Hidden Four-Star Village.
The open space in front of the central building.
Whoosh!
Menma appeared, carrying a group of people wrapped in his Nine-Tails chakra cloak.
Seeing the sudden change in environment, Nagato coughed excitedly a few times.
"Cough, cough... The environment has changed. Is this Hidden Four-Star Village?"
Konan looked surprised. "Hidden Four-Star Village? We've arrived in the Land of Waves so quickly?"
Zabuza was about to proudly answer when Kakuzu cut him off.
"That's right, this is Hidden Four-Star Village. My boss brought me here before!" Kakuzu took a deep breath. "Everything here smells of money!"
Thinking of his annual salary, he felt life was infinitely wonderful.
"The smell of money?" Deidara looked around, observing his surroundings. "The architectural style is indeed very beautiful, much more luxurious than Iwagakure, but it probably didn't cost that much, hmm..."
"He's probably talking about the company headquarters over there," Sasori interrupted, pointing into the distance.
Several buildings stood side by side, displaying various company headquarters signs. The surrounding area was also heavily guarded by ninja on duty.
Kakuzu glanced in that direction, his green pupils glowing with avarice.
Kakashi, however, paid no attention to the so-called aura of money, instead staring directly at Menma and shaking his head in disbelief.
"He can even use the Flying Thunder God Technique to move such a long distance..."
Kakashi sighed. "Now I finally understand why he can control everything. Konoha's defeat wasn't unjust..."
Kakashi's sigh wasn't just because Menma could use the Flying Thunder God Technique; it was because of his inexplicably acquired abilities, which made him feel Konoha's defeat was justified.
"Kakashi-sensei, over there!"
Suddenly, Yamato, standing behind Kakashi, widened his eyes and pointed toward the central building. "It's the Fourth Hokage! And Sasuke!"
"What!?" Hearing this, Kakashi quickly turned around.
He immediately saw Minato, Kushina, and Sasuke walking out of the building.
"It's the Fourth Hokage… the Four Stars are back!"
Kushina, who was rubbing Sasuke's disgruntled head, also noticed the extra group. She immediately ran over.
"They're all safe and sound, and don't seem to be injured at all! And they're not wearing masks!"
"That's great! Now the Fourth Hokage can show his face openly, and Naruto can come back from that hateful place!"
They all knew Minato was going to seek revenge against Konoha. Kushina had been waiting for this day, hoping Naruto could also escape that heartless village and come to this Hidden Four-Star Village without facing discrimination.
But Kushina only ran a few steps before she froze.
Then she recognized the distinctive white hair and mask beside Menma.
"That's… Kakashi?!"
Kakashi also recognized Kushina, an incredulous expression flashing across his face beneath the mask.
"Kushina-shi… Sister!"
"Hmph!" Kushina turned her head away, disgustedly bypassing Kakashi and going to stand in front of Menma. "We shouldn't associate with such heartless and unjust people!"
After aiming that remark at Kakashi, Kushina finally smiled and asked excitedly, "Tell me quickly, did you blow Konoha up this time? Did you wipe out that old monkey and Danzo's clan? Were those disgusting villagers scared to tears?"
Kakashi scratched his head awkwardly, sensing Kushina's dislike of him.
Minato, who walked up behind her, didn't show the same expression as Kushina. Instead, he smiled and nodded at Kakashi. "Long time no see, Kakashi. It seems you've also lost faith in Konoha and come to our side."
Seeing him dressed in Akatsuki's clothes beside Menma, Minato immediately guessed what had happened.
"Long time no see, Minato-sensei," Kakashi replied, somewhat moved upon seeing Minato. Even the Fourth, who had risked his life to protect the village and thoroughly embodied the Will of Fire, had completely devoted himself to the Hidden Four-Star Village.
It seemed his choice was absolutely right! With the Fourth here, the Land of Fire's side was a fake Konoha, while this Hidden Four-Star Village was the real Konoha! Plus, there was Menma's grand vision and the true path to peace.
He really needed to quickly bring his close friends like Guy and Kurenai to the Hidden Four-Star Village!
"Menma!!!"
"Naruto!!!"
Sasuke, at the very back, froze in place. His face was filled with disbelief, and he even activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"This is impossible! It's a genjutsu; this must be a genjutsu! Four Stars can't be Menma! The power I gained can't be related to Naruto! Impossible!!!"
As he shouted, a powerful wave of ocular power erupted from the Uchiha. Unable to accept this outcome, Sasuke's ocular power seemed to surge to a higher level! This feeling was even more unbearable for him than witnessing the Uchiha clan massacre! It was like having something shoved in his face, or witnessing Itachi die before his eyes all over again!
"Aaaaah!!!"
Even his Mangekyō Sharingan couldn't tell it was an illusion. Sasuke screamed and fled. If he couldn't accept it, he could only run away; he refused to accept this outcome!
"Poor little Sasuke..."
Watching Sasuke flee in despair, Kushina looked pitifully at Menma and whispered, "Let little Naruto come out and comfort Sasuke. After all, you've been deceiving him for so long..."
"Ignore him," Menma refused without even looking up. Then he asked, "How's Kisame's situation?"
After Kisame was afflicted by Kotoamatsukami, he was healed by Menma and imprisoned.
"He has completely accepted the fact that he must protect Konoha, and he's even mentally reenacted Itachi's dying wish for him to protect Konoha," Minato suddenly interjected from behind, his face showing apprehension. "This eye technique is terrifying. It subtly alters a person's perception without the user even noticing."
Compared to Danzo's half-baked approach, Itachi's use of the Mangekyō Sharingan was far more thorough. Even after his death, Kotoamatsukami remained active, its effects lingering.
Hearing that it was related to Kotoamatsukami, Zabuza, as if seizing an opportunity, eagerly approached. "Boss, should I intervene to dispel it?"
"No need, you can't undo it anyway," Menma waved his hand, dismissing the idea. Then he turned to look at Kakashi, Yamato, Nagato, and Konan. Just as he was about to implant the Nine-Tails Chakra into them, he was interrupted by a sudden system notification.
[Corruption Points +15,000]
[Current Corruption Points: 230,000]
[Secondary Personality Trust Dependence Value: 99% (Cannot drop: 99%)]
[System Notification: Trust Dependence Value has reached its limit. Please make the following choice immediately!]
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