Menma Lures Sasuke

"Failed again…"

Ryosuke sighed, staring at the golden talent entry on the synthesis interface.

He shook his head, and declined.

He had spent the past two days accumulating experience points, and now they were all gone.

"I refuse to believe that I can't synthesize a god-level talent entry!"

Ryosuke wasn't in a hurry. He had time but some people didn't.

Uchiha Clan land

Sasuke knelt before his parents' graves. His eyes were glistening and he was clenching his fists.

"I'm weak… still so weak…"

He wiped his tears, and exhaled deeply.

Just as he turned around, his body tensed.

Someone was standing behind him.

"It's you."

He was wearing different clothes, but the mask remained the same.

Sasuke recognized him instantly. He was Uchiha Menma, the mysterious ninja who appeared during Orochimaru's plan.

Menma smirked and said, "Did I interrupt your crying?"

Sasuke's face darkened.

Damn it!

His most vulnerable moment was seen by this bastard.

Sasuke took a breath, and forced himself to stay calm.

He asked, "Why are you here? Just so you know, I'm not interested in the nonsense about repopulating the Uchiha."

Menma's eyes twitched and he burst into laughter.

He said with a smile, "You actually still remember that?"

Sasuke glared at Menma.

'Of course, I do.'

That day and those words were burned into his mind.

Menma waved his hand and said, "Relax, I'm not here to talk about that."

Sasuke exhaled in relief.

Thank God!

The idea of wasting his life on something so meaningless repulsed him.

He only had one goal—revenge.

His mind unknowingly wandered to Ryosuke.

That guy has so many girlfriends but he's still so ridiculously strong.

Sasuke clenched his fists.

How?!

Was Ryosuke a true genius?

He himself was just a fraud?

Before he could dwell on it further, Menma's voice snapped him back.

"I met Uchiha Itachi."

Sasuke's body went rigid and he asked, "What?!"

His heart pounded violently and his blood boiled with rage.

"Where?!"

Menma calmly said, "Have you ever heard of the Akatsuki?"

Sasuke shook his head. He had barely left the village so he had no idea what the Akatsuki was.

Menma smirked and said, "I was invited to join the Akatsuki and I Uchiha Itachi there."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he said, "So you're in the same organization as him now?"

Menma chuckled and said, "If I wanted to kill you, do you think you could escape?"

Sasuke's face darkened.

He hated to admit it. But Menma was right.

Even if he was currently in Konoha, he wouldn't stand a chance of surviving if Menma didn't want him to.

He asked, "What do you want?"

Menma sharply said, "How long do you think it will take you to surpass Itachi if you stay in Konoha?"

Hearing this, Sasuke's fists trembled.

He knew the answer to Menma's question.

Never!

If he stays in Konoha, he will never reach Itachi's level.

He asked with some hope, "You want to help me?"

Menma smirked and said, "I won't help you kill him. After all, that's your battle. But I see potential in you. You awakened your Sharingan at a young age, and you're willing to do anything for strength."

Sasuke's breath quickened as he processed Menma's words.

Was this it?

Was this his chance?

Menma continued, "I'll train you but you have to leave Konoha."

Sasuke instantly answered, "I'll do it."

Menma narrowed his eyes and questioned, "Are you sure? Leaving Konoha means you'll become a rogue ninja. You may never see Naruto again. You may even have to fight him one day."

Naruto…

Sasuke hesitated for a brief moment. But then he remembered Naruto's words.

Sasuke firmly said, "Naruto will understand my choice."

Menma chuckled, "You're pretty confident about that."

Menma turned around and said, "Prepare yourself. I'll come for you soon."

"Oh, and if you meet Itachi in the Akatsuki, don't do anything stupid."

After all, the difference in Sasuke and Itachi's power level is very apparent right now.

If Sasuke does something impulsive, it wil be troublesome.

Sasuke clenched his jaw but nodded.

He wasn't the same reckless boy that he was before.

He will do whatever it takes even if it means leaving everything behind.

After saying that, Menma disappeared into the night.

…

Two days later.

Today, the ceremony for Tsunade to succeed as the Fifth Hokage was being held in the village.

Almost all the ninjas were attending this event, and countless villagers had gathered outside, cheering Tsunade's name.

Some even held banners that read [Senju Returns! Invincible!]

Koharu and Homura watched those banners and their eyelids twitched.

Seeing the crowd, their resolve hardened.

The Senju clan must never rise again!

Tsunade becoming the Hokage was already a threat.

If Ryosuke were to spread his influence, and restore the Senju?

"He can't be allowed to stay."

They both reached the same conclusion.

But how can they eliminate him?

A direct assassination?

Impossible!

They didn't have that strength.

Slander?

Public opinion warfare?

Tsunade wouldn't allow it. Besides, Ryosuke wasn't like Hatake Sakumo, who had been crushed by mere words.

So, that wouldn't work either.

So what then?

The two elders racked their brains, and desperately searched for a solution.

Finally, an idea formed in their heads.

They could use others to do the dirty work for them.

Isn't Tsunade about to announce Ryosuke's identity as a Senju?

Tsunade was about to proclaim that Ryosuke had awakened Wood release, and make him seem like the second coming of her grandfather.

They could help her.

Not only will they spread his name in Konoha, but they will also ensure that his name reaches the entire world.

Once the major villages hear of his Wood release, will they stand by and allow another Senju Hashirama to rise?

No!

They will do everything in their power to kill him.

And when that happens, Koharu and Homura won't even need to lift a finger.

After all, Ryosuke's awakened Wood release is not the same as Senju Hashirama's Wood release.

No matter how talented he is, there is no way he has surpassed the First Hokage.

If he is only at Kage-level, he won't be able to survive an all-out hunt from the other great hidden villages.

And!

To ensure that their plan succeeds, they can even place a bounty on his head.

Over the years, they had accumulated plenty of money.

Even!

Just spending a fraction of it would be enough to tempt countless assassins.

Money moves people's hearts.

With a high enough bounty, even rogue ninjas will come after Ryosuke.

They imagined the scene of Ryosuke being hunted like a rat, and being forced into hiding and chuckled.

On the side, Jiraiya watched them curiously.

Homura and Koharu were grinning like mischievous children.

What the hell are those two old geezers thinking?

...

On the high platform.

Ryosuke stood aside, listening to Tsunade's speech.

So boring!

When Tsunade finished her speech, he prepared to leave.

But then, Tsunade turned to him, and beckoned him to come forward.

Damn it!

Ryosuke knew what was about to happen.

Did Tsunade really have to do this today?

Did she not care about him stealing her spotlight?

Ryosuke sighed but still walked forward.

Tsunade took his hand and said, "I believe you all know the person next to me?"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

"A great hero!"

"The one who saved Konoha!"

"Konoha's Reaper!"

Most people called him a hero.

But some shouted his title—Konoha's Reaper.

That name had come from the Sunagakure ninjas.

Didn't Sunagakure negotiate with Konoha about releasing their ninjas?

After the Sunagakure ninjas were freed, the information about what had happened in the Konoha collapse plan spread.

Among countless pieces of information, Ryosuke was the most eye-catching.

After their failed invasion, they had spread rumors about Konoha's mysterious young ninja.

A 12 year old Kage-level ninja.

A master of swordsmanship, taijutsu, and a shadow type assassination technique.

Ryosuke didn't really care about them revealing his information.

After all, they had barely scratched the surface of his real strength.

Swordsmanship?

That was his weakest skill.

Taijutsu?

It was strong, but he hadn't fully revealed his true power in terms of Taijutsu.

That shadow assassination technique?

It is powerful, but filled with exploitable weaknesses.

The rumors amused him.

Others thought that they understood his power.

But in reality, they didn't have the slightest clue about his true power.