"?!"
Hearing this, a uniquely sharp glint flashed through Orochimaru's snake eyes.
This was truly an answer Orochimaru hadn't anticipated.
To be honest, it was a bit outrageous, yet it seemed to stand to reason.
If it came from the Nine-Tails, then indeed, everything could be explained. After all, that was a true monster-level existence that had lived for who knows how many years. Still, Orochimaru felt something was slightly off deep down.
However, these were minor issues, including the other matters Menma had deliberately mentioned.
Orochimaru didn't care at all. Just like with Danzō—that old man thought he was using Orochimaru, but didn't Orochimaru view it the exact same way?
The Menma before him could be handled in the same way he handled Danzō.
Not to mention, compared to what Menma could bring him, the price he had to pay was practically negligible.
A few suspicious points were not worth worrying about.
Such a deal.
Orochimaru was absolutely happy to see it happen. Besides, once Menma was on his turf, how the rest played out would be entirely up to him.
"The relationship between the Sharingan and the Rinnegan? Interesting. You are truly very interesting, Menma-kun. Very well. I agree to all the conditions you proposed. When you come to me, everything will be handled according to the highest standards. As long as the answers you bring me in the end satisfy me, I will satisfy whatever you want—provided I can provide it, Menma-kun."
Orochimaru licked his lips. His snake eyes, full of eerie colors, stared straight at Menma as he laughed in a low voice.
In Orochimaru's view, this was ultimately a profitable deal with no risk of loss.
He didn't need to pay anything substantial, at least for now.
Hearing Orochimaru's words.
Menma felt instant joy in his heart. Although he had been eighty or ninety percent confident he could persuade Orochimaru, when Orochimaru actually agreed to his terms, the joy was irrepressible.
As mentioned before, Orochimaru wasn't Menma's only choice.
But he was currently the best choice.
Regardless of what plan he implemented next, Orochimaru was his best springboard.
"By the way, I have one more small request. I hope Orochimaru-san can agree to it."
"Oh? What is it? Feel free to speak, Menma-kun."
"That is, before I leave Konoha and go to your place, please take care of this companion of mine. Like me, she possesses the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan. She will also be of some help to you in the future, Orochimaru-san."
Menma smiled and said to Orochimaru.
At the same time.
Not far away, a shadow clone of Menma flashed over from the other side, protecting Karin, who wore a look of anxiety.
While Menma was talking to Orochimaru.
Menma had already told Karin some things through his shadow clone.
Including matters regarding the Uzumaki clan.
To be honest, just as Karin had told Menma earlier, she had no room to choose. When Menma placed this choice in front of her, it was essentially a single-option choice with no alternatives.
However, seeing Orochimaru's extremely gloomy and eerie appearance, Karin wore an expression like she was about to cry.
No matter how she looked at it, this guy didn't seem like a good person.
"Karin, Konoha doesn't suit you, and I will eventually leave Konoha too. Trust me. In at most a month, I will definitely come to find you."
This was Menma's promise to Karin.
Karin was willing to believe this promise, both because she couldn't choose otherwise and because she was willing to gamble on Menma.
Karin trusted her eyes, and she trusted her feelings.
"Mhm! Menma, I believe you will definitely come to get me."
Karin looked up at Menma, nodding with a very serious and hopeful expression.
That answer, clearly carrying a slight tremor...
Was proof enough that the young girl's heart was not calm.
"Yes, I definitely will. This is our agreement."
With a look of infinite gentleness, Menma softly rubbed Karin's smooth hair and spoke warmly.
"Orochimaru-san, there's no problem, right?"
Menma turned to Orochimaru for the second half of the sentence.
"Heh, of course, no problem, Menma-kun. I told you, as long as you can satisfy me, I will satisfy all your requests."
When Orochimaru first saw Karin, he was stunned for a moment, then nodded indifferently, laughing gloomily.
The Uzumaki bloodline.
Years ago, Orochimaru had wanted to research it—specifically, what exactly that clan's immense vitality was about—but he never had a suitable opportunity. Now, having two orthodox Uzumaki clan members, one of whom was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki... no matter how he looked at it, they were the best research materials. Orochimaru had no reason to refuse.
"Go, Karin."
Menma patted Karin's shoulder gently.
Karin took one last deep look at Menma. The step she took seemed to require summoning all her courage.
This was Karin's first "gamble" in twelve years.
And it should be the last gamble of her life.
Even if an abyss lay ahead, Karin took this step without turning back, leaping directly to Orochimaru's side.
Just as the two were about to leave...
"Menma-kun, this is just out of my personal curiosity. Can you tell me why you want to leave this village? Although your treatment in this village isn't very good, it doesn't seem to constitute a reason for you to leave, does it? Oh, of course, if it's inconvenient, then forget it."
As if thinking of something, Orochimaru stopped, turned his head to look at Menma, and asked. A different, special luster reflected in his snake eyes.
"The reason?"
Menma paused for a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, he looked at Orochimaru with a calm expression and said, "Do the identities of my father and mother count as a reason? Orochimaru-san. Of course, that is merely a secondary reason. More importantly, I don't fit in with this village. If I must say, perhaps I am the same as you, Orochimaru-san. This village does not hold the future I want. The people here, everything here... makes me feel an atmosphere called suppression. The things I pursue are not in this village. Or rather, this village prevents me from achieving the future I want. Therefore, I want to leave here!"
This statement held absolutely no falsehood.
Since Menma had come to this world, he naturally didn't just want to survive. He had his own ambitions and his own dreams.
Of course, these ambitions and dreams were still very personal for now. He wanted to live freely and happily.
And then take revenge on those who made his life unpleasant.
"An eye for an eye" was the life philosophy Menma believed in.