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

Chapter 389 Danzo: Uchiha Hyuga Uzumaki, how does he also have Wood Release?!
Ita, Karin, and the others also noticed the Star Country team with its unique aura.

Itada nodded to Kakashi and said apologetically, "It seems our leader has arrived. We need to meet up first. See you in Konoha."

"Okay, see you during the exam." Kakashi nodded in response.

Itada's team quickly walked towards the Star Country group, exchanged a few words with Uchiha Shisui, who was in the lead, and then quietly followed behind the group, heading towards the village registration office.

Their addition made the already eye-catching Star Kingdom team even more prominent.

Naruto stared wide-eyed at the red and white fan emblem on Shisui's back, finding it increasingly familiar. He frowned, searching his memory, muttering, "That design... I feel like I've seen it somewhere before... It's so familiar..."

Just then, after briefly instructing his companions, Uchiha Shisui turned around and walked towards Kakashi.

He wore a gentle smile and walked with a leisurely pace, as if he were simply meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Kakashi-senpai, it's been a long time." Shisui stopped in front of Kakashi and greeted him in a calm tone. His scarlet Sharingan with its three tomoe had lost its sharpness and returned to its normal black pupils, making him appear sincere and friendly.

Kakashi's perpetually lazy, dead-fish-like eyes scrutinized Shisui, especially the Star Ninja headband on his forehead, which was completely different from the Konoha headband.

After a two-second silence, Kakashi slowly spoke: "Ah, it has indeed been a long time. I didn't expect that the leader sent by the Land of Stars this time would be you... Uchiha Shisui."

"Uchiha?!" Naruto slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing what was going on.

"That's right! It's the pattern on Sasuke's clothes! He's from the Uchiha clan?! But... why is he wearing a headband from the Land of Stars?"

Naruto looked at Shisui, then at Kakashi, his little head filled with big question marks, completely confused about the situation.

Shisui returned Naruto's curious gaze with a friendly glance, then looked back at Kakashi, his smile still gentle, but a complex emotion seemed to flash deep in his eyes: "Yes, even I didn't expect that I would return to Konoha in this capacity, in this way."

He paused, his tone becoming lower and carrying a hint of concern: "By the way, is he... alright?"

Kakashi knew, of course, that the "he" Shisui was referring to was Uchiha Sasuke, Itachi Uchiha's younger brother, and the only known survivor of the Uchiha clan in Konoha.

Kakashi narrowed his right eye slightly, staring intently at Shisui, trying to discern his true intentions from that gentle expression.

Shisui was one of the key figures in the Uchiha clan massacre. He led the surviving Uchiha clan members to defect from Konoha and join the Land of Stars.

Every one of those clansmen had an irreconcilable blood feud with Itachi Uchiha.

When Shisui asked Sasuke at this moment, was it because he wanted to avenge his clansmen and vent his hatred on Itachi's younger brother?
Kakashi didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "You mean..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment between the two. Naruto, who had been chattering nearby, seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere and fell silent, looking at the two with a puzzled expression.

Upon hearing this, Shisui slowly shook his head, the smile fading from his face, replaced by a deep sense of nostalgia and a touch of melancholy.

He looked in a certain direction outside the village, as if he could see through the forest and see the figure of the reclusive boy who had just looked at him.

“I just wanted to see how he was doing… as an older brother.” Shisui’s voice was soft, but it carried a sincerity.

Brother… Kakashi fell silent.

He remembered that night, which Konoha called the 'Night of Defection,' and that boy with the Mangekyou Sharingan who carried everything on his shoulders—Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi had mentioned Shisui to him before, his words filled with respect.

In Itachi's words, Shisui was both a mentor and an older brother, and the only light in his darkness.

It's understandable that Shisui took good care of Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke.

However, times have changed, and things are no longer the same.

Shisui is now a Jonin of the Land of Stars.

Sasuke, as the last surviving member of the Uchiha clan in Konoha, was heavily protected, making it impossible for Shisui to easily approach him.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat awkward, two Star Country ninjas approached.

"Captain Zhishui, the registration is complete, and we can enter the village now," Xuejian reported to Zhishui.

She then looked at Kakashi, a smile that was neither warm nor distant, and raised her hand in greeting: "Yo, Kakashi, long time no see. You look the same as always."

Neji Hyuga's gaze bypassed Kakashi and landed directly on Hinata.

He looked at Hinata, who was clinging tightly to Menma and even subconsciously holding Menma's hand. A complex emotion flashed in his Byakugan eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He nodded slightly and greeted her in a cool voice, "Hinata... it's been a long time."

Kakashi looked at these "old acquaintances" in front of him and sighed inwardly.

Yukimi, a member of the Ibri clan and a friend of Yamato, not only possesses a unique smoke-transformation bloodline limit, but has also developed a wood-style bloodline limit.

Hyuga Neji, son of Hyuga Hizashi, the former head of the Hyuga branch family, escaped to the Land of Stars with the help of a group of branch family members during that 'night of defection'.

And then there's Uchiha Shisui...

The delegation from this Star Kingdom is truly full of hidden talents; not a single one of them is simple.

"Neji-nii-san..." Hinata saw Neji and instinctively shrank behind Menma, tightening her grip on Menma's hand as she responded softly.

Hinata always felt a sense of awe and kinship towards her cousin, who was exceptionally talented and had once put immense pressure on her.

Menma could sense Hinata's tension. He gently patted Hinata's hand that was gripping his arm, signaling her to relax, while calmly meeting Neji's scrutinizing gaze.

Neji's gaze lingered on Menma's face for a moment, a look of realization flashing in his eyes, as if he had confirmed something.

He didn't say much, but looked at Hinata again, his tone calm with a hint of approval: "It seems you've grown quite a bit during this time. However, it's a pity I didn't participate in this Chunin Exams, so I can't learn from you."

Upon hearing this, Hinata mustered her courage and raised her head, her white eyes looking intently at Neji. She could sense that Neji's aura was more restrained and unfathomable than when he was in the Hyuga clan.

"Neji-nii-nii has... become even stronger," she said softly but with certainty.

"Huh? The Star Country's forces include not only Sasuke's clansmen, but also the Hyuga clan?" Naruto was even more confused. He looked at Neji's Byakugan and then at Shisui, feeling like his brain wasn't working properly.

"What on earth is going on, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi didn't answer Naruto immediately. He looked at Shisui again and said lazily, "Let's catch up another time. You've come from afar, so settle in first. The Chunin Exams are about to begin."

Shisui understood Kakashi's subtext. He nodded and said no more. He gestured to Kakashi, then turned around with Yukimi and Neji to join Itasuke's team. Guided by the Konoha gatekeepers, they headed into the village.

Kakashi watched their departing figures until they disappeared around the street corner before turning his gaze away and patting the still dazed Naruto on the head: "Alright, stop spacing out. We should go turn in our mission now. As for your questions... you'll find out later."

"After we hand in the mission, I'll tell you all about the Chunin Exams in detail."

"Okay, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto nodded obediently, though he was full of questions.

Soon, Team 7, led by Kakashi, arrived at the mission issuance and handover hall of the Hokage Building.

He gave a detailed report to the mission administrator on the completion of the mission in the Land of Waves, the encounter with the rogue ninja, and the subsequent changes in the Land of Waves.

The mission's level was reassessed and ultimately classified as Rank B. Kakashi received a generous reward, keeping his share as a Jonin instructor as is customary, and then divided the remaining money equally among Menma, Naruto, and Hinata.

"Wow! So much!" Naruto's eyes lit up as he looked at the thick wad of banknotes in his hand. This was the first time he had earned so much money through a real ninja mission!
Although the process was dangerous, the sense of accomplishment at this moment is unparalleled.

Hinata carefully put away her share, a happy smile on her face. This was the first time she had received so much reward.

Mianma casually put the money into his wallet; to him, money was just a number.

After leaving the mission hall, Kakashi did not immediately disband the team, but instead led the three to the observation deck above the Hokage Rock.

The view here is expansive, offering a panoramic view of the entire Hidden Leaf Village. A gentle breeze caresses the face, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.

Kakashi leaned against the railing, his back to the bustling village, and looked at the three students in front of him. He asked one last time, "So, I'll ask you one more time, are you sure you want to participate in this Chunin Exams?"

"This is a team exam; every member is indispensable. Furthermore, I must remind you again that this exam brings together elite genin from various countries and villages. The competition will be exceptionally brutal, and the rules allow for a certain degree of casualties. The dangers you encounter in the Land of Waves may just be the norm for this exam, or even… more intense. One wrong move, and you really could die!"

His tone had changed from its usual casualness to a much heavier one.

Hinata and Naruto turned their gazes toward Menma almost simultaneously.

Having fought side-by-side with the Land of Waves, Menma has become the undisputed core of their small team.

Menma stepped forward and stood in front of Kakashi, a confident smile on his face: "Kakashi-sensei, even at this point, are you still worried about us? Since we have chosen this path, we will not back down because of danger."

Naruto immediately pumped his fists, shouting enthusiastically, "That's right! That's right! Kakashi-sensei, we're not some fresh-out-of-school rookie genin! We're real ninjas who've been through life-or-death battles! The Chunin Exams are nothing, watch me send them flying!"

Hinata took a deep breath, a blush rising on her fair face. She clenched her hands in front of her chest, her voice soft but exceptionally firm: "Yes! I want to participate in this exam with everyone. I want to know... how far I stand compared to the ninjas from other villages... I won't hold everyone back!"

Seeing the burning fighting spirit in the eyes of the three students and the unspoken trust between them, Kakashi's lips, hidden beneath his mask, curled up slightly.

Without saying anything more, he took out three pre-prepared application forms from his ninja tool bag and handed them to the three people respectively.

"Fill it out and submit it to the Chunin Exam Registration Office before tomorrow. The specific time and location of the exam are written on the back of the form."

After Kakashi finished speaking, he vanished in a flash, leaving behind only a sentence that drifted in the wind: "Get ready, kids."

Meanwhile, at the Konoha Anbu base.

The ANBU squad consisting of Sasuke, Sai, and Uzuki Yugao is reporting the details of their mission to protect the Land of Waves to ANBU Captain-Commander Yamato.

After listening to the report, Yamato nodded and said in a steady voice, "Thank you for your hard work. The protection of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki will be taken over by another team."

"Your guard duties are temporarily suspended. Take two days to rest. Then Sasuke and Sai will prepare to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams. You will be informed of the specific arrangements and disguises later."

"Yes," the three replied in unison.

After accepting their orders, Sai and Yugao left separately.

Sai needed to return to the Root headquarters to give Danzo a separate report, while Yugao stayed behind.

After Sasuke left, also looking preoccupied, Yugao removed her mask, revealing a beautiful but somewhat worried face. She looked at Yamato and whispered, "Captain-Commander, just now at the village entrance, we encountered a delegation from the Land of Stars who came to participate in the Chunin Exams. Their leader is..."

“It’s Shisui, right?” Yamato interrupted her, sighed, and said in a complicated tone, “I’ve already received the notification.”

Xi Yan was slightly taken aback, but then she understood.

Indeed, given Shisui's reputation in Konoha back then, the Uchiha genius 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' who struck fear into the hearts of enemies during the Third Shinobi World War, it's impossible that the Anbu didn't have information about his high-profile return to Konoha.

“I can sense that Sasuke… his emotions were greatly affected when he saw Shisui,” Yugao expressed her concern.

“I’m afraid this will affect his next mission, or even… affect him personally.”

Yamato walked to the window, looked at the busy Anbu members on the training ground outside, and after a moment of silence, slowly said, "I will personally report this matter to the Hokage."

"However... the Uchiha clan members that Shisui took away back then had a blood feud with Itachi Uchiha. Their attitude towards Itachi's younger brother will probably be very complicated. Accepting him? The possibility is extremely slim. More likely, they will either take their anger out on him or use him."

Upon hearing this, Xi Yan frowned even more deeply.

The feud between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership was far more complex and bloody than outsiders perceived.

On the other side, deep within the root base.

Sai knelt on one knee in the dimly lit room, expressionless, reporting the details of the mission and his encounter with Shisui and his group at the village entrance to Shimura Danzo, who was sitting in the shadows.

Upon hearing the name "Uchiha Shisui," Danzo's exposed left eye suddenly narrowed, while a faint phantom pain seemed to emanate from his bandaged right eye, causing his fingers on the armrest to unconsciously tighten.

At this moment, Ryoma Aburame, who had been standing silently beside Danzo like a shadow, stepped forward and respectfully handed Danzo a scroll that had just been delivered, saying in a low voice, "Lord Danzo, this is the detailed list of the delegation to the Chunin Exams of the Land of Stars that has been submitted to the Hokage Building office."

Danzo took the scroll and slowly unfurled it.

Under the dim light, the names on the scroll came into his view one by one:

Team Leader: Uchiha Shisui (Special Envoy)

Participating Genin Teams (Two Teams):

Xuejian Class:
Instructor: Yukimi

Team members: Gaara, Temari, Kankuro
Assistant Teacher Itada:

Instructor: Jonin Detective: Ida Suke
Team members: Karin Uzumaki, Kurotsuchi, Ranmaru

Accompanying Special Jonin (5):

Hyuga Neji, Kaguya Kimimaro, Haku, Otsutsuki Toneri, Miyashiro Chino
Accompanying Jonin (3 people):

Sato Saun, Suzuhara Ai, Morishita Toshito

Accompanying Chunin and civilian staff: 10

Total: 26 people.

His gaze was fixed intently on the scroll, as if he wanted to burn it through.

The Land of Stars has quietly gathered so many orphans and geniuses of bloodline clans scattered throughout the ninja world!
Uchiha, Hyuga, Uzumaki, Kaguya, the Yuki clan, the Blood Pond clan... and even Wood Release!
"Uchiha... Hyuga... Uzumaki... Wood Release..." Danzo repeated these names in a low voice, his single eye flashing with an uncertain light, like a venomous snake in the darkness, ready to devour its prey.

He slowly rolled up the scroll, his voice cold and ambitious: "Pass down the order to increase surveillance on the Star Nation delegation."

"Furthermore, have our people 'take good care' of these geniuses from the Land of Stars during the Chunin Exams."

"Yes!" Aburame Ryoma bowed and accepted the order, his figure quietly disappearing into the shadows.

Danzo sat alone in the dimly lit room, his fingers rhythmically tapping on the armrest of his chair.

These bloodline limits of the Star Kingdom were tantalizingly intriguing to him.

(End of this chapter)