Just as the shadow clones in Hidden Rain joined the Akatsuki, Menma's consciousness within Naruto's mindscape received an update. It wasn't a message sent after the clones vanished—it was intelligence gathered by the clone that had spent enough time near Pain to analyze Nagato's chakra signature.
[System Notification]
Target: Nagato
Total Corruption Points: 120,000
Item: Rinnegan (Nagato's base ability version)
Cost: 100,000 Corruption Points (Includes Nagato's eye power and usable abilities. Cannot be split for exchange.)
Item: Uzumaki Sage Body (Stackable)
Cost: 10,000 Corruption Points
Item: Kage-Level Taijutsu
Cost: 3,000 Corruption Points
Item: Wind Release Ninjutsu...
"Nagato actually has more than double the Corruption Points of Itachi?" Menma frowned as he scanned the exchange list.
The system's cost requirements had always been based on raw power: higher for stronger targets, lower for weaker ones.
Although in the original timeline, Edo Tensei Nagato was eventually sealed by Edo Tensei Itachi using the Totsuka Blade, that was the result of a coordinated effort by Itachi, Naruto, and Killer Bee. Furthermore, Nagato had been completely under Kabuto's control, unable to unleash his full strength. His actual threat level was higher than the system was suggesting, but the gap wasn't massive.
The Corruption Points required for each exchange were strictly tied to power levels.
Menma had been hoarding his points for a long time, refusing to spend them on Taijutsu or the remaining Eight Gates. He had hoped to save 40,000 to 50,000 points to purchase a pair of Nagato-style Rinnegan.
But now, that hope was dead.
The cost for the Rinnegan was more than double his estimate!
His original plan had been to save up, then personally send operatives to capture Sakura Haruno, Iruka Umino, and the others. Using them, he would construct a Six Paths puppet like Pain's, retain a sliver of its consciousness, and either use it actively himself. After feigning defeat, he would launch a surprise attack on Konoha and deliver the final blow to Naruto.
But now, the only way forward was to find a solution through Nagato—to force him to create it instead.
Menma shook his head, dismissing the Rinnegan for now. His eyes shifted to the next option.
"An Uzumaki Sage Body that stacks?"
Something seemed to occur to him. He scrolled through his exchange targets, finally landing on the option for Hashirama Senju.
[Target: Hashirama Senju]
[Total Corruption Points: 900,000]
[Wood Release Ninjutsu]
[Cost: 600,000]
[Super Shadow Taijutsu]
[Cost: 180,000]
[Senju Sage Body (Stackable)]
[Cost: 100,000]
[Wood Release Sage Mode (Requires Wood Release Ninjutsu to absorb natural energy)]
[Cost: 15,000]
[Ninjutsu & Taijutsu, Superhuman Strength]
[Cost: 4,000]
[Throwing Weapons Technique...]
"As expected, Hashirama's version is a stackable Senju Sage Body," Menma muttered. "So, both inherited the Sage Body, but the two clans have different physical constitutions?"
He carefully racked his memories.
It seemed all Nine-Tails jinchuriki were from the Uzumaki Clan and possessed Sage Bodies. Every Uzumaki clan member who appeared in the story possessed incredibly strong vitality. However, apart from Hashirama—who awakened Wood Release Ninjutsu—the Senju Clan lacked other known members who possessed the Uzumaki Clan's immense vitality. Instead, they had extremely refined and powerful chakra control.
For example, Tsunade's Hundred Healings Technique and her inherited superhuman strength required incredibly high chakra control. This also explained why Tobirama could create so many forbidden jutsu. Furthermore, his Water Release Ninjutsu techniques were even stronger than the Fourth Mizukage's. Hashirama, on the other hand, could perform jutsu simply by clapping his hands together and summon whatever he calls.
"So, they both possess terrifying amounts of chakra," Menma reasoned. "One focuses on physical adaptability, the other on physical control."
Menma realized that besides Taijutsu, he could accumulate two types of Sage Body techniques. He couldn't afford Asura's chakra's genuine Sage Body, but combining the Senju and Uzumaki versions wouldn't be bad. Of course, he couldn't afford Hashirama's directly, but he still had access to Tobirama's and Tsunade's via the exchange list. Perhaps combining the two wouldn't be inferior to the Hashirama cells that permeated the entire story.
Since his plan to acquire the Rinnegan had fallen through, there was no need to hoard his Corruption Points anymore. Furthermore, he already possessed the Uzumaki Sage Body.
Without hesitation, Menma opened his long-neglected personal panel.
[Corruption Points +36,000]
[Current Corruption Points: 66,000]
[Trust and Dependence Value: 78% (70%)]
After Menma brutally defeated Orochimaru and revealed Naruto's identity as the Son of a Hero in front of everyone, his Corruption Points had increased by a total of 36,000. His Trust and Dependence Value had risen by an unstable 4% and a steady 5%.
Unfortunately, the Rinnegan required 100,000, and he was still 34,000 short. For the time being, there were no major events like the Konoha Crush that could quickly spike his points.
Menma didn't like saving resources anyway. Even in video games, he couldn't hoard currency for a single gacha pull.
He shook his head and began his revenge spending spree immediately.
"System, exchange for Kage-Level Taijutsu of Nagato, Itachi, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. Exchange for Uzumaki Sage Body techniques of Nagato, Kushina Uzumaki, and Karin. Exchange for the remaining four gates of the Eight Gates Formation."
[Exchange Successful!]
[Kage-Level Taijutsu (Uchiha Itachi) - 4,000]
[Kage-Level Taijutsu (Nagato) - 3,000]
[Kage-Level Taijutsu (Orochimaru) - 3,000]
[Kage-Level Taijutsu (Jiraiya) - 4,000]
[Uzumaki Sage Body (Nagato) - 10,000]
[Uzumaki Sage Body (Kushina Uzumaki) - 10,000]
[Uzumaki Sage Body (Karin) - 5,000]
[Eight Gates Formation - Gate of Death - 12,000]
[Remaining Corruption Points: 15,000]
[Congratulations, Host! Your Kage-Level Taijutsu has been upgraded to Elite Kage-Level Taijutsu!]
The exchange was complete.
Although Menma was currently only in his mindscape, he could still feel the immense power emanating from his core. This was due to the physical attributes inherent to Kage-Level Taijutsu, combined with the terrifying boost from the three Uzumaki Sage Body forms.
Menma could clearly feel that the amount of chakra he could extract from his body was now more than three times higher than before. His physical resilience and recovery ability had also improved by a whole level.
If the shadow clone that joined the Akatsuki were recreated by him now, it could withstand at least four or five more ordinary Shinra Tensei attacks! Of course, this was only possible with Kurama's chakra protecting it. Without that buffer, it could at most withstand a few ordinary Taijutsu attacks before barely surviving.
Even so, it was far superior to the shadow clones that would disappear after a single hit.
It was just a pity that Karin's Sage Body hadn't fully developed and matured yet. It seemed he had exchanged it a little too early.
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