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

Chapter 355 The New Generation of the Star Kingdom
The second day of the Ninja Sword Tournament.

The same venue, the same bustling Guanzhong Plain, but the atmosphere was slightly different from yesterday. It lacked the freshness of a first appearance and had more of the solemn atmosphere of a true clash of titans.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro meet up with Yukimi at the agreed location.

Their instructor, a Jonin, had changed his attire today. He was still wearing a Jonin vest, but the inner lining had been changed to a black bodysuit for easier movement. His medium-length brown hair was tied into a high ponytail, making him look much more capable.

"Good morning, little ones." Xuejian waved to them, a lazy smile on her face. "How did you sleep? Were yesterday's matches exciting?"

"These seniors are all very strong!" Kankuro said excitedly. "I especially reminisced about the battle between Taiichi and Gensui last night!"

Temari analyzed more calmly: "Although Senior Gensui lost, he was also very powerful, and even pushed Senior Taiyi to the brink of defeat several times."

Gaara nodded slightly and said, "Both Senior Taiyi and Senior Gensui have rich combat experience and each has their own strengths in combat. It is not difficult to see from yesterday's battle that their strengths are evenly matched. However, this time, Senior Taiyi is slightly better."

The four pushed open the door to the competition venue's lounge. Morishita Toshito was sitting on a bench inspecting the scabbards of his twin swords, Hiramekarei. Hearing the door open, he looked up and gave a hearty smile: "Yukimi, you've come."

Beside him sat a female ninja with short brown hair.

She looked to be about nineteen years old, with clear, bright brown eyes. She turned her head when she heard the noise.

"Hazuki-chan!" Yukimi's eyes lit up instantly, her lazy demeanor vanished, and she pounced on him like a little girl.

The two female ninjas embraced tightly, and Xuejian even spun them around in her arms.

Hazuki Murahashi laughed out loud at her joke and patted her back lightly, saying, "Alright, alright, there are so many people watching."

"What does it matter!" Xuejian let go of Yeyue's hand, but still held onto it tightly, a rare bright smile on her face: "How long has it been since you came to see me on your own initiative! Is the medical department that busy?"

“The national healthcare system has been quite busy lately, so our medical department has sent a lot of people there to provide support,” Hazuki explained gently, turning her gaze to Gaara and the other two.

"Are these your disciples?"

"Oh right!" Yukimi suddenly remembered to introduce them. She stepped aside and said as if showing off a precious treasure, "These are my three disciples! Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro. They are my proudest students!"

She then turned to the three of them: "This is Hazuki Murahashi, a special Jonin from the medical department, and my best friend!"

"Greetings, seniors." The three greeted each other in unison.

Gaara noticed that Hazuki Murahashi's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.

There was no fear or curiosity in that gaze, but rather the look of a medical ninja observing a patient's physical condition.

Soon, the gaze became gentle and friendly.

"Hello," Hazuki replied with a smile. "Xuejian often mentions you to me. She says you all work very hard, especially..."

She looked at Gaara: "You are very talented."

Gaara nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

He was already used to being the center of attention.

At that moment, the door to the lounge was pushed open again, and a group of people filed in.

The first person to walk in was a blonde girl with black eyes; her baby face made her look much younger than her actual age.

She wore a white medical ninja coat over a standard Star Ninja uniform, and moved as nimbly as a bird.

"Morishita-senpai! We're here to cheer you on!" Suzuhara Ai said with a bright smile, her voice clear and cheerful.

Following closely behind her was a petite, white-haired girl.

Although she is sixteen years old, Miyajiro Chino looks like an eleven or twelve-year-old child.

She skipped in, her short white hair swaying with her movements, and her purple eyes curiously surveying her surroundings.

"Hazuki-nee is here too!" Chino waved happily when she saw Murahashi Hazuki.

Next to enter were two young men carrying ninja swords.

The man on the left has silver hair and black eyes, is about seventeen years old, and carries a decapitation sword almost as tall as him on his back.

His expression was calm, and his steps were powerful; he was clearly a highly skilled swordsman who had undergone rigorous training.

The person on the right is around twenty years old, with medium-length black hair casually tied back, and red pupils that stand out under the indoor lights.

The sword on his back was rather slender, with a faint crackling of lightning on its blade; it was called Thunder Blade Fang.

"Ida, Sato, you're here too." Morishita Toshito stood up and bumped fists with the two of them.

“Of course, how could I miss my brother’s match?” Sato Sayun, carrying the Thunder Blade Fang, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

But what really caught Gaara's attention were the four people who came in afterward.

The leader was a white-haired, white-eyed boy, about thirteen or fourteen years old, with pale skin and a cold demeanor.

Kaguya Kimimaro, the last surviving member of the Kaguya clan.

Gaara had heard of the Kaguya surname when he was in Sunagakure. It was a fighting clan that used bones as weapons. During the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure fought many battles with Kirigakure.

Walking beside him was a black-haired boy of the same age, with delicate features like a girl and a gentle expression.

Mizuki Haku, the last surviving member of the Yuki clan, possesses the bloodline limit of Ice Release.

The third person made Gaara's pupils shrink slightly. He had long white hair and pure white pupils. Although he looked to be only about twelve years old, he exuded a mature aura that did not match his age.

Otsutsuki Toneri.

The last one to enter was a boy about the same age as Toneri, with black hair, white eyes, and a Star Ninja headband on his forehead.

Hyuga Neji, the young master of the Hyuga branch family, was promoted to Special Jonin this year.

The four of them standing together created a subtle aura.

Even among the genius-filled new generation in the Star Kingdom, they stood out.

"Kimimaro, Haku, Toneri, Neji," Morishita Toshito greeted them one by one, "You've all arrived."

"Of course I have to come and watch Morishita-senpai's match," Hyuga Neji said respectfully, but his gaze had already swept across the entire lounge before finally settling on Gaara.

At that moment, Chino Oyajo peeked out from the crowd and curiously looked at Gaara.

She was so short that she had to tilt her head back to make eye contact with him.

"Are you the Jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Beast?" Chino asked bluntly, blinking her purple eyes.

This sentence silenced the lounge for a moment.

All eyes were on Gaara, filled with curiosity, assessment, and scrutiny.

Temari frowned slightly, while Kankuro looked at Gaara with some nervousness.

They knew their younger brother didn't like being the center of attention.

But Gaara's expression didn't change at all.

He calmly met Chino's gaze and nodded: "It's me."

"Wow." Chino put her hands on her hips, as if she had discovered something interesting: "She looks no different from an ordinary person. I thought Jinchuriki would all have three heads and six arms."

These words, spoken so innocently and frankly, actually eased the awkward atmosphere from before.

Suzuhara Ai gently tugged at her: "Chino, don't be so rude."

"What does it matter? I'm just telling the truth," Chino muttered.

Xuejian walked over at this moment, put an arm around Gaara's shoulder, and said with an expression that said, "This is my disciple, I'm so proud of him." She said, "Ha, this is my disciple. He's one of the most promising juniors among the younger generation. You seniors better watch out, or you might get overtaken one day."

Ita-suke, carrying a guillotine, looked at Gaara with great interest. He had served as Gaara's bodyguard for a period of time when he was working in the Anbu.

"Jinchūriki..." Sato Sakumo murmured, his fingers lightly tapping the hilt of his sword. "Indeed, those who become jinchūriki are all geniuses with immense potential. However—"

He looked at Gaara: "Potential is one thing, but how much of it can be realized is the key."

These words may be blunt, but they are not malicious; they are more like a senior's encouragement to a junior.

Gaara met his gaze and calmly said, "I will try my best."

Those four simple words sparked a hint of appreciation in Sato Sakumo's eyes.

Sato Sakumo then turned to Morishita Toshito and said, "Toshito, your opponent today is Uchiha Taichi, right? That guy has activated his three-tomoe technique, he's not easy to deal with."

When serious matters were brought up, Toshihito Morishita's smile faded.

He patted the twin swords on his back: "I know. But that's precisely what makes the challenge so worthwhile."

“Uchiha Taichi…” Hyuga Neji pondered, “He should be the strongest among his peers in the Uchiha clan. I heard that he has always wanted to join the Star Ninja Army system, but he was suppressed by Lord Hikaru and Lord Shisui and trained in the police department for several years. He is indeed a formidable opponent.”

“But Morishita-senpai has the Twin Blades, Hiramekarei,” Bai Wen interjected gently, his voice as soft as a spring breeze. “His advantage in chakra reserves is obvious.”

Kimimaro, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "The outcome of a battle is never just a comparison of chakra levels."

His gaze swept over Morishita Toshito: "Tactics, timing, and willpower are all indispensable."

These words, spoken calmly and objectively, made Morishita Toshito nod seriously: "You're right. Every challenger who has made it this far is a formidable opponent. I will be on my best alert!"

As they were talking, the door to the lounge was pushed open once again.

"Teacher! We're here!"

A voice that sounded somewhat familiar to Gaara came through the phone.

Gaara turned around and saw three figures walking quickly towards him.

At the very front was a red-haired girl wearing oval-shaped black-rimmed glasses, with a lively smile on her face. She was Karin Uzumaki, the princess of the Uzumaki clan.

Behind her followed Hei Tu, a woman with short black hair, fair skin, and a sporty, youthful vibe.

The last one was a little boy with short purple hair, red eyes, and a somewhat shy expression.

Ita-suke waved to them, then smiled and introduced to everyone, "I also brought a class of genin. These are my three students: Uzumaki Karin, Kurotsuchi, and Ranmaru."

Karin and the other two quickly approached, first bowing to Ita-suke, then turning to the other Jonin in the lounge.

But Karin's gaze was quickly drawn to Kimimaro and Haku.

Her eyes lit up, and she ran over, calling out, "Kimimaro-nii! Haku-nii!"

Bai Wen smiled gently and patted her head: "Karin, it's been a long time."

Kimimaro simply nodded slightly, but his eyes softened considerably.

Karin's mother was their adoptive mother, and they doted on their younger sister Karin.

Sato Sayun raised an eyebrow in surprise: "The princess of the Uzumaki clan, the granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage, and the Red-Eyes clan, tsk tsk, Ita, the students you've brought are no ordinary people!"

These words made everyone realize what was happening.

Karin's signature red hair is indeed very eye-catching.

As a princess of the Uzumaki clan who was pampered since childhood, she was quite famous at the Ninja Academy and was known as the "Red-Haired Princess." Of course, among her peers, she was more remembered for her fiery temper, which was just as striking as her red hair.

Kurotsuchi is the granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.

In the last war, the Land of Earth was defeated and ceded five counties. Iwagakure became a vassal state of the Land of Stars and was assigned a military advisory group.

Many ninja clan members from Iwagakure were sent to the Star Ninja Academy as exchange students, and Kurotsuchi was one of them.

Ranmaru's appearance attracted even more attention, especially from Chino Miyagi.

She moved closer to Ranmaru, tilting her head to look at him curiously; the two were actually about the same height.

"How old is this kid?" Chino asked, her purple eyes fixed on Ranmaru's red pupils.

The group looked down at Chino, who also looked like a child. They knew more or less about Chino's situation, as her physical growth had stopped due to delayed treatment back then.

Itada scratched his head: "Ranmaru? He seems to be nine years old. Because of his bloodline disease, he participated in Lord Shura's gene modification project, so he graduated early."

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone understood.

The Land of Stars has many ninja clans, such as the Ibri clan to which Yukimi belongs, and the Kaguya clan to which Kimimaro belongs, all of whom have bloodline diseases to varying degrees.

It was the genetic engineering led by Lord Shura that cured their bloodline disease and even unlocked more potential.

Ranmaru stood silently behind Karin and Kurotsuchi, his red eyes lowered, seemingly unaccustomed to being watched by so many people.

Karin noticed his unease, stepped half a step to the side to block him, and put her hands on her hips: "Hey, hey, stop staring at Ranmaru like that, he'll get shy."

The way she protected her companions was very much like the princess of the Uzumaki clan.

Chino crossed her arms and squinted her eyes: "Red eyes... I heard that back then it was a dojutsu on par with the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan."

Her tone carried a sense of comparison.

After all, the Blood Dragon Eye of the Blood Pond Clan was once on par with the Sharingan.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

At that moment, Hazuki Murahashi spoke up, "Alright, alright, the match is about to begin. Toshito, are you ready?"

Morishita Toshito took a deep breath, slung the twin swords Hiramekarei over his shoulder, and stood up.

His expression turned serious, and his eyes burned with fighting spirit.

"We're all ready." The announcement came over the loudspeaker at that moment, instructing the participants to proceed to the preparation area.

The people in the lounge looked at each other, then walked together toward the door.

In the corridor, the crowd split into several groups.

The Jonin walked ahead, talking in hushed tones, while the Genin followed behind.

The group quickly arrived at the designated area in the audience seating area.

This location is excellent, directly facing the competition venue, offering a panoramic view of the entire arena.

They arrived just as the match was about to begin.

The stands were packed, and cheers surged like a tidal wave.

In the center of the arena, a boy dressed in a dark blue Uchiha clan uniform was already standing there.

Uchiha Taichi, seventeen years old, with short black hair, arms crossed in front of his chest.

What's most striking is his pair of Sharingan eyes with three tomoe.

“Three-tomoe…” Temari said softly, “It is said that every Uchiha who can activate the three-tomoe is an elite Jonin… There are even rumors that no one can fight an Uchiha one-on-one.”

Kankuro nervously swallowed: "Can Morishita-senpai win?"

At that moment, Toshito Morishita walked out from the opposite passage.

He carried the twin swords, Hiramekarei, and walked steadily toward the center of the arena.

The audience erupted in even louder cheers, with many shouting his name.

The two stood about twenty meters apart in the middle of the field.

After the referee reiterated the rules, he swung his arm down:

"Game start!"

Uchiha Taichi took the lead.

His hand seals were formed incredibly quickly, almost instantly before the referee finished speaking:
"Fire Release·Dragon Fire Technique!"

Although it's called the Fire Dragon Technique, the flames shot out in a straight line, like a spear, towards Morishita Toshito at such speed that it drew gasps from the audience.

But Morishita Toshito did not retreat but advanced.

He gripped the hilt of the knife with both hands and charged towards the fire dragon.

With a flash of light, the fire dragon was cleaved in two, and flames scattered to both sides.

Taiyi seemed to have anticipated this.

The moment Morishita Toshito broke through the fire dragon, he had already drawn his ninja sword from his waist.

It was an exquisite chakra ninja sword, its blade gleaming with a pale blue sheen. It was a masterpiece he had commissioned the ninja cat clan to craft specifically for this competition.

clang!
Sparks flew as the two swords clashed with the single sword.

The ensuing battle left the audience breathless.

Uchiha Taichi's swordsmanship was exquisite, each strike precise and efficient, without any unnecessary movements.

The Uchiha-style swordsmanship flowed smoothly in his hands, a stark contrast to Morishita Toshito's sweeping and powerful techniques.

"Wow, that's amazing..." Kankuro murmured, "Morishita-senpai was completely suppressed."

Gaara watched the arena intently.

In his observation, the situation was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

“It’s not suppression,” he said calmly. “It’s tactics.”

Temari, Karin, and the others all looked over.

Gaara continued his analysis: "Morishita-senpai chose to end the battle quickly. Look at his attack rhythm; although it seems passive, he immediately counterattacks after each block, trying to break Uchiha Taichi's rhythm."

He pointed to the arena: "The Sharingan genjutsu of the Uchiha clan is impossible to defend against. At the beginning of the battle, Morishita-senpai was able to be cautious and try not to look into the opponent's eyes. But as the battle continued, the physical and mental exhaustion combined made it easy for a loophole to appear. And in a battle against the Sharingan, such a loophole is fatal."

This analysis not only made the young genin realize something, but also caught the attention of the jonin in the back row.

Hyuga Neji turned to look at Kimimaro, the veins around his Byakugan slightly visible: "His analysis is very accurate. The outstanding graduates of the Ninja Academy are all quite remarkable."

Kimimaro nodded.

Through the Byakugan's "vision," he could see the vast amount of chakra within Gaara's body.

A fighting spirit gleamed in his eyes: "After all, he's a Jinchuriki personally brought back by Lord Shura. I really want to have a good fight with him."

Bai smiled gently from the side and said, "That will have to wait a few years, after all, he just graduated."

With her hands behind her head and leaning back, Chino Miyagi said, "Back when the Jonin Herba asked who among you was willing to mentor a newcomer, Kimimaro, you refused with a look of disgust. Otherwise, if you had taken this kid as your disciple, you could have 'trained' him every day."

Kimimaro glanced at her after hearing this, but didn't reply.

At that moment, Chino noticed that Suzuhara Ai's gaze was fixed on the other side.

She looked over as well and saw Hazuki Murahashi with a worried expression, her hands clasped tightly in front of her chest, her eyes fixed on Toshito Morishita in the center of the room, her lips slightly pursed.

Chino narrowed her eyes and revealed an "evil" smile.

She quietly tugged at Suzuhara Ai and Yukimi's sleeves, and the three female ninjas huddled together.

"Did you see that?" Chino lowered her voice and winked at Hazuki, "That worried look on Hazuki-nee's face..."

Suzuhara Ai blushed slightly: "Chino, don't talk nonsense."

Xuejian grinned like a cat that had just stolen some cream: "I knew it! The medical department was so busy. Hazuki even took the day off to watch the match. So it was to cheer on someone!"

"What are you talking about?" Sato Sakumo turned around with a curious look on his face when he heard the noise.

"Boys shouldn't eavesdrop on girls' conversations!" Chino pushed him away forcefully.

On the field, the battle reached its climax.

Taichi Uchiha's Sharingan spun rapidly, anticipating every attack from Toshito Morishita.

His swordsmanship grew faster and faster, gradually leaving several wounds on Morishita Toshito's body.

But Morishita Toshito's gaze remained resolute.

He suddenly changed tactics, no longer pursuing exquisite skill with his twin swords, but instead using brute force to overcome finesse. Each swing carried the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, forcing Taiyi to retreat and parry.

“He’s going to retaliate,” Gaara suddenly said.

Before he finished speaking, Morishita Toshihito crossed his twin swords, and a dazzling blue light burst forth from the blades.

The pent-up chakra was released in full at this moment!
"Floor, Liberation!"

A blue chakra ball condensed on the blade, and with a slam of the Twin Blades Hiramekarei, it blasted towards Uchiha Taichi.

Uchiha Taichi's pupils contracted.

At the critical moment, his figure blurred—

"Instant Technique!"

Taiichi appeared on the other side of the field, but his left sleeve was torn by the aftershock of the chakra ball, leaving abrasions on his arm.

The audience burst into exclamations.

Morishita Toshito did not pause.

He knew this was a golden opportunity. His opponent had just used the Body Flicker Technique and hadn't landed steadily yet. He couldn't give his opponent a chance to regroup!

He strode forward, raising his twin swords once more.

But at that moment, Uchiha Taichi raised his head.

The three-tomoe Sharingan was aimed at Morishita Toshito.

Their eyes met in the air.

Time seems to stand still at this moment.

Morishita Toshihito froze.

His eyes became vacant, and the twin swords he had raised froze in mid-air.

"Illusion!" Temari exclaimed.

"Oh no..." Kankuro clenched his fist.

Uchiha Taichi slowly walked towards his frozen opponent, raised his ninja sword, and pointed the tip at Morishita Toshito's throat.

The outcome seems to be decided.

But just as Taiichi's sword was about to touch Morishita Toshito, a sudden change occurred.

The blades of the Twin Blades - Hiramekarei suddenly exploded. Although the explosion was small, Morishita Toshito's empty eyes instantly regained their clarity.

A smile spread across his face as he swung his twin swords upwards at an incredible angle!
Caught off guard by the sudden explosion, Taiyi hurriedly retreated, but was still a step too late.

The blade sliced ​​through his chest, and blood seeped out.

"How is this possible?!" Taiyi exclaimed in shock, "You were clearly under my illusion..."

Morishita Toshito shook his head, his eyes sharp: "You were right. But did you think I would be completely defenseless against the Sharingan's genjutsu?"

He held the Twin Blades Hiramekarei to his chest: "The Twin Blades Hiramekarei can both absorb and release chakra. Although I am not immune to genjutsu, I can keep Hiramekarei constantly maintaining a small chakra ball. Once I am caught in a genjutsu and the connection with Hiramekarei is severed, the chakra ball will explode out of control, enough to bring me back to my senses. Even a second is enough!"

Taiichi was stunned, then smiled wryly: "I see... You've developed the flounder to this extent?"

Although Morishita Toshito made it sound simple, Taiichi knew exactly how terrifying the level of precise control over chakra required.

Moreover, his Sharingan has the ability to see through the flow of chakra. The fact that the opponent precisely controlled the chakra ball and hid it under the chakra cloak of the Hiramekarei blade deceived his Sharingan is even more remarkable.

“After all, the flounder is now part of my strength,” Morishita Toshito said in a deep voice. “Shall we continue?”

Taiyi looked down at the wound on his chest, then at his still bleeding left arm.

After a moment of silence, he sheathed his sword; the pride of the Uchiha clan made him disdainful of a protracted fight.

"I surrender."

The referee immediately announced: "The winner is Toshito Morishita! He has successfully defended his title!"

Cheers swept across the stadium like a tsunami.

Morishita Toshito sheathed his twin swords, Hiramekarei, walked toward Taiichi, and reached out his hand.

"You fought very well." He said seriously, "Your swordsmanship also put a lot of pressure on me, and I dared not fight you for too long. My mind was on high alert every second."

Taiyi shook his head: "A loss is a loss. However, I will challenge you again."

"I am waiting."

The two shook hands and left together.

Although this match lacked spectacular high-scoring exchanges, the interplay of tactics and counter-tactics was equally captivating.

The audience began to leave, and excited discussions rose and fell.

Gaara and the others also prepared to leave.

"How was it?" Xuejian walked over, lazily stretched, and looked at the three disciples: "Did you gain anything from watching the battle today?"

Temari nodded: "A lot. Especially the tactical game, textbook level."

Kankuro was still excited: "Morishita-senpai is amazing! He managed to turn the tide in that situation!"

Gaara paused for a moment, then slowly said, "He won because he was better prepared. His defense against Uchiha genjutsu, his grasp of the rhythm of the battle, and his decisiveness at crucial moments are all the result of years of accumulation."

A hint of approval flashed in Xuejian's eyes: "Well said. True strength doesn't just rely on talent and power, but also on this—"

She pointed to her head.

As the group left the audience seats, they encountered Toshito Morishita, whose wounds were being bandaged by the medical team, in the passageway.

Hazuki Murahashi stood beside him, carefully examining the wound.

"It's nothing, Hazuki, just superficial injuries," Morishita Toshito said with a grin, but seeing Hazuki's serious expression, he obediently shut up.

Chino leaned closer, winking at him: "Yo~ Jun-ren, you did a great job today! Someone was worried sick about you~"

Hazuki blushed and glared at her: "Chino!"

Everyone laughed.

The atmosphere is relaxed and cheerful.

(End of this chapter)