'Six-Tomoe Rinnegan', it still couldn't cover such a large area between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields. So these days, he had been using Nameless's 'Yata no Kagami' to enhance 'Jikibi', barely maintaining communication with Karin and Haku in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Upon learning that Menma had the Nine-Tails extracted by Hiruko and Ranmaru, he paused, musing: "How is this possible? The Sage of Six Paths didn't intervene?"
He had painstakingly orchestrated Orochimaru to unseal the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' and release the Fourth Hokage's soul, precisely to successfully revive the Ten-Tails without endangering Naruto's life.
Unexpectedly, this unintended consequence led to Naruto losing his life.
Karin then said: "Lord, Naruto is still alive. We can snatch the Nine-Tails back from Hiruko!"
The strong life force of the Uzumaki clan prevented Menma from dying immediately after the Nine-Tails was extracted. If the Nine-Tails could be retrieved in time, there was still hope for survival.
Shinji then began to weigh the options.
As the current 'Child of Prophecy' in the Ninja World, Naruto's life was naturally important, but the revival of the Ten-Tails was also a matter of utmost priority.
If Karin and Haku were to act now to retrieve the Yang Nine-Tails stolen by Hiruko, it would undoubtedly delay the Akatsuki organization's progress in reviving the Ten-Tails. If this consequently obstructed the Ten-Tails' revival, his chances of confronting the Overlord after its arrival would be greatly diminished.
Thus, Shinji gave the order: "Force them to leave. Do not let them take the other half of the Nine-Tails from the Fourth Hokage!"
Despite feeling a twinge of reluctance watching the dying Naruto on the ground, Karin and Haku executed Shinji's orders unconditionally.
Swish swish
Instantly, the two dropped from the trees, interposing themselves between the Fourth Hokage's 'Impure World Reincarnation body' and Hiruko and Ranmaru, making their stance clear.
At this time, the Fourth Hokage's 'Impure World Reincarnation body' was still bound by the Celestial Maiden's seal. However, since the Nine-Tails inside Menma had been extracted and his life was draining, the Celestial Maiden's body also correspondingly started to become semi-transparent, as if it could disappear at any moment.
Seeing 'B' and 'C' blocking in front of the Fourth Hokage's 'Impure World Reincarnation body' but not immediately attacking, Hiruko and Ranmaru guessed their intention.
"One half each?" Pausing, Hiruko said: "Fine!"
Since fighting offered no chance of victory and the opponents also showed some respect, Hiruko began to contemplate retreating.
Just then, two powerful chakras rapidly approached the area.
The four individuals present all looked over, realizing that those approaching were none other than Jiraiya and Orochimaru, who had fought with Menma earlier.
Menma had snatched the Fourth Hokage's 'Impure World Reincarnation body' right in front of them. As the 'Legendary Sannin of the Hidden Leaf', they naturally couldn't ignore this.
Especially Jiraiya, bringing Naruto back was his biggest goal for this trip.
And for Orochimaru, the Yin-Nine-Tails sealed within the Fourth Hokage's 'Impure World Reincarnation body' was his last bargaining chip for peace talks with the Akatsuki organization. If he lost this chip, he would completely lose the qualification to negotiate with the Akatsuki organization.
It was just that Menma flew in the sky while they chased on the ground, naturally slowing them down, which was why they arrived at the battlefield at this moment.
Clearly seeing the situation on the battlefield, both of their expressions changed instantly.
Menma lay on the ground, his life force barely perceptible, and the surging Nine-Tails chakra he originally possessed was now nowhere to be found. 'B', 'C', Hiruko, and Ranmaru, four Akatsuki members wearing red cloud robes, stood in the center of the field. Without needing many words, they could already guess what had just happened.
"Naruto!"
Jiraiya was shocked and enraged, ready to pounce forward.
Orochimaru, however, flashed and blocked Jiraiya, stating in a deep voice: "Don't do anything foolish!"
What a joke. With 'B', 'C', Hiruko, and Ranmaru standing here, even they, the powerful 'Sannin', didn't have much chance of winning.
Especially after their previous encounter, Orochimaru was very clear that 'B', who possessed the 'Rinnegan', was a top-tier powerhouse not inferior to Nagato. Even if she were the only one here, he and Jiraiya might not win in a team-up, let alone with three other equally powerful Akatsuki members...