The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

Ten slips of paper, paired up in pairs.

Because there were no qualifying rounds, the draw for the main tournament was also very different.

These are the lottery numbers that everyone has drawn.

At the moment the final results were announced.

A look of surprise also appeared in Mianma's eyes.

Because in the second match, it was clearly written that Gaara would face Naruto Namikaze!

The first match was described as Uchiha Sasuke versus Hyuga Neji.

The four players directly swapped opponents.

Everyone else didn't feel anything, but Mianma just found it a little strange.

Is this also considered fate?

Mianma thought it was a little funny.

As for Menma himself, he drew number five, which means he will be the last to appear. His opponent is Rock Lee, who Menma has always found troublesome. As mentioned before, this will be without using the Nine-Tails' chakra.

The current Mianma is no match for Rock Lee.

The original work provides a glimpse into just how powerful Lee became after opening the fifth gate.

Even among Jonin, few can rival him.

Of course, even if Xiao Li opened five gates during this period, his body couldn't handle it. Judging solely from the strength of his physical abilities, four gates would be Xiao Li's current limit.

But even with four gates.

It's hard to say whether Menma can face it head-on. Putting aside everything else, just the speed alone is something that Menma can't even dream of now. However, in this assessment, Menma doesn't need to worry about this aspect. This is not only because it doesn't matter if he loses directly, but also because he may not even need to participate.

Because their duel was in the final match.

As long as the Sand Village's plan remains unchanged.

In the second match.

Gaara will directly transform into a tailed beast during the battle.

The Konoha Crush Plan will officially begin then, so why would they even have a chance to appear? The same applies to the third match between Tenten and Temari, and the fourth match between Sakura and Kankuro.

Others are unaware.

Menma understood very well that the key to this main tournament was only the second match between Gaara and Naruto.

"That concludes your matchup list for the main competition. Ahem... you all have a month to prepare. Hopefully, you can deliver a spectacular match..."

Moonlight Gale's gaze swept across the faces of everyone below, and he spoke in that still extremely weak tone.

And it was at that very moment that the matchup list was announced.

The ten boys and girls below each had their own opponent in mind.

Gaara, in particular, looked at Naruto with a ferocious gaze, as if he wished he could attack right there and then.

Temari and Kankuro, standing to the side, both showed a tense expression in their eyes.

Naruto didn't really understand the concept; he simply thought it was a good thing to be able to fight against ninjas from other villages, especially since these were people he had interacted with some time ago and whom Naruto considered strong opponents.

Naruto was already eager to try it out.

Xiao Li also stared at Mianma with shining eyes.

The person he had always wanted to defeat was Neji.

Menma is now considered a target, after all, he's someone who can surpass the Uchiha clan and the Hokage's son to become the top graduate this year.

I just heard from my teacher that Mianma entered the Forest of Death alone as part of a team.

This courage, this strength.

'Oh, oh, oh, the fire of my youth is about to ignite!'

That intense gaze was like a 'rising flame' that could be seen with the naked eye.

Mianma shook his head inwardly, feeling a little helpless.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 98 Separation and Visit (Seeking First Subscription)

P.S.: I just hope the first subscription can reach two or three hundred. Thank you all, fellow readers.

In other words, you wouldn't normally encounter such a 'beast' in the main tournament. Just thinking about it gives Menma a headache.

There was no objection from anyone.

After emphasizing the main tournament rules one last time, Gekko Hayate dismissed Menma and the others.

The group had just left the Forest of Death when they saw Kakashi waving and smiling at them from the exit.

"Oh? Kakashi-nii, did you see that? We've all made it to the final round of the main tournament!"

Naruto also stood tall and proud, and said with a very proud expression.

"Hehe, of course I believe you can do it, otherwise why would I recommend you to participate in this Chunin Exams?"

Kakashi said with a smile.

As she spoke, she glanced at Sasuke seemingly casually, without Naruto or Sakura noticing.

But it couldn't escape the gaze of the pockmarked face.

He also knew very well that Kakashi was worried about the cursed mark on Sasuke's neck. After they arrived at the tower yesterday, Kakashi had appeared once. Upon hearing that a special mark had appeared on Sasuke's neck, Kakashi took Sasuke away with a serious expression. Sakura and Naruto thought it was just for a routine check-up or treatment, but only Menma knew that with Konoha's current level, it was impossible to break the cursed mark that Orochimaru had specially carved. With Kakashi's level, he could at most temporarily seal the leakage of the cursed mark's power, and that would still depend on Sasuke's own willpower.

If Sasuke himself actively desires this power.

No matter what kind of seal it is, it is completely useless.

Kakashi knew Sasuke's personality all too well, so it was only natural that he would pay attention and worry about him.

Sakura and Naruto are currently unaware of these things.

Neither Kakashi nor Sasuke would tell the two of them on their own initiative, and Menma, the only one who knew, would simply pretend not to know.

"Hehe, shouldn't you, Kakashi-nii, do something to celebrate that we've all made it into the final main tournament?"

Naruto approached and looked at Kakashi with a grin.

"Hehe, of course, no problem. Eat and drink as much as you want today. This is a celebration and a reward!"

Kakashi chuckled and patted Naruto's head.

"Great! You said it yourself, so I definitely won't hold back today, Kakashi-nii!"

Naruto shouted loudly with a happy expression.

"Yes, I said it."

When Kakashi saw that Sasuke still had his usual indifferent expression, without any special change, he felt much more relaxed.

"Haha, then you'd better be prepared, Kakashi-nii. Um, you guys are all okay, right? Sakura? Menma? Sasuke?"

Naruto couldn't wait to turn to his three teammates and say something.

"Ok!"

"Humph"

Sakura and Sasuke also replied one after the other.

Mianma, sitting in the back, nodded slightly with a faint smile.

This scene seems quite harmonious.

But the others didn't notice that there was a crack that had completely separated the area.

"Alright, let's go then!"

That was Naruto's familiar, booming voice as he landed.

The setting sun cast long shadows, and the five people walked side by side. But at this moment, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura could not realize that this might be the last time their Team 7 would have a group activity.

This might not be called a false friendship, but in Menma's view, it is a meaningless and empty bond.

Whether it's Sakura or Kakashi.

Beneath that fake smile, there is no real place in her heart.

The same goes for Naruto.

They are only related by blood.

Unlike Minato and Kushina, who at least gave him this life, this so-called younger brother is destined to be his enemy in the future.

After that night in the Land of Waves.

Menma had already completely separated himself from these people in his heart. Only Sasuke was slightly different, but what the future held still depended on their choices.

There is no way to make a decision right now.

After ending the so-called reward banquet with a feignedly gentle attitude, Menma returned to her residence, only to be greeted by a special guest.

"Hmph, now that we're here, why hide to the side?"

To Menma, this was a chakra fluctuation as obvious as a bright light in the dark. Almost the instant the person approached his territory, Menma sensed their presence.

"Oh my, it seems Lord Orochimaru didn't overestimate you after all, Menma-kun. At only 12 years old, you already possess such a level of perception. Is this also the power of the Nine-Tails? Or is it an ability you have as a member of the Uzumaki clan?"

At the end of the corridor.

That dark corner, which at first glance seemed to be completely deserted, suddenly revealed a tall, upright figure as these words fell into Mianma's sight.

Silver hair, black-rimmed glasses.

And that familiar fake smile.

This figure was none other than Orochimaru's capable assistant—Kabuto Yakushi.

"Hmm? A Konoha headband? And Orochimaru-san's aura... Oh, so you're Orochimaru-san's spy planted in Konoha?"

Menma looked at Yakushi Kabuto with a scrutinizing gaze, his eyes indifferent, a hint of sharpness in his pupils.