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

Chapter 342 How much did Tsunade lose again?
Star City, the territory of the Uchiha clan.

As the largest ninja clan in the Land of Stars, the Uchiha clan's settlement covers a vast area, and its architectural style blends traditional Uchiha clan characteristics with modern elements from the Land of Stars.

Neat courtyards lined both sides of the bluestone path, each planted with cherry blossom trees, a suggestion from Uchiha Hikaru.

The morning sun shone on the central square of the tribe's territory, and several jays preened their feathers on the eaves.

Two figures arrived at the edge of the square almost simultaneously from different directions and met in front of an impressive mansion.

"Brother Rice Fire".

"You're here too, Izumi."

Uchiha Inahisa and Uchiha Izumi nodded to each other in greeting.

Both were wearing the standard Jonin vests of the Star Ninja, a dark blue, fitted style, with Star Ninja headbands bearing the five-pointed star emblem on their foreheads and the Uchiha fan crest on their backs.

This uniform reflects both the identity of the Star Country and the pride of the Uchiha clan.

Dao Huo's face was resolute, with a faint scar below his left eye, a memento of the "night of defection".

Quan is petite with delicate features. She has a beauty mark under her right eye and shoulder-length black hair tied into a neat ponytail. She has matured considerably compared to the frail girl she was back then.

Just as the two were about to knock, the door of the mansion opened from the inside.

Uchiha Shisui came out.

Unlike the other two, Shisui wore the black uniform of the police department. He is now the Minister of Police of the Star Country, in charge of tens of thousands of police officers in the Star Country.

"Brother Zhishui." Quan bowed respectfully.

"Chieftain." Daohuo bowed slightly as well.

Although the three are of the same clan and could even be said to have grown up together, they strictly adhere to the etiquette between superiors and subordinates in formal settings.

Shisui waved his hand, signaling the two to relax.

"Have you received the orders?" he asked.

“Received it.” Daohu nodded. “But the details are vague. It only says there’s an important mission that requires the participation of a Mangekyou Sharingan user.”

Izumi also spoke up, "And they asked us to come directly here to find you... Did Lord Kou give some instructions?"

Shisui didn't answer immediately; he remained silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking:
"Master Guang's Mangekyou Sharingan... has evolved."

"Evolution?" Inahime and Izumi were both taken aback.

"It has evolved into a more advanced form—the Rinnegan."

These words struck Dao Huo and Quan's hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Rinnegan..." Inahi's pupils trembled slightly as she murmured, repeating, "That's not... the legendary..."

"The Sage of Six Paths' Eyes," Izumi replied, his voice filled with disbelief.

Shisui nodded: "That's right. Lord Shura is giving Lady Hikari special training, teaching her how to use these new eyes. As the only three Mangekyou Sharingan users in the Uchiha clan, we have been granted special permission to observe this training."

He paused and added:

"But you must understand that even a ninja with the three-tomoe Sharingan is not qualified to watch a battle of this level. Only those who have awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan and possess sufficient eye power and mental strength can learn something from it, rather than being injured by the aftershocks."

Inahikawa and Izumi exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and excitement in each other's eyes.

Since the brutal battle of "Night of Defection," the two awakened their Mangekyou Sharingan under the shock of the tragic deaths of their loved ones.

Over the years, under the guidance of Shisui and Uchiha Hikaru, they gradually mastered this power and were able to awaken the complete form of Susanoo.

They originally thought that the Mangekyou Sharingan was the end of the Sharingan and the pinnacle of the Uchiha clan's power.

But now, Shisui tells them that there is an even higher realm above the kaleidoscope.

“Let’s get ready to go,” Shisui said. “The training location is the Death Sands of Wind County. We’ve already been delayed for a while.”

A few minutes later, at Hoshino-Tokyo Central Station.

This is a modern transportation hub. Under the huge dome, more than a dozen tracks extend in parallel, with various trains coming and going.

Station staff in uniforms were busy guiding passengers, and train schedules were being broadcast over the loudspeaker.

Shizumi, Inahi, and Izumi walked through the bustling crowd toward the passage marked "Military Use Only".

Two Star Ninjas guarded the entrance to the passage. Upon seeing Shisui's identification, they immediately stood at attention, saluted, and opened the gate.

At the end of the passageway stood a dark green military train, its carriages larger and more robust than those of ordinary trains.

This is the latest high-speed military train of the Star Kingdom, with a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour, specially designed for the rapid deployment of troops and supplies.

The three of them boarded the middle box.

The private room is simply but comfortably furnished, with leather seats, adjustable lighting, and a small refrigerator.

The most eye-catching feature is a crystal screen on the carriage wall, which displays real-time train speed, location, and external environmental monitoring data.

The train slowly started, accelerated, and soon left the station, entering a dedicated track in the suburbs.

The scenery outside the window rushed past, from the modern urban area of ​​Star City to the farmland and factories on the outskirts, and then to the wilderness and mountains further away.

Izumi sat by the window, watching the ever-changing scenery outside, and couldn't help but ask:
"Shisui-kun, what does the Mangekyou Sharingan look like after it evolves?"

Dao Huo also turned his head, his eyes full of curiosity.

Zhi Shui leaned back in his seat, his hands crossed on his knees.

He didn't answer immediately, but closed his eyes, as if he was organizing his thoughts.

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and looked at the two of them:

"You've had the kaleidoscope for a while now. You should be able to feel the strain on your eyes caused by the drain on your pupil power every time you use it."

Daohuo and Quan nodded solemnly.

They were all too familiar with that feeling.

When using it, the eyes feel like they are burning; after use, vision gradually becomes blurred; in severe cases, it may even bleed.

Although rest can restore function, each use feels like overdrawing the lifespan of your eyes.

“This is the flaw of the ordinary Mangekyou Sharingan,” Shisui said slowly. “And to overcome this flaw, one needs to fuse eye power and evolve into… the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.”

"Eternal Kaleidoscope?" Daohuo repeated the unfamiliar term.

“That’s right.” Shisui’s eyes deepened: “Back then, after Madara Uchiha’s younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, died, he gave his eyes to his brother. Madara fused with his brother’s eye power, and the Mangekyou Sharingan underwent a qualitative change, evolving into the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.”

"This is one of the reasons why Madara Uchiha stands out in the history of our clan. He possesses the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, which has no side effects and can be used indefinitely."

Dao Huo and Quan gasped in surprise.

They always thought that Madara Uchiha and their own Mangekyou Sharingan were on the same level, only that Madara's eye power was stronger and he had more experience.

Only now do I realize that from the very beginning, Ban was standing at a higher starting point.

"Then... what about the Rinnegan?" Izumi asked, his voice a little dry.

She remembered that Shisui-ge had just said that Master Guang's eyes were already the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.

Shisui continued, "Beyond the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, one must master the five chakra nature transformations, touch upon the mysteries of Yin-Yang Release, and even master certain special powers in order to evolve into a higher form."

“Those are the eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths—” He paused, then said, enunciating each word clearly:

"Reincarnation Eye!"

Silence fell over the private room.

The only sound is the low hum produced by the friction between the train and the track at high speed.

Dao Huo and Quan were processing this information, their eyes filled with shock.

They always believed that by awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan and becoming a Kage-level ninja, they had already reached the pinnacle of the ninja world.

But now it seems that it was just the starting point for climbing the real peak.

"So..." Daohuo began with difficulty, "Master Guang... has already reached that level?"

“It’s not just about achieving it.” Shisui’s tone carried a hint of respect: “Master Kou’s Rinnegan evolved from the ‘New Oni-Garra Technique’ developed by the Research Department. This technology has the potential to be popularized to many people in the future, which is one of the reasons why we invited you to come and observe.”

He looked out the window; the train had already entered the territory of Wind County.

The view outside the window turned into endless yellow sand, with occasional glimpses of scattered oases and water conservancy projects under construction.

"Here we are."

The train began to slow down and eventually stopped at a small military platform.

As the three of them got out of the car, a wave of heat hit them.

The desert climate of Wind County is completely different from the mild climate of Star City; the dry air seems to suck all the moisture from the skin.

Without saying a word, Shisui vanished from the spot in a flash.

Rice fire and spring water immediately followed.

The three moved at high speed through the desert, covering hundreds of meters in a single instant.

The yellow sand beneath their feet churned up waves of sand under the impact of chakra.

About ten minutes later, they arrived at their destination.

Deep within the Wind County lies an area known as the "Sea of ​​Death."

This is a desert spanning hundreds of kilometers, with no oases and no signs of life.

The scorching sun baked the yellow sand, and the ground temperature reached over 60 degrees Celsius. Even the air was distorted due to the high temperature.

On the edge of the desert, on the ruins of an ancient city half-buried in the yellow sand, three figures were already standing there.

It was Menma, Uchiha Hikaru, and Namikaze Minato.

At the top of the ruins, Menma stood on a collapsed stone pillar, his black robe with red trim fluttering in the hot wind.

He crossed his arms and looked down at Uchiha Hikaru, who was adjusting his breathing in the sea of ​​sand.

Guang's face was covered with a little dust, and his breathing was a little rapid, but his eyes were unusually bright.

Her Rinnegan had been activated; in the blood-red sclera, the six rings and six tomoe slowly rotated, emanating a chilling aura.

"I sensed someone approaching." Minato, who was recording the battle, suddenly looked up and gazed towards the edge of the ruins.

"It's Shisui and the others."

Mianma nodded without turning around.

A few seconds later, three figures landed on the ruins; they were Zhishui, Daohuo, and Quan.

"Lord Shura, Lord Guang, Lord Minato," Shisui led the way in bowing.

Inahikawa and Izumi also bowed, but both of them couldn't help but look at Uchiha Hikaru, or more accurately, at Hikaru's Rinnegan.

It was a form they had never seen before.

Blood-red sclera, complex six-ringed pupils, and six tomoe slowly moving—just looking at them sends a shiver down your spine.

"Once you're here, just stay quiet and watch," Menma said calmly.

"Yes."

The three stepped aside and stood with Minato.

Meanwhile, in the desert, Uchiha Hikaru had already adjusted his state.

She looked up at Menma, the pattern in her Rinnegan spinning rapidly.

"continue?"

Mianma jumped down from the stone pillar and landed lightly on the sand, kicking up some dust.

"continue."

The moment the words left his mouth, the light moved.

Without forming hand seals or gathering power, her figure vanished from the spot!
That wasn't some kind of teleportation technique; it was pure speed!

The physical enhancements brought by the Rinnegan raised her physical abilities to a whole new level!
Almost at the same time, she appeared to the left of Mianma, her right hand with fingers like a knife, stabbing straight at Mianma's ribs!
This strike was as fast as lightning; the fingertips even tore through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound!
But Mianma only turned slightly to the side.

The light flashed past his clothes, creating a gust of wind that ripped a deep furrow into the sand.

The attack missed, but the light didn't pause at all.

Her body twisted in the air, and her left leg cleaved towards Mianma's neck like a battle axe!

Mianma raised his left hand and used his forearm to brace against the leg.

Bang! !

The dull thud was like a heavy hammer striking a drum, and the shockwave spread outwards, raising a layer of sand waves on the sand within a radius of a hundred meters!
The force of that kick was so great that even Minato, who was watching from the sidelines, frowned slightly. If he had been hit, even a Jonin skilled in taijutsu would have died on the spot.

Guang used the momentum to flip backward and landed ten meters away, his eyes serious.

She just used 80% of her strength, enough to kill most Jonin who are skilled in taijutsu.

But Menma simply parried the attack without moving an inch.

“It’s fast enough, and it’s powerful enough,” Menma commented, “but it’s not 'skillful' enough.”

He extended his right hand, fingers spread:

"Now, look with your own eyes."

The next second, Menma's figure disappeared.

It's not a teleportation technique, but a pure burst of speed!

His movements didn't even make a sound, as if he blended into his surroundings!
His pupils contracted, and his Rinnegan spun wildly.

She "saw" it! Menma's movement left faint chakra afterimages in the air, as if those afterimages were guiding her to predict the next location.

left?

right?

Or above?

Guang's mind was racing, but Mianma was too fast, so fast that even if she could "see" it, her body couldn't react in time!

In the instant she hesitated, Menma appeared behind her.

"too slow."

The sound came from beside my ear.

Guang suddenly turned around and clapped his hands:
"Fire Escape·The Great Fire Extinguishes!"

boom--! !

A torrent of purple flames erupted from her mouth!

This is not an ordinary B-rank ninjutsu, Great Fire Annihilation, but an enhanced version empowered by the Rinnegan and mixed with natural energy!
The flames covered an area of ​​over 500 meters, and the temperature was so high that even the sand was instantly vitrified!
Faced with this terrifying attack, Menma simply raised his right hand.

Palms facing forward.

"Shenra Tianzheng."

Om-!
An invisible repulsive field erupted from him!
The purple flames collided with the repulsive field as if they had hit an invisible absolute wall, and were instantly repelled and annihilated!
Flames shot out in all directions, burning the surrounding sand dunes into a molten crystal.

The repulsive force guided the flames in the air, causing them to shoot towards the light!

Moreover, it sealed off all escape routes from all directions!
Hikaru's expression changed, and his Rinnegan began to spin wildly.

She tried to "see" the flow of the repulsive force, trying to find a gap to dodge it.

But those repulsive forces were too complex and too fast; her perception could keep up, but her body couldn't!
In that critical moment, a thought flashed through Guang's mind.

It's not dodging.

It's... an exchange!
The six-ring pattern in the Rinnegan suddenly lit up!
Om-!
Space seemed to distort for a moment.

The next moment, the figure of light disappeared.

Instead, there was a piece of sand and gravel a few dozen meters away.

As for Hikaru himself, he appeared where the sand and gravel originally were.

Tente Power!
A hint of approval flashed in Mianma's eyes.

"Indeed, Ame-no-Touch power allows one to exchange positions with objects within sight in an instant. It is the ultimate technique of shrinking the earth, and even a rudimentary form of spatial travel."

He raised his right hand, and the black chakra rod that had been aimed at the light had somehow returned to his hand.

"But how many times can you exchange them?"

Mianma's figure disappeared again.

This time, he was even faster!
The Rinnegan of light spun wildly, and she could "see" Menma's movement trajectory, but those trajectories were like phantoms overlapping each other, making it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake!

Even more terrifying is that Menma leaves chakra marks with every movement, and those marks interfere with her judgment, making it impossible for her to distinguish which one is the real body!
Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!
In just three seconds, Menma launched four attacks from four different directions!

Hikaru barely dodged the first two times, but couldn't dodge the third time even with his eyes open. He then used his Heavenly Hand Power to swap positions with a piece of sand, but got a scrape on his shoulder. The fourth time—

The numb fist stopped a centimeter in front of her forehead.

The force of the punch blew her bangs up, and she could even feel the terrifying pressure on her skin.

"That's it."

The numb fist clenched into two fingers and gently tapped Guang's forehead.

He was panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat.

It's not that I'm tired, but rather that the intense mental concentration takes its toll.

Using the Rinnegan's insight and the Amenotejikara's ability to jump between spaces placed a tremendous burden on her mental strength.

"Today you have mastered the basic application of Amenotejikara." Menma withdrew his hand and said with satisfaction, "Next, you need to practice the gravity manipulation of Shinra Tensei and Bansho Ten'in, and..."

He raised his hand, and a jet-black chakra rod condensed in his palm.

"The power of Yin-Yang Escape".

As he stared at that black rod, his Rinnegan flashed.

She tried to raise her hand, her palm surging with chakra, attempting to condense the same thing.

Chakra began to condense, and a faint black phantom appeared in her palm, but it collapsed and disintegrated in less than a second, turning into specks of light and dissipating.

Guang frowned.

"The power of Yin-Yang Release is not so easy to master." Menma smiled as he looked at Hikaru's annoyed expression.

He put away the black stick and patted Guang on the shoulder:

"That's all for today. Shinra Tensei, Bansho Ten'in, Amenotejikara, and Yin-Yang Release: Black Rod. These four abilities are enough for you to study for a long time."

"I understand, I will study hard." Guang nodded and closed his eyes.

When she opened her eyes again, the Rinnegan had closed and reverted to the ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan.

Menma turned around and looked at the four people watching the battle from the ruins.

Water gate, still water, rice fire, spring—everyone's expression is different.

Watergate was a serious analyst, his notebook already filled with data.

Shisui was deeply shocked. Although his kaleidoscope was powerful, he knew that if it were him, he probably wouldn't have been able to withstand even one move in the battle just now.

Inahi and Izumi felt pure awe and worship; they finally understood why Shisui said that only the Kaleidoscope holder could observe such a battle.

"You saw everything?" Menma asked.

The four of them nodded at the same time.

"What do you think?"

After a few seconds of silence, Shisui was the first to speak:
"The level of power... is completely different. If you were to fight me in that state just now, without using Susanoo, I probably wouldn't last ten seconds. Even if you used Susanoo, it would only prolong the fight a little longer."

Inahikawa and Izumi didn't speak, but their eyes said it all.

Mianma nodded:

"The power of the Rinnegan far surpasses that of the Mangekyou Sharingan. But you shouldn't underestimate yourselves. We have already found the path to the evolution of the Mangekyou Sharingan. Now you should be prepared."

Shisui, Inahikawa, and Izumi all showed expressions of emotion and excitement.

Menma then looked at Minato:
"Father, once the training data is compiled, give Guang a copy. Also, arrange for a medical team to check on her health regularly, especially her eyes."

"Don't worry, leave it to me." Minato nodded, his smile gentle.

………………

Renga Castle, a port city in the northern part of the Star Country, bordering the Land of Earth.

The style of this city is completely different from that of the rapidly modernizing Star City.

If Star City represents solemnity, order, modernization, and technology, then Renhe City is an epitome of chaos, desire, and the intertwining of the old and the new.

This area was a concession established after the defeat of the Land of Earth. It was designated as a "Special Economic Zone" by the Land of Stars, enjoying extremely low tax rates and relaxed management.

As a result, casinos, izakayas, and nightclubs sprang up like mushrooms after rain, attracting merchants and ninjas from all over the ninja world.

In this city, traditional Japanese architecture is mixed with modern buildings.

To the left might be a geisha house with red lanterns hanging, and to the right a modern casino with flashing neon lights.

The pedestrians were dressed in all sorts of ways: there were elderly people in kimonos, businessmen in suits, bar hostesses in revealing clothes, and even ninjas in tight-fitting outfits.

The air was filled with the scents of smoke, alcohol, perfume, and some inexplicable aura of desire.

Jiraiya walked along the most bustling "Gambling City Street," his eyes constantly scanning the scenery along the street, especially the scantily clad women.

"Hehehe... Nice legs... Perfect bust shape... Oh! That girl in the cheongsam over there has such a good temperament..."

He muttered to himself as he walked, a lewd smile on his lips, and occasionally took out a small notebook to jot something down.

"It's all about gathering material... As a writer, immersing oneself in life and experiencing life firsthand is essential..."

Just as he was staring at the profile of a blonde woman with long, wavy hair, preparing to go up and "interview" her.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

Several urgent shouts came from the front of the street.

Jiraiya turned his head and saw several young people running over in a panic, knocking over roadside stalls and crushing the goods on them.

The stall owner angrily tried to grab them, but one of them pushed him away.

Immediately afterwards, five or six men wearing black uniforms with the words "Concession Police" embroidered on their chests caught up with them.

Armed with short sticks and ropes, they moved with practiced skill and quickly surrounded the young men.

"Halt! You traitors from the Restoration Society!"

"Just surrender!"

A bespectacled young man among the group shouted, “We are not rebels! We are simply spreading the truth! The days when daimyo and nobles exploit the people must end!”

"Shut up!" A policeman hit him on the back with a stick, knocking him to the ground.

Other young men tried to resist, but they were clearly no match for the well-trained police officers and were quickly subdued, pinned to the ground, and handcuffed.

The streets were in chaos, with pedestrians scrambling to make way, some pointing and whispering, others watching indifferently.

Jiraiya stood in the crowd, his brows furrowed.

At that moment, he overheard the whispers of several businessmen and hostesses nearby:

"It's those Restorationists again..."

"How many times has this happened this month? They cause trouble every other day."

"I heard they started a riot in Torio Castle, killed the castle lord, and wanted to establish some new country... but they were suppressed by ninjas and samurai sent by the daimyo of the Land of Earth, and fled to the concession."

"Hmph, it's one thing for the Star Kingdom to do that, but they want to copy it too? They don't even know their own limitations."

"Speaking of which, the theories of the Star Kingdom do attract ordinary people... I have a distant cousin who is a carpenter. I heard he went to the Star Kingdom and is now working as a technician. He's doing much better than before."

“But the Land of Earth is different… The power of the daimyo and nobles is deeply entrenched, and these young people are too naive.”

As Jiraiya listened to these discussions, his expression grew increasingly grave.

He recalled the argument he had with Shura in the Land of Rain two years ago.

At that time, Shura said that the root of the conflict in the ninja world was the unfair distribution of resources and the exploitation of commoners by daimyo and nobles.

Only by breaking down the old feudal system and establishing a new order can true peace be achieved.

Jiraiya countered that violent revolution would only bring more bloodshed and that problems should be solved through mutual understanding and compromise.

But now it seems...

Shura's theory is no longer just a theory.

The success of the Star Country served as a banner, attracting oppressed people from all over the ninja world.

These members of the "Reform Society" in the Land of Earth were the earliest followers.

And, this is just the beginning.

A strong sense of unease welled up in Jiraiya's heart.

He recalled his conversation with the Great Toad Sage after returning to Mount Myōboku.

When he reported the existence of Shura to the Great Toad Sage, and Shura's warning about Mount Myōboku's interference in the ninja world, the sage, who had lived for over a thousand years, remained silent for a long time before finally uttering an ambiguous statement:
"The trajectory of fate has changed... The future is shrouded in mist..."

Then he didn't say anything more.

Jiraiya understood what the Great Toad Sage had seen, but he was unwilling, or rather, unable to reveal it.

"Ugh……"

He sighed and turned to leave this place of trouble.

"Eh? Jiraiya-senpai!"

At that moment, a slightly surprised female voice interrupted Jiraiya's thoughts.

Jiraiya turned his head and saw a woman wearing a black and gray casual outfit and with short black hair standing not far away. She was holding a pink pig in one hand and carrying a heavy-looking suitcase in the other.

"Mute?" Jiraiya was taken aback. "What are you doing here?"

Jingyin, with a pained expression, lifted the suitcase in her hand:

"Why else... of course, it's to pay off Lady Tsunade's debt."

She pointed to a magnificent casino across the street, with four large characters written on the signboard: "Renhe Casino".

Jiraiya's lips twitched slightly.

Yes, this is the famous gambling city in the ninja world. For Tsunade, this is practically her second home.

Given her gambling luck, she must have lost a lot of money.

"How much did Tsunade lose this time?" Jiraiya stroked his chin and asked curiously.

Shizune sighed, her face contorted with distress, and whispered, "Lady Tsunade lost all the money she brought yesterday and borrowed another 50 million taels from the casino. This morning I brought the money to ransom her, only to hear that she gambled all night again last night, losing all the borrowed money and now owes another 30 million taels..."

(End of this chapter)