The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

Therefore, while Kurama's chakra is one aspect, Menma must also become stronger in other areas; this is the most basic approach.

And various kinds of experiments are one of the best choices.

Of course, Menma is a complete novice when it comes to experiments, with absolutely no experience. Fortunately, he has some information and experimental data from Orochimaru, so Menma doesn't have to start from scratch. However, he still has to face some problems.

Menma could certainly use Orochimaru's experimental data and results, and even delegate all the experimental requirements to Orochimaru. As an expert, Orochimaru could definitely produce results in the shortest amount of time, but that's not what Menma wanted.

This is not just a matter of whether it's insured or not.

Instead, Menma would be completely controlled by Orochimaru and would never be able to improve himself in this area.

Mianma has a lot of ambition.

He wanted to climb to a higher position.

Therefore, he needs to put in effort in many aspects.

Experimenting on your own is a necessary choice, no matter how troublesome, difficult, or tiring it may be, you must persevere.

At this stage, he can only rely on himself.

Menma, who had settled down to study, was also trying to understand the data and results obtained from Orochimaru little by little in her own way. These were the most basic research contents. Although there was no comparison, fortunately, Menma was a science student in her previous life. Even though she was a half-baked student, she had at least taken a lot of basic experimental courses in physics and chemistry during her student days.

I can be considered to have some experience, more or less.

I think so?

Can cell activation be this poor?

'So that's how it's prepared?'

'Wait a moment, I'll try copying it over.'

'And also...'

This is clearly an interest that has been aroused.

Mianma's first experiment seemed to go much more smoothly than he had expected.

Karin had been staying by Menma's side the whole time, partly because she didn't want to leave him, and partly because Menma intended to train Karin to be his experimental assistant, just like Kabuto was to Orochimaru.

Whether or not one has the talent in this area is another matter.

In any case, as the most orthodox bloodline of the Uzumaki clan, Karin's sensory abilities, excluding the malicious perception attached to the Nine-Tails' chakra, are clearly superior to Menma's. In some special experiments, Karin's sensory abilities can also play a role to varying degrees.

Especially experiments involving cells.

Karin will definitely provide the necessary assistance.

Moreover, at this stage, the only person Ma can trust is Karin. In future experiments, if the scale becomes larger and larger, Ma will not be able to handle it all by herself, and an assistant will be necessary.

Karin was somewhat resistant to the experiment, but she knew even better that it was something Menma needed, so she wouldn't refuse. As mentioned before, Karin was now more afraid of being abandoned by Menma than of being exposed to something she didn't like.

Such feelings.

It is far more intense than the feelings towards Erzhuzi in the original work.

With Karin's help, Menma's experimental introduction went much more smoothly, until a few days later.

One morning.

Orochimaru suddenly arrived outside the house where Menma was conducting experiments, accompanied by Kabuto Yakushi.

Menma, who had sensed the arrival of the two's chakra earlier, also stepped outside the door ahead of time.

"It seems Orochimaru-san is planning to go out for a while?"

Looking at Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi in front of him, Menma said calmly.

"Yes, just as Menma-kun said, Kabuto and I need to leave for a while to find someone. I wonder if Menma-kun would be interested in coming along?"

Orochimaru spoke in that familiar, hoarse tone.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 137 Next Step

"Going out to find someone? If I'm not mistaken, Orochimaru-san is probably planning to go find Tsunade-san, right?"

Menma looked at Orochimaru with a half-smile and said.

"It really is true that nothing can be hidden from Menma-kun. But Menma-kun, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that there are some things I need to confirm with Tsunade."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled and said.

"That's alright. I just need to see that Orochimaru-san approves of the terms of our deal. As for what Orochimaru-san does, that's entirely up to him, right?"

Orochimaru's words.

Mianma doesn't believe a single word, but that's the right thing to do.

If people like them could be trusted, that would be the biggest joke in the world.

"Hehe, that's for the best. So, would you like to meet Tsunade with Menma-kun? If we're lucky, my former teammate might be able to offer some great help to Menma-kun's research."

Orochimaru looked at Menma with a meaningful expression and said softly.

Menma's eyes narrowed slightly, but only for a second before he smiled indifferently and said, "No, I won't go. I need to go out for the next few days to take care of some things."

"Oh? Menma-kun is going out too? This might not be the right time?"

Orochimaru didn't really care whether Menma came with him or not, but when he heard that Menma needed to leave Otogakure temporarily, Orochimaru's expression changed slightly.

"What? Orochimaru-san, are you going to restrict my freedom again? This seems different from what we agreed on before."

Mianma's expression instantly turned cold, and a dangerous glint flashed in his narrowed eyes.

He and Orochimaru were merely collaborators.

In order to gain Orochimaru's help, Menma doesn't mind cooperating with Orochimaru in other aspects, and even being slightly constrained by him at this stage is not a big problem.

But this does not mean that Menma will be completely at Orochimaru's mercy.

This is not just a practical need.

It is a forbidden matter that is both painful to look at and deeply uneasy about.

The aura of restrained power, and the gradually spreading, chilling chakra fluctuations.

Upon witnessing Menma cleanly and decisively kill Genma Shiranui's Kabuto, and upon directly sensing Menma's aura, their bodies trembled slightly involuntarily, and their expressions became more solemn than ever before.

Orochimaru remained calm and replied with a smile, "Why would Menma-kun think that way? I'm quite pleased with our cooperation, at least for now. I just wanted to remind Menma-kun that the ninja world isn't so peaceful right now. It's not just Konoha; Kumogakure and Iwagakure have also taken action. As far as I know, their target is Menma-kun. I think you know the reason why, don't you?"

"Oh? Is that so? Then I did misunderstand Orochimaru-san. I've considered all these issues. Orochimaru-san doesn't need to worry about anything. I won't be going too far; I'm just going to take care of a small matter."

Menma nodded with a look of sudden realization and replied with a light laugh.

"Oh, that's for the best. Then please be extremely careful, Menma-kun. Also, this base is going to be abandoned soon, so it would be best if you could return as soon as possible."

Orochimaru stared intently at Menma with his long, narrow snake eyes as he spoke.

There was a clear hint of warning in his words.

"Yes, I understand. It'll only be a few days. Who knows, I might even get back before Orochimaru-san. Besides, there are other ways to contact each other, aren't there?"

Mianma replied nonchalantly.

"Hehe, it's best that Menma-kun knows what's going on. I wish Menma-kun all the best in advance."

Orochimaru gave Menma a deep look, then slowly nodded.

They didn't even ask what Mianma was doing.

Asking is pointless.

Through this conversation, Orochimaru further confirmed their respective positions and relationships.

My apprehension about mahjong is growing stronger.

My initial impression of the other side of the mahjong table has long since vanished.

Orochimaru completely treats Menma as an equal in mindset, and he would never underestimate Menma because of his age.

"I accept Orochimaru-san's kind words."

With a raised eyebrow, he said.

Immediately afterwards.

Orochimaru, along with Kabuto Yakushi, turned and left.

Watching Orochimaru's departing figure.

A faint, strange light also shone in Mianma's pupils.

"Menma, are we leaving here? Where are we going?"

Karin, who had remained silent the entire time, turned to Menma and asked softly after Orochimaru left.

"Yes, this was decided before we left Konoha. There is something I need to obtain as soon as possible. It will be a great asset to us right now. It's not far away. It's located in the western part of the Land of Rice Fields, at the border with the Land of Waterfalls. It's probably less than half a day's journey from here."

Mianma replied in a gentle voice.

"The Land of Waterfalls?"

Karin nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Mianma didn't explain much either.

"Let's go pack our luggage, we'll leave this afternoon."

The two turned around and went back into the house behind. After tidying up briefly, just as Orochimaru and Kabuto left, Menma, along with Karin, also left Otogakure and headed towards their predetermined destination.

The country of Taki.

As one of the few countries in the ninja world to have ninja villages.

The Land of Waterfall's status is second only to the Five Great Nations, for a simple reason: the Hidden Takigakure village possesses a Tailed Beast. This was personally assigned to the Hidden Takigakure village by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, decades ago when the Tailed Beasts were distributed. Clearly, this is because the Hidden Takigakure village's strength at that time was truly second only to the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Otherwise, why weren't the Hidden Grass Village, Hidden Hot Spring Village, and Hidden Rain Village the ones to receive the Tailed Beasts?

Kakuzu, the chief steward of the Akatsuki's finances, came from Takigakure. The forbidden technique he relied on to become stronger, Earth Grudge Fear, also originally belonged to Takigakure.

This was originally a village that had the potential to catch up with the Five Great Ninja Villages and even become one of the Six Great Nations. However, in the decades that followed, Takigakure continued to decline, partly due to the Fourth Shinobi World War and partly due to its own internal issues, including Kakuzu's defection.

Over the years, Takigakure has been in continuous decline, and now it can only be a little tougher on other small ninja villages.

If they were to face one of the five great nations, Takigakure would have to keep a low profile.