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

Chapter 391 Uchiha Sasuke... You're such a disappointment.
"Ah~ This restaurant is so delicious! I'll definitely come back next time!"

Naruto patted his round belly, slumped contentedly in the chair, and his face was flushed with happiness.

"That's right! That's right! It's better than any other barbecue I've ever had!" Ya let out a loud burp. The red pill on his head was already lying on its back, fast asleep.

Hinata held a bottle of beverage in her hand, taking small sips, looking somewhat embarrassed at the mountain of empty plates in front of her, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She glanced up at Menma and saw that Menma was smiling at her. Her face turned even redder, and she quickly lowered her head.

"Hinata, your appetite is getting more and more astonishing." Ino rested her chin on her hand, her eyes full of amazement: "Even Choji can't outeat you anymore."

Choji leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach contentedly: "I didn't play well today, but I'll definitely win next time... *burp*"

Shikamaru shook his head helplessly: "Really, it's just a meal, what's the point of comparing?"

Even so, the plate in front of him was almost empty.

Sasuke remained quiet, only occasionally glancing around, his gaze particularly fixed on the three Kirigakure genin at the next table.

At that moment, Suigetsu casually approached, draped her arm over the back of Naruto's chair, and wore a familiar smile: "Hey, you're Naruto, right? You just said that Zabuza was killed by ninjas from the Land of Stars? That guy is really dead?"

Naruto turned to look at Suigetsu, blinked his azure eyes, and nodded without any hesitation: "Yeah, he was killed by that uncle named Itada Suke with one slash! He was really amazing!"

A knowing glint flashed in Mizuki's eyes. She chuckled softly and muttered, "That's true... Zabuza is an S-rank rogue ninja, how could he possibly be killed by a few low-ranking brats?"

His tone was somewhat matter-of-fact, yet tinged with regret that he hadn't been able to meet the legendary "ghost" in person.

But Naruto's next words caused Suigetsu's smile to falter slightly.

"That old man was carrying a huge sword!" Naruto gestured, his arms outstretched exaggeratedly. "I think it's called something like... the Executioner's Blade! It cleaved Zabuza's weapon in two in one swift motion!"

Shuiyue and Changjulang exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

A decapitation sword.

That was one of the seven legendary ninja swords of Kirigakure. Many years ago, it was taken from Suigetsu Hozuki by that mysterious "Shura" and then disappeared without a trace.

Although I had heard that the Land of Stars had formed its own Ninja Swordsmen, I didn't expect to encounter them so soon.

Shuiyue subconsciously touched the weapon wrapped in bandages on her back: the longsword, the sewing needle.

Chojuro glanced at the blunt sword, Kabuto-giri, wrapped in a cloth bag behind him.

Of the seven ninja swords of Kirigakure, only three remain, and there are only two inheritors. It's truly pathetic...

"A decapitation blade..." Shuiyue clicked her tongue, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in her eyes: "Interesting."

While using tongs to flip the last few slices of meat on the baking tray, Mianma quietly observed Hinoka Whirlpool.

The red-haired girl didn't talk much, and mostly listened quietly, occasionally raising her clear eyes to observe the people of Konoha.

Her gaze lingered on Naruto for several seconds longer, clearly showing her interest in the surname "Uzumaki".

"Menma-kun..." Hinata's soft call brought Menma back to his senses.

He turned his head and saw that Hinata's bowl was already piled high with roasted meat, and he was still mechanically putting more meat into it.

Hinata's face turned as red as a ripe tomato, her white eyes filled with shyness: "Enough, enough... I really can't eat anymore..."

Menma then realized he had been daydreaming. He put down the clips and smiled slightly at Hinata: "Eat more. The Chunin Exams are coming up soon, and you'll be expending a lot of energy then. You need to conserve your energy now."

His concern warmed Hinata's heart, and she softly hummed in agreement before continuing to eat in small bites.

Ino rested her chin on her hand, looking at the high plate piled up in front of Hinata, who still seemed to be able to eat, and then glanced at Choji across from her, who was already in "stuffed and ready" mode. She couldn't help but sigh, "You really can't judge a book by its cover... Hinata looks so quiet and gentle, but she has such a big appetite."

Sakura nodded in agreement: "And she's very elegant, unlike Choji who seems rude at all."

Hinata lowered her head even further when she heard their discussion, and her ears turned bright red.

Sasuke and Shikamaru then chatted for a few more minutes with the three from Kirigakure.

It was less of a chat and more of a mutual probing.

"How many teams have come from Kirigakure this time?" Shikamaru asked casually.

Chojuro pushed up his glasses and answered shyly, "Including us, we have two genin squads."

The wounds inflicted on Kirigakure by the Blood Mist policy have yet to fully heal.

"And what about your Jonin instructors?" Sasuke asked, his tone rather direct.

Shuiyue grinned, revealing sharp teeth: "What, trying to spy on me? I can tell you, it's Senior Qing. But he has other matters to attend to, he's probably negotiating with the Jonin of Konoha about this exam right now."

Ao, a Jonin from Kirigakure, is famous for stealing one of the Byakugan from the Hyuga main family during the Third Shinobi World War.

Shikamaru secretly memorized this information.

Just then, Mianma suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of the barbecue restaurant entrance.

Sasuke, who had been on high alert, immediately noticed it as well.

Two men and one woman walked in through the door.

The girl had bright red short hair, brown skin, a hot figure, and a short knife at her waist.

Of the two boys, one had darker skin, short white hair, a lollipop in his mouth, and a lazy look in his eyes; the other had fair skin, short blond hair, but an unusually muscular build, with muscles that stretched his clothes taut.

All three were wearing white uniform vests, with headbands neatly placed on their foreheads.

"They're ninjas from Kumogakure..." Shikamaru lowered his voice, "Are they also here to participate in the Chunin Exams?"

Mianma recognized them.

Karui, Omoi, and Atsui are the most outstanding young ninjas of this generation in Kumogakure.

Karui and Omoi are disciples of Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and their strength should not be underestimated.

The three people stood at the door, seemingly talking to the shop assistant.

A moment later, another figure walked in.

She was a young woman with short blonde hair, delicate features, and an aura of coldness that kept strangers at bay.

She was tall and slender, wearing a dark, tight-fitting short skirt from the Hidden Cloud Village, with a white vest over it. Her curves were impressive, but her blue-green eyes held no warmth.

Samui, a Jonin from Kumogakure, is an ice queen known for her calmness and extensive knowledge.

After the four met up, the staff led them to the private room area on the other side of the barbecue restaurant.

As Samui passed by the Konoha group's table, his gaze swept over them indifferently, lingering for a moment longer on Sasuke and Menma before casually looking away.

Karui waved to them casually, as if to say hello.

Omoi, still chewing on his lollipop, muttered, "So many people... what if there's an ambush... what if we get attacked after we finish eating..."

Atsui patted him on the shoulder and said with a good-natured smile, "You're overthinking it, Omoi. This is the core area of ​​Konoha. Let's eat first!"

Looking in the direction where the four from Kumogakure disappeared, Shikamaru rubbed his temples: "Looks like this Chunin Exams really is a gathering of heroes..."

Sasuke remained silent, but he had already memorized the characteristics of the four people from Kumogakure.

About half an hour later, everyone finally finished their long dinner.

When it was time to pay the bill, Mianma took the initiative to pay.

Naruto, feeling a little embarrassed, offered to share the cost, but Menma refused with a smile: "You can invite him back when you've earned more money in the future."

"It's a deal!" Naruto nodded vigorously, his eyes shining brightly. "When I become Hokage, I'll treat you all to the most expensive food!"

"Before that, become a Chunin, you loser." Sasuke habitually poured cold water on his enthusiasm, but his tone had lost much of its former sharpness.

Stepping out of the barbecue restaurant, the cool night breeze swept over me, dispelling the smell of cooking oil from my clothes.

Konoha's commercial street was still brightly lit and bustling with people. The influx of outsiders due to the Chunin Exams made the village even more lively than usual at night.

At the shop entrance, the Konoha members bid farewell to the three from Kirigakure.

"We'll meet again in the exam hall!" Suigetsu grinned, giving Naruto and Kiba a thumbs up. "I won't hold back then!"

Naruto's fighting spirit was immediately ignited, and he waved his fist: "I should be saying that! Even if you're a friend who's come from afar, watch out next time you meet me! I'll definitely beat you!"

Kiba, with Akamaru already awake, chimed in, "That's right! Let's have a good spar! Akamaru is looking forward to it too!"

Akamaru barked twice in agreement.

Chojuro pushed up his glasses and smiled shyly: "Well, see you at the exam hall, everyone."

Hinaka Uzumaki bowed slightly, politely bidding farewell.

As she stood up, her gaze swept over Naruto again, finally landing on Menma.

The way the dark-haired boy looked at her earlier made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The group separated and went their separate ways.

After walking a distance, Chojuro asked in a low voice, "Hinoka, what happened just now? You kept staring at that boy named Menma."

Hinoka shook her head slightly, her long red hair fluttering gently in the night breeze: "It's nothing, Chojuro-senpai. I just feel... they are not simple. That Naruto, and that Menma, they both give me a dangerous feeling."

Shuiyue casually picked at her ear: "Geniuses, every village has a few. But the more talented they are, the more satisfying it is to defeat them, isn't it?"

He paused, as if remembering something: "Speaking of which, that kid named Naruto's surname is 'Uzumaki'..."

When Mei Terumi and Ao handed Hinokami over to Mizuki and Chojuro, they mentioned the Uzumaki clan.

Hinoka nodded, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "Yes, but Naruto isn't Shanks... and the chakra within him feels very strange, it's enormous, but it has a kind of... violent aura."

Chojuro pondered, "Shouldn't all members of the Uzumaki clan have red hair? Could it be that they are just a branch that inherited the surname and has been mixed for countless generations?"

"I don't know," Hinaka said softly. "But if he really is a member of the Uzumaki clan... then things become complicated."

The three gradually disappeared at the other end of the street.

On the other side, Sasuke, Naruto, Menma, Hinata, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino were walking home.

Sakura, Kiba, and Shino had already parted ways at the previous intersection and gone home.

Naruto put his hands behind his head, walked briskly, and hummed an off-key song.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned to the crowd and said, "That guy named Shuiyue from earlier, he seems like a pretty nice person! Although he was a bit arrogant, he didn't seem like a bad guy."

Sasuke scoffed and glanced sideways at Naruto: "Idiot, he's deliberately trying to trick you into revealing information. Didn't you notice he kept asking about Zabuza and Ita-suke?"

"Huh? Is that so?" Naruto blinked, looking completely bewildered.

Shikamaru couldn't help but sigh, his deadpan eyes fixed on Naruto: "I'm telling you... at least have some self-awareness. The Chunin Exams are essentially a place for villages to showcase their strength and spy on each other. Even when making friends, you have to be careful." As he spoke, he glanced at Menma beside him, inwardly sighing.

Fortunately, Naruto was assigned to Menma's team.

With Mianma around, at least this overly naive idiot can be kept in check.

If Naruto were on my team...

Shikamaru shuddered and dared not think any further.

Mianma simply smiled and didn't interrupt.

Hinata held his left hand; the girl's small hand was soft and warm, like a piece of warm jade, which Menma loved to hold.

Hinata lowered her head and walked obediently beside Menma, her heart pounding.

This was the first time she had taken the initiative to hold Mianma's hand in front of everyone. Although "Sister" often did this, it still required a lot of courage for her.

She could feel Ino occasionally casting teasing and amused glances at her, and her face remained flushed.

Ino was indeed secretly laughing.

She leaned close to Shikamaru's ear and whispered, "Look at Hinata, this is the first time I've seen Hinata, who isn't usually the bossy type, be so proactive. But Menma is so nonchalant, he seems a bit like a jerk."

Shikamaru glanced at it and muttered, "Relationships are the most troublesome thing..."

Choji, still savoring the taste of the grilled meat, patted his belly and said to Naruto, "Next time, let's try the Wagyu beef from the Land of Lightning... Burp! I heard that kind of meat has evenly distributed fat, and it melts in your mouth when grilled..."

The group chatted as they walked until they reached a crossroads.

The streetlights cast a warm glow on the street corner, stretching their shadows long.

"Well then, let's part ways here." Menma stopped and turned to everyone, saying, "See you during the exam."

Naruto nodded vigorously: "Yeah! Everyone, let's do our best! We must pass the exam together!"

Sasuke put his hands in his pockets and nodded coolly in response.

Shikamaru yawned: "Okay, okay... I'll do my best, even though it's troublesome."

Ino smiled and waved: "Good luck, Hinata! See you later!"

Hinata replied softly, "Okay, goodbye..."

Choji also smiled and said goodbye.

As everyone was about to head in different directions, Sasuke also started walking, preparing to go home alone.

A cold and heavy sense of pressure suddenly came from the darkness in front of Sasuke.

It wasn't murderous intent, but a more violent sense of oppression, as if being stared at by some ferocious beast, sending a chill down one's spine.

Sasuke stopped abruptly, his muscles tensing instantly.

The Sharingan activated almost instinctively, and the scarlet twin tomoe slowly began to rotate.

Not only him, but Naruto, Shikamaru, Menma and others behind him also sensed this unusual aura at the same time, and stopped in their tracks, looking warily into the darkness in front of Sasuke.

Menma narrowed his eyes slightly; the sensation of this chakra was...

Hinata instinctively gripped Menma's hand, her Byakugan subtly activating, and veins bulging at the corners of her eyes.

Through the Byakugan's vision, she "saw" the vast and chaotic chakra in the darkness, and her face paled slightly.

"Sasuke!" Naruto quickly arrived behind Sasuke, his azure eyes fixed on the depths of darkness.

Shikamaru's hand had already reached for the ninja tool pouch behind his waist, and Choji's憨厚 smile had also disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.

Ino took a half step back, her expression solemn, and assumed a posture ready to form hand seals at any moment.

Under the solemn gazes of the crowd, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows where the streetlights did not reach.

He was a red-haired boy.

He wasn't particularly tall, and he wore a dark red long coat and trousers, with a blue-gray vest in the style of the Star Kingdom over it.

A striking "love" character was written on his forehead.

The most striking feature was the earthen-yellow gourd on his back, almost as tall as him, which was firmly secured to his back with bandages.

The boy had short, dark red hair and a handsome face, but his emerald green eyes were cold and devoid of any warmth.

He stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on Sasuke, as if no one else around him existed.

"Gaara, why are you running so fast!" A female voice came from behind the red-haired boy.

Footsteps sounded, and two more people ran out of the darkness.

A blonde girl with four pigtails followed, panting, carrying a huge iron fan almost as tall as herself on her back.

She was wearing a dark blue short skirt and stockings, and also wore a Star Ninja headband on her forehead.

The other was a black-haired boy with striking purple markings on his face, wearing a dark-colored high-necked shirt, and looking wary.

The three were clearly genin from the Land of Stars, but Sasuke didn't seem to have seen them at the village entrance.

Shikamaru frowned deeply. He stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "Are you genin from the Land of Stars here to participate in the Chunin Exams?"

Temari glanced at Shikamaru but didn't answer. Instead, she said to Gaara, "Gaara, what's wrong? Why are you running so fast all of a sudden..."

She followed Gaara's gaze, saw Sasuke, and paused for a moment.

Kankuro also cautiously observed the people of Konoha. When he saw Sasuke's scarlet Sharingan, his expression turned serious. But then he saw Menma not far away and his eyes widened.

Gaara still didn't answer anyone's questions.

He simply stared intently at Sasuke, his emerald eyes devoid of any emotion, his voice eerily calm:
"You're Sasuke?"

Sasuke felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet.

It wasn't that she was surprised the red-haired boy knew her, but rather because of the aura emanating from him.

That wasn't the murderous aura accumulated by ordinary ninjas after countless battles; rather, it was a violent, desert-like aura that swept over you.

Sasuke had carried out many dangerous missions in the Anbu and faced many powerful enemies, but no one had ever given him this feeling.

It's as if... the person standing in front of you isn't a human being, but a monster wearing human skin.

"Who are you?" Sasuke's voice was a little hoarse from nervousness, but he forced himself to remain calm, his Sharingan fixed on the other person.

"How do you know my name?"

Gaara did not answer.

He simply raised his right hand slowly.

The next instant, the stopper of the gourd on his back popped out automatically.

wow-

Countless grains of sand surged out of the gourd like a living yellow torrent, condensing and deforming in the air before shooting toward Sasuke at an astonishing speed!

"Sasuke, watch out!" Naruto shouted, and was about to rush forward.

But all of this happened too fast. From the moment Gaara raised his hand to the sand attack, it was only a blink of an eye before Sasuke was sent flying.

"Gaara, stop!" Temari shouted sharply, "This isn't the Land of Stars! Don't cause trouble!"

Gaara looked at Sasuke, who had struggled to his feet after being thrown back, and saw a hint of disappointment in his emerald green eyes, in addition to the curiosity he had shown earlier.

The sand slowly receded and flowed back into the gourd.

The stopper was put back on.

Gaara glanced at Sasuke one last time, then turned to the two of them and said:
"Let's go back."

His tone remained calm, as if he hadn't been the one who almost killed someone just moments before.

"Wait!" Sasuke finally snapped out of his shock, a wave of shame and anger washing over him as he felt slighted.

"You bastard! Who are you?! Why did you attack me?!"

Gaara stopped in his tracks.

He didn't turn around, but merely turned his head slightly, his voice drifting in the night breeze: "Uchiha Sasuke... you've disappointed me so much..."

He paused for a moment, then added:
"Don't die too early in the Chunin Exams."

After saying that, he didn't linger and walked straight to the other end of the street.

Temari and Kankuro exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

Kankuro turned back and gave the Konoha members a wary look, especially giving Menma a deep look before turning and leaving.

The three figures quickly disappeared into the night.

The tense atmosphere only eased slightly after they had completely left.

“That…that guy…” Naruto let out a long breath and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: “That feeling was terrifying…far more terrifying than any enemy we’ve encountered before…”

Shikamaru's expression was also grim: "The Land of Stars actually has such a monster... That sand just now was so fast, I almost didn't see it clearly."

Ino patted her chest, still shaken: "Was that gourd on his back filled with sand?"

Choji swallowed hard. "And what did he mean by 'Don't die too young'? Does he really mean to kill someone during the exam?"

Hinata gripped Menma's hand tightly and whispered, "The chakra within him... is terrifyingly vast... it's like... it's like..."

She didn't know how to describe that feeling.

Menma gently patted Hinata's hand, signaling her to relax.

He turned to look at Sasuke: "Are you alright?"

Sasuke shook his head, but his face remained pale, his Sharingan eyes filled with shame and resentment.

He was taken down in one move before he could even react.

If the other party hadn't been unwilling to kill him, he would have been seriously injured, if not killed.

I haven't felt this sense of powerlessness since joining the Dark Division.

(End of this chapter)