However, as previously stated, after temporarily abandoning his intentions toward Konohagakure, the Fourth Raikage, A, shifted his full focus toward the large-scale search for the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki Menma and deployed extensive tracking forces, most of whom possessed at least elite chūnin-level capability.
After all, this involved the Nine-Tails.
Even if the jinchūriki was only twelve years old, A afforded the matter the highest level of priority.
Numerous jōnin were also assigned to the operation, with overall command entrusted to Darui, widely regarded as the most outstanding representative of Kumogakure's younger generation. His mastery of Lightning Release, combined with the rare and highly destructive Storm Release (Ranton), placed him firmly at a level approaching Kage-class combat capability.
In A's judgment, such a force was more than sufficient to deal with a twelve-year-old jinchūriki.
Furthermore, he himself remained on standby at all times, prepared to intervene personally if necessary.
As a result, over the past month, the central regions of the continent including the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Rivers, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Rain were saturated with the presence of Kumogakure shinobi. Even within the territories of the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind, small infiltration units had already begun covert operations.
To secure the Nine-Tails, A had effectively issued an order to proceed at any cost.
In his own words, the Nine-Tails represented the final and most critical piece required for Kumogakure to establish unquestioned supremacy among the Five Great Nations.
Such aggressive conduct, however, did not go entirely unchallenged.
The Land of Earth responded with a full-scale counteroperation, mobilizing Iwagakure forces to track and eliminate infiltrating Kumo shinobi. Aside from this exception, however, most other nations chose tacit acceptance.
Sunagakure, in particular, was in no position to resist.
In the aftermath of the Konoha Crush, Gaara had only recently been released from captivity and was still recovering from severe injuries. Had the situation worsened, the village might have faced an unprecedented crisis lacking any effective Kage-level combat power to uphold its standing.
After all, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had been assassinated by Orochimaru.
As for Chiyo and Ebizō, while they had once stood at the Kage level in their prime, age had inevitably diminished their strength. At present, they could at best be considered elite jōnin approaching quasi-Kage status.
Without the One-Tail, Sunagakure's position among the Five Great Villages had become exceedingly precarious.
Compounding the issue, the village had suffered heavy casualties during the conflict hundreds of shinobi lost, the majority of whom were chūnin or higher, including dozens of jōnin.
In such a weakened state, facing the far more powerful Kumogakure head-on was not a viable option.
Thus, the Sunagakure Council temporarily led by Maki, with the support of Chiyo and Ebizō ultimately chose to acquiesce after only limited deliberation. Their strategy was reduced to securing key locations while turning a blind eye to minor infiltrations, a decision that served more as psychological reassurance than genuine defense.
If even Sunagakure adopted such a stance, the response of smaller nations and hidden villages was all the more predictable.
Indeed, this pattern had persisted for decades.
Shinobi of the Five Great Nations operated with near impunity within smaller countries, issuing threats and warnings at will. The latter possessed neither the authority nor the strength to resist.
Konohagakure, however, presented a special case.
Under the leadership of Tsunade, the village deliberately avoided escalating tensions with Kumogakure. Having already withdrawn the majority of its border forces as a gesture of restraint, Konoha adopted a policy of selective defense ignoring minor infiltrations while focusing solely on critical positions.
What Konoha required above all else was stability during this transitional period.
This approach was fully endorsed by the Hokage advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Yet beneath this surface-level calm, darker currents stirred.
Shimura Danzō, constrained by the constant surveillance of the Hokage's ANBU, found himself unable to mobilize his Root operatives freely. For the time being, he had no choice but to remain dormant, suppressing his intentions.
Thus, the shinobi world entered a brief and fragile period of "stability."
Of course, this merely signified the absence of open warfare between nations.
For Menma, the situation was anything but stable.
Both Konoha's tracking units and Kumogakure's search forces posed significant threats. The former was comparatively manageable Tsunade's methods were far less aggressive than A's, and the scale of deployment remained limited.
In practice, Tsunade had largely delegated the matter of pursuing Menma and Orochimaru to Jiraiya, further reducing the overall threat level.
In this regard, Menma could not help but feel fortunate that the granddaughter of the First Hokage now held the position of Fifth Hokage.
It granted him invaluable time to grow.
Had Danzō assumed power instead, Menma had no doubt that he would already be facing relentless pursuit by Konohagakure an unending cycle of encirclement and assassination attempts.
Such pressure would have consumed both his time and resources.
Under those conditions, let alone pursuing research and training, even maintaining a fixed location for any meaningful duration would have been nearly impossible.
The current situation, therefore, was ideal from Menma's perspective.
Konoha had refrained from initiating a full-scale manhunt.
In a sense, the village had become a "temporary" non-hostile force.
The anticipated intervention of Uchiha Obito had yet to materialize.
As things stood, the only true adversary Menma needed to contend with was Kumogakure.
And even then
With Orochimaru's support, and despite being unable to fully unleash his power, Menma had little reason for concern.
"Oh? Already the third wave? It seems the Fourth Raikage is truly sparing no effort. He's determined to find me as quickly as possible."
Within Orochimaru's underground base in the Land of Grass, Menma's voice carried a trace of amusement.
The time had reached December of Konoha's 60th year the year drawing to a close.
Over the past one to two months, Kumogakure's large-scale operations had finally narrowed their focus to this region. Meanwhile, intelligence agents from other hidden villages, drawn like sharks sensing blood, began to converge upon the same area.
Orochimaru's stationed forces had already intercepted and eliminated three separate Kumo reconnaissance squads, accounting for over a dozen casualties.
"Yes, Menma-kun. This stronghold has nearly been exposed. Orochimaru-sama has ordered its abandonment and relocation within the next few days. I was instructed to inform you personally."
Yakushi Kabuto, clad in his usual attire, spoke with a calm smile.
"I see. Understood. I'll begin preparing immediately."
Menma nodded in acknowledgment.
Relocation.
It was something he had anticipated from the beginning.
Both he and Orochimaru were missing-nin targets of multiple factions. As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Menma's value alone ensured constant pursuit, while Orochimaru's history of betrayal against both Konohagakure and the Akatsuki made him an enemy to many.
Being hunted was simply part of their reality.
And in such circumstances, one principle remained absolute
If you wished to evade detection, you had to keep moving.
Frequently changing bases was not merely a precaution.
It was survival.