Chapter 241: Inviting The First Hokage—how About The Second Hokage?
The Star Capital at midnight had shed the daytime clamor, with only the underground of the Military Research and Development Zone still brightly lit, permeated by a cold and focused atmosphere.
The air was mixed with disinfectant, some strange medicinal liquid, and a faint bloody scent. Behind the thick metal doors on both sides of the passage, occasional indescribable faint sounds could be heard.
Menma walked silently through the gleaming corridor, the hem of his dark miko robe gently swaying.
He finally stopped in front of a thick alloy door marked “Biological Gene Research.” The scanning device beside the door swept over his iris, and with a slight pneumatic sound, the door slid open to both sides.
The scene inside the door suddenly opened up.
This was an extremely spacious laboratory, filled with various precision instruments and culture tanks, the most eye-catching of which was a huge observation room in the center, enclosed by reinforced glass.
At this moment, a violent slaughter was unfolding inside the observation room.
A boy with orange short hair had blood-red eyes, his skin an unnatural gray-black, with some parts of his body even showing hideous keratinization. Violent chakra mixed with chaotic nature energy surged out from his body.
He roared, using terrifying power and speed completely disproportionate to his size, tearing apart several other figures in prisoner uniforms inside the observation room. Blood and limbs splattered across the glass walls, a gruesome sight.
The researchers in the laboratory seemed accustomed to this, merely calmly recording data.
Orochimaru, using a female body, stood outside the observation room, his pale skin and golden slit pupils flickering with excited and greedy light, his long black hair simply tied back.
He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, as if appreciating a exquisite work of art.
“Such… beautiful destructive power…” His hoarse voice, carrying a unique magnetism, echoed in the laboratory.
However, the orange-haired boy’s rampage seemed unstoppable, and he began frantically slamming into the reinforced glass, producing tooth-grinding dull thuds.
Fine cracks began to appear on the glass.
“About enough.” Orochimaru slightly frowned and waved his hand.
The researcher nearby immediately pressed a button on the console.
Spray nozzles on the ceiling of the observation room immediately released a large amount of white sedative gas. After the boy inhaled the gas, his violent aura quickly subsided, the redness in his eyes faded, his body mutations slowly receded, and he finally collapsed to the ground, falling into a coma.
Only then did Orochimaru seem to notice Menma’s arrival. He turned around, his golden snake pupils looking at Menma, a smug smile on his face: “Lord Shura, a midnight visit, what a rare guest. It seems you’re also interested in my new ‘collection’?”
He tilted his head toward the comatose boy in the observation room: “Good material obtained from the Land of Water, a very unique bloodline limit… or rather, some kind of talent? He can autonomously absorb nature energy and enter a sage mode that’s similar… but more manic and unstable.”
“Interesting, isn’t it? I’m researching how to stabilize this power and turn it into a ‘curse mark’ that’s easier for ordinary people to bear.”
Menma’s gaze swept over the messy scene in the observation room, shook his head, and his voice transmitted through the white three-eyed fox mask, flat and emotionless: “The power is indeed unique, but too chaotic and violent, hard to control. A curse mark based on this research might boost power in the short term, but it has a ceiling, and will inevitably come with huge backlash and risks.”
The smile on Orochimaru’s face stiffened slightly.
He knew full well how sharp the “Lord Shura’s” insight was. Since the other party directly denied the potential of this research path, it almost meant that the massive effort he had invested might ultimately only yield a flawed inferior product.
This stirred a strong sense of reluctance and the urge to reassess in his heart.
Since something Shura didn’t favor indicated Jugo’s sage mode ceiling might truly not be high.
But he quickly masked it, chuckling lightly: “Heh… your insights are always so piercing. So, your visit today isn’t just to critique my new toy, is it?”
He turned and led Menma deeper into the laboratory: “This way, please.”
The two passed through several corridors and arrived at another more private laboratory. It was equipped with more instruments for cell research and genetics, the air filled with the scent of formalin and special culture medium.
“Lord Shura’s sudden visit, is there something urgent? Or is Minato and Kushina not keeping you ‘busy’ enough?” Orochimaru’s words carried double meaning, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
After seeing Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki reanimated by the reanimation jutsu, it only further convinced him that “Lord Shura” had a deep relationship with the Fourth Hokage couple, possibly even some existence from the future.
Menma ignored his teasing and stated his purpose directly: “I need cell samples from the First Hokage Hashirama Senju and the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. The most active and best-preserved ones.”
A flash of genuine surprise passed through Orochimaru’s golden snake pupils: “Oh? Cells from the First and Second Lords?”
He pondered for a moment: “If you’re thinking of using them for reanimation jutsu, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I’ve already completed their reanimation jutsu.”
This time it was Menma who was slightly taken aback; he hadn’t expected Orochimaru to act so quickly.
But on second thought, given Orochimaru’s obsession and research prowess with forbidden jutsu, improving and mastering the reanimation jutsu, then immediately reanimating these two legendary Hokage to extract knowledge and forbidden jutsu, was the most logical move.
Especially the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, who was the developer of the reanimation jutsu himself. Controlling him would undoubtedly yield vast precious data on this jutsu and other forbidden techniques.
Under the mask, the corners of Menma’s mouth curved slightly.
This… might be even better.
He chuckled lightly and said: “I see, that’s fine too.”
“Orochimaru, before long, the Konoha High Council will launch a purge against the Uchiha Clan, just like Kirigakure handled the Yukigakure Clan and Kaguya Clan back then. A ‘Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall’ targeting the Uchiha.”
Orochimaru’s pupils contracted sharply, his face showing disbelief for the first time: “Clan extermination… Uchiha? Teacher Sarutobi… he would actually make such a decision?”
“To the point of such desperate measures for so-called village stability? How… increasingly ugly.” He held no fondness for the Konoha High Council, but completely wiping out the Uchiha Clan still exceeded his expectations.
The Uchiha Clan was one of Konoha’s founders, with deep foundations and great strength. Annihilating such a major clan would cause unimaginable turmoil.
The image of his teacher, always stubbornly proclaiming the “Will of Fire,” flashed through his mind, stirring complex emotions in his heart.
“At that time, I will set up a ‘theater.'” Menma continued in that calm yet undeniably forceful tone: “Invite some special audience members to witness firsthand how Konoha slaughters its own founding clan… to the last.”
“I see…” Orochimaru, being as clever as he was, immediately understood Menma’s intent. That interested and malicious smile returned to his face, his voice regaining its slippery tone.
“Letting the First Lord and Second Lord witness how the village they built treats the Uchiha Clan… heh heh heh, hahahaha!” His shock was swiftly replaced by a voyeuristic, near-maddened excitement.
“Brilliant! Brilliant! This play will be spectacular!” Orochimaru couldn’t help but laugh lowly, his laughter growing louder, echoing in the quiet laboratory, filled with pleasure and anticipation.
Having the First and Second Hokage, Konoha’s founders, witness their village slaughtering the descendants of another founder?
Was there a more ironic, more anticipated scene?
Orochimaru stopped laughing, his golden slit pupils gleaming with dangerous excitement: “Rest assured, for this show, I will bring the First Lord and Second Lord right on time. Their expressions… will surely be marvelous.”
He paused, then added: “However, with Danzō that old guy’s personality, he absolutely won’t let the Uchiha Sharingan go. Those eyes are his long-dreamed treasure.”
Menma responded flatly: “Naturally. He will get nothing.”
“Perfect then.” Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction.
With the matters discussed, Menma prepared to leave.
But Orochimaru called out to him: “Wait a moment, one small thing.”
“Speak.” Menma slightly turned his head toward Orochimaru.
“With Bishamon’s joining, the consumption of White Zetsu materials in some of our joint experiment projects has greatly accelerated. Bishamon recently took three portions of White Zetsu material from me; he seems somewhat afraid of you and doesn’t dare ask you directly for resources.”
Orochimaru’s tone carried a hint of schadenfreude: “And my stock here is about to run out.”
Menma remembered; he had previously promised Orochimaru one White Zetsu per year, telling him to watch the consumption and not squander too much.
Now with Bishamon, equally enthusiastic about forbidden jutsu and human body research, the doubled consumption rate was reasonable.
Of the four White Zetsu he originally had, only half remained.
‘White Zetsu… looks like the plan needs to be advanced.’ Menma pondered inwardly.
‘After the Uchiha matter ends, it’s time to visit Rain Village. On one hand, to seek clues on Jigen and Amado; on the other… that’s Akatsuki’s lair, and White Zetsu production should be plentiful there.’
Obito and Black Zetsu had been manipulating from behind the scenes for so long; it was time to give them some “trouble” and collect some “interest.”
“I understand.” Menma nodded: “New White Zetsu materials will be delivered in a while.”
Leaving Orochimaru’s underground laboratory filled with cold technological sense and eerie life aura, Menma returned home in the Star Capital Administrative District.
In stark contrast to the underground research zone’s atmosphere, here was filled with warm living vibes.
The living room lights were soft and warm, with a popular TV drama playing on the television.
Kushina Uzumaki sat cross-legged on the soft sofa, tightly hugging a palm-sized, entirely dark red Little Nine-Tails in her arms that wore a utterly despondent, struggling expression.
Kushina watched with great interest. Beside her, Uchiha Hikari sat primly, her expression slightly awkward with a barely perceptible stiffness.
Kushina had stuffed a soft doll rabbit into her arms too, forming a curious contrast with her cool demeanor.
She seemed unaccustomed to this purely relaxed family atmosphere, but deep in those always somewhat melancholic black eyes, a faint greedy warmth flowed.
Minato sat on a single sofa nearby, a small table in front of him piled with many files.
He was quickly reviewing them with a pen, his brows occasionally furrowing slightly, clearly deep in thought.
Though “pulled up to work” by his son via reanimation jutsu, being reunited with family again and contributing to this emerging country filled him with no resentment, but rather a sense of fulfillment.
He just occasionally sighed helplessly: “Really… even dead, no peace, dragged up by my son to work… more files than when I was Hokage…”
When Menma pushed open the door and walked in, this was the scene he saw.
“I’m back.”
Hearing his voice, the Little Nine-Tails, as if seeing its savior, “aooed” and broke free from Kushina’s arms, scrambling onto Menma’s shoulder in a few bounds, nuzzling his cheek affectionately with its little head, and using pitiful eyes to accuse Kushina’s “atrocities.”
“Menma’s back!” Kushina waved happily: “Come see quick, this TV drama is so fun!”
Uchiha Hikari, seeing Menma, relaxed her body imperceptibly, quietly shifting the doll rabbit in her arms aside, a faint blush flashing across her face.
Minato also looked up from the files, giving his son a gentle smile: “Back? Matters handled?”
“Yeah.” Menma nodded, walking to the sofa and sitting down. The Little Nine-Tails promptly sprawled on his head, yawning.
He looked at his parents and Hikari, his tone slightly more serious: “The plan needs to be advanced. The ‘Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall’ on Konoha’s side could start anytime. Once the exact time is confirmed, I’ll take you there immediately.”
The smile vanished from Kushina’s face, replaced by deep anger and heartache: “Danzō! The Third… how dare they!”
Her hands on her knees clenched into fists.
Minato set down his pen too, his gray eyes filled with gravity and a trace of sorrow.
He knew the Uchiha Clan’s issues were deep-rooted, but reaching total extermination still weighed heavily on him.
Menma turned to Uchiha Hikari, issuing orders: “Hikari, starting immediately, secretly assemble three elite troops. Minimum requirement: special jonin level, must be trustworthy, strong, and skilled in infiltration, guarding, and rapid strikes.”
“Once Konoha acts, my shadow clones will use the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport you to Konoha.”
Uchiha Hikari immediately straightened, oblivious even as the doll rabbit fell to the ground, her expression restoring the cool focus of the Star Ninja Army Commander-in-Chief: “Specific missions?”
“First team, primary task: extract and escort surviving Uchiha clansmen to safety. The Uchiha Compound is complex; needs precise intelligence and swift action.”
“Second team, similarly infiltrate and extract, target: Hyuga Branch Family. Konoha’s internal chaos then will be the best chance to get them out.”
“Third team, heaviest task. Create chaos on the periphery, disrupt and pin down Konoha Anbu and Root elites. If necessary… prepare to clash with other Konoha ninja clans, buying time for the first two teams’ withdrawal.”
Menma’s voice was calm and clear: “This will be a high-risk deep enemy territory operation. I want you to personally select members and conduct targeted drills. Ensure foolproof.”
“Understood!” Uchiha Hikari nodded firmly, calm flames burning in her black eyes: “I’ll submit personnel selection and tactical plans ASAP, mission guaranteed.”
She knew full well the importance and danger of this task—not just a test of the Land of Stars’ military might, but tied to Menma’s plan, to the Land of Stars’ future.
And she would absolutely not disappoint Menma.
Outside the window, the Star Capital’s night remained serene and peaceful.
The script was written, actors and audience in place one after another—a grand play about to commence!
