This wasn't a one-time transaction.
Nor was it a one-off deal.
Menma had stated from the very beginning that he was approaching Orochimaru as a collaborator. Menma needed Orochimaru, and from the looks of it, Orochimaru desperately needed Menma as well. Setting aside the explosive intelligence Menma could produce at any moment, Menma himself was a tremendous asset.
Of course, the relationship between the two was less about cooperation and more about mutual exploitation. It was similar to the relationship between Orochimaru and Danzo, except Orochimaru felt Menma was more "suitable" for him than Danzo—"suitable" in every aspect.
However, what Orochimaru didn't realize was that Menma viewed him merely as fertilizer to nourish his own soil.
Before Menma fully matured and established a certain level of power, he needed someone to provide him with all manner of assistance—including but not limited to manpower, materials, financial resources, and intelligence.
This was also why Menma had very few options after deciding to defect from Konoha.
There were certainly other people and places with resources, but those places and people came with various problems that Menma was wary of.
Only Orochimaru, a man who was absolutely devoid of hypocrisy in certain aspects, was the most suitable match for him.
'Let you be the most important stepping stone in my plan, Orochimaru-san. Either I get swallowed whole by you, or you become my pawn entirely!'
Menma looked at Orochimaru, who was close at hand. Beneath his seemingly peaceful exterior, his heart was filled with cold intent.
"Now then, regarding the items recorded in that scroll just now, please have Kabuto-san provide them as a priority. Oh, and I also need a relatively large open space and a room. Please have Kabuto-san prepare those as well."
Menma looked at Kabuto indifferently as he spoke.
"Yes, I understand. Please rest assured, Menma-kun. They will be ready within three days. As for the open space, I will immediately arrange to clear out the training ground on the far right side of the base. There happens to be a laboratory there as well, which Menma-kun can use freely. How does that sound?"
Kabuto pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and spoke with a smile.
"Mhm, of course. I am very at ease when Kabuto-san handles things. Well then, I will take my leave for today. Please rest well and recover from your injuries, Orochimaru-san. If you need anything, you can summon me at any time."
After saying these final "polite" words...
Menma turned and left directly.
Karin hurriedly followed in his footsteps, and the two strode out of the dimly lit room.
Once Menma and Karin had completely disappeared into the distance...
Orochimaru's expression instantly darkened.
"Kabuto, based on the contents above, conduct the initial investigation first. Also, arrange for our people to make contact with Danzo again. We must clarify certain necessary intelligence in the shortest time possible. Do you understand!?"
Orochimaru looked at Kabuto with a gloomy expression, his voice chilling.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru. But regarding the message Danzo sent earlier... should we not respond?"
Kabuto nodded first, then, as if recalling something, hesitated before asking.
Danzo was a man of his word.
Immediately after the "Konoha Crush" ended and he learned that Menma had defected with Orochimaru, he ordered Root agents to contact Orochimaru ASAP and deliver his command.
It was an attitude of complete condescension.
Forget Orochimaru; even subordinates like Kabuto didn't buy it at all.
Ignoring him was the completely normal response.
But now, the situation seemed slightly different.
Naturally, Kabuto needed to ask for his boss's opinion.
Especially since this involved Menma. The current Kabuto was not yet the quasi-final boss character he would become later in the series.
"Heh, ignore the issue on that front. Just contact him through the normal channels. That old man won't truly flip the table; he still needs me."
Orochimaru sneered, speaking with a hint of disdain.
"Actually, wait. Go ahead and give him that thing we agreed upon earlier. Tell him the experiment has reached the final stage and can be completed soon."
Then, as if a thought occurred to him...
Orochimaru frowned slightly and added.
"Yes."
Kabuto nodded and prepared to leave.
"Also, regarding Tsunade... continue to send more personnel to search for her. Tell me immediately once there is news."
Even with Menma's advance disclosure allowing Orochimaru to pinpoint the true method of releasing the Reaper Death Seal, that was ultimately just Menma's word. There was zero trust between them. Any rational person would need to make more necessary preparations in advance.
His former teammate, Tsunade, was currently the strongest medical ninja in the world. Orochimaru couldn't pass up the chance to try that avenue. Besides, he had a bargaining chip he was confident would move her.
"I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
Kabuto naturally understood his master's intentions and nodded heavily.
'Menma Uzumaki... interesting. Truly interesting. Let me see what your true intentions are, and how far you can go.'
A gloomy light flickered in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes as he whispered to himself.
---
It had to be said that since defecting from Konoha, Orochimaru had indeed poured a massive amount of effort into building his own forces. This was easily reflected in the preparation of supplies.
A solo rogue ninja—or someone like Zabuza, who only had Haku as a subordinate—would have to do everything themselves to acquire resources. But Orochimaru was different. With a wave of his hand, while he couldn't get everything, basic materials and supplies were never in short supply.
The necessary items listed in Menma's scroll...
Were prepared in just over a day.
Seeing these supplies solidified the thoughts in Menma's mind even further.
'Sure enough, I need to execute that plan. And I have to pick up the pace. For the target... I'll choose that one!!'
Menma looked at the array of special materials and essential ingredients piled in the room, a thoughtful glint appearing in his eyes.
Personal strength was one thing.
Having a necessary force under his command was another.
At the very least, gathering intelligence and supplies would become much easier.
Of course, he couldn't build from scratch like Orochimaru did. Because the time left for him...
Was only three years!