At this time, Konoha Village was holding an emergency meeting. Five people were present: the Third Hokage, Mito, Koharu, Danzo, and Jiraiya.
The Third Hokage hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to call Danzo to discuss countermeasures. After all, the enemy they were dealing with this time was different—so different, in fact, that they didn't even know who it was.
As for the body of White Zetsu, it had already been taken for autopsy, but the results wouldn't be available for a while.
"Jiraiya, tell us everything," the Third Hokage said.
Jiraiya nodded solemnly and explained the situation in detail.
After listening, Mito, Koharu, and Danzo all looked surprised. They were well aware of Jiraiya's strength, so the fact that someone could evade his perception was terrifying.
After a moment of silence, Mito said, "Jiraiya, just now you mentioned Menma. Please invite him over for questioning."
At that moment, Danzo suddenly interjected, "I think he should be interrogated. This kid clearly knows too much. The son of the Fourth Hokage—interesting. Looks like it's time for the Root to investigate."
Although the Root organization had been officially disbanded by the Third Hokage, Danzo still operated it secretly, albeit not as overtly as before.
The Third Hokage was well aware of this but chose to turn a blind eye. He still valued his bond with Danzo. In their youth, Sarutobi and Danzo's relationship was somewhat similar to that of Menma and Sasuke in the early days—rivals who didn't always see eye to eye but had a deep connection. Both were students of the Second Hokage and part of his elite guard.
The Second Hokage's elite guard included: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, Mito, Koharu, Torifu, and Kagami.
Kagami had died young, Torifu retired, while the remaining four became Konoha's pillars. Sarutobi eventually became the Third Hokage. Technically, the Second Hokage hadn't appointed his successor outright, but a certain battle became the deciding factor.
During a critical mission, the team was in danger, and someone needed to act as a decoy to ensure the others could escape. Danzo hesitated, but Sarutobi volunteered without hesitation. That moment heavily influenced the Second Hokage's decision to name Sarutobi as his successor. Since then, Danzo had always felt a bit resentful.
Even after Sarutobi became the Third Hokage, he still trusted Danzo and gave him considerable authority—this was when the Root was established. Although Danzo remained unconvinced, he was undeniably loyal. From start to finish, his loyalty to Konoha never wavered, though his methods were questionable. The Third Hokage didn't interfere because he understood the need for shadowy figures to preserve the village's light. Their cooperation allowed Konoha to flourish once again.
However, that trust began to crack after Danzo's rumors drove Sakumo to his death. The Sannin were especially disappointed by the Third Hokage's inaction—he could have stopped it, but didn't. Was political power really so important?
This is why Jiraiya and Tsunade chose to stay away from the village, and why Orochimaru locked himself away in his lab—until his eventual defection.
In the end, the Third Hokage couldn't believe he had once considered Danzo as a candidate for Hokage—he even thought of killing him.
"No!" Jiraiya glared at Danzo and roared. "Danzo, if I find out you've laid a hand on Menma, don't blame me for being ruthless! I won't let what happened to Sakumo happen again. It's tragic—Sakumo gave everything to this village and was betrayed by his own people. Menma is the son of my disciple. I won't let anything happen to him!"
"Jiraiya, is that how you speak to your elder?" Mito scolded.
But Jiraiya ignored him and repeated, "Danzo, I'm not joking."
"Jiraiya!" Mito stood up angrily and slammed the table.
"Enough!" the Third Hokage stepped in to smooth things over. "Menma is the perfect Jinchuriki. This discussion ends here!"
Sarutobi's words were firm. Danzo clenched his fists, frustrated. If I were Hokage...
The Third Hokage's stance was clear: Menma is not to be touched. He is the orphan of the Fourth Hokage, a perfect vessel for the Nine Tails—both emotionally and logically, he must be protected.
"Let's focus on how to handle this crisis." The five resumed their discussion.
The Next Morning
At dawn, Menma opened his eyes. Another wave of memories surged into his mind. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"It seems I didn't put all that effort in vain."
Usually, Menma left a shadow clone to train and keep watch while he slept. Upon waking, the experiences from the clone flowed back into him, further strengthening him. Through this method, Menma also learned that Jiraiya hadn't returned yet.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Footsteps echoed through the house.
Moments later, the door to Menma's room burst open. A cheerful blond boy smiled and said, "Brother, get up! Time for school!"
"Alright, Naruto!" Menma responded. Naruto then asked, "Is breakfast ready?" Ever since he learned to cook two years ago—thanks to Menma's training—he'd taken on more chores, with cooking becoming one of his regular tasks.
But Naruto looked a little sheepish.
Seeing that expression, Menma already guessed what happened. "You burned it again, didn't you?"
"Just a little," Naruto admitted, holding up two fingers.
Menma sighed and facepalmed. "Looks like I'll have to handle it myself."
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Clone No. 1 appeared.
"You make breakfast. Naruto, tell him what you want to eat," Menma ordered the clone.
"Got it!" Naruto nodded eagerly and led his clone-brother into the kitchen.
Clone No. 1: "…"
After Naruto left, Menma began getting dressed. He opened his wardrobe and picked out a stylish outfit. Then, he went to the shoe rack, selected a pair of shoes, and headed to wash up.
A few minutes later, he walked into the living room and saw his clone working diligently in the kitchen while Naruto watched with anticipation.
Menma smiled softly. This Shadow Clone Technique is really incredibly useful.
(End Of Chapter)
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