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

Chapter 333 Six months later, it's time to say goodbye.
Deep underground, darkness, like thick ink, enveloped everything.

Jue's figure moved swiftly through the soil and rocks like a swimming fish, a testament to his unique mayfly technique.

The White Zetsu half exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Hey! That guy is terrifying! Is he really a ninja from this era? Even Hagoromo and Hamura back in the day probably weren't this good!"

Black Zetsu remained silent, but his heart was already churning with turbulent emotions.

It has survived for over a thousand years. Although it did not witness the battle in which the Hagoromo brothers sealed their mother Kaguya, it was it that instigated the later battle between Ashura and Indra.

However, the power displayed by the boy who called himself Uzumaki Menma, the way he treated Uchiha Madara with the Rinnegan as nothing, the way he cleaved meteors with a wave of his hand, and the way he kicked apart the complete Susanoo, gave rise to a thought that even it feared.

This guy's strength may have already surpassed that of Hagoromo and Hamura back then!
But why?
Why would such extraordinary life forms be born on this planet, which was regarded as a nursery by the mother?
Black Zetsu was completely baffled, a sense of loss and despair permeating him as his plans spiraled out of control.

After fleeing for hundreds of kilometers away from Amegakure Village, and confirming that it was completely safe, Zetsu finally came to a slow stop.

Its hoarse, somber voice echoed in the darkness: "How many White Zetsu have you lost?"

The White Zetsu half, sensing and analyzing data through its chakra connected to the vast network of plant roots underground, said after a moment in an exaggeratedly detached tone, "Wow! This is terrible! All the hundred-plus brothers we assigned to provide support and surveillance nearby have vanished! Looks like they've all been wiped out!"

More than a hundred White Zetsu!
This is almost half of the Black Zetsu's current available forces!
It originally thought that with the infiltration ability and number of these White Zetsu, it could at least try to recover the Rinnegan amidst the chaos. Unexpectedly, the other party was so ruthless and decisive, leaving not a single one alive!
However, Black Zetsu did not show much heartache or anger.

Its little yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness.

The losses were severe, but not crippling.

In the unknown, frigid depths of the Land of Iron, a full army of 100,000 White Zetsu lies dormant!

The ones currently active are merely a tiny fraction activated to manipulate Madara Uchiha.

Black Zetsu murmured, his voice filled with patience accumulated over a thousand years: "The Rinnegan is gone, Madara is dead, and even Yahiko and Nagato, these two important pawns, have completely slipped out of control... The plan has been completely disrupted."

It raised its head, as if it could pierce through layers of rock walls and gaze into the endless void, its voice a whisper of near-devout devotion: "Mother... please wait patiently a little longer... your child will never give up..."

After saying this, its half-black, half-white form sank into the deeper, darker depths of the earth, once again entering a long period of lurking and waiting.

……

Six months later, in Amegakure.

The incessant rain continues to shroud the country, like an eternal melody.

However, compared to the war-torn and devastated scene of six months ago, Amegakure has now been revitalized.

In particular, the northern port area, once razed to the ground by battle, now boasts brand-new docks, warehouses, and hoisting facilities.

Large and small boats shuttled back and forth, their horns mingling with the hustle and bustle of workers and vendors on the dock, creating a busy and prosperous scene.

Inside Rain Shadow Hospital, a newly built white building with rather advanced facilities.

Wearing a pristine white medical ninja coat, Akabby is carefully examining Nagato's eyes as he lies on the hospital bed.

Her eyes were focused and gentle, her fingers covered with a faint green chakra glow as she gently lifted Nagato's eyelids to observe how the transplanted eyes were adapting.

Since being cured of his internal problems and regained his health by Menma six months ago, Akaibi has been moved by the ideals of Yahiko and the Akatsuki members, and resolutely chose to become a medical ninja, dedicated to eliminating the world's suffering.

With her extraordinary talent, she is now the director of Amegakure Hospital and the village's recognized strongest medical ninja.

Her father, Amado, became the head of equipment and logistics for Amegakure, holding a similarly high position.

After a thorough examination, Akabby smiled with relief, gently patted Nagato's shoulder, and said in a gentle voice, "Alright, Nagato. These eyes have fused very well, the chakra pathways are clear, and there has been no rejection reaction. You only need to come back for a check-up every six months from now on."

Xiao Nan, who had been waiting by his side, finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and her tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

Nagato slowly opened his eyes, and three black tomoe slowly rotated in his scarlet pupils.

Since his Rinnegan was taken back by Madara Uchiha half a year ago, Menma considered that Nagato's body was already used to the daily chakra consumption and burden of advanced eye techniques. If he were to rashly transplant ordinary eyes, it might cause discomfort or even backlash.

So he took out a pair of cloned Sharingan with three tomoe from his spare parts and transplanted them into Nagato.

This is both a compensation for Nagato losing his Rinnegan and the most suitable option for his current physical condition.

"Thank you, Akabby." Nagato's voice was still somewhat low, but compared to the deathly silence of six months ago, it had become more lively.

Xiao Nan also sincerely thanked him: "Thank you for your help, Akabby."

Akabby, who was writing the examination report, looked up and smiled slightly, a smile as warm as sunlight piercing through the rain: "We're all old friends, no need to be so polite. I'm very happy to see that Nagato is recovering well."

After leaving the hospital, Nagato and Konan walked along the streets of Amegakure.

Nagato raised his head, letting the cold rain hit his face. Through his new Sharingan, he looked at the village under construction before him and felt a strong sense of unreality.

These short six months have brought about earth-shattering changes for Amegakure and even the entire Land of Rain.

First, the Akatsuki organization, led by Yahiko, successfully took over the rule of Amegakure with the absolute military support of Menma.

Yahiko officially became the new leader of Amegakure.

Subsequently, under the guidance and insight of Menma, which far surpassed the limitations of this era, a sweeping reform was launched across the Land of Rain.

Internally, the village of Amegakure itself underwent a thorough overhaul.

Drawing on the mature experience of the five great ninja villages, a standardized ninja school, ninja hospital, intelligence department, and mission hall for mission issuance and management system were established. The ranks, responsibilities, benefits, and promotion system of ninjas were clearly defined, transforming the ninja force of Amegakure from the relatively loose one during the Hanzo era into a disciplined and well-organized military organization with a clear division of labor.

Following that, Yahiko demonstrated his leadership qualities and determination.

He personally led the reorganized and strengthened Rain Village ninja forces to begin eradicating the long-standing problems within the Land of Rain with lightning speed.

Those powerful nobles who held military power and ruled their own territories, as well as various armed forces that attacked and wreaked havoc on the local areas.

Faced with absolute strength and a unified will, these internal obstacles were quickly swept away, and Amegakure truly became the only legitimate armed force in the Land of Rain, achieving the initial unification of the country.

After resolving the internal issues, they turned their attention to external matters.

Taking full advantage of the unique geographical location of the Land of Rain, which is situated in the center of the Ninja World Continent and connects the three major nations of Fire, Wind, and Earth, as well as the convenient maritime transport provided by the important strait between the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth, a series of highly attractive commercial laws were formulated and introduced.

Amegakure provides armed escorts to merchant caravans from various countries who wish to trade or transit through Amegakure, offering extremely low mission commissions, sometimes even subsidized by the village's finances. This greatly ensures the safety of the trade routes.

At the same time, Amegakure announced a number of preferential policies, the most notable of which was a significant tax reduction for grain trade, and even tax exemption during certain periods.

These precise combinations of punches had an immediate and noticeable effect.

The Land of Rain, which had been devastated by war and chaos, quickly became a major commercial hub in the ninja world, connecting the east and west and linking the north and south!

Not only did merchants from the three major countries of Fire, Earth, and Wind flock here, but caravans from neighboring smaller countries such as Grass, Waterfall, Iron, Bird, Bear, and River also began to frequently travel to and from the area.

The influx of people, goods, and capital into the Land of Rain not only greatly stimulated the country's economic recovery but also brought in substantial commercial tax revenue.

More importantly, the continuous influx of ample food through trade gave Amegakure sufficient resources and capabilities to provide large-scale relief to displaced people and refugees caused by years of war within the country.

When Yahiko thought this would allow the refugees and displaced people of the Land of Rain to survive, Menma pointed out to Yahiko that this was not just a simple act of charity.

He adopted a "work-for-relief" approach, taking in large numbers of displaced people and refugees, and cleverly utilizing the power of ninjas, especially earth-style ninjas, to build water conservancy projects, reclaim wasteland, and construct roads and infrastructure throughout the country.

In just six months, large tracts of fertile land suitable for cultivation were transformed within the Land of Rain.

These lands were then allocated to the displaced people and refugees who participated in the construction, allowing them to settle down and become self-reliant producers again.

A country that was once plagued by civil war, rampant banditry, and widespread famine has miraculously transformed into a commercial hub and a stable nation in the central part of the Ninja World in just six months!
The number of displaced people and refugees decreased at a visible rate, and the whole country seemed to have finally emerged from a long and dark abyss and ushered in a hopeful dawn.

The identities and responsibilities of the former core members of Akatsuki have also undergone tremendous changes.

When Konan and Nagato arrived at the center of Amegakure, at the tower that symbolized the core of power, the spacious and bright mission hall on the first floor was bustling with activity.

The ninjas, wearing brand-new Rainbow headbands, either acted alone or formed small teams to take on missions.

Meanwhile, on the other side, all sorts of well-dressed merchants chatted amongst themselves while issuing tasks to the administrators of the mission hall.

It can even be seen that when faced with some difficult or long escort or clearing missions, different teams will temporarily combine to work together, demonstrating a good cooperative atmosphere.

The Buddha, who was busy coordinating task allocation behind the task counter, immediately spotted Konan and Nagato walking in.

He immediately put down the scroll in his hand, his shiny bald head seemingly beaded with sweat, and hurried forward, lowering his voice to say:
"Konan, Nagato, you're finally back! Quick, go upstairs and try to calm Yahiko down! He's angered Menma-sama again!"

Konan and Nagato exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes, but more so a knowing acceptance that they had long been accustomed to.

Similar scenarios have played out more than once in the past six months.

Yahiko harbors the purest and most idealistic vision of peace, but when dealing with specific and complex domestic and foreign affairs, he often comes up with some ideas that Menma considers too "naive" or "impractical".

Menma, on the other hand, would point out the loopholes and potential risks without mercy, and sometimes even use a more "intense" approach to make Yahiko face reality.

However, this collision was not without its significance.

Often after learning from Menma's "lesson," Yahiko becomes more pragmatic. He will revise these idealistic plans and instead adopt a more prudent, step-by-step pilot approach to verify them, ultimately figuring out the most feasible decision under the current circumstances.

Although this process was full of friction, it also spurred Yahiko to grow rapidly, allowing him to see more clearly the many obstacles on the road to his ideals and the complexities of reality.

The two dared not delay and quickly walked toward the private elevator leading to the top floor.

The top-floor leader's office is completely different in style from the traditional Japanese style of the Hanzo period. Instead, it features a modern office environment that is simple, efficient, and focused on functionality.

Outside the office door, Kyusuke, the captain of the ANBU, with feline vertical pupils and blue tear stains on his face, was guarding the place. When he saw Nagato and Konan, he immediately gave them a look that was a mixture of pleading and helplessness, and gestured slightly with his chin to the tightly closed office door.

Konan and Nagato understood each other and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." Yahiko's voice came from inside, sounding somewhat tired.

The two pushed the door open and entered.

Inside the spacious, modern office, Yahiko's large desk was piled high with documents, but he wasn't dealing with government affairs at the moment. Instead, he was sitting on a sofa in the rest area with Menma.

A huge map of the ninja world was spread out on the coffee table between the two.

The mountains, rivers, and national ninja village markers are clearly visible on the map.

At this moment, on the map, in and around the Rain Kingdom region, there are many chess pieces representing the forces of various factions.

The flame emblem of Konoha, the rock symbol of Iwagakure, and the hourglass symbol of Sunagakure are all intertwined within the Land of Rain, presenting a chaotic and dangerous strangulation situation.

The blue chess pieces representing the power of Amegakure were few in number and squeezed into a small space by the three armies, appearing to be in a precarious situation.

Yahiko held several blue chess pieces in his hand, his brows furrowed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He tried to move his pieces to defend against an attack from one direction, but the pieces from the other two sides immediately took advantage of the situation and began to encroach on the territory of the Rain Kingdom. When he had tried his best to barely hold off the invasion from two directions at the same time, the army of the third side had already marched straight in and was at the gates of the Rain Village!
No matter how he planned or how he allocated his limited forces, in this simulated "Ninja World War," the Land of Rain could not escape the tragic fate of being completely engulfed by the flames of war and becoming a victim of the great power rivalry.

As he watched the Land of Rain on the map being covered time and again by the crimson of war, Yahiko's face grew paler and paler, his lips pressed tightly together, his heart aching as if it were being torn apart.

The feeling of helplessness—that he couldn't protect his home despite his best efforts—almost crushed him.

Nagato and Konan slowly walked forward, their gazes falling on the map of the ninja world on the coffee table, which depicted a cruel future.

When they saw the chess pieces representing the three great ninja villages covering the territory of the Land of Rain like greedy locusts, their hearts sank simultaneously.

This scene instantly pulled them back to the darkest memories of their childhood. During the Second Shinobi World War, how the Land of Rain became a battlefield for the rivalry between great powers, how villages were burned down, and how loved ones were tragically killed—that deep-seated despair and fear surged into their hearts once again.

When the game ended, Yahiko had no more pieces left to use.

His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and the territory of the Rain Kingdom in front of him was completely covered by red markings representing war.

On the other side, Menma still had more than half of the chess pieces representing Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure remaining. In a small box next to him, there were even chess pieces representing Kumogakure and some other small ninja villages that had not been used, as if silently mocking the insignificance of the Land of Rain's power.

Mianma casually tossed a hidden rock chess piece he was playing with into the chess box next to him, making a crisp clinking sound.

He raised his eyes and looked calmly at Yahiko, whose face was somewhat pale: "How many times have we conducted this kind of simulation?"

Yahiko seemed drained of all his strength, his eyes unfocused, and he answered in a dry voice, "The twenty-seventh time."

Menma leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming serious and heavy: "So, in these twenty-seven simulations, how many times did you successfully protect the Rain Kingdom from the ravages of war?"

Yahiko's lips moved a few times, and finally, as if he had exhausted all his courage, he uttered three words with difficulty: "Not even once."

The office was deathly silent, with only the pattering rain outside the window continuing.

Konan's eyes were filled with heartache. She walked behind Yahiko and gently placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to provide some warmth and support, but found that his shoulder was trembling slightly.

She wanted to offer comfort, but found that any words seemed so pale in the face of the cruel reality at that moment.

Nagato clenched his fists, his Sharingan eyes filled with resentment and confusion.

He looked at Mianma, who had been like a mentor to them for the past six months, teaching them how to govern the country and how to build the village, but now used the coldest way to crush their ideals like bubbles.

Nagato asked in a hoarse voice, "Menma... is there really no way to prevent the Land of Rain from being drawn into a war between great powers? Even if we declare permanent neutrality and promise all the great powers that we will never participate in any conflicts, is that not enough?"

Mianma sighed softly, a sigh carrying a sense of helplessness born of a profound understanding of the world.

He picked up the slightly cooled teacup from the coffee table, took a small sip, glanced at Nagato, and said with a hint of barely perceptible pity in his voice, "Nagato, you're still too naive."

Menma put down his teacup and tapped the location of the Land of Rain on the map with his fingers: "The conflict of interests between major powers is rooted in the instinct for survival and development, and is an irreconcilable contradiction. Unless one side is completely defeated and annexed, this struggle based on resources and geography will never stop. Neutrality? In the face of absolute interests and power, the so-called declaration of neutrality is nothing more than a piece of waste paper that can be torn up at any time."

His gaze returned to Yahiko, and his tone sharpened: "Do you remember half a year ago when I asked you to try to persuade those noble armed forces that were divided in various parts of the Land of Rain? You went to them with the ideal of peaceful reorganization and joint construction, and what was the result? Did you succeed even once?"

Yahiko's body trembled violently as that unpleasant memory surfaced clearly in his mind.

At the time, he firmly believed that he could win over the nobles with communication and ideas, persuade them to lay down their weapons, and integrate into the new Rain Kingdom.

He went there with sincerity, but was met with closed doors, ridicule, and even being refused entry to the other party's territory.

When he forced his way to meet those nobles using his ninja skills, they pretended to be friendly on the surface, but then sent hired ninjas and samurai to assassinate him, resulting in the tragic deaths of several Akatsuki members who trusted and followed him.

What shook Yahiko's conviction even more was that during the subsequent purge of these noble forces, Menma allowed him to witness firsthand the scenes inside those noble mansions.

The opulent mansions of the nobles, filled with revelry and lavish feasts, stood in stark contrast to the desolate scenes of starvation and cannibalism outside the castles.

The stark contrast between the rich and the poor, and the poor freezing to death on the streets, shattered his last shred of illusion about the old ruling class.

Yahiko closed his eyes in pain and slowly shook his head.

The greed, cruelty, and indifference to the lives of commoners of those nobles were a wound in his heart that was difficult to heal.

He looked up at Menma again. Those eyes, which were always full of sunshine and hope, were now filled with confusion and struggle. He asked, almost pleadingly, "Is it really impossible for countries and ninja villages to achieve peace? Is mutual understanding really that difficult? How long will this fighting continue?"

Menma looked at the still-burning flame of idealism in Yahiko's eyes and said calmly but with every word carrying immense weight: "In the end, it all comes down to 'profit'."

“Every country has limited resources: land, water, minerals, population… Just like the limited output of a piece of farmland, to feed more people, new farmland must be developed. But what if all the surrounding lands have owners? Annexation becomes the most direct and ‘effective’ option, whether through war or other means such as economics and politics.”

His finger traced the territories of the major powers on the map: "Each ninja village is essentially a tool serving the national interest. For the ruling class of each country and the high-ranking officials of the ninja villages, maintaining and expanding their own interests is the guiding principle above all else."

"Of course, they won't say it outright; they'll always cloak it in various high-sounding guises—'resisting invasion,' 'upholding justice,' 'eliminating threats,' and so on. But once you understand the word 'profit,' you can cut through the fog and see the real driving force behind most international situations."

As he spoke, Menma pointed precisely to the southeast of the ninja world map, at the location of a vanished kingdom.

"For example... Uzushio Village in the Land of Whirlpools. Why was it besieged by multiple ninja villages? And why was Konoha, as an ally, so ineffective in its rescue efforts back then, ultimately leading to the destruction of Uzushio Village and the displacement of the Uzumaki clan? And why did Konoha ultimately only 'take in' one Uzumaki clan member?"

His gaze shifted to Nagato: "For example, Nagato's mother. She has the blood of the Uzumaki clan. The Land of Rain and the Land of Fire are neighboring countries. Why would she rather live in the war-torn Land of Rain than seek help from Konoha, which is relatively stable and has ties to the Uzumaki clan?"

"!"

Menma's two questions exploded like thunder in the hearts of Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato!

The questions, especially those concerning Nagato's mother, left them momentarily stunned.

They had never thought about this issue in depth before, and only now, with Menma pointing it out, did they realize that it seemed to hide a deeper reason for the ninja world's chaos that they had never touched upon before.

Nagato fell into deep thought, involuntarily recalling the "future" that Menma had shown them through illusion.

In that "future," after Yahiko's death, in order to realize Yahiko's dream of world peace, he chose to cooperate with a mysterious person who called himself "Uchiha Madara," collect the nine tailed beasts, and attempt to use absolute power to make the entire ninja world feel pain, thereby intimidating all countries and achieving a distorted peace.

A thought arose in his mind. With a hint of uncertainty, he looked at Menma and asked, "What if... what if we possessed the absolute power of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, enough to overwhelm the entire ninja world? With such power, could we force nations to sit down, understand each other, and achieve true peace?"

Upon hearing this question, Menma was slightly taken aback, then a complex smile appeared on his lips.

“Hashirama Senju…” he repeated the name, his tone distant. “He did indeed possess the power to suppress an era, and he naively believed that he could maintain peace by distributing the tailed beasts and forging alliances. But what was the result?”

His voice suddenly turned cold and stern: "During his lifetime, nations, intimidated by his power, outwardly submitted but secretly never ceased their military buildup and scheming! After his death, the so-called peace burst like a bubble in the sunlight! The First and Second Shinobi World Wars broke out one after another! The form of war may have escalated from clan feuds to wars between ninja villages between nations, but the essence of war—the struggle for resources and interests—has never changed!"

He pointed to the map: "A powerful ninja village might be able to buy its country a decade or two of development time, but this is merely the calm before the storm. Once they have recovered and their internal resources can no longer satisfy their expanding desires, a new war will inevitably break out! Just as we just deduced, judging from the current situation, the relatively peaceful period in the ninja world is about to end, and the Third Shinobi World War is very likely to break out within two years!"

"The Third Shinobi World War?!" Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato exclaimed almost simultaneously.

The Land of Rain has barely escaped from internal strife and poverty, and has just seen a glimmer of hope. Is it about to be completely destroyed by an even more brutal war between great powers?

Seeing their panicked expressions, Menma continued, "And when the time comes, I've already thought of an excuse for the great powers to invade the Land of Rain."

His finger pointed heavily at the location of the Land of Rain: "You 'rebels' have committed treason, murdered the legitimate noble rulers of the country, and disrupted the stability and order of the region. Whether it is the daimyo of the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, or the Land of Wind, they can raise the banner of 'restoring order' and 'punishing the rebels' and launch a legitimate war against the Land of Rain to divide up its interests and strategic locations."

This stark analysis laid bare the brutal realities of the future before the three, sending a chill down their spines.

Mianma slowly stood up, stretched his stiff neck and shoulders, and his bones made a slight cracking sound.

He walked to the window, gazing at the Hidden Rain Village shrouded in rain yet brimming with life. With his back to the three, he said, “So, stop with your unrealistic fantasies. What you need to do now is not pray for a peaceful future where everyone understands each other, but to strive to become stronger! Work hard to improve your individual strength, work hard to strengthen the overall power of the Hidden Rain Village, and work hard to develop the economy and war potential of the Land of Rain. With your current strength, you are far, far away from being able to protect this land and its people in the upcoming war.”

Yahiko and the others remained silent, knowing that Menma was telling the truth.

Over the past six months, although Mianma has shared all his knowledge with them, they have always felt that he is like an observer, a mentor, who may leave at any time.

They cannot rely on Menma's power forever, just like when Jiraiya left. They must learn to face this cruel world on their own and protect everything they cherish with their own hands.

Just then, Kyusuke's deliberately raised voice broke the heavy atmosphere outside the office: "Chief Yahiko! Kusa has something important to report!"

Yahiko took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, trying to restore the calmness to his face, and even managing to force a sunny smile, although the smile was somewhat forced.

"Let her in."

The office door was pushed open, and Uzumaki Kasugai, dressed in a smart ninja outfit and wearing a headband from Amegakure, strode in.

She held a scroll in her hand, her face showing a hint of solemnity.

She first glanced at Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, then turned her gaze to Menma, who was standing by the window with her back to everyone. She pursed her lips and reported clearly:

"Chief, we have just received intelligence from the merchants of the Wind Kingdom that confirms the current queen of the Loulan Kingdom in the desert has been assassinated. She has been confirmed dead, and her daughter will hold an enthronement ceremony next week to become the new queen."

"Loulan..."

Upon hearing this news, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato all turned their gazes to the figure standing by the window.

Over the past six months, Mianma has repeatedly asked them to keep an eye out for and collect information about the ancient Loulan Kingdom.

At this moment, news of the assassination of the Loulan Queen and the ascension of the new Queen arrived, and a strong premonition rose in their hearts.

The moment that Menma has been waiting for may have arrived.

Sure enough, standing by the window, Mianma gazed at the seemingly endless rain outside and the village that had been transformed under his guidance, and murmured softly, as if talking to himself:
"It seems it's time to say goodbye."

These words, though spoken softly, struck the hearts of everyone present like a heavy hammer.

Vanilla's body trembled violently, and she almost dropped the scroll in her hand. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, and she bit her lower lip tightly.

Although they had only known Menma for six months, during that time, Menma was their savior, mentor, friend, and even family.

He saved Kanako from being captured by the Grass Village and taught her the secret techniques of the Uzumaki clan; he taught Nagato how to control the power of the Uzumaki clan and the mysteries of the Sharingan, allowing his strength to improve by leaps and bounds; he guided Konan on how to manage finances and build a medical system, enabling her to grow from a simple combat ninja into a core manager of the village; he also personally imparted his knowledge and experience in governing the country and developing the economy to Yahiko, allowing him to quickly grow from an idealistic youth into a qualified leader.

The three of them are now much stronger than they were six months ago, and they can even put up a fight against Hanzo the Salamander, the "demigod of the ninja world".

Menma deserves immense credit for the current state of the Land of Rain and Amegakure.

Such a mentor and friend, suddenly saying goodbye at this moment, filled their hearts with reluctance and an indescribable panic and unease.

They all had a strong intuition that once Menma left, she would probably never return.

Menma slowly turned around, a familiar, seemingly casual yet gentle smile on his face.

His gaze swept over Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, finally lingering for a moment on the face of Kaori, who was struggling to hold back her tears.

"Well then, before I leave, let me give you one last 'assignment'." His voice remained calm, yet carried a solemn entrustment.

"In the almost inevitable Third Shinobi World War, rely on your own strength and wisdom to protect this land that you have poured your heart and soul into building, and protect every civilian in the Land of Rain."

Mianma paused, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes: "If I have the chance, I might come back to visit you again."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his robes and handed it to Yahiko.

"This is a parting gift, or rather, a boost to your strength," Menma explained. "This is a detailed map of the Uzushio Village ruins and instructions on how to enter. Deep underground within the ruins lies an ancient seal, which contains the remains of a girl from the Uchiha clan from three hundred years ago."

Yahiko took the scroll, and when he heard "Uchiha" and "three hundred years ago," a look of shock flashed in his eyes.

Menma continued, “She is a pitiful person. Although her personality may be somewhat extreme and stubborn due to her past experiences, I believe that her deepest longing for light and peace is the same as yours. She will become a trustworthy partner and a powerful ally for you.”

The image of a girl struggling in the darkness, yet never giving up her yearning for light, appeared in Menma's mind.

He believed that among Yahiko and his group of young people who held pure ideals and were striving to change the world, that girl might be able to find true belonging and redemption.

Yahiko gripped the scroll tightly in his hand. Although he found it unbelievable that it sealed a ninja from three hundred years ago, he sensed a rare tenderness and care in Menma's tone and eyes.

He nodded solemnly and promised, "I understand! I will definitely find her and free her from the seal! By the way, Menma, what is her name?"

Menma looked at Yahiko's eyes, which had regained their fighting spirit, and smiled slightly:
"Her name is Uchiha Hikaru."

"Like you, I am a child who, even in darkness, still yearns for and seeks light and peace."

[Today's image: Sunset Red]

(End of this chapter)