Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 319 We are Nagato's relatives
Two days later, in the Land of Rain.

A continuous drizzle enveloped this war-torn land, and the muddy trade routes wound their way forward under the gray sky.

The air was filled with a damp, earthy smell and a lingering sense of oppression.

Whirlpool Vanilla wore a slightly oversized raincoat, her long, crimson hair peeking out from under the raincoat.

She stood in the middle of the road, facing five robbers armed with crude weapons and with menacing expressions.

These bandits were dressed in rags, but the greed and ruthlessness in their eyes were clearly visible.

"Hand over the food and money! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!" The leader of the bandits brandished a rusty machete and roared viciously.

Vanilla took a deep breath of the cold air, recalling the lessons Mianma had taught her over the past two days.

She raised her hands in front of her chest and awkwardly activated her chakra.

"King Kong Blockade!"

Om-!
Two dazzling golden chakra chains shot out from behind her in an instant, like living serpents, carrying a powerful sealing aura, and struck the five bandits precisely!
"what!"

"Pfft!"

"it hurts!"

The bandits didn't even see what happened; they only felt a tremendous force, which lifted them off the ground, causing them to fall screaming into the mud, their weapons falling from their hands, leaving them in a sorry state.

They struggled to their feet, their faces filled with terror, looking at Vanilla as if she were a monster.

"Spare me! Ninja Master!"

"We were wrong! We'll never do it again!"

"Please, please let us go! We have no choice, our children are starving, we just want to find something to eat..."

One of the robbers cried out for mercy, tears streaming down his face, looking utterly miserable.

Seeing their state, especially hearing the words "the child starved to death," Vanilla Whirlpool's heart softened.

She was kind by nature. Although Menma had taught her that the world of ninjas was cruel these past two days, deciding the life and death of others with her own hands was still too heavy a burden for her.

She subconsciously turned her head and looked at Mianma, who was standing quietly in the shade of a big tree by the roadside, her eyes filled with questioning and a hint of reluctance.

Mianma's expression remained calm. Rainwater slid down the treetops, but strangely, it did not wet his clothes, as if an invisible force was keeping the rain out.

He looked at Vanilla's hesitant gaze, and spoke in a calm voice that pierced through the rain and reached Vanilla's ears clearly:

"Vanilla, remember, this world is chaotic. It's a dog-eat-dog world, and it's hard to tell what's real and what's fake. I can teach you the secret techniques of the Uzumaki clan and basic ninjutsu, and give you power. But how to use that power, how to judge whether the person in front of you is a vicious villain or a pitiful person forced by the world... that requires you to observe, think, and make decisions yourself. This is the growth you must go through."

His words contained neither accusation nor guidance, but simply stated the cruelty of the ninja world, leaving the power of choice entirely to Vanilla.

Upon hearing this, Xiangcao felt relieved, but at the same time felt a heavy responsibility on her shoulders.

She turned back to look at the bandits still kowtowing and begging for mercy in the mud, bit her lip, and finally waved her hand, her voice trembling slightly: "You...you can go! Don't do this again!"

The robbers, as if granted a pardon, scrambled away, not even bothering to pick up their fallen weapons, and fled the scene in a panic, quickly disappearing into the rain and roadside bushes.

Vanilla looked in the direction they disappeared and breathed a sigh of relief, but the lingering unease in her heart had not completely dissipated.

Menma didn't say anything more, and started walking slowly along the muddy trade route towards Amegakure Village.

Whirlpool Vanilla quickly composed herself, pulled her raincoat tighter, and hurried to catch up.

The two figures gradually disappeared into the distance amidst the pattering rain.

……

Night fell, but the rain still hadn't stopped.

The two rested temporarily in a dry tree hollow by the roadside.

Mianma lit a small campfire, the orange flames dispelling the chill and dampness of the cave and illuminating his calm face and Xiangcao's focused expression.

"You've already grasped the basics of the Adamantine Sealing Technique. What you need next is constant practice and improved chakra control to increase the number, strength, and flexibility of the chains," Menma said to Vanilla as he skewered two cleaned fish onto a sharpened branch and grilled them over the fire.

"With your chakra reserves, combined with the Adamantine Sealing Technique, unless you encounter an experienced special Jonin or a team specifically designed to counter sealing techniques, ordinary Chunin and Genin are no match for you. This can be considered as having a basic ability to survive in this chaotic world."

He turned the grilled fish slightly to ensure even heating and continued, "Next, you need to systematically learn the detailed refinement and precise control techniques of chakra, which is the foundation of all advanced ninjutsu. At the same time, mastering some basic Five Elements Escape Techniques will also give you more options when facing different situations."

As he spoke, Mianma took out three slightly worn scrolls from his bosom and handed them to Xiangcao.

Vanilla took the scrolls with both hands and, by the firelight, saw that they were titled "Essentials of Chakra Refining", "An Introduction to Chakra Nature Transformation and Form Transformation", and "Complete Guide to Basic Ninjutsu of the Five Elements (D/C Rank)".

She knew very well that this knowledge was a precious treasure that was not easily passed on in any ninja village, especially for a wandering ninja like her with no background.

Vanilla looked up, her red eyes filled with gratitude, but also with a deep sense of confusion.

She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Lord Menma, I've always had a question. Why are you so willing to share all your knowledge with me? Is it simply because we are both members of the Uzumaki clan?"

She paused, carefully observing Mian Ma's expression, and lowered her voice further: "And... I always feel that you seem... in a hurry? Like you're preparing for something, or... looking for something?"

Mianma paused slightly while flipping the grilled fish, then resumed his normal movements.

The flickering flames reflected in his deep black eyes.

He didn't answer immediately, but just stared at the campfire until the aroma of roasted fish began to waft through the air.

Mianma picked up a skewer of grilled fish, examined its golden-brown color to confirm it was cooked, and then slowly spoke, her voice calm and even: "Because you resemble someone I know. Is that reason enough?"

He neither looked at the vanilla nor answered the second question about time.

Vanilla was slightly taken aback, looking at Menma's profile. Although she didn't understand who the "very similar person" he was talking about was or what his story was, she could feel a kind of sincerity from Menma's calm tone.

She nodded vigorously, clutching the scroll tightly to her chest, her heart filled with a warm feeling.

This unreserved guidance, this bond of shared Uzumaki blood, gave her an unprecedented sense of belonging and warmth in this cold and cruel ninja world.

"I understand, Lord Menma!" Vanilla's voice hardened, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I will study hard! I will not let you down!"

She knew that the fact that Menma didn't answer the second question was itself an answer.

He was indeed in a hurry; he had important things to do.

So, all I can do is become stronger as soon as possible, so as not to become a burden to him, and perhaps even be able to help him in the future.

In the following time, Vanilla immersed herself in the knowledge of the scroll, occasionally asking Menma for some questions.

Mianma patiently answered the questions and pointed out the key points.

Inside the tree hollow, only the crackling of the campfire, the sound of rain outside, and the occasional hushed conversation between the two remained.

The aroma of the grilled fish grew stronger and stronger.

Mianma tasted the fish in his hand and, confirming that it was acceptable, handed the other perfectly grilled fish to Xiangcao.

The two of them enjoyed a simple dinner in this humble tree hollow.

Just then, the silence outside the tree hole, which had been filled only with the sound of rain, was broken by a commotion.

The sounds of arguing, crying, and shouting mingled together, coming from afar.

Vanilla curiously walked to the entrance of the tree hole, parted the drooping vines, and looked out.

On the muddy road, a sizable caravan was surrounded by a large group of ragged, emaciated refugees.

The refugees stretched out their withered hands, pleading desperately for food.

The caravan leader, a bloated middle-aged man, stood on a wagon, his face full of impatience and disgust. He waved his arms and yelled at the caravan guards, "Hey! Get them out of here! Get these stinking beggars out of here! What kind of order is this, blocking the road like this!"

Several caravan guards stepped forward and roughly shoved the refugees, causing cries of pain. However, among the caravan guards were several young men dressed in black robes and wearing Amegakure headbands, whose behavior was completely different.

They silently took out some dry food and water from their bags and distributed them to the children and elderly who looked the weakest.

Seeing this, the caravan leader stomped his feet in anger and pointed at the Rain Village ninja, yelling, "Yahiko! What are you doing! What's the use of giving this precious food to these refugees?! They'll starve to death tomorrow after eating this! It's such a waste!"

The orange-haired, spiky-haired youth known as Yahiko had a resolute face and clear eyes.

He looked up at the caravan leader, his voice gentle yet firm: "We are just doing our part. Perhaps this little bit of food cannot change their fate, but at least it can keep them alive for one more day. One more day means one more glimmer of hope."

"Hope? Humph!" The caravan leader scoffed, turning his head away, too lazy to pay any more attention.

However, amidst this chaotic scene, something unexpected suddenly happened!

Suddenly, five strong, fierce-looking men sprang up from the crowd of refugees!

They moved swiftly, clearly having planned this in advance. Holding concealed short knives and clubs, they pounced on the caravan leader standing on the wagon like cheetahs!

"Protect the boss!" the caravan guards exclaimed, but the incident happened so suddenly that they were a beat too slow to react.

The caravan leader was terrified. He slipped and fell off the wagon, finding himself surrounded by the five men. A cold dagger was instantly placed against his neck.

"Ah! Help...help me!" The caravan leader, pale as a ghost, screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

The surrounding refugees were terrified by this sudden turn of events and scattered in all directions.

The leader of the five thugs held a knife to the caravan leader's throat and shouted at the chaotic caravan, "If you don't want him to die, hand over all your food and money!"

"Yahiko! I paid to hire your Akatsuki organization, not for you to stand there and watch! Help me!" The caravan leader shouted hoarsely in the direction of Yahiko and the others.

Yahiko's eyes narrowed, and his aura instantly became sharp.

"Xiao Nan!"

The girl with light blue-purple hair beside him was already prepared.

Konan formed hand seals and her clear, cool voice rang out: "Dance of Shikigami!"

In an instant, her body seemed to lose its physical form, transforming into countless white paper pieces, like a swarm of butterflies blown by the wind, drifting lightly and swiftly toward the five thugs!
The paper pieces danced and combined in the air, sometimes like strong ribbons binding and binding the rioters' hands and feet, and sometimes like sharp blades knocking away the weapons in their hands.

The movements were fluid and graceful, possessing a unique and beautiful quality.

In the blink of an eye, all the weapons in the hands of the five thugs were knocked away, and their hands and feet were bound with paper strips, rendering them unable to move.

The caravan leader was also cleverly rolled up by Xiao Nan with a piece of paper and pulled back to safety.

"Well done, Minami!" Yahiko praised, then looked sternly at the five subdued thugs.

Seeing their plan fail, the five men immediately adopted a pitiful expression, all their previous ferocity vanished, and they knelt down in the mud, kowtowing repeatedly.
"Spare me! Ninja Master!"

"We are also forced to do this!"

"My wife and kids have been starving for days. We had no choice but to resort to this!"

"Please, have mercy and let us go! We'll never do it again!"

Watching their tearful performance, a hint of hesitation flashed in Konan's cool eyes as she looked at Yahiko.

Yahiko looked at these weeping "poor people," his brow furrowed, his mind in turmoil.

He was kind by nature and dedicated himself to changing the Land of Rain through peaceful means. He found it difficult to bring himself to kill those who claimed to be forced by life's hardships.

He sighed, as if making up his mind, and said, "Let them go..."

"Don't let them go!"

A clear, angry female voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Yahiko's words.

Konan, Yahiko, and the taciturn boy with striking red hair, Nagato, along with several other Akatsuki members, all looked in the direction of the sound.

A red-haired girl wearing a straw raincoat emerged angrily from behind the bushes by the roadside. Pointing at the five thugs kneeling and begging for mercy, she said to Yahiko and the others, "These were the same bandits this afternoon! They ambushed us on the road, and after I knocked them down, they used the same excuse, saying their child was starving and begging me to let them go! I took pity on them and let them go! I didn't expect they weren't refugees at all, but professional bandits! They specialize in taking advantage of people's sympathy!"

Vanilla Whirlpool grew angrier as she spoke, feeling annoyed and furious at the thought of how she had been fooled by these guys' superb acting skills that afternoon.

Her words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the ears of everyone in the Akatsuki!

Konan and Yahiko's faces instantly turned extremely ugly, their eyes filled with anger at being deceived as they looked at the five bandits.

A hot-tempered Akatsuki member suddenly drew a kunai, stepped forward, and shouted angrily, "How dare they take advantage of our kindness! Boss, since you can't do it, then let me finish off these scum!"

"Spare my life!"

"We were wrong! We'll never do it again!"

When the five robbers realized their lie had been exposed, they were terrified and no longer cared about their pretense. They leaped up from the ground and fled in different directions like startled rabbits!

"We can't let them escape! They'll go and harm others!" Upon seeing this, Yahiko immediately gave the order to Konan and the other members.

"Trying to run?!" A fierce glint flashed in Vanilla's eyes. The frustration of being deceived that afternoon and the anger at this moment intertwined, making her no longer hesitate.

She raised her hands and gave a sharp rebuke:
"King Kong Blockade!"

Two golden chakra chains shot out from the sky once again!

This time, the chains are faster and more precise!
Like two golden lightning bolts, they darted through the rain and instantly caught up with the five fleeing bandits. Like nimble snakes, they coiled around and bound them tightly, then suddenly pulled them back and slammed them heavily into the middle of the muddy road. The fall left them dazed and bewildered, crying out for their parents. Two of them were even so frightened that they lost control of their bladders, making a complete fool of themselves.

Yahiko looked at the bandits struggling, crying and begging for mercy in the mud, a complicated look flashing in his eyes. In the end, he waved his hand and said to the member holding the kunai, "Tie them up and send them to the nearby town tomorrow to be handled by the security team."

"Yes, chief."

After dealing with the bandits, Yahiko turned his attention back to Uzumaki Vanilla. A sincere and friendly smile appeared on his face as he stepped forward, extended his hand, and said, "Hello, my name is Yahiko, and I am the leader of the Akatsuki organization in Amegakure. Thank you so much for reminding us earlier, otherwise we would have been tricked by these guys. May I ask who you are?"

However, Vanilla's gaze seemed to be drawn by a magnet, bypassing Yahiko and landing directly on the silent red-haired boy behind him.

Her eyes were filled with surprise, inquiry, and an indescribable sense of intimacy.

Yahiko and Konan also noticed Vanilla's unusual behavior and followed her gaze to Nagato.

Vanilla walked step by step to Nagato, looked up at his long, bright red hair that was just as vibrant as her own, and her voice trembled with uncertainty: "You...you are too..."

Nagato looked at the girl who walked up to him, especially her red hair and red eyes that were so similar to his mother's, and his calm heart couldn't help but be disturbed.

He lowered his head somewhat awkwardly and answered in a weak voice, "I...I'm called Nagato. I..."

"His mother's name is Uzumaki Fusō, and she is also a member of the Uzumaki clan who was separated from her family."

A calm voice came from the rain, picking up where Nagato left off.

Yahiko, Konan, and the others looked in the direction of the sound and saw a boy dressed in black casual clothes with black hair and black eyes standing quietly not far away.

Surprisingly, the dense raindrops fell on him as if they encountered an invisible barrier, automatically sliding away without wetting even a corner of his clothes.

He stood calmly in the rain, seemingly out of place in this damp and cold world.

Menma walked slowly to the Akatsuki members, his gaze calmly sweeping over Yahiko and Konan, finally lingering on Nagato for a moment before introducing himself: "Hello, my name is Uzumaki Menma. Strictly speaking, we should be distant relatives of Nagato."

His words were clear, yet they stunned the original Akatsuki members present.

Yahiko and Konan subconsciously glanced at Nagato and Kaoru's strikingly similar red hair, and then at Menma's short, jet-black hair.

Xiao Nan murmured to herself, her eyes filled with confusion:

"relative……?"

[Today's picture: Little Minami. Little Minami was quite cute when she was a child.]

(End of this chapter)