After the First and Second Hokage were temporarily sealed, turning into two motionless cocoon-like forms, only one target remained on the field: Orochimaru. Had that guy escaped amid the chaos? He had used a Water Clone as cover earlier, while his real body had vanished without a trace.
However, within the sensing range of Mind's Eye of the Kagura, there was no way he could hide completely. Menma was certain he could drag him out.
Besides, even if "Menma's" power dissipated later, Naruto himself could rely on his ability to sense Life Energy to find that slippery snake.
Just as Menma focused his senses and prepared to begin the hunt.
"Wait!"
The Third Hokage's urgent voice suddenly rang out. Menma turned his head in confusion and saw the old man's face drawn tight, his lips trembling slightly as though countless words were lodged in his throat, yet he could not form them into a sentence.
A trace of puzzlement rose in Menma's heart. Although this "Menma's" identity was indeed far from legitimate, this operation had clearly been meant to protect Konoha. Why did the old man look so hesitant?
"Roar—!!!"
In that brief stalemate, a shrill hiss utterly unlike that of any normal creature suddenly came from the side! Immediately afterward, a massive shadow fell over part of the rooftops.
Menma felt he had heard enough roars from gigantic creatures today. What was it this time?
He turned to look and saw an enormous creature coiled in the already ruined main arena of the Chunin Exams! Though it did not tower as high as a Tailed Beast, it was undeniably still a colossal monster.
Its body was pale as bone, and it continuously screeched. It had eight writhing heads, matched by eight tails that lashed about wildly!
"Eight Branches Technique..."