The failure of Orochimaru's subordinates meant one thing:
They had completely lost track of the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata.
Previously, they had only been able to barely pinpoint his location by secretly following the Kirigakure pursuit squad.
Now, whether Utakata was even still in the Land of Spring had become a major question.
Of course, what Kabuto did not know was that it was precisely because his operatives had been discovered that the Mist ninja had temporarily suspended their pursuit of Utakata. That brief delay had inadvertently created the opportunity for the confrontation between Utakata and the Kumogakure forces.
By the time the Mist ninja dealt with the trackers, it was already too late to catch up immediately.
After all, they had not known who was following them, how many people there were, or how strong they might be.
In their eyes, anyone capable of tracking their movements was likely a special force sent by one of the other Great Ninja Villages.
If they acted carelessly, they might easily be annihilated.
Thus, during that brief struggle for time, Konoha's ANBU arrived at the battlefield between Kumogakure and Utakata earlier than the Mist ninja.
The situation had now evolved into a chaotic struggle involving three, four, or perhaps even five different factions.
"Is it truly impossible to determine Utakata-san's location now, Kabuto-san?"
Standing to the side, Menma looked at Kabuto with a calm expression.
Kabuto took a deep breath and forced a smile.
"I'm very sorry, Menma-kun. The personnel tracking him were discovered by the Mist ninja. We can only rely on the last information they sent."
He paused.
"Why don't we wait another day or two? Once the reinforcements sent by Orochimaru-sama arrive, I can guarantee that we will locate Utakata-san again in the shortest possible time."
"Wait another day or two?"
Menma repeated softly, his expression unreadable.
Logically speaking, Kabuto's proposal was the correct one.
Without accurate intelligence, temporarily abandoning the operation and waiting for more information was the most reasonable choice.
If they managed to locate Utakata again, they could act.
If not…
They would simply return home.
After all, remaining active in the shinobi world for too long carried considerable risks.
Menma was not entirely confident that his disguise techniques and preparations could withstand every possible contingency.
The Flying Thunder God Technique remained merely theoretical knowledge to him.
The advanced stages of the Rasengan were still unfinished.
Even the latent potential of his Uzumaki bloodline had not yet been fully excavated.
If he encountered a truly powerful enemy or several powerful enemies at once the risks would be enormous.
However…
Utakata's existence was too important for Menma's future plans.
The most obvious reason was his combat power.
Not to mention the numerous hidden advantages that would come from gaining another Jinchūriki's support.
Menma believed that, with his current strength, there were very few people in the shinobi world capable of defeating him.
But killing him or capturing him alive?
That was an entirely different matter.
After only a brief moment of thought
"No."
Menma shook his head.
"We're not waiting."
He jumped down from the boulder and landed beside Kabuto.
"Let's head directly to the place where Utakata-san was last seen and where he fought the Mist ninja. We'll search personally."
A determined look appeared in his eyes.
"If we wait any longer, this trip may truly end in failure."
"Ah? Menma-kun, but "
Kabuto subconsciously wanted to object.
However
"Let's go, Kabuto-san."
Menma waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Whoosh!"
Chakra exploded beneath his feet.
He immediately shot toward the east.
That direction led to the location where Orochimaru's operatives had last reported seeing Utakata.
Although it was still some distance away, arriving as quickly as possible might allow them to gather additional clues.
Menma had no intention of returning empty-handed.
"…"
Kabuto looked at Menma's rapidly disappearing figure.
His expression changed several times before he finally sighed.
Then he followed.
Even setting aside Orochimaru's orders, the dangerous aura hidden beneath Menma's calm words made Kabuto unwilling to oppose him.
Otherwise, he genuinely wondered whether Menma might lose his patience and simply attack him.
Was such a thing impossible?
Of course not.
After all
Menma was only thirteen years old.
To Kabuto, the actions of a boy that age could be unpredictable.
The two of them advanced at high speed.
They did not stop for even a moment.
However
Less than twenty minutes later
Menma suddenly halted.
Far to the northeast, his sensory abilities had detected a powerful yet extremely weakened chakra signature.
This feeling…
This was not chakra that an ordinary person could possess.
In less than a second, Menma concluded that its owner had a ninety-nine percent chance of being a Jinchūriki.
And at this moment
Who else in the Land of Spring could it possibly be?
It was almost certainly Utakata.
Naturally, Utakata could not sense Menma at such a distance.
The difference between their sensory abilities was simply too great.
Menma's perception range had already reached an astonishing level.
A few seconds later, he sensed several additional chakra signatures approaching from behind Utakata.
Someone's pursuing him?
The Mist ninja?
No… these chakra signatures feel different.
A strange expression appeared in Menma's eyes.
"Menma-kun?"
Kabuto, who had been following behind him, looked surprised.
"Why did you stop? Did you sense something?"
He immediately guessed the reason.
After all, he had witnessed Menma's sensory abilities several times already.
Even Orochimaru had remarked that Menma had perfectly inherited the Uzumaki Clan's sensory talents and might even possess abilities comparable to those of Uzumaki Mito.
"Haha…"
A smile appeared on Menma's face.
"Luck truly comes when you least expect it."
He looked toward the northeast.
"Let's go, Kabuto-san. It seems we're about to meet Utakata-san."
"…!"
Kabuto was stunned.
Then his eyes widened.
Could such a coincidence really happen?
A distance of ten or twenty kilometers might require hours for an ordinary person to traverse.
For shinobi, however
It was merely a matter of minutes.
As Menma rapidly closed the distance, his chakra gradually entered Utakata's sensory range.
At that moment
Utakata's expression changed drastically.
There were pursuers behind him.
And now, another terrifying chakra signature had appeared in front of him.
His face became uglier than ever.
There was no way to avoid this encounter.
A rare look of determination appeared in his eyes.
Even if he died
He would never allow his enemies to capture him easily.
But then
When Menma's youthful face entered his field of vision, Utakata was momentarily stunned.
No one with functioning eyes would mistake Menma for anything other than a teenager.
Yet the chakra emanating from him was terrifying beyond belief.
After only a few seconds, Utakata's gaze shifted to Menma's red hair.
To his immense chakra reserves.
To his age.
Then
He remembered the major incident that had shaken the shinobi world the previous year.
Although he was a missing-nin, he still knew of the events surrounding Konohagakure.
Especially those involving the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The answer was obvious.
"Haha."
Menma smiled.
"You must be Utakata-san. It's a pleasure to meet you."
He slightly inclined his head.
"My name is Uzumaki Menma."
It really is the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki…!
Utakata's pupils contracted.
Of all the people he expected to meet while fleeing for his life
Uzumaki Menma had not been one of them.
"Uzumaki Menma…"
Utakata's eyes remained full of caution.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
He narrowed his eyes.
"What business do you have with me?"
At this moment, he was like a wounded beast.
Anyone who approached him would be met with hostility.
Even though Menma did not appear hostile, Utakata remained extremely wary.
As for Kabuto
He looked even less trustworthy.
Menma didn't mind.
If their positions were reversed, he would react the same way.
"Haha, I naturally have something important to discuss with you, Utakata-san."
Menma smiled.
"But don't worry. I have no intention of threatening you."
Then his gaze shifted beyond Utakata.
"However… let's deal with the flies behind you first."
"We can talk afterward."
Utakata did not believe a single word.
Yet
The moment Menma finished speaking
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Several figures suddenly appeared behind him.
When Menma saw the leader, surprise flashed through his eyes.
Kumogakure?
And the one leading them is… Darui?
The people pursuing Utakata were actually Kumogakure shinobi.
That was truly unexpected.
Although this situation never occurred in the original timeline, considering the Fourth Raikage's personality, it made perfect sense.
The Fourth Raikage wanted anything that could strengthen Kumogakure.
No village would ever complain about possessing too many tailed beasts.
"Uzumaki Menma…?!"
Darui's pupils shrank.
As the Fourth Raikage's trusted subordinate and Kumogakure's future Fifth Raikage, there was no way he wouldn't recognize the famous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Why is he here?
Under normal circumstances, encountering Menma would have been an excellent opportunity.
After all, the Raikage desperately wanted the Nine-Tails.
But now
His forces had suffered heavy losses.
There was already a Six-Tails Jinchūriki here.
And now another Jinchūriki had appeared.
Moreover
The bespectacled man beside Menma did not look easy to deal with.
"I'll handle them."
Menma looked toward Kabuto.
"Kabuto-san, please treat Utakata-san's injuries."
Then he turned back toward Utakata.
"Please wait a moment."
"I truly mean you no harm."
As soon as the words fell
"Boom!"
Scarlet chakra erupted from Menma's body.
A cloak of Nine-Tails chakra instantly enveloped him.
"Whoosh!"
His figure blurred.
He shot directly toward Darui and the remaining Kumogakure ninja.
The violent chakra pressure caused Darui's expression to tighten.
He was no longer in peak condition.
His previous battle with Utakata had already exhausted him considerably.
His chakra reserves had fallen to roughly one-third of their normal level.
The three or four remaining Kumogakure shinobi were all injured.
"Damn it…"
After only a moment of consideration
"Retreat!"
Darui immediately issued the order.
"Trying to leave?"
Menma smiled coldly.
"It's not that easy."
Summoning Jutsu!
He bit his thumb and slammed his palm into the ground.
"Poof!"
A huge cloud of white smoke erupted.
The next moment
A gigantic dark-green lizard appeared.
"Qītu, stop them!"
"Understood, Menma-sama!"
The giant lizard immediately moved to block the Kumogakure shinobi's retreat.
Its enormous body and powerful aura instantly caused Darui's expression to darken.
Even in his prime, dealing with such a summon would have been troublesome.
Let alone now.
"Lightning Release: Earth Walk!"
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
The two Kumogakure shinobi in front quickly formed hand seals.
Lightning burst forth.
"Boom!"
The massive bolts shot directly toward Qītu.
The giant lizard leaped into the air, avoiding one of the attacks.
Then
Chakra erupted.
The earth shook violently.
Layer after layer of ground rose upward, forming a massive wave of stone and soil that surged toward the Kumogakure ninja.
Although Earth Release was naturally disadvantaged against Lightning Release
The enormous difference in chakra and the scale of the technique completely overwhelmed that disadvantage.
The rolling earth crashed downward like a tidal wave.
Not only did it neutralize the Lightning Release attacks
It also forced Darui and the others to halt.
Those few critical seconds were enough.
Because
Menma had already arrived.
"Ninja Art Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
His hand seal completed instantly.
"Whoosh!"
A shuriken flew out.
Then
Hundreds of shadows appeared in midair.
The dense barrage covered nearly every Kumogakure shinobi below.
As Menma's strength had grown, his mastery over this technique had become increasingly refined.
Its speed and scale were far beyond what they had once been.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
One Kumogakure jōnin reacted swiftly, erecting a defensive wall before himself.
Darui also managed to evade.
However
The remaining three Kumogakure shinobi had no time to dodge.
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