The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

"Yes, Grandpa Jiraiya, I understand!"

The blond boy took the water bottle, gulped down nearly half of it, took a deep breath, and then tilted his head back and said loudly.

These two were Jiraiya and Naruto, who had left Konoha Village a few months earlier to travel to other countries.

Since the battle at the Valley of the End, Naruto, upon returning to Konoha, has been plunged into a state of near despair and collapse.

Unlike the original story where only Sasuke defected, this is different.

In this life, Naruto suffered the betrayal of two brothers he valued highly, one of whom was his own brother, Menma Uzumaki. This double blow already shook Naruto's heart to its core. During the battle at the Valley of the End, Menma's blatant display of killing intent caused Naruto's heart to collapse.

He simply couldn't believe that Menma actually wanted to kill him.

When facing such a reality.

It would be strange if Naruto, who was only 12 years old, could accept this calmly.

Therefore, Naruto was in a daze for several days after returning to the village. It wasn't until Jiraiya returned to the village after completing his reconnaissance and security mission and had a heart-to-heart talk with Naruto that Naruto finally cheered up.

In the end, he's still just Naruto.

Even though he has the surname Namikaze in this life, his essence remains unchanged. This is why Menma believes that Naruto is still the reincarnation of Ashura's chakra, rather than him.

Only someone with Naruto's personality could match Ashura's chakra.

It was also based on that heart-to-heart talk with Jiraiya.

Just like in the original story, the two embarked on a journey of training to become stronger and gathering information. In Jiraiya's words, people can still understand each other. Jiraiya believed that Naruto could definitely win back Menma and Sasuke, as long as he could keep getting stronger and have the power to bring them back.

Naruto firmly believed this, so around the time Menma joined Takigakure, Naruto left Konoha with Jiraiya.

Now, they have been away from the village for several months. During this time, their traces have been almost everywhere in the Land of Fire. They are currently in the border area, where they are strengthening their Rasengan skills.

On the one hand, they were also considering how to choose their next path.

"Hehe, take a break first. Cultivation is not a grueling task that can be accomplished overnight. You need to rest properly, otherwise you will only achieve half the results with twice the effort."

Jiraiya pointed to the fish and shrimp that were almost cooked, as well as the steamed rice, and said with a light laugh.

"Yes, Grandpa Jiraiya!"

A wolfing down of food.

On the attributes of a big eater.

Naruto is definitely a top-three figure in Konoha.

Jiraiya, sitting to the side, sipped his drink while looking at Naruto with a kind expression. Jiraiya, who had never married and had no children, truly treated Naruto like his own grandson, after all, he was Minato's son.

Of course, the same goes for sesame seeds.

The thought of Menma, who had already defected, filled me with a sense of unease.

A hint of sadness flickered in Jiraiya's eyes.

Although this is not the first time.

But every time he thinks back, Jiraiya regrets his decision. He shouldn't have left the village, shouldn't have trusted his teacher so much, and should have stayed in the village to take care of Menma and Naruto himself.

We absolutely cannot let the two brothers live separately; otherwise, how could things have come to this?

Who knows, right now is a scene of the two brothers working together to revive Konoha.

How could it have come to this point of mutual slaughter?!

Although he didn't witness it firsthand, Jiraiya's heart couldn't help but clench when he learned from Kakashi and the others that Menma had actually tried to kill Naruto.

Those are his own brothers!

If it really happens that someone kills someone else.

Then, how could I face Minato and Kushina?

'It's all my fault...'

Jiraiya sighed softly to himself, lost in thought.

He had never regretted it as much as he had during this period of time.

"Hey? Grandpa Jiraiya, why aren't you eating? Hurry up and finish eating. Didn't we agree that you would guide me in my taijutsu training later?"

After finishing his meal, Naruto let out a satisfied burp. Looking at Jiraiya's still largely untouched food, he asked with a hint of confusion.

"Haha, let's just have a couple of drinks first, no rush, no rush."

After Naruto turned his gaze towards him, Jiraiya quickly adjusted his mindset and laughed as he spoke.

"Oh, you should drink less, Grandpa Jiraiya, drinking is bad for your health!"

"Haha, so you're starting to boss your grandpa Jiraiya around now, huh?"

"Isn't that just showing concern for you?"

"Yes Yes Yes!"

Jiraiya shook his head with amusement.

"Chirp!"

And it was at this very moment.

Suddenly, a rather piercing cry of an eagle rang out from the sky. Jiraiya was startled and looked up to see an incomparably majestic eagle in his sight.

This is the 'Ninja Hawk' that you can recognize at a glance, belonging exclusively to Konohagakure.

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, and he made a move with his right hand.

"Whoosh!"

The eagle also locked onto Jiraiya's location and swooped down from high above.

It landed directly beside Jiraiya and smoothly rested on his shoulder.

Jiraiya skillfully removed a small note from the talons of the falcon, and then with a flick of his right hand...

The falcon then took to the air again.

Jiraiya was the one who opened the note, saw the special symbols marking it, and gradually translated them.

Jiraiya's expression immediately tightened.

"Huh? What's wrong? Grandpa Jiraiya, did Granny Tsunade send some important information? Is it related to Orochimaru!?"

Naruto, who was in the opposite position, also noticed Jiraiya's change in expression immediately. He stood up and walked directly to Jiraiya, looking at him with great concern and asking questions.

"Well, you could say that."

Jiraiya nodded slowly and said.

The message Tsunade sent via ninja hawks did indeed contain some information from Orochimaru, but it focused more on another key issue—the traces of the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata.

There is no such thing as a secret that stays hidden forever.

Yu Gao's defection.

For ordinary ninjas, this is a top secret that cannot be obtained from small ninja villages. However, other large ninja villages can obtain some relevant information. Orochimaru started from Kirigakure to investigate the traces of the Six-Tails Jinchuriki. Konohagakure, which was also closely monitoring Orochimaru's movements, was able to find some clues.

Tsunade and the Konoha faction were unaware that Orochimaru's actions stemmed from Menma's demands. In Tsunade's view, it was Orochimaru's personal choice—a dangerous individual who was now setting his sights on the Tailed Beasts.

In addition, there's Menma, who had already joined Orochimaru's side.

Tsunade had to consider whether this was Orochimaru's next plan.

Orochimaru is already in great danger.

Tsunade would not allow such danger to escalate further.

Therefore, Tsunade not only urgently dispatched one of the most elite ANBU squads from the village, but also sent a message to Jiraiya.

Tsunade hopes that Jiraiya can also make a trip there. She has no desire for the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, but she definitely does not want to see the Six-Tails fall into Orochimaru's hands.

"What news is that!?"

When Naruto heard that it was indeed related to Orochimaru, his eyes widened immediately, and he asked urgently, as if with great urgency.

Why are you paying attention to Orochimaru?!

It's all because of Menma and Sasuke.

Even now, after the battle at the Valley of the End, Naruto is no longer as naive as before, thinking that everything was Orochimaru's fault. But from the bottom of his heart, he still feels that if it weren't for Orochimaru, Menma and Sasuke would never have gone to the point of defecting.

Therefore, if Naruto were to compile a list of the people he most hates and wants to kill, Orochimaru would definitely be at the top, and currently the only one of them.

Now that Naruto has finally heard some news related to Orochimaru, he is naturally paying close attention.

Orochimaru sent people to a small country in the south called 'Haru' to search for a very important person.

Jiraiya omitted some details and explained it to Naruto concisely.

"The Land of Spring? Then let's go there right now, Grandpa Jiraiya!"

Naruto first murmured something to himself, then suddenly looked up at Jiraiya with a very determined expression and said in a deep voice.

Although it had been decided long ago that Naruto would go and investigate.

But he still got so excited when he saw Naruto.

A faint sense of worry involuntarily surfaced in Jiraiya's heart.

"Of course we'll go, but Naruto, I have to make this clear beforehand: you can't act on your own. You must stay by my side at all times and follow my instructions completely, understand?"

Jiraiya lowered his head slightly, looking at Naruto with a very serious and solemn expression, and spoke in a deep voice.

This also clearly demonstrates Jiraiya's attitude.

"Yes, don't worry, Grandpa Jiraiya, I definitely won't do anything reckless!"

Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, Naruto first showed a look of great joy, and then nodded frantically in response, like a chick pecking at rice.

"That's good. Remember your words, Naruto!"

Listening to Naruto's answer.

Only then did a faint smile appear on Jiraiya's face.

"Yes!"

Immediately afterwards.