The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

'Is this Orochimaru's cursed seal? It truly exudes an aura of evil and misfortune.'

Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta's head, looking at Sasuke, who resembled a demon, and frowned, thinking to himself.

Although not as intense or profound as Naruto's feelings, Jiraiya still harbored an extraordinary obsession with Orochimaru, his former close friend. Jiraiya once hoped to persuade Orochimaru to return to the village, but as time went by, he gradually gave up on that hope.

After Orochimaru went further and further down what he considered the wrong path, Jiraiya no longer had any such thoughts, and only reminisced about the past.

"Lord Jiraiya."

Ryoma, who had just faced the threat of death, couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief after escaping death.

Without Gamabunta showing any sign of aversion, Ryoma leaped directly into the space between Gamabunta's head and his own, clearly bearing a severe injury, and bowed slightly to greet Jiraiya.

He was indeed a member of Root, but he was also a ninja of Konoha.

Jiraiya held a very special position in Konoha. Apart from Tsunade, Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane, any other Konoha ninja would bow and greet him upon seeing him, especially since Jiraiya had just saved his life.

"Oh, it's Ryoma. You can step aside and rest for now. I'll handle things here."

As an elite member of Root and a ninja from the same era as Jiraiya, Jiraiya naturally knew Aburame Ryoma.

Even without prior information, Jiraiya would not mistake this aura of chakra and the sound it evoked.

"Yes, Jiraiya-sama."

After Longma answered, he retreated.

"By the way, I have something else to ask you later, but of course, it won't involve that old guy."

Jiraiya uttered those words in a low, somber tone.

Ryoma paused involuntarily, took a deep breath, and replied in a very steady voice, "Yes, I understand."

Then.

He then swiftly retreated to the back to tend to his wounds.

After Ryuma left, Naruto eagerly went to the front and shouted at Sasuke opposite him, "Sasuke!!!"

They didn't say anything more, but everything was understood without being said.

Sasuke's heartstrings were still slightly tugged.

Although the addition of Menma in this life makes the plot less similar, some things remain completely unchanged.

Even if some key plot points are missing.

But the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke remains special.

Just like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.

The chakra of Ashura and the chakra of Indra, passed down for thousands of years—this is the karmic entanglement between brothers!

"Half a year has passed, and you're still the same as before, Naruto. You're really not as good as Menma. You're naive, ignorant, and stupid. I really doubt whether you two are even brothers."

Sasuke's expression remained calm, but a hint of mockery, so obvious and so intense, flickered in his pupils.

And most importantly, it was a tone that didn't sound like a joke at all.

And that nonchalant expression.

This made Naruto's heart clench.

"Uchiha Sasuke, it's not too late to turn back now. You haven't caused any threat or damage. Don't continue to be so stubborn. I can assure you that as long as you turn back, everything can be pretended never happened!"

Jiraiya looked at Sasuke with a calm expression and said.

This wasn't just Jiraiya boasting; his status was undeniable. Besides, the current Hokage was Tsunade. While village affairs were still subject to the checks and balances of those three old men, Tsunade truly had the ability and authority to make decisions on matters of principle. It all depended on whether Tsunade was willing to do so.

But as long as Jiraiya and Naruto are there.

Sasuke or Menma.

The problem between the two of them isn't really a big deal.

This is what is meant by privilege.

"Heh, go back? That really is..."

Sasuke chuckled, about to say something.

"That's truly laughable. Are all the people of Konoha like this? Or is this some kind of school of thought you created, Jiraiya-san?!"

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out from the northeast corner.

A blood-red figure then flashed over.

It immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.

"Menma!?"

"Menma!"

It was the same figure that flashed and stood atop the heads of the myriad snakes.

Naruto and Sasuke showed completely different expressions, and Jiraiya's eyes also narrowed slightly at that moment.

"Kid!? And who are you!? How dare you stand on my head!? Huh!?"

The demon below instantly flew into a rage.

I was already provoked by that stinky toad on the other side, and now someone is stepping on my head without my permission.

In Manda's eyes, this was an utterly heinous act!

Lord Manda declared that he absolutely had to teach this guy a lesson in terror!

That is a massive body that needs to be twisted and turned with all its might.

(End of this chapter)

Please take one day off.

As the title says, I'm very sorry, I went to get renovation materials for my house today and was busy all day. I didn't get back until tonight and I really don't have the energy to write. I'm taking a day off, and I hope my fellow readers can forgive me.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 249 Foolish and laughable words

But it only lasted a second.

"Hehe, Manda-san is still so irritable. I am Orochimaru-san's ally, and therefore also Manda-san's companion, right? Such formality is going to hurt my feelings."

Mianma smiled slightly, but beneath his seemingly calm words lurked a terrifying aura.

And the fox-like eyes that were faintly visible in their sockets.

"!?"

There was a palpable sense of danger about this place.

This caused Manda's expression to change.

This aura seems to be even more terrifying than Orochimaru's.

"Of course, I was indeed a bit presumptuous. I will definitely apologize to Manda-san later. Please forgive me, Manda-san."

After a slight pause.

Mianma said with a smile.

"Hmph, if that's how it is, then forget it! I won't hold it against you!"

Manda snorted twice and then went down the steps. Although this giant snake from Ryuchi Cave had a bad personality, it was still intelligent.

Why is Orochimaru able to control ten thousand snakes?

Besides fulfilling Manda's requirements, the most important thing is that Orochimaru has the strength to do so, and the same goes for Menma now. The more a creature like Manda is, the more accurate its intuition becomes.

Beside him, Menma arrived, but Yakushi Kabuto, who dared not approach the top of the snake's head, also showed a hint of emotion at this moment.

He had witnessed Menma's growth firsthand. Seeing Menma's current imposing presence, it would be a lie to say that Kabuto Yakushi felt nothing at all.

As for Yu Gao...

He didn't appear with Menma and Kabuto, which was also Menma's request. He didn't want to reveal the news that Utakata had joined his side too early. Although it might not be possible to keep it a secret for long, he wanted to delay it as long as possible.

"I didn't expect to run into you two here. But, Jiraiya-san, what you're saying is exactly the same as what Kakashi and his group said. Did they really learn it from here? So unoriginal, so utterly unoriginal, so shameless!!! Are they all so naive? So ridiculous? So stupid!?"

Menma looked at Jiraiya across from him with a mocking expression.

In my past life, when I first watched Naruto, including when Jiraiya died in battle and even when Naruto was about to end, Menma really liked the character of Jiraiya and truly felt that he was a man worthy of the title of hero.

However, the deeper one's understanding of Naruto becomes, especially after arriving in this world, Jiraiya, in Menma's view, becomes a highly satirical character.

He bears at least half, or even more, responsibility for his tragic story.

Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan are a huge problem.

Regardless of whether Madara Uchiha had other backup plans, the fact that Jiraiya never brought Nagato back to Konoha was a mistake.

To put it bluntly, he could be unable to do this because of his abilities, various unexpected events, or because of the foreshadowing and preparations laid by Madara Uchiha.

The only thing that can't be that he didn't do it himself!

This is a fundamental difference!

Then, let's talk about Naruto's facial paralysis in this life, as seen in the original story.

Jiraiya is yet another example of a cowardly act of blatantly shirking responsibility.

therefore.

Menma will no longer view Jiraiya through the lens of her past life. If he doesn't stop her, she can refrain from doing anything to Jiraiya for the sake of her parents, but if he does stop her...

That leaves only one option.

"Menma, I know it's too late to say anything now. The village's mistakes, the old man's mistakes, and my own mistakes are all irreversible. But at least there's still a possibility of making amends. I hope you can give us that chance. I also believe that Minato and Kushina don't want to see you become an enemy of the village and turn your sword against Naruto, do they?!"

Jiraiya looked at Menma with a very sincere expression and said.

Jiraiya still had some conscience and a sense of shame. He wouldn't be like Danzo, spouting empty rhetoric about righteousness and claiming that he was always right and that everything he did was for the sake of the village.

If you're wrong, you're wrong.