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

Chapter 280 Sunagakure Village Wants to Capture the Ten-Tails

The Land of Rain, on the northern coast.

The damp sea breeze, carrying the smell of fish and the lingering smoke of distant war, swept through this port city that had temporarily taken in a large number of refugees.

Several dilapidated boats that had come from the direction of Amegakure Village were moored crookedly at the simple dock, unloading groups of emaciated people with vacant eyes.

They carried meager belongings, their faces etched with the exhaustion of escaping disaster and a deep sense of bewilderment about the future.

Fine beads of sweat clung to Ziyanghua's forehead, and her short purple hair appeared somewhat disheveled from her busy work.

She and several of her fellow Amegakure genin, all young people dissatisfied with Hanzo's rule, were weaving through the crowd, doing their best to assist the few local staff members with their resettlement.

Looking at these people who had lost their homes, especially the children huddled in their mothers' arms with wide, frightened eyes, she felt a deep sense of helplessness.

Return to Amegakure Village?

There has just been a bloody power shift there, and it is still unknown whether the new ruler is friend or foe.

Stay here?

This port city has limited resources and clearly cannot accommodate so many refugees in the long term.

Jiraiya stood at the bow of the ship, arms crossed, gazing at the chaotic scene.

After two days of self-care and treatment, some of his injuries have healed and no longer affect his basic mobility.

His gaze finally settled on the busy purple figure, his expression complex.

This kind-hearted girl from Amegakure allowed him to see a rare glimmer of humanity in the Land of Rain, a land filled with betrayal and slaughter, and also stirred up warm yet painful memories of Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato in his heart.

"Hey! Strange old man!" Hydrangea finally noticed Jiraiya at the bow of the ship. She lightly jumped over several piles of ropes and landed on the deck like a nimble swift, slightly panting.

He asked with concern, "How's your injury? Does it still hurt?"

She remembered the horrific state he was in when she first found him two days ago, covered in blood and riddled with holes.

Jiraiya turned around, forcing out his most cheerful and reliable smile, even puffing out his chest deliberately: "Hahaha! Don't worry, little girl! This little injury is like a mosquito bite to Lord Jiraiya, who has traveled far and wide and seen countless storms!"

He tried to dispel the somber atmosphere with exaggerated language.

After laughing, his expression softened slightly. His gaze swept over the still anxious faces on the dock, as well as the few exhausted but still persevering companions of the Hydrangea. His tone became gentle and serious: "Compared to this old man, what about you? What are your plans...? Are you going back to Amegakure?"

Upon hearing this, Ziyanghua's vitality dimmed slightly. She subconsciously looked in the direction of Amegakure, where the sky still seemed to be shrouded in an invisible haze.

She whispered, "Hmm... the news of Lord Hanzo's death has spread far and wide. It seems the village... has welcomed a new leader."

She pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, revealing her inner struggle: "Some of my friends think... now that the new leader has overthrown Lord Hanzo's rule, perhaps... Amegakure will undergo changes, and they want to go back and see what's going on."

Her tone was not firm, and she was clearly full of doubts herself.

Jiraiya sighed inwardly.

He was almost certain that Hydrangea and her companions were the kind of young ninjas who were deeply dissatisfied with Hanzo's later tyranny and longed for change; they were "potential rebels" under the old system.

However, he knew better than anyone that the person sitting atop the tallest tower in Amegakure was his disciple, Nagato, who was twisted by pain and proclaimed himself a god!
These young people, who harbor simple hopes, will most likely be absorbed and exploited by the cold war machine of the Akatsuki organization, becoming its peripheral members.

He might not be able to interfere too much with the fate of other unfamiliar ninjas, but looking at the girl in front of him who still remembered to help others even in dire straits, with eyes as clear as the sky after the rain, Jiraiya felt a strong sense of atonement.

Because the hydrangeas are so much like Xiao Nan and the others back then.

He couldn't just stand by and watch the hydrangea jump back into that fiery pit.

Jiraiya changed the subject, asking casually, "Speaking of which, where's that brat who was with you? Why wasn't he there to protect you? Leaving such a cute girl like you alone in this chaotic place, he really has no gentlemanly manners at all."

He tried to find out the whereabouts of the mysterious "Shura" in a joking manner.

Ziyanghua paused for a moment, a fleeting look of disappointment that she herself didn't fully notice flashed across her face. She lowered her head, gently kicking a small, inconspicuous wooden block on the deck with her toe, her voice also lowering slightly: "He... he's not a ninja from Amegakure. He was just... passing by by chance. He had things he had to do, and he's already... left."

She was silent for a few seconds, as if weighing something.

Then he looked up at Jiraiya's face, which, though seemingly unreliable, revealed sincerity and a weathered soul in its depths, and felt that he could perhaps trust him, so he added softly, "Actually, the name 'Ichiraku' was just something he made up on the spot."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya let out a loud, even exaggerated, laugh: "Hahaha! Just as I thought! I knew that kid wasn't honest! From the very beginning, in my little ramen shop, his eyes seemed to see right through people! He's incredibly shrewd!"

He smiled as he carefully observed the subtle reactions of the hydrangea when it mentioned that name.

"Eh?! Uncle... did you know him before?" Ziyanghua's eyes widened in surprise, her pure eyes filled with curiosity.

She always thought that their encounter at the ramen shop was just a coincidence.

Jiraiya touched his wild white hair, pondered for a moment with feigned profundity, as if organizing some earth-shattering words: "Hmm... well... the threads of fate are always intricate and complicated."

"Strictly speaking, we didn't really know each other before. But somehow, there seemed to be an invisible bond... well, or rather, we were destined to meet and collide at the crossroads of fate!"

He watched as the hydrangea became even more confused by his rambling words, her delicate nose wrinkling as she tried to understand, and he couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

He stopped being mysterious and cut straight to the point: "Alright, let's not talk about that kid anymore. Getting back to the point, young lady, I see you're quite skilled and kind-hearted. There's a mission I have right now, I wonder if you'd be interested in taking it?"

"A mission?" Hydrangea blinked, temporarily putting aside her doubts about the relationship between Masa and Jiraiya.

“That’s right, an escort mission.” Jiraiya nodded, his expression becoming slightly more formal: “I’m preparing to head to the capital of the Star Kingdom. But as you can see, this old body of mine has just gone through a fierce battle and is still recovering from my injuries. Crossing the border alone and traveling a long distance, I’m bound to encounter some fools who will be difficult to deal with.”

"Since you are a ninja, are you interested in taking on this request and serving as my temporary bodyguard?" He paused, glancing meaningfully in the direction of Amegakure, his tone carrying a hint of admonition.

"It's just right. The situation in Amegakure is still uncertain, and no one knows the new leader's temperament and policies. For your safety, I think it would be better if you didn't go back for the time being. Taking this opportunity to go out and see the world might not be a bad thing."

Heading to... the Land of Stars? Hydrangea's heart skipped a beat.

Menma... he's a ninja from the Land of Stars!
If I accept this mission and go to the Star Kingdom, is it possible that I will see him again?
That powerful and mysterious boy, who occasionally revealed a gentleness unlike any ninja she knew...

Once the thought arose, it quickly entwined her heart like a vine.

She suppressed the inexplicable anticipation and a hint of shyness surging within her, striving to make her voice sound calm and professional: "I... I need to discuss this with my companions. After all, this involves leaving the Land of Rain. And..."

She raised her eyes and looked at Jiraiya seriously: "According to ninja regulations, cross-border escort missions, especially to countries like the Land of Stars... with special circumstances, require a mission level of at least B, and the mercenary fee... is not low."

Jiraiya waved his hand generously, appearing quite magnanimous: "We'll settle the payment according to the top-tier B-rank mission fee! Half will be paid in advance, and the balance will be settled after the mission is completed! You don't need to worry about the money at all!"

He puffed out his chest: "I forgot to mention, standing before you is a bestselling author known to everyone in the ninja world! His royalties and fees are enough for me to travel the world and squander for several lifetimes!"

He stroked his non-existent beard with a smug grin.

"A famous writer?" Ziyanghua's curiosity was completely piqued. She tilted her head, her pure and innocent eyes seemingly filled with longing for "literature".

"Uncle, what kind of story are you writing? Is it an adventure legend? Or an epic of heroes?"

Looking into the girl's eyes, which were completely innocent and full of pure curiosity, Jiraiya's old face instantly turned red, and his previous smugness vanished without a trace.

He coughed violently, his eyes darting around awkwardly, avoiding eye contact with the hydrangea: "Cough cough cough...! This...this...it's...it's that kind of...deeply exploring the complex emotions and mysteries of the great harmony of life among adults...um...literary works! Yes! Literary works! Profound in meaning, extraordinary in significance! But..."

Jiraiya quickly waved his hand, his tone urgent: "You're too young! Your mind isn't mature enough! It's not suitable for you to be exposed to such profound content! We'll talk about it when you're older! We'll talk about it when you're older!"

He almost abruptly ended the conversation: "Anyway, the payment will be calculated based on a B-level mission, no problem at all! Go and discuss it with your companions! Once you've decided, let me know, and we'll set off as soon as possible!"

While Jiraiya was urging Hydrangea to go to the Land of Stars.

The Country of Wind, Sand Hidden Village.

In stark contrast to the atmosphere of bewilderment and sorrow permeating the port of the Land of Rain, the air in the Kazekage's office in Sunagakure was so heavy it was almost dripping with moisture.

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, sat behind his large desk, his fingers unconsciously tapping the hard surface, producing a dull "thump-thump" sound.

His face, which was usually known for its coldness and hardness, was now furrowed into a deep frown.

Two advisors and elders from Sunagakure stood solemnly before the desk.

Grandma Chiyo's face was etched with deep wrinkles that seemed even more pronounced than before. She squinted, making it impossible to discern her emotions.

Ebizo, on the other hand, is known for his profound wisdom and extensive intelligence network. His head is covered by a heavy bandage that completely covers his forehead and above, and he has two long eyebrows that hang down to his chin.

He clutched a crimson scroll, marked with the highest level of urgency, that had just been delivered by the fastest communications hawk.

"Lord Kazekage." Ebizo's deep, hoarse voice broke the deathly silence in the room.

"According to the message risked and risked to be sent back by the third patrol squad on the northern border... it has been confirmed that a giant creature beyond our comprehension has appeared in the 'Death Sand Sea' no-man's-land in the northern part of the Wind Kingdom, bordering the Star Kingdom."

He paused deliberately, then slowly unfurled the scroll and read aloud the contents written in trembling handwriting: "According to eyewitness accounts, the creature is estimated to be over three hundred meters tall, and its form... is similar to that of a tailed beast. But most incredibly... it has ten tails."

Ebizo raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Rasa and Chiyo's instantly changed expressions, and emphasized, "The pressure of the chakra it emitted... According to the report, the two Chunin who had personally experienced the rampage of the One-Tailed Shukaku's complete form described it as being like facing a natural disaster, far exceeding the Shukaku they remembered... dozens of times, or even more."

"Ten tails?!" Luo Sha suddenly stood up from his seat, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and his eyes were full of doubt.

"Absurd! How could such a tailed beast possibly exist in the world? From one-tailed to nine-tailed, this is common knowledge in the ninja world! There has never been a record of a 'ten-tailed beast' in the ninja world!"

Granny Chiyo slowly raised her eyelids, her cloudy eyes shifting slightly as she looked at her younger brother. Her voice, hoarse with the weariness of age, carried a hint of gravity: "I've lived for over sixty years, and while I wouldn't claim to have read an endless sea of ​​secret scrolls, I certainly have witnessed many strange and wondrous tales. This Ten-Tails… I've never heard of it before. Ebizo, the reliability of this information…"

Ebizo took a deep breath and gently placed the heavy scroll on Rasa's desk, his finger touching the special encryption mark and bloodstains on it: "Kage-sama, sister. The source of the information is one of the border patrol squads, and the captain is an experienced special Jonin. They dared not approach, only observing it for a moment from a very short distance, but everyone's description of its size and those ten nightmarish, dancing tails was highly consistent."

His gaze sharpened: "Most importantly, the fear of those two Chunin who experienced the Shukaku rampage is undeniable. The sheer magnitude of their chakra, which could instill such a desperate sense of oppression in the Sand Village ninja who grew up under the shadow of the Tailed Beasts, probably exceeds our previous understanding of 'Tailed Beasts'."

In the mainstream understanding of Sunagakure and even the entire ninja world, the Tailed Beasts are monsters formed from the accumulated hatred, resentment, and negative chakra of the world over thousands of years, and are natural disasters that bring calamities and destruction.

Unlike the Hidden Cloud Village, they never considered communicating or coexisting with the Tailed Beasts.

Granny Chiyo's thin fingers trembled slightly as she pondered, "If... if the tailed beasts truly originate from the darkest side of the human heart... then, in this era of endless war and cycle of hatred, the birth of a 'Ten-Tails' that gathers even more hatred and becomes even more powerful... from this twisted logic, it seems... not entirely impossible."

However, after the initial doubt, a flame called "ambition" gradually ignited in Rasa's eyes.

As the Fourth Kazekage, he devoted his life to revitalizing the impoverished Sunagakure and elevating its status among the Five Great Nations, even going so far as to use the Magnet Release: Gold Sand Technique to accumulate funds for the village.

Luo Sha clenched his fists tightly: "No matter what it is! No matter where it came from! Now that it has appeared on the territory of my Wind Kingdom, we cannot let it go unchecked!"

His voice carried an barely suppressed fervor: "A... a tailed beast even more powerful than Shukaku! If Sunagakure can successfully capture and seal it, creating our own even more powerful ultimate weapon..."

Rasa's breathing quickened slightly, as if he could already see the future of Sunagakure, which would stand proudly among its peers thanks to this power: "This will be the key to changing the fate of the village! It's our perfect opportunity to escape resource scarcity and reach the pinnacle of the ninja world!"

He abruptly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Chiyo and Ebizo like a hawk's: "More importantly, its location is too sensitive! It's right next to the Land of Stars! That 'Shura' who slaughtered nobles and daimyo and overturned the order of the ninja world! We absolutely cannot let him get his hands on this 'Ten-Tails' first!"

Without further hesitation, he swiftly issued the order:
"Elder Chiyo! Please immediately summon the sealing team and the barrier team, and prepare the most powerful sealing techniques and related ninja tools passed down in the village! I need to ensure that we can suppress this unknown tailed beast as much as possible!"

"Elder Ebizo! Immediately, in my name, notify the Anbu and the Jonin squad to select the most elite ninjas, including those skilled in ranged attacks, binding techniques, barriers, and sensory perception, to form a special operations force! Bring all the heavy ninja tools they can carry!"

Luo Sha walked around the desk to the window, gazing at the endless yellow sand outside. His back view exuded a do-or-die spirit.

"I will personally lead this operation! There is only one objective—"

"Capture the Ten-Tails!"

[Beautiful Picture of the Day]

(End of this chapter)