Naruto: Menma Exiting Infinite Tsukuyomi

Chapter 140: Sarutobi Hiruzen: Everything is for Konoha!

"I was just afraid that after announcing Naruto's identity as the Fourth's son, some of Minato's enemies would secretly retaliate."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment, then explained cautiously: "I just didn't expect that kind of rumor to suddenly appear in the village."

"By the time I wanted to stop it, it was already too late."

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen's explanation indeed held some truth,

Just because Jiraiya didn't want to be bothered by such sordid matters didn't mean he was completely clueless about them.

How could he possibly believe such a reason, which was full of holes?

After secretly returning to Konoha yesterday, he had already gone to see Naruto in secret.

Naruto was at school at the time. When chatting with classmates, his aura was gentle and he was kind to others.

Although he didn't know why Naruto didn't inherit his parents' big house and instead lived in a small, old, and run-down one,

Looking at him, he had perfectly inherited his father's and mother's appearances and good personality traits.

Presumably, Naruto was indeed doing quite well, and the old man must have also spent some effort taking care of him.

But in the process of "gathering material for his writing," he discovered some abnormalities.

Jiraiya knew very well that perhaps the one who spread the rumors wasn't his teacher.

But in order to keep the Jinchūriki in his hands, he must have condoned it and pushed it along.

In the end, this led to the Konoha villagers' isolation and neglect of Naruto.

If not for Naruto being smart and sensible, who knows what state he would be in now.

Thinking this, Jiraiya couldn't help but sneer: "Heh, I suddenly understand Tsunade and that guy Orochimaru a little."

Hearing Jiraiya mention Orochimaru, Sarutobi Hiruzen's old face instantly darkened.

That was his most prized disciple.

But in the end, he chose the wrong path, going completely against him, his teacher.

Jiraiya mentioning Orochimaru now was undoubtedly rubbing salt in his wound.

However, seeing the old man's embarrassed expression, Jiraiya's heart couldn't help but soften again.

The old man, to him, was both a teacher and a father.

"Old man, I don't care how you play your games, but you shouldn't have involved Naruto."

Jiraiya's tone couldn't help but soften: "I'm taking Naruto with me later. I will personally teach him."

From the way Naruto presented himself, his talent was as outstanding as Minato's.

Staying in the village all the time would be a bit of a waste of talent.

Moreover, he didn't want Naruto to continue suffering the villagers' scorn.

"Although I also feel very sorry for Naruto, you should be very clear about the current situation."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head firmly: "If we lose the Jinchūriki again, we old folks alone simply cannot protect the village."

"Unless... you stay in the village and inherit the position of the Fifth Hokage."

Naruto's mind was not yet mature enough, and the Jinchūriki was a power that must be held in the hands of the Hokage.

If Jiraiya couldn't become Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen would absolutely not allow him to take the Jinchūriki away.

Clearly, Jiraiya truly had no intention of becoming Hokage.

Jiraiya's "Gallant" personality would not allow himself to be trapped in Konoha by those disgusting affairs.

At this moment, he was once again disappointed in his teacher.

"Old man, you... you'd better look after yourself."

Jiraiya sighed with a complex expression.

Immediately, he walked towards the window, leaving only one sentence as he jumped out.

"You're already old. You'd better pass on the Hokage position to a younger person soon. This is your disciple's final piece of advice."

Watching Jiraiya jump out the window, the smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face gradually faded.

Finally, he collapsed onto his chair.

"Heh, pass it to a younger person?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen supported his forehead, his expression troubled: "Even if I want to pass it on, which younger person can I pass it to?"

If one were to speak of guilt towards Naruto, he indeed had some.

But regret? That was an emotion he had never had.

As someone who had suddenly succeeded to the position of Third Hokage, entrusted by the Second during a turbulent war period,

He neither had the First's strength to pacify a chaotic world, nor the Second's dominance to suppress a situation.

The reason he could sit firmly in the chair beneath him,

Was entirely due to his own beliefs and methods.

"Everything... is for Konoha."

...

Meanwhile, in a small laboratory in the Land of Snow.

One after another, screams filled with fear and pain came from within.

"Ahhh, no!!"

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die!!"

Menma, separated by a glass wall, expressionlessly recorded data on a computer.

And in the room, just a wall away from him, Uchiha Shin, with his eyes tightly shut, had snot and tears streaming down his face as he wailed continuously.

"It seems that using genjutsu to stimulate the mind isn't a method applicable to everyone."

Menma looked at Uchiha Shin, muttering to himself: "For someone like Uchiha Izumi, who has talent and love, using a double genjutsu to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan was already quite a stretch."

"But this guy Uchiha Shin is really weak enough. Not a single sign of awakening the Mangekyō, instead, he's on the verge of a mental breakdown."

The awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan requires sufficient pupil power to achieve a qualitative change.

Then, are there any other methods to strengthen pupil power?

Menma rubbed his chin, more thoughts arising in his mind.

"If I remember correctly, according to the original timeline, Uchiha Shin's entire body was implanted with Sharingan, and there was no rejection reaction at all."

But speaking of which, the Sharingan all over his body didn't seem to show any use in the original story ("Unburnable Legend").

So Menma had a simple and crude, bold idea.

-- Use the pupil power of all the Sharingan all over the body to supply one pair of eyes in the eye sockets. Perhaps it could really turn a quantitative change into a qualitative one.

Theoretically, it is indeed feasible.

But the plot in that "Unburnable Thing" really doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Even if Uchiha Shin's body doesn't produce a rejection reaction, it doesn't mean his chakra and spirit can handle so many Sharingan.

Based on his current chakra level, he would be drained dry by the Sharingan in less than five minutes.

Suddenly, Menma's hand movements paused. He looked down at Uchiha Shin.

"Stop playing dead. Get up!"

Shin, lying on the experimental table, shuddered. Apprehensively, he sat up without a word.

Menma shook his head, saying coldly: "If not for your body having great research value, I really wouldn't want to continue wasting time on you."

As soon as these words were spoken,

A look of panic immediately appeared on Uchiha Shin's face.

"Sir! Sir!"

Disregarding his own wretched state, he directly knelt on the floor, pleading: "Please give me another chance! I will offer everything to serve you, sir!"

The only value he had left now was this special body of his.

If even this last value was gone, then there was only one outcome awaiting him.

-- Becoming a cold, lifeless experimental material.

He didn't want to die yet; he hadn't awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan yet.

(End of Chapter)

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