At that moment, aside from the three clashing factions in the Land of Rice Fields—the Ninja Village Allied Forces, the Akatsuki Organization, and Orochimaru—another force was also hidden there: Karin and Haku, who were carrying out Shinji's orders.
Their task was simple: ensure Naruto—or rather, Menma's—safety.
But Menma had mastered the Nine Mask Svāhā and could summon the Vermilion Bird to move quickly through the air. So even Karin, with her Mind's Eye of the Kagura, couldn't keep a constant, close watch on him—as was the case right now.
Rumble.
Hearing the distant booms, Karin's expression beneath her mask grew grave.
Haku glanced over and murmured, "Has he fully transformed into a tailed beast? Looks like Naruto's run into a formidable foe!"
"Yeah. Let's go!"
Karin nodded, and they hurried toward the source of the rumbling.
The two of them had barely stopped over the past few days. If they weren't both exceptionally strong, this kind of nonstop, rapid travel without sleep would have worn them down.
Just as they were about to arrive, the enormous Nine-Tails in the distance began to shrink and wither.
"Not good!"
They had witnessed this once before during the Chunin Ninja Exams, and immediately realized something was wrong. They sped up again.
But by the time they reached the battlefield, the Chimera Technique that Hiruko and Ranmaru had performed together had already forcibly extracted the Yang Nine-Tails from Menma's body and temporarily sealed it inside Hiruko.
Thud.
With the Nine-Tails ripped from his body, Menma collapsed to the ground. His breathing grew faint, but his face remained twisted with rage.
Clearly, even now, Hiruko's Umutada was still affecting him. It had him completely under control.
Hiruko and Ranmaru soon noticed Karin and Haku rushing toward them, and immediately grew wary.
Ranmaru said, "It's B