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

Chapter 301 Speculation about Hiruzen Sarutobi [9K]

[PS: Requesting monthly votes]

Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village), main gate.

A travel-worn and somewhat disheveled group slowly passed through the massive wooden gate.

The core of the group was not the ninjas of Konoha, but a luxuriously decorated aristocratic carriage pulled by four fine horses.

Around the carriage, Konoha ninjas in green vests and Root ninjas in tight-fitting clothes and animal masks mingled together, forming a tight protective circle, but the atmosphere was unusually oppressive and somber.

The carriage curtain was suddenly flung open, revealing the face of a middle-aged man whose expression was sharp with anger and anxiety.

He was dressed in the magnificent robes that symbolized the daimyo of the Land of Wind, but at this moment the robes were covered in dust and his hair was somewhat disheveled. He was none other than Sato Masaki, the daimyo of the Land of Wind who had fled here.

He was grumbling incessantly at the guards on horseback outside the window, his voice sharp and grating:
"Useless! All of you are useless! Every year, I spend so much gold, silver, and grain to support tens of thousands of people and two thousand ninjas in Sunagakure! And what is the result?! They couldn't even last seven days! They were completely wiped out by that Star Country that appeared out of nowhere! That idiot Rasa! And that old codger Chiyo! They have utterly disgraced the Five Great Nations!"

His complaints never stopped. Ever since entering the Land of Fire and confirming his safety, this pampered daimyo seemed to have transformed all his fear and lingering apprehension into incessant rants of anger and accusations, much to the annoyance of the Konoha ninjas guarding him, who had no choice but to endure it.

Two people were walking side by side beside the carriage.

One of them was Shimura Danzo. He leaned on a cane, his one eye was slightly narrowed, and his face was expressionless. He seemed not to have heard the daimyo's complaints, but the cold aura emanating from him made those who came near him feel uncomfortable.

The other is Kakashi Hatake, who is wearing a mask. His dead fish eye looks listless, but upon closer inspection, one can find a deep sense of fatigue and helplessness hidden in it.

At the rear of the group, Might Guy sidled up to Kakashi, lowered his voice, and said with unusual annoyance, "Kakashi, when is this daimyo going to stop complaining? All along the way, he's been complaining about the poor accommodations, the food, and even asking us to find him a hot spring to soak in... We're on a guard duty, not serving a noble lord on a trip!"

On the other side, Yamato, wearing an ANBU mask, vigilantly surveyed his surroundings. His squad and Danzo's Root ninjas appeared to be working together to protect each other, but in reality, they were clearly separated, maintaining a subtle distance and vigilance between them.

Danzo seemed to ignore the daimyo's words, and even occasionally turned his head to comfort Sato Masaki in the carriage: "Daimyo, please calm down. You must be tired from the journey. Take care of yourself. Everything will be alright once we reach Konoha."

His tone was flat, lacking sincerity, as if he were simply completing a necessary procedure.

Danzo felt a chill in his heart. This daimyo, who had lost his country and army, was probably only of the gold and silver he carried with him.

But how much can they take with them in their hasty escape?

In just a few years, their wealth will be depleted, and they will lose their source of tax revenue. The daimyo of the Land of Fire and his greedy nobles will have plenty of ways to squeeze the last drop of profit out of this impoverished relative.

Finally, the group arrived at the luxurious inn arranged for the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.

With the help of his servants, Sato Masaki stepped down from the carriage, still cursing and swearing, declaring that he would immediately go to pay homage to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, "I will make Konoha send its most elite troops to wipe out those damned Star Ninjas! And reclaim my land!"

Danzo watched him enter the inn with a blank expression before slowly turning to Kakashi: "Captain Kakashi, come with me to the Hokage's office to report on the mission. This operation needs to be explained in detail to the Third Hokage."

Kakashi nodded: "Yes, Lord Danzo."

He turned to his subordinates and ordered, "Yamato, lead the ANBU squad to assist in the defense of the post station and ensure the safety of the Daimyo and his party from the Land of Wind. Kai, lead the rest of the team to escort the wounded to the hospital and provide them with proper care."

"Yes!" Yamato and Kai responded in unison, with the latter giving a thumbs-up and flashing a set of gleaming white teeth: "Leave it to me!"

This support mission was a complete failure.

When they rushed to Sunagakure in the Land of Wind, they received the devastating news that the main force of Sunagakure had been wiped out and the Kazekage had been captured.

Following this was the Star Ninja army that invaded Sunagakure!
Faced with the powerful and unstoppable ninja army of the Land of Stars, Danzo and Kakashi were powerless to turn the tide of the battle and had no choice but to retreat. On their way out of the Land of Wind, they rescued the fleeing Daimyo of the Land of Wind and some of his family and confidants, and escorted them back to Konoha.

While there were no major personnel losses, morale suffered a severe blow.

Inside the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind a large desk, wisps of smoke rising from his pipe.

The advisors, Koharu and Mitokado, sat on either side of each other, their faces equally gloomy.

Danzo and Kakashi stood in the center of the office and reported on the details of the mission and what they had seen and heard.

From the shocking news of defeat they received upon arriving at Sunagakure, to the brief skirmish with the main force of the Land of Stars led by Hyuga Hizashi, to their encounter with the fleeing Daimyo of the Land of Wind while fighting and retreating, and their experiences escorting the Daimyo on his escape journey.

After listening to the report, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a long puff of smoke, his voice heavy with exhaustion: "Your decision to retreat was correct. At that time, the situation was indeed beyond saving. Forcibly intervening would only have dragged Konoha into the quagmire of war."

He picked up an encrypted document from the table and handed it to Danzo: "This is the latest intelligence that just came in. The Land of Earth... has also been defeated. The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, has personally gone to the Star Capital and signed a ceasefire agreement. The Land of Earth has ceded large swathes of territory in five eastern counties and made huge concessions in many aspects, including politics, economy, and military... In reality, it has become a vassal state of the Star Country."

"What?! That old fox Onoki also..." Danzo took the document and quickly scanned it, a look of disbelief and horror flashing in his one eye.

How could that cunning, stubborn old man, Onoki, be forced to sign such a humiliating treaty?!

Just how terrifying is the power of the Star Kingdom?!

Koharu Utatane added sharply, "After annexing the Land of Wind, the Land of Stars has greatly expanded its strength and territory, and now it has forced the Land of Earth to submit... Its rise is unstoppable! We must come up with a countermeasure as soon as possible, otherwise the balance of the entire ninja world will be completely broken!"

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and calmly analyzed, "But the current external environment is not favorable for us. The Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning is far away in the northeastern part of the ninja world, too far from the Land of Stars. Since the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, took office, the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water has been closed off from the world, and the Blood Mist policy has caused internal chaos, making it difficult to rely on. There is a lack of sufficient opportunity and common interests to unite with other major powers to contain the Land of Stars."

"Unless... we can find a trigger like in the last Shinobi World War, to ignite the conflicts throughout the Shinobi World and plunge the situation back into chaos."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned even more deeply.

The strength of the Star Kingdom lies not only in its military power, but also in the dangerous and alluring "Will of the Stars" behind it, which is completely different from the traditional model of great powers.

The idea of ​​overthrowing the aristocracy, sharing resources equally, and developing through technology and institutions held a fatal attraction for the long-oppressed commoners and lower-class ninjas.

This is what truly shakes the foundations of the great powers' rule!
"First, properly settle the daimyo's group from the Land of Wind, and then communicate with the daimyo's office in the Land of Fire as soon as possible to test their attitude." Hiruzen finally gave instructions: "Koharu, En, you two take good care of this matter. Danzo, your Root should continue to strengthen its intelligence infiltration into the Land of Stars. I need to know more about their internal structure, the source of their technology, and the true information about that 'Shura'."

"Yes." The three answered in unison.

Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado left the office first.

As Danzo passed by Kakashi, his one-eyed eye gave him a meaningful look.

Only Hiruzen and Kakashi remained in the office.

The atmosphere became more subtle and somber.

Hiruzen put down his pipe, leaned forward slightly, and looked sharply at Kakashi, lowering his voice to ask, "Kakashi, about that secret mission I gave you before... the investigation into the 'Ten-Tails' that appeared in the Sands of Death and that abnormal 'Nine-Tails', is there any progress?"

Kakashi's expression hardened, and he respectfully replied, "Yes, Third Hokage. Based on the intelligence brought back at great risk by our spies planted within Sunagakure, combined with information obtained from some fleeing Sunagakure ninja, we can basically confirm that the direct trigger for the outbreak between Sunagakure and the Land of Stars was the discovery by the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, of a creature resembling the 'Nine-Tails' and a 'Ten-Tails' with an unusually large size and chakra level deep within the Sea of ​​Death."

"Rasa attempted to capture them, but was intercepted and attacked by Shura. The One-Tailed Jinchuriki was also taken away by the enemy, thus triggering a full-scale war."

He paused, then took out several slightly blurry black and white photos that had been specially processed from his pocket.

"Due to the harsh environment and remote location of the Death Sand Sea, we were unable to send out a small team to conduct in-depth reconnaissance. These are images taken from a distance by the Sand Village's ANBU during their initial reconnaissance, and they are currently the most direct evidence."

Hiruzen Sarutobi solemnly took the photo and examined it closely.

The photo was taken from an extremely far distance, and the image is rough and full of noise, but two breathtakingly huge outlines can still be discerned!
One of the monsters was enormous beyond imagination, estimated to be over 500 meters tall!

It lay prostrate in the sea of ​​sand, its shape indistinct, but ten tails like giant pythons could be vaguely seen dancing wildly in the air, exuding a violent and terrifying aura that made one's soul tremble!

That's the legendary Ten-Tails?!

The other figure, though relatively "petite," was still about 100 meters tall and its shape was clearly discernible!
That was clearly a ferocious fox demon!

Nine enormous tails burned and swung behind him like flames!
Its oppressive atmosphere is palpable even through blurry photos!
But the size and chakra of this Ten-Tails far exceeded any record Hiruzen knew of!

In the background of the photo, you can also see some Sand Village ninja soldiers who are as tiny as ants, which further highlights the terror of these two tailed beasts!
Kakashi added, "According to intelligence, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, used the One-Tailed Jinchuriki to try to fight against it, but suffered a crushing defeat. The One-Tail was taken away, and Ebizo and others died in battle, which led to the subsequent war."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was grim as he slowly put the photo down, his gaze deep as he looked at Kakashi: "Kakashi, there's something you should know: the Nine-Tails... has always been sealed inside Naruto."

Kakashi nodded, "Yes."

As the Fourth Hokage's student, former ANBU squad leader, and current ANBU captain, Kakashi naturally knew Naruto's true situation.

Hiruzen's voice grew even lower: "But there is one more thing that very few people know."

"When the Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine-Tails, he did not seal the complete Nine-Tails into Naruto's body. He used the Reaper Death Seal to split the Nine-Tails' chakra in two, sealing one half in his own body, which was devoured by the Shinigami along with the caster; while the other half was sealed into the newborn Naruto's body. Therefore, the Nine-Tails inside Naruto is actually only half."

Kakashi's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood Hiruzen's implication: "You mean... the Nine-Tails in the photo... is very likely..."

"Hmm." Hiruzen nodded heavily, stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the peaceful and serene Konoha Village.

"The Nine-Tails inside Naruto showed no abnormal reaction. So, the only explanation is... that the Asura of the Land of Stars somehow obtained the half of the Nine-Tails that belonged to Minato and was sealed inside the Shinigami! As for the 'Ten-Tails'... I searched through the Book of Seals and all the ancient books, but I couldn't find any definite record of it. Its existence itself is a huge mystery."

He turned and stared at Kakashi: "What unsettles me most is that Shura seems to have an extraordinary understanding of our Konoha. How exactly did he find the Reaper Death Seal and break this ultimate sealing technique? What is his purpose?"

The office fell into a deathly silence.

After a moment, Hiruzen seemed to have made up his mind. He walked up to Kakashi with an extremely solemn expression: "Kakashi, I have an extremely important and dangerous mission that I need you to complete personally."

Kakashi knelt on one knee: "Please give your orders, Hokage-sama."

"According to reliable intelligence, the Land of Stars is vigorously promoting a brand-new education system within its borders, even opening up the path to becoming a ninja to ordinary civilians. And the core of its education is an ideology called 'Will of the Stars.'" Hiruzen's voice was extremely low, as if afraid of being overheard.

"I need you to secretly infiltrate the Star Kingdom and obtain their teaching materials at all costs, especially the core materials on the 'Will of the Stars.' Bring them back! We need to understand what kind of ideology they are instilling in the next generation!"

Kakashi raised his head and replied in a deep voice:
"Yes! Promise to complete the mission!"

…………

Shimotsuke Castle, a border city in the eastern part of the Star Country.

As an important gateway connecting the Bird Kingdom and the Star Capital, Shimotsuke Castle is far larger than an ordinary border town.

The towering city walls, built of solid rock, gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the autumn sunlight.

The city gate was bustling with activity, as caravans from all over the mainland lined up in long queues, waiting for entry inspection.

The air was filled with the smell of livestock, the aroma of goods, and a sense of orderly busyness.

Jiraiya and Hydrangea mingled in a medium-sized caravan, moving slowly forward with the flow of people.

Jiraiya had his long white hair tied back, and he casually looked around.

Hydrangea looked around curiously, filled with a sense of novelty towards this city, which was so different from Amegakure.

Their attention was quickly drawn to the Star Kingdom personnel responsible for inspections at the city gate.

These people were dressed in uniform dark blue uniforms with simple lines and armor plates. They were not dressed as traditional ninjas, but rather as well-trained security personnel or border guards.

They moved efficiently and with serious expressions, checking documents, registering information, and issuing passes. The entire process was orderly and highly efficient.

What surprised Jiraiya the most was the "temperament" of these people.

Their chakra fluctuations were generally not strong, even weaker than those of ordinary Konoha genin, but each person's posture, gait, and even eyes exuded an indescribable sense of discipline and uniformity.

When on guard duty, they stand motionless like statues; when patrolling, their steps are perfectly synchronized, like parts on a precision instrument.

This high level of organization and discipline was something Jiraiya had never seen in any other ninja village.

Accustomed to a carefree attitude, he felt a slight unease in this atmosphere.

'The Star Ninja… truly extraordinary, just as rumored,' Jiraiya thought to himself. 'Their ability to defeat Sunagakure and Iwagakure with fewer troops isn't solely due to top fighters like Shura and Uchiha Hikaru. Their terrifying strength lies in their deep-rooted, formidable discipline and execution at the grassroots level.' He recalled his experiences in the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars. While ninjas from various villages received training, the emphasis was more on individual skill and teamwork. This kind of rigorous, militarized management style was unheard of.

Soon, it was their caravan's turn to be inspected.

A Star Ninja Inspector who appeared to be a squad leader walked over. His sharp gaze swept over Jiraiya and Hydrangea, lingering for a moment on Hydrangea's Rain Guardian headband and Jiraiya's seemingly casual yet powerful demeanor.

He asked in a calm but serious tone, "Gentlemen, please state your identities and purpose of entry."

Jiraiya laughed heartily, adopting the demeanor of a boisterous scholar, and pulled out a copy of his autographed novel, *Icha Icha Paradise*, from his robes, handing it over: "Hahaha, prosecutor, I am Jiraiya, a bestselling novelist who has traveled to various countries, and this is my assistant, Hydrangea. We come from the Land of Rain. We've heard that the Land of Stars has unique scenery and novel customs, so we've come to gather inspiration for our writing!"

He has an extremely thick skin and lies come out of his mouth without hesitation.

Hydrangea quickly followed suit, bowing slightly, her tone carrying just the right amount of embarrassment and sincerity: "Yes, prosecutor."

The prosecutor took the novel, glanced at the cover, and then carefully examined Jiraiya's "signature." A subtle expression appeared on his face, as if he recognized the book.

But they quickly returned to a businesslike approach.

He nodded, his tone softening slightly: "We've also heard about the internal strife in Amegakure. Recently, quite a few wandering ninjas and samurai from various countries have entered the Land of Stars. We welcome law-abiding travelers, but we must remind you both that the laws and regulations of the Land of Stars are very different from those of other countries, so please be sure to strictly abide by them."

He gestured to the team members behind him to hand over two beautifully crafted hard cards, "temporary passes," and two thin booklets with the title "A Brief Guide to the Code of Conduct and Laws and Regulations for Foreigners from the Star Kingdom" printed on the cover.

"The temporary pass is valid for one month. Please be sure to apply for an extension at your local police station before it expires, otherwise it will be considered illegal overstay." The prosecutor pointed to the booklet and continued, "Please be sure to read these two guides carefully."

"It clearly lists prohibited behaviors within the Star Kingdom, such as large-scale gambling and the abuse of ninjutsu to damage public property, as well as the correct procedures for handling disputes or emergencies, such as reporting to the local police station for professional law enforcement to handle, and never using force to resolve issues privately. Remember, this is not a place where you can use force at will."

Ziyanghua quickly accepted the pass and manual with both hands, thanked them repeatedly, and paid a relatively low entry fee as required.

The entire process was standardized and clear, without any signs of obstruction or bribery, which surprised the two who were used to being exploited and extorted throughout the ninja world.

Having successfully passed the checkpoint, they officially entered the interior of Shimotsuke Castle. The sight before them made Hydrangea let out a soft gasp of amazement.

The streets were wide and flat, so clean they were almost spotless.

The streets are lined with neat, simple yet modern buildings, their windows reflecting the sunlight.

Pedestrians and vehicles travel in their respective lanes in an orderly manner. Shops line the streets, displaying a dazzling array of goods. Although people are simply dressed, their complexions are rosy, their steps are brisk, and their eyes radiate a positive and energetic spirit.

The entire city was full of vitality and prosperity, a stark contrast to the perpetually gloomy, oppressive, and dilapidated atmosphere of Amegakure.

"This place... is so bustling and so clean!" Ziyanghua exclaimed sincerely.

Jiraiya casually flipped through the behavioral guide while observing the street scene, feeling equally shocked.

The guidelines are meticulously detailed, covering everything from public health and traffic rules to restrictions on the use of ninjutsu and dispute resolution procedures, revealing a highly rule-of-law-based and meticulously managed social structure.

This was completely different from the ninja world he knew as a place where the strong preyed on the weak and was chaotic.

He traveled to various countries in the ninja world and had never seen a city like this before.

As they walked, they saw a group of four people in dark blue police uniforms and wearing armbands patrolling.

These police officers were well-equipped, with gear similar to kunai guns and communication devices. They had serious expressions, but when the surrounding citizens saw them, they did not avoid or fear them. On the contrary, some people took the initiative to nod and greet them, and the police would respond politely, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

"Huh? So those are the police from the Land of Stars?" Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I've heard that the Land of Stars has established a security force that's different from traditional ninjas. It seems that's true. They seem to... focus more on maintaining public order and law enforcement, rather than carrying out military missions such as assassinations and sabotage."

Hydrangea tilted her head to observe: "They don't seem like simple ninjas. They're more like... well, a profession that maintains the rules? Like the guards in the towns of the Land of Rain, except those guards are private soldiers hired by noble lords."

As they walked and observed, the two gained a preliminary and revolutionary understanding of the social operating model of the Star Kingdom.

After passing through the bustling city center, they arrived at the western exit of the city, preparing to continue along the wide highway leading to Star City.

Just then, a deep rumble came from afar!
The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw two parallel metal tracks laid on the roadbed not far outside the city. A long steel dragon with a streamlined shape and multiple carriages was rushing past at an astonishing speed!

The front of the vehicle emitted faint white steam and a faint chakra glow, and its speed was astonishing!

"What...what is that?!" Hydrangea's eyes widened; it was the first time she had ever seen such a huge and fast means of transportation.

Jiraiya was also surprised. This speed far exceeded the fastest carriage speed and even the running speed of an average genin!

"Hahaha! You two are obviously not locals from the Star Kingdom!" A hearty laugh came from the side.

They saw a dark-skinned, sprightly old man driving an oxcart, watching them with a cheerful smile.

The oxcart behind was piled high with all sorts of daily necessities.

Jiraiya quickly asked, "Excuse me, sir, what is this?"

The old man took out a pipe, lit it, took a satisfying puff, and proudly introduced it: "This is called a 'Thunder Chariot'! It's a huge machine powered by chakra! It's incredibly fast, capable of traveling thousands of kilometers a day! It can also carry a lot of goods and people! Now, many major cities in our Star Country have these things running through them, which is very convenient!"

Jiraiya astutely grasped the key point and asked with a frown, "Old man, building this kind of thunder chariot and railway must have cost a lot, right? And this railway will take up land, so what about the farmers whose land has been requisitioned?"

He knew all too well that in other countries, land expropriation was often the trigger for public resentment.

Upon hearing this, the old man gave Jiraiya an approving look: "Hey, you've hit the nail on the head! I don't know if the Thunder Chariot is expensive or not, but land acquisition..."

He clicked his tongue and sighed, "That's a world of difference compared to when the great nobles of the Bear Kingdom were in power!"

"Back then, if the noble lords took a fancy to a piece of land, they would send a few lackeys to seize it without a second thought. How dare they ask the lords for money?! We commoners dared to complain? At best, we would get a beating; at worst, our families would be ruined! Now, when the Star Kingdom government seizes land, they compensate us with a lump sum of money equal to twenty years' worth of the land's annual output! Moreover, they will arrange new jobs for the farmers who lose their land, either in factories or by helping to build roads and railways. In short, they will give them a way to make a living and allow them to live a stable life!"

The more Jiraiya listened, the more serious his expression became.

Although he didn't know how much financial support and an efficient and clean administrative system would be required, he knew better than anyone that such generous compensation and resettlement policies could not be implemented in other countries.

The social governance capabilities demonstrated by the Star Kingdom were far more profound and terrifying than he had imagined.

Ziyanghua asked curiously, "Uncle, are you going back to the village?"

“Yes, yes.” The old man pointed with his pipe in the direction the Thunder Cart had gone. “Our village is at the foot of Mount Gunma over there, not far from the railway. If you’re going to the Star Capital, you can come with my oxcart. You’ll have someone to talk to on the way, so you won’t get bored.”

Hydrangea looked at Jiraiya, and seeing him nod slightly, she happily agreed, "Okay! Sir, my name is Hydrangea, and this is my employer, Mr. Jiraiya. We're going to the Star Capital!"

The old man introduced himself with a smile: "I don't have a real name. Everyone in the village calls me Old Man from the Foot of the Mountain because I live at the foot of Mount Gunma!"

So the three of them set off together.

Jiraiya walked beside the oxcart, seemingly casually continuing his conversation with the old man at the foot of the mountain, but in reality, he was intentionally or unintentionally probing into the actual situation of the Land of Stars.

"Old man, from what you're saying, after the Land of Bears... became the Land of Stars, have the lives of ordinary people really improved?" Jiraiya asked, his tone inquisitive.

Upon hearing this, the old man at the foot of the mountain smoothed out the wrinkles on his face, his tone filled with heartfelt gratitude: "That's not just a little bit better! It's a complete transformation! Before, with noble lords and powerful officials looming over us, life was truly unbearable!"

"We toil away all year round farming, and after paying rent and taxes, we barely have enough left to survive! Every now and then there are natural disasters and man-made calamities, and people starving to death is commonplace! Ever since Lord Shura and the Star Ninjas came, they've driven away those leech-like nobles, distributed land to us poor people, reduced rent and taxes, and in years of disaster, the government even reduces or waives taxes and distributes relief grain! The officials now are completely different from before; they don't put on airs or bully people. In spring and autumn, they even come down to organize everyone to work the land and harvest grain together. If anyone is in trouble, they really lend a helping hand! Now there's hope for the future!"

Ziyanghua's eyes lit up; she could hardly believe that there was a country in the world that cared so much for its ordinary people.

This place is a completely different world from the Land of Rain.

Jiraiya remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was experiencing a storm of emotions.

He traveled to various countries and witnessed too much suffering, deeply understanding the hardships of the common people.

The Star Kingdom's approach completely overturned the traditional model of governance, tilting the benefits towards the common people. What kind of courage and methods did this require?
What exactly is the purpose of that "Shura"?
Is it merely to establish an ideal nation?

Jiraiya instinctively felt that things weren't so simple, after all, Shura was the "Child of Darkness" prophesied by the Great Toad Sage!
There must be a deeper, more dangerous scheme hidden behind this.

As evening approached, the setting sun painted the sky a vibrant orange-red.

The oxcart swayed and rattled until it reached the foot of Mount Gunma, where a peaceful and serene little village came into view.

However, the scene at the village entrance was completely out of place with this tranquility.

Dozens of villagers were gathered there, looking anxious and talking amongst themselves, creating an uneasy atmosphere.

Seeing this, the old man at the foot of the mountain urged the oxcart to speed up.

As soon as he arrived at the village entrance, a sturdy, dark-skinned young man greeted him anxiously: "Uncle from down the mountain! You're finally back!"

"Village Chief Dayan, what happened?" The old man at the foot of the mountain jumped off the oxcart and asked anxiously.

The young man known as the village chief of Dayan Village said through gritted teeth, "It was a gang of bandits who wandered in from somewhere in the mountains. This afternoon, they broke into the village and robbed several families of their grain and livestock! They even said that our village must raise 100,000 taels of silver within three days and send it to the mountains, or they would massacre the entire village!"

"One hundred thousand taels?!" The old man at the foot of the mountain gasped, his face turning deathly pale.

This is an astronomical figure for an ordinary village; they simply cannot afford it!

Those bandits were clearly deliberately making things difficult for us; they had no good intentions!

Just then, Jiraiya stepped forward with great pride, patted his chest, and said loudly, "It seems you've all run into trouble! But don't worry! The Toad Sage Jiraiya is here!"

The villagers all turned their gazes toward the unfamiliar white-haired man, their eyes filled with doubt and a glimmer of hope.

The village chief, Oiwa, asked cautiously, "And who is this...?"

The old man at the foot of the mountain quickly explained, "Oh, this is a traveler we met on the road. He seems to be... a wandering ninja from another country?"

Upon hearing the word "ninja," the villagers' eyes lit up as if they had seen a savior.

Village Chief Oiwa said respectfully, "So you're a ninja! Thank you so much for stepping forward! However..."

He changed the subject: "We've already sent someone to report this to the police station in Kamio Castle! I'm sure the police will be here soon to handle it!"

"Police?" Jiraiya and Hydrangea exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Faced with the threat of bandits extorting money and massacring the village, the villagers' first reaction was not to seek help from the "powerful ninja" who happened to pass by, but to believe in and wait for the government's "police".
This trust in and reliance on official power has once again overturned their understanding.

Just then, in the afterglow of the setting sun, several figures appeared moving quickly at the end of the dirt road outside the village!

A boy, barely out of school age, came running back from that direction, panting and shouting excitedly, "Village Chief! Village Chief! The police are here! The police are here!"

The village chief and villagers of Dayan Village immediately showed expressions of joy and relief, and they all stood on tiptoe to look at the intersection.

Jiraiya and Hydrangea also gazed intently in that direction.

Four figures were walking steadily towards them!

They were all dressed in special Star Nation police uniforms, and their figures were agile.

The leader was very young, about fourteen or fifteen years old, with short black hair and a cold face.

Beneath the police uniform, one could vaguely see the emblem of the Flame Clan embroidered on the collar of the dark blue clan robe!
What shocked Jiraiya even more was that the young policeman was looking up slightly at the Gunma Mountains not far away, where the twilight was gradually falling. In the background of his scarlet eyes, a black tomoe was slowly rotating!

Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply, a chill running through him: 'Uchiha?!'

[PS: It's almost the end of the month, please give me some monthly votes!]

[PS: Here's the answer to last week's question: it's the long-haired 'Uchiha Sarada'! Uchiha beauties really do look good with long hair.]

(End of this chapter)