Hidden Void Village.
Sasuke yanked his hand away from the White Zetsu clone's grasp, a look of utter disgust twisting his features.
"That's it?"
The White Zetsu clone nodded, a wide grin plastering its pale face. "All done. But I, White Zetsu 252, have one more thing to say."
The clone paused, savoring the moment. "Your hand is incredibly moist."
As it spoke, the White Zetsu even showed a look of relish, practically smacking its lips.
Sasuke recoiled, revolted. He nearly killed the perverted White Zetsu on the spot. Suppressing his fury, he turned his gaze away and strode toward Menma.
Menma was nearby, having other White Zetsu clones draw chakra from Teuchi.
These White Zetsu were noticeably more subdued. They didn't dare act silly, keeping their hands properly placed on Teuchi's shoulders.
Ayame stood in front of her father, trembling with fear. She protected Teuchi with one hand while warily watching Menma, the White Zetsu, and the two missing-nin—Zabuza and Kakuzu—who had captured them.
When Sasuke approached, a look of clear relief washed over Ayame's face.
"Sasuke Uchiha, here—"
"Don't be afraid. You're safe here," Sasuke interrupted, frowning. He looked at Menma. "I've done as you said. When are we going to destroy Konoha?"
"Destroy Konoha!?" Ayame exclaimed, instantly clamping a hand over her mouth and waving frantically with the other. "We didn't hear anything! We didn't hear anything!"
Seeing the two still terrified, Sasuke's patience thinned. "I said you're safe, so you're safe. If I really wanted to kill you, do you think you would have survived until now?"
He turned his piercing gaze back to Menma. "If you aren't going to make a move, then I'll destroy the village that murdered my entire clan myself."
Having learned the truth, Sasuke—just like in the original story—wanted nothing more than to obliterate Konoha.
Seeing Sasuke's arrogant attitude, a flash of crimson entered Menma's eyes. His voice rang out, cold and sharp.
"I have my own plans for Konoha. Just follow my instructions."
Menma gestured to the exit. "Of course, if you don't want to follow, you can leave. The door is right there."
Hearing Menma's cold words, Sasuke felt a surge of inexplicable resentment.
"What do you mean? Are you trying to drive me away?"
Konoha was no longer Sasuke's home; it was his enemy. His brother, whom he had thought was his foe, had died of a serious illness in his arms, granting him the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Now, the only thing bringing him warmth was the Hidden Void Village, which had always helped him.
And for asking a simple question, Menma was already kicking him out?
"Idiot brat," Zabuza sneered from the side. "The boss said if you don't obey, you're out. Understand? I only used you to deal with Itachi Uchiha. Now that he's dead, you're worthless."
"What did you say!" Stung to the core, Sasuke glared at Zabuza. The patterns of his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan swirled into existence in his eyes. "Today, I'll show you whether a Hidden Void ninja is as valuable as I am!"
Zabuza, equally defiant, ripped the bandage from his right eye, revealing an identical Sharingan.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan isn't just yours. The boss gave me one, too!" His voice dripped with boasting.
"Let's fight! Let's fight! Whoever wins is more valuable!" Kakuzu, always eager for chaos, fanned the flames. Either of them dying would boost his own standing in the village.
"Alright, stop it. Both of you." Menma's voice cut through the tension, unyielding.
Sasuke snorted coldly, turning his head and withdrawing his Sharingan. Zabuza also smiled coldly, rewrapping the bandage around his eye.
Seeing the conflict subside, the White Zetsu—having obtained the chakra—reported weakly in a low voice.
"Lord Menma… I… I've finished."
"Hmm." Menma hummed softly, then beckoned over the White Zetsu that had taken Sasuke's chakra. "Let's begin."
Hearing the order, the two White Zetsu exchanged a glance and immediately used the Transformation Technique.
The next second, their white skin turned a healthy, rosy yellow. Their bodies changed, one growing taller, the other shorter. In the blink of an eye, two perfect replicas of Teuchi and Sasuke appeared before Menma.
"Not bad. Indeed unrecognizable."
Menma looked at the two with satisfaction, then grabbed each of their shoulders. With a blur of yellow light, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished from the spot, heading toward Amegakure.
Amegakure.
On the tongue-shaped platform of the Akatsuki base, Pain sat on the very tip, gazing out at the rain-soaked city below. Behind him, Sakura and Iruka Umino sat bound, hands and feet restricted. Jiraiya's corpse lay discarded on the ground.
Seeing the dead Jiraiya, both Sakura and Iruka were filled with terror. Sakura, her mouth gagged, emitted continuous whimpering sobs. Waiting for an unknown fate was no less than torture.
Soon, Menma—disguised as the two White Zetsu—appeared on the high platform.
"You've finally arrived." Sensing the arrival, Pain turned and stood up expressionless. He pointed to the bodies of Sakura, Iruka, and Jiraiya on the ground. "Let's confirm—are these the three?"
Menma glanced at them and nodded slightly. "No mistake."
"But Jiraiya is dead," Pain noted. "It seems you didn't need living targets to create the Six Paths."
"I just needed a body to hold the power," Pain explained casually. He walked to the White Zetsu disguised as Sasuke and Teuchi. "So this is Zetsu's Disguise Technique. It's truly indistinguishable from the real thing."
After a sigh, Pain looked back at Menma. "Alright, are you going to handle them yourself, or should I take them away and work on them while they're being made?"
"I'll do it myself." Menma raised his hand and grabbed the necks of the two disguised White Zetsu.
Snap.
He broke their necks.
"Waaaaah… Sasuke Uchiha!!!"
Seeing the disguised Sasuke dead, Sakura suddenly burst with strength, biting through the duct tape covering her mouth to cry out in anguish.
"No rush. Your turn is coming soon," Menma said casually. He tossed the bodies to the ground, then walked over to Sakura and Iruka. Just as he had with the White Zetsu, he grabbed them and lifted them up.
"Konoha won't let you get away with this!" Iruka shouted. "And Naruto Uzumaki! Naruto will avenge us! He'll kill you all!"
"Oh?" Menma snapped Iruka's neck and turned his cold gaze to Sakura. "Looks like you don't want to die easily."
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Four Tailed Beast Chakra Arms instantly appeared and pierced through Sakura's limbs.
"Ah!!!"
A painful scream echoed around them.
Pain watched Menma's actions with a slight frown. "Don't ruin the materials. Repairing them is troublesome and time-consuming."
Hearing this, Menma retracted the Tailed Beast Chakra Arms and threw Sakura in front of Pain.
"Since that's the case, then use her alive to create Pain."
"She has a grudge against you?" Pain asked, puzzled.
Menma didn't answer Pain's question, instead asking one of his own. "When will it be finished?"
"It'll take an afternoon," Pain replied, not pressing further.
"Then let's go to Konoha tomorrow. Remember to inform the others."
"Okay," Pain nodded, but immediately sensed something was wrong.
Damn it. It seems like he's the leader.
Why is Menma issuing all the orders?
Thinking this, Pain spoke again, raising his voice for the base below. "Go and inform the others in the base! We're heading to Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails tomorrow at noon!"
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