Afterward, Menma made another trip to the Ninja Tools shop to restock on Shuriken, Kunai, and Explosive Tags. During this period, not only missions but even daily training had resulted in rather staggering wear and consumption of these Ninja Tools.
Menma could only afford such expenses because he was well-off now. Otherwise, he truly would not have been able to sustain them.
Of course, stockpiling more Ninja Tools was also preparation for the plan ahead. It was summer now, and the Original Work had never specified the exact date of the Chunin Exams, though it did provide a rough timeline. By Menma's own estimate, it should be sometime soon, with the margin of error definitely no more than half a month. The necessary preparations also needed to be put on the agenda.
'I hope you won't disappoint me, Orochimaru-san.'
Menma silently thought to himself.
All his plans were built upon the actions of that former Sannin.
Right now, Menma was more eager than anyone else to see the Konoha Crush Plan unfold as usual—or, better yet, with even greater ferocity than in the Original Work. Only then could he leave Konohagakure easily, without worrying about too many pursuers.
"Hmm? This Chakra presence?"
As Menma headed back home, he sensed several Chakra presences before reaching a corner, along with somewhat intense, noisy commotion. His steps halted, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.
"Could it be?"
As a thought surfaced in Menma's mind, he instinctively quickened his pace.
He rounded the corner.
The next second.
Several familiar figures came into view.
"So it really was."
Not only were his three familiar teammates there, but there were also three small figures hiding behind Naruto and Sakura, as well as the two most crucial figures with their backs to him. Though