Sasuke and Itachi's battle had just concluded. While Menma reviewed the information he'd gathered, his shadow clone was already miles away, en route to capture the Eight-Tails.
The clone arrived outside the Cloud and Thunder Canyon, just outside the borders of Kumogakure.
"Here we are."
A pitcher plant-shaped White Zetsu emerged from the ground, pointing a spindly finger toward the canyon. "The Eight-Tails jinchūriki doesn't live inside Kumogakure. He stays out here."
Beside the black-and-white entity, a spore clone of White Zetsu quickly chimed in, clearly anxious. "Orochimaru's research on the Tailed Beasts and their chakra… he infiltrated Kumogakure and attacked the previous jinchūriki. He released the Eight-Tails."
"The Eight-Tails went on a rampage," the black half added, its voice flat. "Kumogakure suffered heavy losses. As a result, this generation's jinchūriki faces cold stares and rejection from the villagers."
"That's why he lives alone," the white half finished, "in this valley."
Menma's shadow clone hummed, completely unconcerned. He already knew the truth: Killer Bee wasn't shunned anymore. The people of Kumogakure revered him. He lived out here simply because he was powerful enough to do as he pleased, and he liked the solitude.
Menma watched the trembling White Zetsu with amusement. It seemed this particular spore clone hadn't witnessed the battle at Four Star Village firsthand. Yet, it was terrified of him. The fear radiating from it was palpable, matching that of the main body or other clones.
Menma chuckled.
"It seems the battle at Four Star Village is over," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Zetsu, tell me what you saw."
The Black Zetsu inhabiting the White Zetsu's body stiffened. Before it could formulate a response, the white half broke into a panicked scream.
"Huh?! We're doomed, Black Zetsu! We got caught spying on Menma's territory!"
"I told you not to sneak over there! You insisted on sending another me!"
"We're dead meat! Caught red-handed! I'm definitely getting hypnotized by the Sharingan—just like what happened to that White Zetsu in the novel!"
"Shut up!" Black Zetsu roared, finally snapping. "You weren't close, and you didn't do anything!"
The white half shrank back, lips twitching. It had a sinking feeling its brief plant life was about to end.
Black Zetsu calmed itself, turning its attention back to Menma. "Sasuke is no match for Itachi. However, Itachi's body seemed compromised—injured beforehand. Your shadow clone intervened at the end. Itachi was completely defeated. I don't know what happened after that; the spore clone withdrew immediately."
"Sasuke still couldn't win on his own…" Menma sighed, a flicker of disappointment crossing his mind.
He had awakened Sasuke's Sharingan and cut off the flow of Tailed Beast chakra to sustain him. Yet, Sasuke still relied on Itachi's self-restraint to secure victory. It was too easy. A waste of potential.
If Sasuke were smarter, Menma thought, he wouldn't have fought the Raikage in a lightning-clash. He wouldn't have boasted that three-tomoe Sharingan could break Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu. And he certainly wouldn't have shown off in front of Obito.
Menma shook his head. A skeletal hand materialized from thin air, clutching a jet-black longsword.
A flash of black light.
The white half of White Zetsu froze. Its expression shifted to one of resignation.
"I knew it," it whispered, the words dripping with bitterness. "I shouldn't have listened to that damned black devil..."
With that final complaint, countless black fissures spiderwebbed across the white half of its body. It crumbled like a pile of building blocks.
Black Zetsu, now occupying the remaining half, looked horrified. It hadn't expected Menma to attack out of the blue, especially after sounding so indifferent just seconds ago.
Reacting instinctively, Black Zetsu used the Mayfly Technique, shrinking into the ground to hide.
"I told you, Menma," a low voice echoed from the earth, suppressing anger and fear. "The spore clone was only checking on Itachi's situation. We weren't investigating your Four Star Village."
"I know," Menma replied, his voice utterly indifferent as he retracted the spectral arm of his Susanoo. "That was just a warning."
"Next time you enter my territory, you ask for permission first. Otherwise, the next casualty won't be a spore clone talking nonsense…"
Ignoring the cowering Black Zetsu, Menma turned and walked toward the Cloud and Thunder Canyon.
---
Nearby—
"Hey yo yo yo! All of you stand still and listen up! Here, I'm the coolest! YEAH! Training in a hurry, belly full, want to eat, pockets empty... Baka yarou, korok yarou!"
Killer Bee, who was practicing singing, dancing, and rapping by a pond, spun around as he spotted a figure approaching in the distance.
Menma, clad in a red robe and a white mask, strode forward.
"Yo!" Killer Bee called out, stepping closer. He scrutinized Menma's outfit, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly, he whipped around, pointing both index fingers at the intruder.
"A handsome outfit, mysterious and absurd! The purpose is simple—you're a fan of Master Bee, YEAH~~~"
"..."
"A fan?"
Regret colored Menma's voice.
"Killer Bee," he said, shaking his head. "You really are as interesting as I heard. I'm almost reluctant to take action against you."
Menma paused, a calculating glint in his eyes.
"In fact," he added, his voice taking on a business-like cadence, "I'm thinking of signing you to my entertainment company."
---
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