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

Chapter 268 Jiraiya: Long time no see, Konan

Menma and Jiraiya's conversation lasted for quite some time, covering a wide range of topics, from the differences in ramen flavors from different countries to strange and unusual stories, and even discussing the customs and traditions of some small countries.

Jiraiya may seem unrestrained and carefree, but in reality, every word he utters is a careful probe, trying to glean clues from the conversation of the mysterious young man before him.

Mianma, on the other hand, handled the situation with ease, his words were witty and his insights unique, as if he were truly just a well-informed food lover.

Ziyanghua sat quietly to the side, taking small bites of her ordinary-tasting instant ramen.

She watched as the two went from strangers to chatting happily, their atmosphere as harmonious as that of old friends who had known each other for many years, and she felt a little strange.

This guy has a maturity beyond his years, while this white-haired uncle looks lecherous and slovenly, and doesn't seem like a good person at all.

She couldn't understand their conversation, but instinctively felt that something was unusual.

Finally, the bowl of noodles was empty.

Mianma put down his chopsticks and sighed contentedly, "Thank you for the treat, boss. The taste is just average, but it's a pleasure to have a bowl of hot noodles on this rainy night."

A few crumpled banknotes from the Land of Rain were placed on the counter.

This money is enough to pay for two bowls of noodles and there's still some left over.

Jiraiya immediately put on his shrewd shopkeeper smile, accepted the money, but his gaze remained fixed on Menma: "I'm glad the customers are satisfied! You two don't look very old, and you're still out so late, please be careful."

"Keep that to yourself. I don't think you're a local either," Menma replied with a smile.

Jiraiya grew increasingly uneasy: 'Has this guy already seen through my disguise?'

Ziyanghua quickly put down her chopsticks and obediently followed Mianma. Her small figure looked somewhat frail in the dim light.

Just as the two were about to step out of the ramen shop disguised as a toad, Jiraiya finally couldn't hold back and shouted at Menma's back, "Hey, kid! We've been chatting for so long, and I still don't know your name?"

Mianma's footsteps stopped at the door, and the sound of rain came clearly from outside the crack in the door.

He didn't turn around, but simply turned his face to the side, a smile curving his lips, his voice clearly piercing through the rain:
"My name is Yi Le, and I'm just a foodie passing through."

Hydrangea blinked her big eyes. Although she knew the name was definitely fake, she still added in a low voice out of politeness, "I... I'm called Hydrangea."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mianma pushed open the shop door, carrying hydrangeas as he disappeared into the endless rain outside.

Inside the store, Jiraiya's smile instantly froze.

"Ichiraku...?" Jiraiya watched the two figures disappear through the door, then shook his head helplessly. "What a perfunctory alias. Mentioning Konoha and Ichiraku Ramen repeatedly, this kid is definitely doing it on purpose!"

He immediately realized that the other party had not only seen through his disguise, but also revealed their understanding of Konoha in this way, which was a silent mockery.

However, the other party never showed any hostility, which only made him more confused.

He could sense an indescribable familiarity with the boy who called himself "Yile".

But this feeling of being completely seen through while knowing nothing about the other party made even this experienced Sannin feel a little uneasy.

Just then, the voice of the toad, filled with seriousness and suspicion, rang out from inside the ramen shop: "Jiraiya! That kid who just left is definitely not right!"

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Jiraiya composed himself and raised an eyebrow.

"The aura emanating from him... is extremely dangerous!" The voice of the World-Slaying Toad trembled slightly. "Although he concealed it very well, in the instant he put down the money and his attention was slightly diverted, I still sensed a trace of danger leaking out..."

"Cold, violent, and full of destruction, just like... just like facing a tailed beast!"

"Even more terrifying than ordinary tailed beasts!"

"A Tailed Beast?!" Jiraiya was taken aback at first, then chuckled. "Gamabunta, aren't you being too nervous? That kid looks so young, how could he possibly be a Tailed Beast? Is he some Jinchuriki from some ninja village wandering around aimlessly...?"

His laughter abruptly stopped, his expression changed drastically, and he remembered the top-secret message from the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, that had been transmitted not long ago through the communication toads of Mount Myōboku.

After suffering heavy losses in a surprise attack by "Shura," the Hidden Cloud Village stormed over to Konoha, demanding to know that "Shura" was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

At the time, all the Konoha leaders, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, believed that the Cloud Village was being unreasonable and trying to provoke Konoha, since the Nine-Tails was clearly sealed inside Naruto, which was an indisputable fact.

But... what if the toad's perception is correct?
That boy exuded a dangerous aura comparable to that of a tailed beast...

The accusations from Kumogakure... the various rumors surrounding the mysterious ruler of the Land of Stars, "Shura"... a blue-eyed boy with an unusually deep understanding of the customs of different countries, especially Konoha and Ichiraku Ramen...

At that moment, countless clues suddenly connected, forming a conjecture that made Jiraiya's heart stop!

"Could it be... that kid just now... was 'Shura' himself?!" He murmured in disbelief, his pupils contracting slightly in shock. "But... what is Shura doing in Amegakure? And with a seemingly frail young genin girl from Amegakure by his side?"

It couldn't possibly be...he's here to pick up girls, could it?!
A profound sense of absurdity and deeper doubts welled up within me.

He suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

Impossible; the other party's behavior seemed casual.

This guy, who stirs up trouble in the ninja world and gives major nations a headache, must have a more important purpose for infiltrating Amegakure from afar.

Before Jiraiya could sort out his chaotic thoughts, the door of the ramen shop was pushed open again, and the wind chimes hanging on the eaves made a crisp clanging sound.

Two ninjas dressed in standard Rain Village ninja uniforms and wearing soaking wet raincoats walked in. As they hung their dripping raincoats on the coat rack by the door, they shouted in a loud voice, "Boss, what's good to eat? This awful weather, I'm starving!"

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed instantly, and he temporarily suppressed his speculation about "Shura".

His face returned to that overly enthusiastic smile, as if the shock he had just experienced had never happened.

"Oh! Welcome!" He rubbed his hands together as he stepped out from behind the counter, his tone slightly eerie: "Today... I especially recommend our 'Torture Package'! I guarantee you'll... never forget it!"

The two Rain Ninjas were stunned upon hearing this. Before they could react to the meaning of this strange dish name, they saw the "shop owner" in front of them suddenly form hand seals!
"untie!"

boom!
A puff of white smoke flashed by, and the ordinary appearance and attire of the shopkeeper vanished instantly, replaced by a hero with wild white hair and wearing a red jacket.

Jiraiya!
"You...you are?!" The pupils of the two Rain Ninjas shrank, instantly recognizing the face that was famous in the ninja world, and fear instantly filled their faces.

They almost instinctively turned to run away, only to find that the ramen shop door had been tightly closed at some point, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't budge it an inch!
"It's easy to get in, but it'll be hard to get out," Jiraiya said with a hint of mockery.

The next moment, the entire interior of the ramen shop began to twist and deform violently!
As the warm lights went out, the wooden walls and tables and chairs seemed to come alive and writhe, quickly transforming into disgusting pink fleshy walls covered in slime and fleshy folds!
A strong, sour smell filled the air, and the ground beneath our feet became soft and absorbent.

"What...what is this?!"

"Weird...monster!"

The two Rain Ninjas screamed in terror. Their hands and feet felt as if they were sinking into mud, tightly gripped and enveloped by the writhing flesh around them. No matter how much they struggled, they could not break free and instead sank deeper and deeper.

They felt as if they were inside the digestive system of some enormous creature, and a wave of desperate fear instantly overwhelmed them.

This is inside the body of a toad—the toad's esophagus!
……

Meanwhile, not far from the ramen shop, on a high, abandoned pipe platform.

Mianma, holding his oil-paper umbrella, stood side by side with Ziyanghua, quietly gazing at the alley below.

To Ziyanghua's astonishment, the seemingly ordinary ramen shop they had just left suddenly deformed and shrank like a burst bubble, finally revealing its true form.

A huge, uniquely shaped, bright green toad.

The toad gradually shrank, looked around, and then, with a burst of strength from its hind legs, leaped forward and plunged into the rushing river with a "plop," splashing up a large spray of water before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"That...that ramen shop just now...was...was it a summoned beast in disguise?" Hydrangea covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Although she was only a genin, she knew that a summoning beast that could disguise itself so realistically and even simulate the aroma and heat of food was no ordinary creature.

Who exactly is that white-haired uncle?

"Hmm." Menma responded lightly, but his gaze did not follow the departing toad. Instead, it seemed to casually sweep over the shadows of another alleyway not far away, and the top of a certain iron tower higher up.

In his Kagura Mind's Eye perception, two familiar chakra streams were faintly visible.

Zetsu lurked underground at the street corner like mold, while Konan stood lightly high up like a paper crane. Their attention was clearly focused on the toad that had dived into the water and Jiraiya inside it.

"From now on, Amegakure won't be peaceful." Menma withdrew his gaze and looked at Hydrangea, who was still in shock beside him. His tone was calm but carried a subtle warning.

"Take care of yourself. If you encounter any danger that you can't handle, go to the room I rented and find my shadow clone."

Upon hearing this, Zi Yanghua's heart tightened suddenly.

She could hear the obvious sense of parting in Mianma's words.

He was leaving to complete the real "business" he had come to Amegakure.

A strange sense of loss and longing welled up in her heart. Despite their brief acquaintance and the boy's mystery and danger, the ramen he treated her to, the umbrella he handed her, and the occasional calmness he displayed that seemed inconsistent with his powerful strength, all gave her a peculiar sense of security.

"I...I don't even know your name yet?" Hydrangea raised her head, her short purple hair wet with rain, making her bun look a little messy. She mustered her courage and looked directly into Menma's eyes, which were still too blue even in the rain.

"The name 'Yi Le' was a lie to him, right?"

Menma looked at the pure worry and the stubborn questioning in her eyes, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

“Yes, I was lying to him.” He nodded, his voice clearly piercing through the pattering rain: “My name is Mianma, Whirlpool Mianma.”

After saying that, he gently placed the umbrella in his hand, which seemed to be able to keep out the rain, into the hands of the hydrangea.

Then, before the hydrangea could react, his figure vanished completely from her sight like an ink droplet merging into rainwater, leaving no trace.

Only the umbrella in his hand, still dry and slightly warm, proved his presence.

“Whirlpool… numbness…” Hydrangea stood there blankly, repeating the name, feeling the sensation from the umbrella handle, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She glanced down in the direction where the pockmarked face had disappeared, gripped the umbrella in her hand tighter, turned and quickly left the place that was about to become a place of trouble.

……

Inside the toad's esophagus.

Jiraiya looked at the two Rain Ninjas, who were tightly bound by flesh walls and whose faces showed extreme terror. His usual playful smile was gone, replaced by the coldness of an elite ninja.

“Tell me, what exactly happened between Hanzo the Salamander and the Akatsuki a few years ago? Tell me everything you know.” His voice echoed in the closed esophagus, carrying a sense of oppression.

Under the influence of the mesmerizing and will-weakening mucus secreted by the Misaki Toad, and facing the powerful aura of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, the two Rain Ninja's mental defenses quickly crumbled.

One of the Chunin had participated in the operation to wipe out the Akatsuki organization years ago and provided fragmented information about what he knew.

Several years ago, Hanzo of the Salamander, in alliance with the ninjas of Konoha, set up an ambush, feigning peace talks to lure Yahiko, the leader of the Akatsuki organization whose prestige in the Land of Rain was rising, and his core members.

In that ambush, Yahiko died saving his comrades, and the Akatsuki suffered heavy casualties...

However, just when Hanzo thought victory was assured, the red-haired boy from Akatsuki suddenly unleashed unimaginable and terrifying power, summoning a gigantic, demon-like puppet that severely damaged the combined forces of Amegakure and Konoha...

Since then, Lord Hanzo has lived a secluded life, no longer leaving the central tower, and relying solely on ninjas to maintain his rule. He is also extremely sensitive to any rumors or disturbances concerning Akatsuki, and once discovered, immediately dispatches a large force to annihilate them.

But strangely, after all these years, Amegakure has never been able to find any trace of the remnants of Akatsuki; they seem to have vanished into thin air...

As Jiraiya listened to the Rain Ninja's confession, his expression grew increasingly grave.

'A Konoha ninja... Could it be Danzo?!'

Jiraiya was almost certain that it was Danzo who did it.

Teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi may not have been aware of this matter, or by the time he did, it was too late to stop it.

Yahiko... that orange-haired boy with clear eyes, full of ideals, and determined to change the Land of Rain, actually died in this dirty political conspiracy and betrayal?

And Nagato, that introverted yet kind-hearted child who possesses the legendary Rinnegan, unleashed power... could it be the power of the Rinnegan?

What exactly did he go through to become like this?

A strong sense of guilt and anger welled up in Jiraiya's heart.

If he had paid more attention to the situation of his three disciples, would the outcome have been different?
He took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and formed a hand seal.

"Ninja Art: Toad Shadow Manipulation Technique!"

His body became as flat as a shadow, silently merging into the shadow of one of the Rain Ninjas, like a persistent infection, completely taking control of the Rain Ninja's body.

Then, the toad opened its mouth and spat out the manipulated Rain Ninja and another corpse.

Manipulated by Jiraiya, the Rain Ninja, like walking corpses, returned to the damp and dark alleys of Amegakure with somewhat stiff steps.

Upon seeing the toad, it quickly shrank and submerged back into the riverbed, disappearing into the distance.

The manipulated Rain Ninja walked somewhat stiffly through the dimly lit alleys of Amegakure, trying to blend into the environment and head to the tower area where Hanzo was located to gather more information.

The rain seemed to be getting heavier, visibility was very low, and the only sound was the monotonous sound of rain hitting metal.

However, just as he had walked less than fifty meters, a sudden change occurred!

Countless white, sharp-edged pieces of paper, as if swept by an invisible whirlwind, fell silently from the sky, instantly covering Rain Ninja's entire body!

The papers seemed to come alive, quickly tightening and wrapping around him like a white mummy, rendering him unable to move.

At the same time, more papers gathered, folded, and shaped not far in front of Yu Shinobu, and in the blink of an eye, they transformed into Konan's aloof figure.

She floated in mid-air, her white wings made of paper flapping slowly behind her, and the rain could not wet her at all.

She stared blankly at the bound Rain Ninja with icy eyes, holding a sharp paper spear made of countless highly compressed and condensed pieces of paper, gleaming with a cold light.

Without any warning or hesitation, Konan swung her arm, and the paper spear, like a white lightning bolt, pierced straight into the heart of the wrapped Rain Ninja with a shrill sound!

At this critical moment!
Jiraiya's true form emerged from the shadow of the Rain Ninja, his hands forming hand seals, and he suddenly spat out a blazing fireball.

"Fire Release·Fire Bullet!"

boom!
The blazing fireball collided violently with the rapidly shooting paper spear, instantly unleashing a tremendous roar and a powerful shockwave!

Flames and scattered, burning paper scraps flew everywhere, scorching the surrounding damp air until it distorted slightly.

The paper spear was destroyed in the flames, and the aftershocks of the fireball forced Xiao Nan to control her paper wings and fly backward a distance before she could regain her footing.

The Rain Ninja who had been abandoned and controlled by Jiraiya was slashed in the throat by a sharp piece of paper the moment the paper spear was blocked. Blood gushed out, and he collapsed limply onto the muddy ground without even being able to scream, losing all life.

Jiraiya's figure separated from the shadow and landed steadily.

Looking at Xiao Nan floating in the air, he forced a complex, somewhat sentimental smile.

"Hey, Konan, long time no see." He tried to break the heavy atmosphere with a light tone: "I heard from the Rain Ninja that Hanzo ambushed the Akatsuki and Yahiko died. I was quite worried about you guys. I didn't expect to see you so soon... You've grown up too, and become more and more womanly."

Xiao Nan looked at him silently, her pale purple eyes calm and undisturbed, showing neither the joy of a long-awaited reunion nor the deep-seated hatred for an enemy, only a bottomless coldness and indifference.

She was surrounded by fluttering pieces of paper, like loyal guards.

Seeing that she didn't answer, Jiraiya continued speaking to himself, his tone gradually becoming serious: "Your methods of casting spells are more powerful than before. So, it seems the news of Yahiko's death was indeed false, wasn't it? Was he, like you, hiding in the shadows, manipulating all of this?"

He stared intently into Xiao Nan's eyes, trying to find a clue.

Xiao Nan finally spoke, her voice as cold as the ceaseless cold rain: "This has nothing to do with you, teacher."

She deliberately emphasized the word "teacher".

"No relation?" Jiraiya shook his head: "I heard that the Akatsuki organization has recruited a large number of S-rank rogue ninjas who are employed by various countries to stir up trouble everywhere and even participate in the destruction of countries."

"Even Itachi Uchiha, an S-rank rogue ninja from Konoha who slaughtered his own clan, has joined you. Konan, is this really what you want? I remember Yahiko's original ambition was to eliminate war and bring peace to the Land of Rain, not to harbor these dangerous individuals and bring chaos and fear to the entire ninja world!"

His voice was filled with pain and bewilderment. He couldn't imagine why those three innocent and kind children would have taken such drastically different paths.

Konan's expression remained unchanged, as if Jiraiya's words were merely a gentle breeze passing by her.

She looked at Jiraiya with empty eyes and slowly said, "Now that things have come to this, what's the point of you showing up here and asking these questions...?"

Her tone carried a resolute determination to completely sever ties with the past, as well as a hint of indescribable weariness.

……

Just as Konan and Jiraiya were confronting each other in the alley.

At the heart of Amegakure, atop the tallest iron tower that overlooks the entire village.

Pain stood silently in the cold rain, his Rinnegan gazing indifferently toward the alleyway where the conflict had taken place, as if it could penetrate the heavy rain and buildings to take in everything there.

The ground beside him rippled, and the half-black, half-white figure emerged like a plant.

"Boss, Jiraiya and Konan are already at each other's throats," the white Zetsu reported in a flippant tone. "Judging by this, things are likely to get quite commotion soon. Should you intervene personally? Or... should you call Madara back?"

The Black Zetsu half remained silent, awaiting Pain's decision.

Pain remained silent for a moment, his Rinnegan showing no emotion whatsoever.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the other end of the village, on the central tower that was most heavily guarded and symbolized the authority of Hanzo the Salamander.

“No need.” He spoke coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion: “Let the new ‘beast realm’ go.”

A cold, calculating glint seemed to flash in Pain's Rinnegan: "The bigger the commotion... the better. Hanzo, who has been hiding like an old tortoise for so many years, will definitely not remain indifferent."

"Understood." Jue replied, his body slowly sinking into the ground and disappearing from sight.

Deep within Akatsuki's secret base beneath Amegakure, in a dimly lit room filled with several cylindrical culture chambers.

The door of one of the culture chambers slid open slowly upwards with a hissing sound of depressurization, and pale green nutrient solution flowed out from inside the chamber.

A figure slowly stepped out of the cabin.

His eyes were empty and lifeless, but soon, a strange purple light with ripples appeared from the depths of his eyes.

That was the light of the Rinnegan.

The brand-new, death-infused beastly Pain stiffly turned his neck, adjusting to his new body, before taking a step towards the base's exit.

……

On the other side, in the central tower of Amegakure, lies the residence of Hanzo the Salamander.

In stark contrast to the cold, hard steel forest outside, the interior decoration of the tower is traditionally Japanese in style.

The wooden floor was so shiny it reflected a mirror, the sliding doors were decorated with ukiyo-e prints, and a faint scent of incense filled the air.

More than ten elite Amegakure ANBU ninjas, with sharp eyes and a commanding presence, stood guard like statues at key locations and in shadowy corners, ensuring absolute safety.

Hanzo, once a renowned "demigod" in the ninja world, now appears old and gloomy.

He was still wearing a gas mask, but his eyes no longer had their former sharpness; instead, they were filled with weariness, suspicion, and a deep sense of apprehension.

He was kneeling before a low table, listening to his subordinates report on the previous small-scale rebellion and its suppression.

"...They were just a few insignificant Chunin, and they were executed on the spot by the Anbu." The subordinate reported while kneeling.

He was already numb to this level of "minor trouble" and simply waved his hand.

What truly unsettled him was the organization that had vanished like a ghost for years, yet remained like a Damocles' sword hanging over his head—Akatsuki!

And those eyes... belonged to the legendary Sage of Six Paths!
"Regarding 'Akatsuki'... is there still no clue?" Hanzo's voice sounded somewhat muffled and hoarse through his mask.

“Your subordinate is incompetent! After years of continuous searching, we still haven’t found any trace of its core members…” The subordinate lowered his head in fear.

at this time!

Boom——! ! !
A deep, thunderous yet exceptionally clear explosion suddenly erupted from the northern part of the village, near the coast!

Even from such a great distance, Hanzo, who was deep inside the tower, could still feel a slight tremor beneath his feet!
Ripples spread across the surface of the teacup on the table.

Hanzo's cloudy eyes snapped open, a glint of light flashing in them!
He frowned. The scale and noise of this explosion were far beyond anything that the previous small-scale rebellions could compare to!
"What's going on?!" he shouted in a deep voice, his tone tinged with anger at being disturbed.

The Rain Ninja and Anbu members standing in the room immediately knelt on one knee, trembling.

Soon, an ANBU ninja wearing an animal mask appeared instantly in the doorway, knelt on one knee, and reported rapidly: "Lord Hanzo! A massive explosion has occurred in the northern coastal city! Preliminary assessment indicates that the explosion was extremely large, with damage extending over two city blocks! The cause is unknown, but it is definitely not the work of a typical ninja rebellion!"

(PS: Based on the fact that Jiraiya's body sank into the sea after his death, and that the sea prison 'Hozuki Castle' of the Land of Grass is located near the Hidden Grass Village but is surrounded by the sea, it can be inferred that there should be a strait between the Land of Grass, the Land of Rain, and the Land of Earth.)
Hanzo's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table, making a thumping sound.

His eyes shifted unpredictably, and finally, a fierce glint flashed across them.

"Send someone to investigate immediately!" Hanzo ordered hastily.

His voice even trembled slightly as he shouted, "Find out who did this! I need every single detail!"

"Yes!" The ANBU ninja accepted the order and quickly disappeared.

Soon, twelve dark figures shot out silently from different directions of the central tower, like hunting dogs that had smelled blood, rushing towards the area where the explosion had occurred to the north.

At the top of the tower, Pain, the Deva Path, took in everything. In his cold Rinnegan, a slight ripple finally appeared.

The rain is still falling.

[PS: It's the last day! Can those who haven't voted yet give me some monthly tickets? *begging*]

(End of this chapter)