The relocation began immediately upon Orochimaru's command.
Under his orders, the shinobi stationed within the base executed the evacuation protocol with practiced efficiency. Preparations were completed in a remarkably short time. Aside from a select group assigned to remain within the Land of Grass to establish auxiliary hideouts and lay false trails, the majority of Orochimaru's forces withdrew in coordinated waves, heading toward the southern reaches of the continent.
Menma departed first.
Accompanying Orochimaru, he left the Land of Grass the very next day after the order was issued, traveling swiftly southward without pause. Their route took them across multiple minor nations until they reached the southernmost expanse of the Land of Rivers. From there, they boarded a vessel and continued their journey across the open sea.
Their destination lay beyond the mainland.
Prior to departure, Yakushi Kabuto had informed Menma that, following the failure of the Konoha Crush, Orochimaru had already begun preparing fallback positions. Among these was a strategically significant base established within the Land of Tea, a region situated along the southern seas.
Strictly speaking, the Land of Tea could not be classified as a true island nation. Its northeastern extremities maintained tenuous land connections to smaller territories bordering the southeastern edge of the Land of Fire. However, due to its geographical isolation being surrounded by the sea on three sides and accessible primarily through a narrow land corridor it functioned effectively as a secluded enclave.
Moreover, the nation itself lacked substantial economic or military power, rendering it largely irrelevant in the geopolitical struggles of the Five Great Nations. This obscurity made it an ideal refuge.
Through covert manipulation political coercion, infiltration, and subtle genjutsu Orochimaru had long since secured influence over key nobles and administrative figures within the Land of Tea. In the southwestern quadrant of the country, he had constructed a concealed base of operations. Now, with the increasing pressure from both Kumogakure and Konohagakure, he had chosen to relocate Menma, Uchiha Sasuke, and the rest of his core assets to this remote stronghold to avoid unnecessary exposure.
"A well-chosen location… as expected of Orochimaru-sama. Every move is calculated down to the finest detail."
Menma's voice carried a note of quiet admiration as he stepped off the ship onto the coastal outpost that served as the outer perimeter of Orochimaru's base.
Naturally, this facility was merely a forward station.
Given Orochimaru's meticulous nature, the true base lay deeper inland, fortified and layered with multiple defensive contingencies. While many of his hideouts were designed for rapid abandonment, certain critical installations were constructed for long-term use secure, sustainable, and deeply concealed.
This base was clearly one of them.
"Heh… necessity shapes ingenuity," Orochimaru replied, his hoarse voice accompanied by the habitual flick of his tongue across his lips. "What do you think, Menma-kun?"
"That may be true," Menma answered with a faint smile, meeting Orochimaru's gaze directly, "but I doubt this is merely reactive. You've always planned several moves ahead."
Orochimaru's golden pupils narrowed slightly, though his expression remained unreadable.
"The world is ever-changing. Certainty is a luxury few can afford."
"A fair point," Menma conceded lightly.
With that, the group proceeded toward the inner base.
Despite being recently constructed, the facility was expansive. Its underground infrastructure followed Orochimaru's standard design laboratories, containment chambers, and living quarters intricately woven together but what set this base apart was the extensive above-ground complex. Wide training grounds, storage facilities, and auxiliary structures suggested long-term occupation.
Orochimaru clearly intended to anchor himself here for the foreseeable future.
More than a hundred subordinates had relocated alongside him.
Among them was Tayuya, the sole surviving member of the Sound Four, her demeanor as fierce and defiant as ever. There was also Guren, a wielder of the rare Crystal Release (Shōton), whose loyalty to Orochimaru bordered on obsession so much so that she harbored resentment over her inability to become his next vessel.
A white-haired youth stood not far from them, his sharp features and restless energy unmistakable.
Hōzuki Suigetsu.
A prodigy of the Hōzuki clan, his Hydrification Technique (Suika no Jutsu) granted him a unique physiology that blurred the line between solid and liquid. Though still young, his potential was undeniable easily within the range of elite jōnin, if not beyond.
Orochimaru's ranks were, without question, formidable.
Even excluding those absent or deceased, his organization brimmed with individuals possessing elite jōnin to quasi-Kage-level capability or at the very least, the potential to reach such heights. Figures such as Kimimaro, whose Shikotsumyaku had made him nearly invincible in his prime, and Jūgo, whose innate connection to natural energy bordered on Sage Transformation, were prime examples.
And then there was Yakushi Kabuto.
In raw utility and intellect, Kabuto alone rivaled entire intelligence divisions.
Given sufficient time, Orochimaru could very well have established a power structure comparable to a hidden village an unofficial sixth great force within the shinobi world.
However, such ambitions were merely a means to an end.
Power… and immortality.
Those were Orochimaru's true objectives.
Everything else his experiments, his followers, his bases existed solely to serve those pursuits.
Menma understood this better than anyone.
Even in the original timeline, Orochimaru had never truly abandoned these desires; he had simply altered his approach after repeated failures. His methods evolved, but his core remained unchanged.
And that was precisely why Menma found him to be an ideal collaborator.
An ally driven by ambition, yet governed by logic.
As long as their interests aligned, Orochimaru was invaluable.
But the moment those interests diverged…
Conflict would be inevitable.
Menma was acutely aware of that fact and hoped to delay such a confrontation for as long as possible.
Of course, there remained one unavoidable variable.
Uchiha Sasuke.
The issue of Orochimaru's intended vessel could not be ignored indefinitely. Fortunately, there were still over two years before that critical juncture would arrive. For now, Menma had ample time to maneuver.
At this stage, his priorities lay elsewhere.
Specifically building his own power base.
After a prolonged period of covert infiltration and groundwork, he had already established a foothold within Takigakure. What he lacked now was the decisive opportunity to transition from the shadows into open influence.
And that opportunity was finally approaching.
Near the end of Konoha's 60th year, just before the turn of the new year
It arrived.
"Oh? So that Takigakure jōnin has finally made his move… interesting."
Standing outside his private laboratory, Menma reviewed the intelligence report personally delivered by Yakushi Kabuto. A faint smile curved along his lips, his eyes gleaming with calculated anticipation.
"In that case… it seems my earlier investment was not misplaced."
Initially, Menma had intended to keep his activities within Takigakure hidden even from Orochimaru.
Revealing such information prematurely would have placed him at a disadvantage. Orochimaru was the type to exploit any opening, and voluntarily exposing one's hand before securing a stable position was a strategic error.
While it was inevitable that Orochimaru would deduce fragments of the truth or even conduct independent investigations there was a significant difference between passive discovery and active disclosure.
Menma had preferred the former.
However, reality quickly forced him to reassess.
Operating without subordinates of his own proved to be a critical limitation.
Even the most basic intelligence-gathering required manpower.
And without it… even the most carefully constructed plans risked collapsing before they could truly begin.