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

Chapter 12 The Child of Darkness, The Toad Sage's Prophecy
With the Third Hokage's order, all the ninjas in Konoha were mobilized to search the village's protective barrier.

The task of the barrier class is even more important.

This is the second time in three years that a mysterious ninja has silently broken through the barrier and infiltrated the village, while the barrier team has been rendered useless, which has greatly angered the Third Hokage.

Three years ago, when the Nine-Tails wreaked havoc, ordinary villagers and ninjas thought it was just the Nine-Tails going berserk.

However, only the Konoha leadership knew that it was a meticulously planned attack.

This resulted in the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, Biwako, the Third Hokage's wife, and a female medical ninja who delivered the baby.

This time, another mysterious ninja infiltrated and killed the Cloud Village envoy, attempting to provoke a war between the two countries.

In an effort to stop the enemy, the Hyuga clan, one of the two clan leaders, suffered serious injuries and the other minor injuries. Even though Kumogakure had some doubts, the Konoha leadership remained resolute.

They insisted that the mysterious ninja had killed the Cloud Village envoy.

This resolute attitude ultimately thwarted the Cloud Village's conspiracy.

the other side.

Behind the shadowy Root base, Danzo listened to his subordinate Ryoma Aburame's report and let out a soft hum.

"It seems quite lively outside, Lord Danzo." Orochimaru pushed open the door to Danzo's office.

On his way from the secret laboratory to the Root base, he saw that many Konoha ninjas had been mobilized, and even some Anbu ninjas. Such a large-scale operation made even this science fanatic who had spent a lot of time in the laboratory a little curious.

Danzo sat in the chair and did not answer Orochimaru directly, but instead gestured for Aburame Ryoma to explain.

Ryoma Aburame understood immediately and said to Orochimaru, "Last night, a mysterious ninja infiltrated the village, killed the Kumogakure envoy, and dumped the Kumogakure's body on the Hyuga clan's territory..."

How did the two Hyuga clan leaders manage to escape unscathed from the pursuit of numerous Hyuga Jinin and Root ninjas, and even kill a mysterious ninja who had returned from a surprise attack?
Orochimaru's golden eyes flashed with interest, and he licked his lips with his long tongue.

'It seems the outside world is still as wonderful as ever.' Orochimaru had fought alongside the Hyuga clan chief and his brother, and knew their fighting prowess well. Even if the enemy was the Kage of an entire village, they could retreat with ease.

"Alright, enough of that. I've come here hoping that Lord Danzo will provide more test subjects." Orochimaru spread out his right hand, directly demanding research funding and materials from Danzo.

Upon hearing this, Danzo frowned, his one eye creased.

"You've already used up the test subjects I gave you last time?" Danzo was somewhat dissatisfied with Orochimaru's speed in consuming experimental equipment.

"After all, we've made some progress, so ordinary test subjects can no longer meet my needs." Orochimaru tossed a strand of his long hair aside, becoming increasingly confident in his research direction.

Although Danzo managed to snag that accidental Wood Release test subject, his existence also demonstrated that Orochimaru's research direction was feasible.

Orochimaru, not content with using ordinary people as test subjects, continued to demand more ninjas from Danzo as experimental subjects.
"I'll have someone send it to you, but don't go too far," Danzo warned grimly.

The prisoners in Konoha's prisons weren't enough to cause trouble anymore, and Danzo had also captured quite a few civilian ninjas over the years.

In Danzo's eyes, all sacrifices were worthwhile in order to make Konoha great again!
As long as it's not yourself who has to sacrifice.

"Hmph, then I'll wait for good news."

Orochimaru grunted twice, let out a meaningful chuckle, and disappeared into the shadows.

------

The Kingdom of Tang, its capital.

This city, built on a hot spring, has always been a tourist destination in the ninja world. Because the Land of Hot Springs is located in the northeast of the ninja world continent, bordering the Land of Lightning, the Land of Moon, the Land of Sound, the Land of Fire, the Land of Water, and the Land of Waves, it has contributed to the city's economic prosperity.

In a brothel, Jiraiya was surrounded by geisha, chatting about various interesting stories in the ninja world, completely absorbed in the beauty and charm of the women.

bang——

Suddenly, a puff of smoke dissipated, and a small, entirely red toad with a pair of diving goggles around its neck appeared in the room. "Jiraiya!" the toad shouted, but the loud laughter and chatter in the room went unnoticed.

Helpless, the little toad jumped onto Jiraiya's face.

Jiraiya, who was drinking at the time, was startled.

After realizing that it was a toad from Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya sobered up a bit and quickly chased the geisha and courtesans out of the room.

The geishas, ​​who had just been all lovey-dovey with Jiraiya, left the room with resentful expressions on their faces.

"Gama Kosuke! What brings you here?" Jiraiya removed Gama Kosuke from his face, took out the teapot next to him, and drank directly from it.

"Lord Fukasaku sent me to find you," Gamabunta urged Jiraiya.

After drinking a large pot of tea, Jiraiya began to perform the Reverse Summoning Technique.

Together with Gamakatsu Kosuke, they arrived at Mount Myōboku, one of the three sacred sites.

In a vast expanse of water, stone toad statues stand everywhere, while at the end of the lake, a wooden palace stands high above.

"Master Fukasaku, you were looking for me?" When Jiraiya arrived, Fukasaku and Shima, the two toads, had already been waiting in front of the palace for a while.

Compared to Jiraiya, who reeked of alcohol and seemed rather nonchalant, Fukasaku the toad said with a serious expression, "The Great Toad Sage said he dreamed of something terrible."

"Huh? Something terrible?" Jiraiya was instantly sober.

He hadn't heard the Great Toad Sage's prophecy for a long time, so why was it bad news this time?

Jiraiya then hurriedly entered the palace with the two toads, Fukasaku and Shima.

Deep within the palace, a large, orange toad, wearing something resembling a doctoral cap on its head, sat submerged in a pot, with a string of beads hanging from its chest, among which the bead with the character "oil" was the most conspicuous.

"Great Toad Sage!" Jiraiya knelt on one knee and looked up at the Great Toad Sage.

"Ah, it's little Jiraiya." The Great Toad Sage slowly opened one eye. "What brings you here?"

Upon hearing the Great Toad Sage's question, Jiraiya stumbled and fell to the ground.

Fukasaku and Shima jumped to either side of the Great Toad Sage, and Shima immediately scolded, "You're the one who called Jiraiya here, aren't you senile?"

"Oh, oh." The Great Toad Sage recalled for a moment and said slowly, "I remember now, I had a dream."

"In the dream, the entire ninja world was gradually shrouded in darkness, and all countries and ninja villages, including the Five Great Nations, were swallowed up by the darkness."

!!!

Jiraiya was shocked. The prophetic child that the Great Toad Sage had predicted would bring about change in the ninja world was not this detailed.

"I saw a figure in the darkness, a figure too dark to look at, that would utterly destroy the entire world!" the Great Toad Sage continued.

"Do you have more detailed characteristics of him?" Jiraiya frowned, though he didn't have much hope.

"The abyss..." the Great Toad Sage said slowly, "When he turned around, all I saw was an endless abyss, an abyss that even I felt my heart tremble..."

"The abyss?" Jiraiya mused.

"The child of darkness who will destroy the world?!"

　I need your support, anything you can give!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)