Thus, selecting a target was now a foregone conclusion.
Of course, similar to previous choices, there were only a handful of potential targets for Menma. After further considering additional factors, the viable options dwindled down to just one or two.
Moreover, whether or not to actually proceed...
Menma needed to consider it carefully.
A so-called plan was just a general direction set initially; it didn't mean everything would be executed one hundred percent according to that plan. Sometimes, plans couldn't keep up with changes. Not to mention that Menma currently wasn't at a stage where he could easily distract himself with other matters, whether it was the impending pursuit from Konoha or his own personal issues.
Menma needed to spend some time slowly sorting things out.
Three years was a tight deadline, but every step had to be taken steadily.
After obtaining the supplies and materials he wanted from Orochimaru, Menma threw himself into his grand experiment. He wanted to become stronger in a short time, reaching the Kage level or even Super Kage level. Besides relying on the most important and fundamental factor—his own hard work—he also needed some external means.
'Let's start with research in this area first. At the very least, I need to have a preliminary understanding and grasp of it.'
From the pile of supplies and materials, he extracted the parts he needed most.
Menma walked to the experiment table and began his first experiment and research. This was something Menma felt was absolutely necessary.
Because...
Even with the innate cheat code that was the Nine-Tails' chakra...
Before Menma's own body fully matured and adapted to the complete erosion caused by the Nine-Tails' chakra, it would be difficult for him to utilize one hundred percent of the Nine-Tails' power. Don't be fooled by how easily late-series Naruto seemed to use the Nine-Tails' chakra, even winning the tug-of-war to enter the so-called Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
That was only possible because Naruto's body had undergone tempering multiple times and reached its peak condition!
Otherwise, the corrosive nature of Tailed Beast chakra could easily harm the Jinchuriki themselves.
There were several scenes in the original story demonstrating this.
Menma was unwilling to grow bit by bit; he wanted to shorten this process as much as possible. Through research into cell activation and physical enhancement, he aimed to further develop the power of his Uzumaki bloodline.
By unleashing his clan's potential earlier...
He could wield the Nine-Tails' strongest power in the shortest amount of time.
There was also the Eight Trigrams Seal on his body, which significantly restricted the outburst of the Nine-Tails' chakra. Without the "key," Menma had to find a way to solve this sealing problem himself.
Of course, that was a consideration for later. Currently, his relationship with the Nine-Tails was nowhere near the level of intimacy seen in the later stages of the original story.
At most, the Nine-Tails was just curious about Menma and paying attention to him.
The current Nine-Tails wouldn't genuinely accept Menma, and Menma couldn't—and dared not—trust the Nine-Tails.
Therefore, while the Nine-Tails' chakra was one aspect, Menma had to become stronger in other areas as well. That was the most fundamental approach.
And various experiments were one of the best choices.
Of course, when it came to experiments, Menma was a novice with absolutely no experience. Fortunately, with some of Orochimaru's data and experimental records, Menma didn't have to start completely from scratch. However, problems still existed.
Menma could have completely relied on Orochimaru's data and results, or even handed all the experimental requirements over to Orochimaru. As an expert, Orochimaru could certainly produce results in the shortest time. But that wasn't what Menma wanted.
It wasn't just a question of whether it was safe or not.
It was because Menma would be completely dependent on Orochimaru and would never be able to improve himself in this area.
Menma was very ambitious.
He wanted to climb to a higher position.
For that, he needed to put in effort in many aspects.
Conducting experiments independently was a necessary choice. No matter how troublesome, difficult, or exhausting it was, Menma had to persist.
At this stage, he could only rely on himself.
Settling down to research, Menma used his own methods to understand the data and results obtained from Orochimaru bit by bit. These were basic research contents. Although there was no direct comparison, Menma had been a science student in his previous life. Even if he was a "semi-slacker," he had at least taken quite a few basic physics and chemistry lab courses during his student days.
He could be considered to have a little bit of experience.
Probably?
'Can cell activation really differ to such a high degree?'
'So this is how it needs to be mixed?'
'I can try to replicate this in a moment.'
'And then there is...'
His interest was clearly piqued.
Menma's first experiment seemed to go much smoother than he had anticipated.
Karin stayed by Menma's side throughout these few days. This was partly because she didn't want to leave him, and partly because Menma intended to train Karin as his lab assistant, much like Kabuto was to Orochimaru.
Whether she had the talent for it was another matter.
However, as a pure-blooded Uzumaki, Karin's sensory abilities—excluding the malice-sensing granted by the Nine-Tails' chakra—were actually a notch above Menma's. In some special experiments, Karin's sensory abilities could play varying roles.
Especially in experiments involving cells.
Karin would definitely provide relevant assistance.
Moreover, at this stage, Karin was the only person Menma could trust. In future experiments, if the scope expanded, Menma wouldn't be able to handle it alone, making an assistant a necessity.
Karin naturally had some resistance to such experiments, but she knew even better that this was what Menma needed. Therefore, she wouldn't refuse. As stated before, compared to dealing with things she disliked, the current Karin was far more afraid of being abandoned by Menma.
These feelings...
Were far more intense than her feelings for Sasuke in the original story.
With Karin's assistance, Menma's introduction to experimentation went much smoother. This continued until a few days later.
One morning...
Orochimaru suddenly arrived outside Menma's laboratory with Kabuto.
Having sensed their chakra arriving long before, Menma stepped outside ahead of time.
"It looks like you're planning to go out, Orochimaru-san?"
Looking at Orochimaru and Kabuto in front of him, Menma spoke with a calm expression.
"Mhm. As Menma-kun surmised, Kabuto and I need to leave for a trip to find someone. I wonder if Menma-kun is interested in coming along?"
Orochimaru spoke in his familiar raspy tone.