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

Chapter 272 Otsutsuki Rakuko
The rain was pouring down.

Jiraiya in Sage Mode slowly emerged from the shadows.

At this moment, he had already entered an imperfect immortal mode.

The red eyeshadow extends from the corner of the eye, and the shape of the nose is also slightly altered, revealing a toad-like appearance.

The two hermits, Fukasaku and Shima, on her shoulders, surveyed the battlefield with solemn expressions.

Not far away, Hamaken was wielding his broken steel fork, struggling to fend off the frenzied attacks of two hellhounds. Several new wounds had been added to his body, but he still stubbornly guarded the rear.

Upon seeing the two sages on Jiraiya's shoulders, Gamaken greeted them in a slow, deliberate tone: "Lord Fukasaku, Lord Shima, you've arrived."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work, Gamaken." Fukasaku the Sage nodded slightly.

Hidden within the chameleon's body, and observing the battle through the shared vision of the Rinnegan, the Animal Path of Pain immediately noticed Jiraiya's change.

His gaze first fell on the two small but extraordinary old toads on Jiraiya's shoulders, sensing the energy fluctuations within them that were completely different from those of ordinary summoning beasts.

But what concerned him even more was the change in Jiraiya himself.

That aura... was no longer pure chakra, but a more primal and immense energy that resonated with the surrounding natural environment.

This energy felt unfamiliar to him, yet it carried an aura of authority that could not be underestimated.

"As expected of Jiraiya-sensei..." Nagato thought to himself, silently uttering as he controlled the Animal Path Pain: "He actually possesses such a unique and powerful ability... This is the first time I've ever seen anything like it."

At this moment, Fukasaku carefully examined his surroundings, his long white eyebrows twitching slightly. He saw Konan floating in the air, her body partially paper-thin, but he couldn't find the one with the Rinnegan that Jiraiya had mentioned. He couldn't help but ask with some doubt, "Little Jiraiya, where is the Rinnegan user you mentioned? I only see that paper-thin girl."

Master Shima narrowed his eyes, his tone tinged with self-deprecation: "Could it be that we're just getting old and our eyesight is failing? Why can't we see those legendary eyes?"

Jiraiya's gaze was fixed on a seemingly empty space ahead, and he explained in a deep voice, "My two immortals, the other party is hiding inside a summoning beast."

"An invisible summoning beast?" The knowledgeable Shima immediately realized, her hair-like head bobbing slightly: "It's a chameleon or something! Since it's hiding like this, let me find it out!"

Before she could finish speaking, Shima-sensei swiftly formed hand seals, and her distinctive frog-like mouth suddenly opened wide!

An exceptionally flexible, long tongue covered in tiny fleshy growths shot out of her mouth!

At the tip of this tongue, there was a pair of sharp eyes and a mouth full of tiny, sharp teeth!
This strange "creature" twisted rapidly in the air, as if it had an independent life. Its eyes at the top scanned the surroundings, and its nose twitched constantly, capturing the chakra and scents remaining in the air.

"Found it!" Master Shima snorted coldly, his senses having already locked onto the target.

The next moment, her long tongue shot forward into the open space with a speed that was difficult to detect with the naked eye, like a serpent emerging from its hole!

The tongue stretched out in the air at an astonishing speed!

The beast-like Pain, hidden inside the chameleon's body, was also startled: "Such speed!"

Before his chameleon could dodge, the tongue, covered in slime and sensory sacs, instantly wrapped around the invisible chameleon's massive body like a tough rope!
The powerful binding force caused the chameleon to let out a muffled hiss, and its body was involuntarily dragged out of its cloaked state, revealing its huge outline that was constantly changing colors!

"Tie him up!" Shima the Immortal shouted, and the tiny fleshy growths on his tongue suddenly opened, spraying out a large amount of viscous, slippery, and foul-smelling pale yellow toad oil!
The oil quickly covered the chameleon's body, further restricting its movement and completely destroying its ability to hide.

"Well done, mother of the child!" Fukasaku the Hermit praised, seizing the fleeting opportunity, he clasped his hands together, his chest puffing out!

"Immortal Technique: Water Slash!"

A highly condensed, thin jet of water, like a high-pressure water jet, shot out from his mouth!

This water column contained Sage Chakra, making it incredibly sharp and lightning fast!

laugh--! ! !
The water jet hit the chameleon precisely, which was covered in toad oil and had its movement restricted!
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a teeth-grinding cutting sound!
The jet of water sliced ​​through the massive chameleon and the sturdy steel building behind it with ease, as easily as a hot knife through butter!

"Awooo—!" The chameleon let out a shrill scream, and blood gushed out like a waterfall from its cut body, with a few drops even splashing onto Jiraiya's trouser leg not far away.

However, as the chameleon's life came to an end, its body quickly turned into a puff of white smoke and disappeared, along with the splattered blood and the enormous corpse, as if it had never existed.

Only the lingering smell of blood in the air and the building, neatly cut open with a smooth, mirror-like cross-section, testified to the authenticity of that fatal blow.

The white smoke slowly dissipated, and the figure of Animal Path Pain slowly emerged from it. He was expressionless, with some toad oil still clinging to his body. His Rinnegan, with its ripples, coldly stared at Jiraiya and the two toad sages opposite him.

Only then did Fukasaku and Shima see those legendary eyes clearly.

The immortal Fukasaku's long white eyebrows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "Ominous eyes... filled with the power of pain and obsession... Is this the prophesied child, who, according to the Great Lord's foretelling, may lead the world to change, or may bring destruction...?"

Looking at the cold Rinnegan of the Animal Path Pain, Jiraiya couldn't help but recall the scene when he met the Great Toad Sage many years ago.

The toad sage who could foresee the future not only predicted the prophetic child who would bring about change to the world, but also predicted that he would be forced to make a choice that would determine the direction of world change.

Several years ago, the Great Toad Sage suddenly summoned him again, mentioning a "Child of Darkness" who could bring destruction to the world...

"Could it be... that Nagato has become the 'Child of Darkness' prophesied by the Great Toad Sage?" Jiraiya's heart trembled, and a heavy sense of responsibility weighed on his mind.

If Nagato truly embarks on the path of destroying the world, then as his teacher, he must stop him here!
Just then, two figures descended from the sky and landed steadily beside the Animal Path Pain.

It was Pain of the Deva Path and Pain of the Asura Path who had fought Hanzo before.

The three Pain figures stood side by side, with the Deva Path Pain at the head, looking down at Jiraiya below. Their Rinnegan eyes were devoid of any emotion, displaying only a godlike indifference.

Jiraiya took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, and met Pain's cold Rinnegan with his gaze. His voice was loud and clear:
"Nagato! If you are the 'Child of Darkness' destined to bring destruction to the world, then defeating you here is my inescapable mission as your teacher!" BOOM—!!!
As if in response to this fateful declaration, a pale white lightning bolt suddenly streaked across the night sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder!

The rain intensified, the dense raindrops pounding furiously against the scarred land, as if trying to wash away all the blood and sins.

……

Meanwhile, on the top floor of a modern building in another relatively intact area of ​​Rain Village, bearing the sign "Zhibang Technology Company".

In a luxuriously decorated office with a wide view, Cixian, dressed in a white feather robe, sits elegantly in a large leather swivel chair, facing a huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window, the northern part of Rain Village was filled with the sounds of lightning and thunder, and the raging flames of war.

He held a crystal-clear glass of red wine in his hand, filled with a rich, jewel-like red liquid.

Although he didn't have the Byakugan, thanks to his superhuman perception and the scattered images transmitted from the cleverly disguised surveillance cameras scattered throughout Amegakure, he clearly captured the several conspicuous Rinnegan on the distant battlefield, as well as the massive and chaotic chakra fluctuations.

“Heh…” Cixian gently swirled his wine glass, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, tinged with a hint of amusement and disdain: “I never expected that on this barren planet, after a thousand years, there would still be someone among these natives who could awaken the Rinnegan… although it seems to be the product of some kind of conspiracy.”

He took a sip of red wine, savoring its complex flavor that was both astringent and sweet: "This is getting more and more interesting. This planet always manages to bring me some 'surprises'."

The Rinnegan is not uncommon among the Otsutsuki clan.

Both Momoshiki and Urashiki possessed the Rinnegan, but their awakening abilities and focuses differed.

In Jigen's view, Nagato's Rinnegan was merely a shell, far from displaying its true power.

Just then, there was a rapid knock on the office door, followed by a slightly panicked report from his subordinate: "Lord Jigen! The Anbu of Amegakure has suffered heavy casualties, and Hanzo of the Salamander... is suspected to have been killed in battle!"

Cixian showed no surprise whatsoever, as if he had already anticipated all of this.

He maintained his composure and elegance, replying calmly, "Understood. Continue monitoring, and report any new developments immediately."

"Yes!" The subordinate outside the door responded and withdrew.

However, at this moment——

boom! ! !
The heavy solid wood door of the office, along with the surrounding walls, suddenly shattered!
Wood chips and gravel flew everywhere. The subordinate who had just stepped down was thrown into the air by the shockwave of the explosion like a rag doll, crashing into the wall of the corridor and dying while spitting blood.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, a figure slowly entered the office.

Cixian remained with his back to the door, as if the explosion behind him had nothing to do with him.

He didn't even turn around; he simply swivel his chair slowly and gracefully to face the intruder.

Cixian raised her glass of red wine, her tone eerily calm, carrying a hint of reproach, yet more like a condescending mockery:

"To come uninvited and damage the host's door is extremely impolite."

As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, the true face of the person who had arrived was revealed.

With short, jet-black hair, a young and handsome face, and wearing a black robe with red trim, he appeared as Menma, a fifteen-year-old boy.

He didn't wear the white three-eyed fox mask; instead, he calmly walked to the opposite side of Cixian with his true face.

Looking at this mysterious young man who had barged in with an aura as deep as an abyss, Cixian showed no panic whatsoever; his calm and self-assured confidence seemed to be innate.

He even had the leisure to snap his fingers.

With the snap of his fingers, an antique, heavy solid wood square table and two high-backed chairs appeared out of thin air between the two of them, as if they had always been there.

On the table, there were even two steaming, sizzling top-quality steaks, and a freshly filled glass of red wine, the same kind that Cixian was holding.

“A guest from afar is a guest,” Cixian gestured with impeccable elegance, “Although your entrance was a bit rude…would you like to sit down and have a drink?”

Menma glanced at Cixian, did not refuse, and calmly sat down in the high-backed chair opposite Cixian.

He picked up the glass of red wine, sniffed it gently, then took a small sip, frowned slightly, and commented, "The taste... is a bit astringent. I prefer a sweeter red wine."

Upon hearing this, Cixian's perfectly gentlemanly smile faltered slightly. He then shook his head and said with a hint of superiority, "It seems your taste is somewhat... poor. This is an authentic aged wine from the most prestigious winery in the Land of Fire, and its astringency is proof of its aging process."

He put down his wine glass, crossed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and stared sharply at Menma with his seemingly ordinary eyes: "So, can you tell me your name now? If I'm not mistaken, you found this place by following clues about companies related to Amado, right?"

Menma didn't answer immediately. He swirled the wine in his glass, watching the blood-like viscous liquid leave marks on the glass. Suddenly, as if he remembered something extremely interesting, the corner of his mouth curled into a mischievous smile.

He raised his head, meeting Cixian's probing gaze, and said slowly in a clear and steady tone:
"You can call me Yile."

Mianma paused, raised an eyebrow slightly, looked at Cixian who still maintained an elegant, indifferent, and even disdainful demeanor, and slowly added with a slight smile:
"Of course, you can call me—"

"Otsutsuki Rakushiki".

Click!

A crisp cracking sound suddenly rang out.

The crystal-clear wine glass in Cixian's hand was crushed by his unconsciously tightening fingers!
The crimson wine splattered out like blood, staining his fingers and the table. His previous calm and composed demeanor, as if he had everything under control, vanished in an instant!
He slowly raised his head, and for the first time, a look of horror appeared in his eyes!

(End of this chapter)