Gato rummaged through a bookshelf overflowing with scrolls for a moment before pulling out several yellowed maps, which he respectfully spread across the desk in front of Menma.
"My Lord, these are the national maps of several western countries. Please, have a look." Gato bowed slightly.
Menma picked up the maps, his gaze as sharp as a hawk as he scrutinized the details.
As a world-class corporation, Gato's company spanned many nations. Their simplest business tactic was buying local specialties at low prices in one country and transporting them to another to sell for a high profit—like shipping tea from the Land of Tea to the capitals of various nations.
This mode of commerce required an intimate familiarity with geography. Every major merchant guild and shipping fleet possessed their own hand-drawn or purchased maps and nautical charts; these were considered rare and valuable resources.
However, high-precision mapping was rare. Most were like ancient charts, requiring professional guides or experienced traders to interpret correctly.
"Prepare supplies to be sent to the Land of Bears. The Organization plans to build a stronghold there," Menma said, tapping his finger on a map of the Land of Bears.
Kakuzu walked over as well, looking at the map.
The Land of Bears was situated between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, bordering other small-to-mid-sized nations like the Land of Demons, the Land of Marshes, and the Land of Birds. The country was long and narrow. The western region bordering the Land of Demons and Marshes consisted of vast plains suitable for agriculture. The central and eastern parts were covered in dense forests and high mountains, with the eastern border guarded by the natural chasm of the Hell Valley, filled with toxic gases.
"As you command, my Lord." Gato bent his waist even lower.
"Do you need me to clear out the Star Village?" Kakuzu asked, licking his lips.
"No," Menma shook his head. "You will act with Gato and handle the transportation of supplies. As for the cleanup of the Land of Bears, another team will handle that."
Even though he had recruited Kakuzu and Gato, he couldn't let these two do everything. He needed to maintain the illusion of a large organization to avoid exposing the fact that he was currently short-staffed.
Hearing that another team would be sent ahead, Kakuzu's green pupils contracted slightly. He felt a spark of anticipation. Since joining, he had only worked with Gato and hadn't met any other members. This would be a chance to see what kind of powerful shinobi this mysterious organization employed.
After issuing the orders, Menma left the capital of the Land of Fire.
The organization was indeed desperate for manpower, and he planned to recruit some rogue ninja.
At this point in time, Pakura is already dead. Zabuza and Kisame likely haven't defected yet. Deidara is still in Iwagakure, and Sasori is hiding who-knows-where... Going through the list, Menma realized capable rogue ninja were currently in short supply. Besides, he had no interest in recruiting a murderous zealot like Hidan.
Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru should be in the Land of Rivers. He's at least Jōnin-level strength, and the Kurosuki family defected from Kirigakure as a unit. Though they lacked a Kekkei Genkai, they were a shinobi clan with a certain level of heritage.
Then there are the scattered members of the Uzumaki clan. He thought of Karin and her mother in Kusagakure, and Honoka in the Land of the Sea.
"But first, I'll pay a visit to Orochimaru in the Land of Rice Fields."
Under the cover of night, Menma sped through the forest, his fox mask a white blur between the trees.
If I remember correctly, the Hidden Sound Village should be located slightly north of the center of the Land of Rice Fields. Menma activated the Kagura Shingan (Kagura the Mind's Eye), sensing chakra in a radius of over a hundred kilometers.
This secret technique, unique to the Uzumaki clan, was something he had learned from Kushina back in the "Limited Tsukuyomi" world. The range varied depending on the user's chakra reserves. Even Karin could cover thirty or forty kilometers, but with Menma's massive reserves, he could reach a hundred.
Every flicker of chakra in that range was visible to him.
Having fought Orochimaru recently, Menma had already "marked" the Sannin's specific chakra signature. Soon after entering the country, his Mind's Eye detected several faint pulses of Orochimaru's chakra. They were small and isolated, likely backup bases or storehouses.
Heading further north toward the capital, he sensed a massive cluster of chakra signatures. They were very similar to Orochimaru's, yet possessed distinct differences.
"Can't wait, can you, Orochimaru?" Menma guessed Orochimaru had already performed the Fushi Tensei (Living Corpse Reincarnation). His previous body was in its forties and had been heavily damaged by the Third Hokage. While repairable, the physical performance would inevitably decline. Moving to a new vessel now made perfect sense.
"Found it!" Menma burst through the treeline.
Before him sat a small village on the edge of the forest. On the surface, it looked like a mundane farming community, but Menma knew the ground beneath had been hollowed out to house a secret laboratory.
Under the moonlight, Menma made no effort to hide. He walked straight into the village. The cold light reflected off his three-eyed mask, and his black coat fluttered in the breeze. Such a mysterious presence immediately drew out Orochimaru's subordinates.
Several ninja leaped from the shadows, landing on rooftops and glaring at the intruder. Menma sensed their chakra; they were only at the Genin level.
It made sense. The major villages monopolized shinobi resources; Orochimaru had to raise his own forces from childhood. In the nine years between his defection and the Konoha Crush, he would only successfully produce the Sound Five. Aside from Kimimaro, who had Jōnin-level strength, the others were barely Chūnin, reaching Special Jōnin level only when their Cursed Seals were active.
"Kid, this isn't a place you should be," a ninja with bandages over his right eye warned from a roof. He seemed to be the leader.
"Orochimaru is sending small fry like you to die?" Menma frowned, wondering what the Sannin was playing at.
"You bastard! You really are here to hunt Lord Orochimaru!" the leader shouted as if a switch had been flipped. "Kill him!"
Two ninja hurled kunai and lunged at Menma from both sides.
The leader ripped the bandages from his right eye, revealing a crimson, two-tomoe Sharingan. He glared down at the mysterious man with a piercing, murderous gaze.
"I see." Menma looked at the eye and understood Orochimaru's intent.
The Sannin was sending him a gift.