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

Chapter 369 Information Exchange
Seeing that the Third Hokage had confirmed the authenticity of the invitation and extended the invitation, Jiraiya secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If Shura really goes all out to start a war in the heart of Konoha, even if we can repel or drive him away, Konoha will pay an extremely heavy price!
It might even surpass the Nine-Tails' rampage of yesteryear.

At present, temporarily stabilizing the other side through diplomatic channels is undoubtedly the best option.

"Bunta, you've worked hard. You should go back now," Jiraiya said to his old companion at his feet.

Gamabunta, pipe in hand, exhaled two thick plumes of smoke from his nostrils. His enormous frog eyes glanced down at Shura again, and he muttered, "Hmph, Jiraiya, next time you summon me, you'd better actually have a fight to fight, instead of just standing there intimidating me."

With that, with a "bang," Gamabunta's enormous body disappeared in a huge cloud of white smoke and returned to Mount Myōboku.

The pressure on the scene eased somewhat, but the atmosphere remained heavy.

Jiraiya, with Boruto by his side and supporting the badly injured and somewhat delirious young Sasuke, leaped from the sky and landed beside the Third Hokage.

He glanced at the unconscious young Sasuke and the still-shaken Boruto, and said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Old man, leave these two guys of unknown origin to me to look after and question."

Although he didn't know why the usually lazy Jiraiya had suddenly become interested in outsiders, out of trust in Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said in a deep voice, "Yes, then I'll leave it to you, Jiraiya. Make sure you find out their origins and purpose."

"Don't worry," Jiraiya patted his chest.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said no more. Surrounded by the Anbu, he turned to Shura and gestured for him to come: "Lord Shura, please follow me."

Menma nodded slightly, and his black figure rose gracefully, landing silently beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, walking side by side.

Under the watchful eyes of the ANBU and Konoha ninja, who were either wary, curious, or fearful, the two walked slowly toward the Hokage Building.

On the way, Hiruzen Sarutobi casually remarked, as if in conversation, "Lord Shura's mask is quite unique. While it's not uncommon for people in the ninja world to conceal their faces with masks, it's rare to find someone like you who wears the same mask all the time and in all places. Is there perhaps some special... reason or habit?"

His question was subtle, but it was actually a test.

After all, Shura has been famous for many years, his whereabouts are mysterious, and his strength is unfathomable. No one knows his true appearance. This has always been a mystery and threat in the minds of various countries and ninja villages.

Menma continued walking without stopping. His altered voice came through the mask, calm and emotionless: "It's just a personal little habit of mine. I hope the Third Hokage won't laugh at me. As for my true appearance... I will remove my mask and show my true face when the Chunin Exams officially begin and the Kage and distinguished guests from all the ninja villages gather. For now, please allow me to retain this insignificant bit of mystery."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe, slowly exhaled smoke, nodded, and stopped asking questions. He then said, "Regarding the Chunin Exams, Kumogakure has confirmed their participation. News from Kirigakure should arrive in the next couple of days."

"The Land of Stars will send two teams, and Onoki from Iwagakure will also send his personal disciple to lead a team," Menma replied simply, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the distance behind him.

Jiraiya was supporting the badly injured young Sasuke with one hand, leading Boruto and the others away in another direction.

His initial goal has been achieved.

Menma originally wanted to find an opportunity to ask young Sasuke if the Naruto in his timeline was the same Naruto he encountered when he traveled to a parallel universe through the Dragon Vein, but there wasn't enough time. Jiraiya and the Konoha ninjas were quite fast after being alerted.

However, in that seemingly casual exchange just now, while Menma was suppressing young Sasuke, he had unknowingly left the Flying Thunder God Technique mark on his opponent.

In this way, whenever Urashiki Otsutsuki, who is lurking somewhere in this space-time, appears, as long as he tries to harm young Sasuke and Boruto, I can teleport there instantly through the mark.

As for whether Urashiki would be foolish enough to directly attack Naruto?
A cold smile curved at the corner of his mouth beneath the white three-eyed fox mask.

That would be suicide!
…………

Jiraiya neither took the young Sasuke and Boruto back to the Anbu for interrogation nor sent them to Konoha Hospital, as that would have attracted too much attention and could have led to unnecessary questioning.

He led the two of them through several relatively quiet streets, and after turning two corners, a three-story Japanese-style building came into view.

The words "Yu no Yado" were written on the curtain, and warm light shone through the crack in the door.

Jiraiya lifted the curtain and went inside. A bald, middle-aged man behind the counter looked up and his eyes lit up when he saw Jiraiya.

"Lord Jiraiya! You've arrived!"

"Yo, Saburo, long time no see." Jiraiya greeted him with a smile, taking out a wad of banknotes from his pocket and placing them on the counter: "Two rooms, three days' stay. Same as always, no registration required."

The shopkeeper, Saburo, glanced at the young Sasuke and Boruto behind Jiraiya, especially at the young Sasuke's empty left sleeve and dusty appearance, but he didn't ask anything. He just nodded and took two keys out of the drawer.

"The two innermost rooms on the second floor are adjacent. Hot water is available 24 hours a day. Let me know if you need any meals."

"Thanks." Jiraiya took the keys and winked at young Sasuke and Boruto.

"Let's go."

The three of them went up to the second floor.

The wooden staircase creaked softly, the corridor was dimly lit by wall lamps, and a faint scent of sandalwood filled the air.

Jiraiya opened the doors to the two adjacent rooms, gesturing for them to go inside.

The room wasn't big, but it was very clean.

The room has a tatami floor, a low table, two cushions, and simple toiletries in the corner.

The window faces the backyard garden, where moonlight shines on the dry landscape garden, creating a serene and desolate scene.

Jiraiya helped the weakened young Sasuke to lie down on the tatami mat, while Boruto anxiously stood by, trying to help but unsure where to begin.

"Let me see." Jiraiya crouched down, gesturing for Boruto to move aside.

He reached out and gently pressed and examined key areas such as the young Sasuke's chest, abdomen, arms, and neck, while simultaneously focusing on sensing the flow of chakra within the other's body.

A moment later, Jiraiya frowned slightly, withdrew his hand, and looked at the worried Boruto beside him, his tone somewhat grave: "Your master's injury... is not just a simple flesh wound. His internal organs have been shaken, and there are multiple blockages in his meridians. More importantly, his chakra..."

Jiraiya carefully considered his words: "Extremely exhausted, and it seems... to have been consumed very 'drastically,' as if it had just gone through a long and intense battle and was almost completely drained. This doesn't seem like something that could be caused by a brief encounter with the Anbu."

Upon hearing this, Boruto's blue eyes showed even greater anxiety. He bit his lower lip and whispered, "Master... he used up a lot of chakra for me... uh, to deal with some trouble, and he hasn't fully recovered yet."

He almost let something slip, but quickly brushed it off vaguely, though the worry on his face was genuine.

Young Sasuke lay on the tatami mat, his face pale and his forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

He had his eyes closed, seemingly meditating, but upon hearing Jiraiya's words and Boruto's response, he slowly opened his eyes, his dark pupils revealing a deep weariness.

He glanced at Boruto, then at Jiraiya, who seemed to be sitting casually to the side but was actually observing them with keen eyes, and quickly weighed his options.

"Boruto." The young Sasuke's voice was a little hoarse.

"Yes, Master!" Boruto replied immediately.

"Go to the street and see if there are any shops selling soldier rations. Buy some and bring them back," the young Sasuke instructed.

"Huh?" Boruto was taken aback and subconsciously looked out the window.

As dusk approached, fewer and fewer pedestrians appeared on the streets.

While soldier pills are a common ninja supply, they might not be easy to find at this time of year.

However, Boruto is much smarter than Naruto, and he quickly realized that his master had something to say to Jiraiya alone.

Although still worried, Boruto nodded: "Understood, Master! I'll go right now!"

He then turned to Jiraiya and bowed deeply: "Lord Jiraiya, I'm entrusting my master to your care!"

Jiraiya grinned, waved his hand with a "I've got this covered" attitude: "Go ahead, kid. With me, the Toad Sage, here, I guarantee your master won't lose a single hair. Just remember not to go too far and come back soon."

Boruto glanced at his master again, and after receiving a barely perceptible nod from young Sasuke, he turned and left, his footsteps quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor. A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint sounds of the street outside and the slightly heavy breathing from inside.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the paper window, casting light and shadow on the tatami mats.

Jiraiya was the first to break the silence.

He crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, his gaze sweeping over the one-armed man leaning against the headboard, his face still pale. His tone sounded casual, yet tinged with inquiry: "To have lasted two moves against Shura, even though he clearly wasn't going all out, your skills are far from those of an ordinary street performer. In my opinion, you'd be qualified to be a Jonin in any of the Five Great Nations' ninja villages. What, you really don't have a place to stay? Or... is there something you're having trouble saying?"

Young Sasuke propped himself up slightly to make himself more comfortable.

He met Jiraiya's scrutinizing gaze, his dark eyes as deep and still as an ancient well: "I am indeed not a wandering entertainer, but I also do not serve any ninja village. The world of ninjas... is too complicated, and I have no intention of getting involved."

"Oh? Is that so?" Jiraiya responded noncommittally, stroking the short stubble on his chin with his fingers. His gaze lingered for a moment on young Sasuke's empty left sleeve, his weathered face, and especially his right eye.

For some reason, looking at this one-armed man, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, and there was also the Rasengan that kid had used earlier...

The various clues intertwined, making his doubts grow ever stronger.

However, he was certain of at least one thing: the one-armed youth in front of him and the blond boy who had just left must have some connection with Konoha, himself, and possibly even the Fourth Hokage.

Moreover, it's a friendly relationship.

"Never mind, everyone has their own secrets." Jiraiya shook his head, a vague guess forming in his mind.

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more formal: "That guy Shura seemed quite interested in you just now... but you seem to know nothing about him?"

Young Sasuke nodded, his expression calm yet solemn: "I've indeed never heard of this name before, and the power he displayed... it all surprised me. Just who is he?"

Young Sasuke sounded confused.

He had never heard of this person in the timeline he had lived through.

How could a mysterious ninja with unfathomable strength, who is suspected of possessing the Mangekyou Sharingan, remain unknown?

Jiraiya took a deep breath, his nonchalant expression softening and replaced by a look of reminiscence and seriousness.

He organized his thoughts and slowly began to speak:
"Shura... appeared suddenly in the ninja world about eight or nine years ago. It was as if he appeared out of thin air, with no clues about his origins or background. And the first time he appeared, he attacked the Hyuga clan of Konoha."

"Hyuga?" Young Sasuke's eyes flickered slightly.

Hinata Hyuga's personality has changed drastically in this timeline. Could it be related to Shura's attack?
“That’s right.” Jiraiya nodded, his expression growing increasingly serious: “Back then, the Kumogakure delegation secretly kidnapped the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family. While escaping, they encountered Shura and subsequently fought with the pursuing Hyuga clan leader and others.”

"The Cloud Village envoy was killed on the spot, and many Jonin from the Hyuga branch family were injured, including the current Hyuga clan head. But strangely, Shura did not kidnap the Hyuga main family's eldest daughter, nor did he steal the Byakugan. It seemed more like... a show of force. This matter was strictly kept under wraps within Konoha, and few people knew the details."

He paused, then continued, "After that, every appearance of Shura was accompanied by events that shocked the ninja world."

"He once single-handedly stormed into Kumogakure and clashed with the Fourth Raikage, A, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee. No one knows the specifics of the incident, but the result... it is said that both the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee suffered considerable losses. Kumogakure is very tight-lipped about this matter, but the feud between Shura and Kumogakure has been completely established."

Young Sasuke felt a chill run down his spine.

He had personally experienced the strength of the Fourth Raikage.

Not long after he awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, he became overconfident in his increased strength and stormed the Five Kage Summit alone. However, he nearly lost his life in the face of the Fourth Raikage's ferocious speed and power.

Killer Bee is a perfect Jinchūriki, a top-tier fighter in the ninja world.

This Asura was able to cause both of them to suffer losses at the same time, which shows how terrifying his strength is.

This raised his assessment of the danger posed by this mysterious enemy to another level.

Jiraiya, observing the slight change in young Sasuke's expression, knew that the other understood the significance of the matter, and continued, "If it's just a powerful lone wolf, although troublesome, it's not enough to change the entire ninja world's landscape. The real turning point lies in the rise of the 'Land of Stars'."

"Star Country?"

"Yes, Shura took control of a small ninja village called 'Star Village' in the Land of Bears. What happened afterward was nothing short of swift and decisive." Jiraiya's tone was complex, a mixture of admiration and apprehension.

“Based on Hoshigakure, he developed his own power, quickly purged the old ruling class of the Land of Bears, including the daimyo and nobles, and then established a... well, a political system that is completely different from what we usually see in countries. It was incredibly efficient and quickly stabilized the situation.”

Young Sasuke listened silently. This method sounded somewhat like the style of a guy who was trying to reshape the world with the "Eye of the Moon" plan, but it seemed more radical and efficient.

"While other nations were still reeling from the upheaval in the Land of Bears and secretly gathering intelligence on Shura, Shura renamed the Land of Bears the Land of Stars and began a rapid expansion." Jiraiya's voice deepened.

"Through a series of swift and precise military operations, he enabled the Star Kingdom to annex several small neighboring countries in just a few years."

"It's not just about territorial expansion. Shura seems to have a particular fondness for ninja clans with special bloodline limits or secret techniques. In the war and subsequent integration, he used various means to absorb many scattered or weak bloodline clans, and even some rogue ninjas from major ninja villages, into the Land of Stars. This caused the ninja power of the Land of Stars to expand rapidly in a short period of time, making it a powerful force second only to the traditional five great nations."

Young Sasuke's brows furrowed more and more deeply.

To forcibly integrate bloodline families by force?
This reminded him of the Akatsuki organization's practice of collecting tailed beasts.

What exactly is the purpose of this Asura?
"The rise of the Star Kingdom naturally aroused the vigilance and hostility of the surrounding major powers. About five years ago, the conflict between the Star Kingdom and the Wind Kingdom finally broke out." Jiraiya's narration entered the most crucial part.

"The specific reasons for the conflict are widely debated. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, led the main force of Sunagakure to fight, but the result was... a crushing defeat. The main force of Sunagakure was routed within three days, and the Fourth Kazekage was seriously injured and captured. The Land of Wind and Sunagakure were also annexed by the Land of Stars."

Young Sasuke's breath hitched slightly.

Sunagakure, one of the five great ninja villages, was actually defeated in just three days?

What kind of military strength would this require?
"That's not all. At that time, the Land of Stars was engaged in a fierce battle with the Sand Village. Everyone thought that the main force of the Land of Stars was tied down. However, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Onoki, that old fox, wanted to take advantage of the situation. He personally led more than 10,000 elite Iwagakure troops, intending to take advantage of the situation and launch a surprise attack on the heart of the Land of Stars."

Young Sasuke could imagine the scene at that time: Onoki's Dust Release and tens of thousands of Iwagakure ninjas were absolutely a terrifying force capable of overthrowing a great nation.

Even someone as strong as the Third Raikage was worn down and killed by ten thousand Iwagakure ninja.

Then, Jiraiya's face showed a strange expression, as if recalling some absurd rumor: "In the end... he was beaten down by a little girl named Uchiha Hikari all by herself."

"What?" Young Sasuke blurted out, this time he was truly shocked.

A person?

They crushed 10,000 elite Iwagakure soldiers?
Does it also include a Kage of Onoki's caliber?

Jiraiya nodded firmly, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Yes, Uchiha Hikaru. A name that the ninja world had never heard of before. It was this little girl who, all by herself, held off Onoki and his ten thousand Iwagakure troops at the border of the Land of Stars."

"The specific details are subject to much debate... In short, the result is undeniable: Onoki was defeated, and the 10,000-strong Iwagakure army suffered heavy casualties and was routed. As a result of this battle, the Land of Earth was forced to cede five wealthy counties to the Land of Stars, and Iwagakure directly declared its submission and became a 'subordinate ninja village' of the Land of Stars."

"And that little girl named Uchiha Hikari became famous because of this battle."

Young Sasuke was utterly shocked.

A thirteen or fourteen-year-old Uchiha girl single-handedly defeated the Third Tsuchikage, who possessed Dust Release, and tens of thousands of elite Iwagakure soldiers.
This... I'm afraid only Madara Uchiha at his peak could have done it!
When did the Uchiha clan produce such a genius?

What kind of monsters did this space-time spawn?

Jiraiya looked at the undisguised shock on young Sasuke's face, smiled wryly, and continued, "After these two battles, no one can shake the dominant position of the Land of Stars. Although Shura himself remains mysterious and his whereabouts are uncertain, the Land of Stars under his command has become a new force capable of influencing the landscape of the ninja world."

"The fact that this Chunin Exams were held in Konoha and that Shura was invited reflects a complex consideration of mutual checks and balances between major powers and a test of the Star Country's attitude."

The room fell silent again, save for Jiraiya's long sigh after he finished speaking.

What young Sasuke was even more curious about was, where did the Uchiha clan go?

(End of this chapter)