The necessary preparations before departure weren't many.
The most important point was actually to wait for more precise intelligence from Kabuto Yakushi. After all, the last message received was already several days old, not to mention it was just a vague, approximate location. If he rushed over blindly, he might not necessarily find this Six-Tails Jinchuriki. After all, under normal circumstances, Utakata was an Elite Jonin, and once he unleashed the Tailed Beast chakra, he would solidly be at the Kage level.
Even the weakest Kage wasn't so easily detected by others.
In the original story, the Akatsuki organization could lock onto the specific locations of the major Tailed Beasts so easily because of Zetsu, right?
That thing was a born scout.
At least currently in the ninja world, no one could evade Zetsu's reconnaissance. White Zetsu's stealth jutsu was absolutely the number one existence in the world. Spore Technique, Substitution Technique, Mayfly Technique—each was more broken than the last.
However, Menma wasn't worried about White Zetsu's lurking reconnaissance.
The powerful Mind's Eye of the Kagura sensory jutsu inherent in the Uzumaki bloodline allowed the current Menma to detect all chakra fluctuations within a radius of twenty to thirty miles centered on himself. Approaching Menma unnoticed was absolutely impossible to achieve.
Plus, there was the malice sensing attached to the Nine-Tails' chakra.
All transformation jutsu were laughable in Menma's eyes.
Even if the Substitution Technique could perfectly imitate the aura and fluctuations of chakra, Menma could still "see through it at a glance"!
This was one of the reasons Menma dared to leave the Leaf decisively back then. Otherwise, just a single White Zetsu would have been enough to give Menma a headache.
The same applied to this trip. Menma had to be more cautious. He knew very well that the Akatsuki organization had assigned corresponding members to monitor the major Tailed Beast Jinchuriki in the current ninja world. In the original story, the Six-Tails was captured personally by Nagato. At this stage, Nagato definitely wouldn't follow Utakata all the time, but letting Zetsu be responsible for monitoring was a high-probability event.
Menma had to factor in the risks from the Akatsuki organization.
However, if he really encountered them, it didn't matter. Menma had some ideas he was planning to implement.
If one must say...
This fellow student Nagato was a true "idealist."
Sharing the same exquisite approach as Madara Uchiha.
After waiting in the village for about three more days...
Menma obtained news from Kabuto Yakushi through a special channel. The Six-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata had appeared a day ago within the territory of a small country named "Land of Spring" along the southeast coast. Because the Hidden Mist's Anbu pursuit squad had relocked onto his position, the traces left by the battle between the two sides were found by the people dispatched by Orochimaru, thus locking onto Utakata's specific location.
Subsequently, they followed all the way.
Trailing far behind that Hidden Mist squad.
Then they sent the news back immediately.
By the time Menma received the news, it was already a day later.
Should I say worthy of being Orochimaru-san's most trusted subordinate? This efficiency is really high!
Menma smiled gently, looking at the intelligence passed to him through special channels. Kabuto's face surfaced in his mind as he thought to himself.
Having a subordinate like Kabuto was truly worry-free.
And this guy's strength wasn't weak; he could even spar a bit with Kage-level powerhouses. He had a natural affinity for natural energy, easily mastering the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave that Orochimaru couldn't learn.
To put it bluntly, this guy also had the potential to reach the Super Kage level.
If possible, Menma would also like to have such a subordinate, but unfortunately, he couldn't.
It's time to set off. I wonder if that girl has finished her training. Otherwise, I can only talk about it after I come back.
Menma squeezed his right hand slightly, directly crushing the scroll in his palm. Then, with a leap, he left the spot directly, speeding toward the outskirts of the village.
After spending ten or twenty minutes...
Menma arrived at a special area located in the eastern part of the village.
This was Fu's exclusive training area.
The person Menma mentioned wanting to see earlier was this Seven-Tails Jinchuriki of his own ninja village. However, when he came two days ago, Fu seemed to be undergoing some very important training, so Menma didn't see her.
Menma wasn't sure if he could see Fu today.
If she really wasn't free, he would have to wait until he returned.
But luck was evidently decent this time.
Just as Menma arrived...
Fu happened to be coming out of the house where she lived.
Flanking her were the two Waterfall ninja who frequently guarded her.
"Eh? Men... Cough, cough... Accelerator-san? Coming here suddenly today, is there something wrong?"
The moment Fu saw Menma, her expression froze slightly, and she asked with a look of surprise.
"It's like this, Fu. Accelerator-san came looking for you two days ago, but at that time, you were still training, so I didn't notify you," Echizen, standing to the side, hurriedly explained to Fu.
"Oh? Is that so? Then come in first, Accelerator-san."
Fu nodded gently, then turned sideways in an inviting gesture.
"Mhm!"
Menma nodded as well.
Then he followed behind Fu, striding into the house.
After the few people sat down respectively...
"I came here today because I have a relatively important matter to discuss with you, Fu. I've also mentioned it to Shibuki-san beforehand."
Since he was coming to see Fu...
And their identities were a bit special...
Menma naturally needed to report it.
"Mhm, whatever it is, Accelerator-san, just say it."
Fu nodded.
Even if she didn't particularly trust Menma herself, this was ultimately an existence her Grandpa Satoru chose to trust. Moreover, he had just brought a huge benefit to the village a few days ago. Fu still regarded Menma as a true comrade.
"Mhm, it's just that this matter is a bit special, related to my side."
Menma paused slightly. The words he spoke...
Fu didn't understand at first. After being puzzled for a moment, she realized Menma was talking about his own identity.
"Brother Echizen, Brother Sasaki, you two go out for a bit. Accelerator-san and I have some important private matters to discuss," Fu turned her head and spoke directly to the two young Waterfall ninja behind her.
"Eh?"
"Ah?"
Hearing Fu's words, Echizen and Sasaki were both stunned subconsciously.
"Fu, this isn't appropriate, right? It's just..."
Echizen on the left spoke words of rejection directly.
Although he realized later that Menma was still present and didn't say the second half of the sentence, the distrust was blatantly audible.
"Don't worry, Brother Echizen. Accelerator-san is someone Grandpa Satoru approved of, and Brother Shibuki knows about it too. Just go out. It's indeed not appropriate for you to know about this matter."
Fu shook her head and continued.
Hearing these words, Echizen and Sasaki looked at each other. They had been Fu's guards for a full five years.
Before that, Fu had always followed Elder Mizuno Satoru. It should be said that apart from Mizuno Satoru, Shibuki, and the deceased Suien, they were actually the closest existences to Fu. But today, hearing that there were key matters they couldn't know...
Echizen and Sasaki felt somewhat bitter in their hearts.
seeing Fu's expression so determined...
They also linked it directly to Elder Mizuno Satoru afterward.
"In that case, we understand."
Just as Sasaki wanted to say something more...
Echizen gently pressed down on Sasaki's right hand under the table while speaking softly.
Immediately after.
Tugging slightly on Sasaki's sleeve...
The two left one after another. At the moment they stepped out of the threshold, Echizen took a deep look at Menma, who was still sitting opposite with a calm face.
Creak
The two left.
The door closed again.
Clearly sensing that their auras had completely faded away...
"Speak, Menma-kun. What is the important matter?"
Fu spoke directly.
"I want to meet the Seven-Tails, Fu."
Menma replied with a look of seriousness.
"Ah? Meet the Seven-Tails?"
She had been thinking it was related to the village or Brother Shibuki, but she hadn't expected it to be related to the Seven-Tails inside her.
It must be said that upon hearing Menma's words...
Fu was stunned again.
"Yes, the Seven-Tails. It's complicated to explain. For now, just touch fists with me, Fu. Once inside, I'll explain everything in front of you and the Seven-Tails together."
Menma nodded affirmatively, then extended his right fist straight out in front of Fu.
Looking at Menma's extended fist...
Fu revealed a look of hesitation.
She didn't know what Menma meant by this.
She hesitated about whether to extend her right hand.
The next moment.
A voice sounding deep in her heart...
Dispelled the hesitation on Fu's face. After taking a deep breath, she extended her right fist as well.
The moment it touched Menma's...
Their energies connected.
The next moment.
Heaven and earth spun.
Buzz!
The two were pulled synchronously into the mental space.
Closing and opening their eyes.
What came into their view was a gigantic, spacious area.
Menma and Fu stood facing each other.
Immediately after.
Boom!
Clatter, clatter, clatter!
From behind the two of them, a terrifying aura of chakra flowed out respectively, whipping up rolling waves of air.
Two massive figures appeared behind Menma and Fu.