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

Chapter 364 Sasuke and Boruto Travel Through Time
Just as Onoki was giving instructions to Deidara's team, far away in the Land of Fire, in Konoha Village, the atmosphere in the Hokage's office was even more heavy and oppressive.

The Hokage's office was filled with smoke.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the large Hokage desk, his pipe still in his hand, puffing out thick smoke as if trying to dispel the heaviness in his heart.

Before him lay an official scroll bearing the seal of the Daimyo's Mansion of the Land of Fire.

There weren't many words on the scroll, but each word struck his heart like a small hammer.

There was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Come in." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a hint of weariness.

The door was pushed open, and three high-ranking advisors from Konoha filed in.

Leading the way was Shimura Danzo, who was leaning on a cane, with bandages wrapped around half of his face and right arm, and a sinister look in his eyes.

Following behind him were Koharu Utatane and Homura Mito, their faces equally serious.

The last one to enter was Nara Shikaku, the leader of the Jonin team and also the Hokage's strategist.

"Hiruzen, why did you call us here so urgently? Is there news from the Daimyo Prefecture?" Mitomon Homura pushed up his glasses and spoke first, his gaze falling on the open scroll.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his pipe, then tapped it against the edge of the ashtray, even though the tobacco inside had long since burned out.

He picked up the scroll, and instead of answering directly, handed it to Nara Shikaku, who was closest to him: "Shikaku, take a look first. Then pass it around for everyone to read."

Shikaku took the scroll and quickly browsed through it.

In just a few seconds, his brows furrowed deeply, and his lazy expression vanished.

He didn't say anything, but silently handed the scroll to Xiaochun, who was sitting next to him.

The scroll was passed around among the three advisors. The air in the office grew colder and heavier as they read on.

Finally, the scroll returned to Danzo's hands.

His only remaining eye was fixed on the words above, the veins on the back of his hand gripping his cane bulging slightly, his voice hoarse and cold: "The Land of Stars... they really couldn't hold back anymore. Do they want to test our Konoha through the Chunin Exams?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, smoke slowly billowing from his mouth and nose: "It wasn't their own application, it was a direct order from the Daimyo... the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, and the wording... was very harsh."

"We are required to send formal invitations to the Land of Stars and Iwagakure to participate in the Chunin Exams."

"There may be some deals behind this that we are not yet aware of."

A few days ago, the delegation from Kumogakure left, taking with them an invitation from Konoha aimed at testing and forming an alliance.

The Third Hokage's desire to win over the Hidden Cloud Village, which has a blood feud with the Land of Stars, is no secret within the upper echelons and is considered a relatively prudent move in the current situation.

However, to everyone's surprise, before the Land of Stars could even make a move, their own daimyo had already sent out invitations on their behalf, and not just one, but two at once!

Koharu Utatane's face was ashen, and her voice was agitated: "Hiruzen, we absolutely cannot agree to this! This is clearly a trap! He wants to use this opportunity to spy on Konoha's strength and weaknesses, and may even cause trouble during the exams!"

Mitokado Homura appeared relatively calmer, but his brows were still furrowed: "Koharu makes a good point. However... this is a direct order from the Daimyo. The current domestic situation is delicate, and both finances and public opinion are not in a favorable position for the village. If we openly defy the Daimyo's wishes, we might give them ammunition to attack us, providing more reasons for nobles and officials who are dissatisfied with ninja privileges. Especially if the Land of Stars takes this opportunity to stir up trouble in front of the Daimyo..."

"Hmph! Daimyo?" Danzo sneered, slamming his cane heavily on the ground. "Those nobles who only know how to fight for power and indulge in pleasure, do they understand what the true interests of Konoha and the Land of Fire are? Trying to negotiate with a tiger is tantamount to courting destruction!"

"The Land of Stars participating in the Chunin Exams? Who knows who they'll send? What about those rogue ninja? Their target probably isn't the genin competition at all, but rather the village's bloodline limits and secret jutsu clans! Or even to gather information on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! I strongly oppose it!"

His words were like cold daggers, piercing the already tense atmosphere in the office.

Sasuke Uchiha, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the only remaining Sharingan user in Konoha after the Uchiha clan massacre, and a member of the Hyuga main branch...

These are Konoha's most important "assets," and also the easiest targets to covet.

If the Land of Stars truly harbors malicious intentions, the Chunin Exams, with their large number of people and eyes, would indeed be one of the best opportunities to make a move.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned even more deeply.

Danzo's worries were also his worries.

But as Hokage, he had to consider more.

Refusing the daimyo's orders would worsen the already delicate relationship between Konoha and the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Fire. With powerful enemies surrounding them from the outside, internal discord is a major taboo.

Agreeing to the participation of the Star Kingdom would be tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house, with risks that are immeasurable.

Dilemma.

Just then, Nara Shikaku, who had been silent and pressing his temples, suddenly let out a soft "hmm," attracting everyone's attention.

"Shikaku, what are your thoughts?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his most trusted strategist, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

In such a complex situation, the wisdom of the Nara clan often helped to see the light through the fog.

Shikaku lowered his hand from his temple, his eyes exceptionally clear: "Hokage, advisors, since we cannot openly disobey the Daimyo's orders, and the involvement of the Land of Stars makes us so wary... then why don't we make the Chunin Exams even bigger?"

"Make it even bigger?" Xiaochun, who was turning over the dorm, looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“That’s right.” Shikaku nodded and said slowly, “Since the Land of Stars can come, and Iwagakure can come... then why can’t we invite a few more ‘guests’? For example... Kirigakure.”

"Kirigakure Village?" Mitokado Homura was taken aback.

A glint flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, as if he had grasped the key point in Shikaku's words.

Shikaku continued his analysis at a leisurely pace: "The Hidden Mist Village has always been in a closed state. Although it seems to be undergoing reforms in the last two years, it has very little contact with the outside world, and its intelligence is vague. But after all, they are one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, and their strength should not be underestimated. If we take the initiative to extend an invitation to the Hidden Mist Village, they are likely to accept. This is a good opportunity to reintegrate into the ninja world, demonstrate our strength, and obtain intelligence."

“And once Kirigakure participates…” Shikaku’s lips curled into a meaningful smile: “This Chunin Exam will truly become the first time that the new generation of ninjas from all the major ninja villages will compete on the same stage. The situation will become extremely complicated, but precisely because of this complexity, the difficulty for any party, including the Land of Stars, to make any underhanded moves will increase exponentially.”

"Everyone's eyes will be on each other, keeping each other in check. As the host, Konoha is under immense pressure, but we also have the greatest home-field advantage and the initiative in intelligence gathering. More importantly..."

He paused, then looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi: "This will not only demonstrate Konoha's openness and confidence as the strongest ninja village and respond to the Daimyo's request, but also disperse uncontrollable risks among multiple mutually restraining forces."

"At the same time, observing each ninja village and understanding the strength of its new generation will also benefit our future strategy."

After Lu Jiu finished speaking, the office fell into a brief silence.

Danzo's face was expressionless, but his grip on his cane loosened slightly.

Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance, both seeing thoughtfulness and a hint of agreement in each other's eyes.

If we cannot refuse the daimyo's orders, then it is better to complicate the situation and find opportunities and balance in the chaos. This is indeed a seemingly risky but potentially more prudent approach to dealing with the current predicament.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a long plume of smoke, which swirled and rose under the light.

He put down his pipe and glanced at the advisors.

How will Konoha, the epicenter of this storm, respond?
"Shikaku." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice sounded deep and firm through the smoke: "In the name of the Hokage, formally draft an invitation to Kirigakure. At the same time, reply to the Daimyo's office that Konoha will, in accordance with the Daimyo's will, invite the best ninja in the world to hold an unprecedented and grand Chunin Exams."

………………

In the forest outside Konoha, the afternoon sun shines through layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the earth. The air is filled with the fresh scent of earth, decaying leaves, and summer vegetation, with the occasional chirping of insects and birds, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

However, this tranquility was abruptly shattered in the next instant.

The space above the open space twisted violently without warning. Then, a blinding white light exploded, and two figures appeared out of thin air, crashing heavily onto the ground covered with fallen leaves!
"Whoa-!"

A cry of pain was heard.

The first to land was a boy who looked about twelve or thirteen years old. He had striking short blond hair styled like an upward-pointing sunflower, and a pair of bright blue eyes. He wore a light-colored inner shirt and a dark outer coat.

He landed hastily, his chin slamming hard on the ground, making him wince in pain. He rubbed his aching chin as he pushed himself up, saying, "It hurts!"

Following him to the ground was a tall, composed, and aloof young man.

He had a neat head of short, black hair, with his right bangs hanging down naturally, covering half of his face, while a longer strand of hair on his left forehead covered the area of ​​his left eye.

He was dressed in a long black robe with a ninja sword on his back, and most notably, his left sleeve was completely empty.

Upon landing, he used his amazing body control to kneel on one knee to cushion the impact, but his right knee still made a shallow dent in the soft fallen leaves.

Then, he suddenly covered his left eye, which was covered by his hair, with his only intact right hand. A trickle of dark red blood slowly seeped out from between his fingers and slid down his pale cheek.

"Sasuke-sensei! Are you alright?" The blond boy, ignoring the pain in his chin, rushed to the young man he called "sensei," his youthful face filled with worry and anxiety.

Young Sasuke Uchiha took a deep breath, enduring the burning and tearing pain in his left eye, as well as the emptiness that felt as if his body had been emptied out.

He lowered his hand from his left eye, the bloodstains on the back of his hand glaringly visible in the sunlight.

He shook his head, his voice slightly hoarse from pain and exhaustion, but still steady: "I'm fine, Boruto. It's just that my chakra was used up too much, and I need some time to recover."

He supported himself on his knees and slowly stood up. His one-armed figure appeared tall and straight in the dappled light and shadow, yet there was a strange sense of loneliness about it.

His sharp right eye scanned the surroundings swiftly like a hawk's: the dense broad-leaved forest, the familiar vegetation of the Land of Fire, the concentration of chakra in the air... This was indeed still near Konoha.

But the lingering, subtle sense of "dislocation," along with the violent turbulence and chaos in that strange spatial passage, set off alarm bells in his mind.

"That bastard Urashiki's aura... is gone." Boruto immediately went on alert, his azure eyes carefully sensing his surroundings.

However, apart from the inherent natural energy of the forest and the scattered voices in the distance, he did not sense the chakra of the sinister Otsutsuki Urashiki.

"Did they escape? Or..."

Boruto looked down at the "culprit" who had fallen into the pile of fallen leaves with them.

A small sea turtle, about the size of a palm, with a unique shape.

Its head and limbs are a lovely pink, while its back shell is light blue with white rings like tree rings, and a striking red ribbon is tied to the shell.

At this moment, the little sea turtle was tucked into its shell, with only its head slightly protruding. Its eyes were tightly closed, and it kept repeating mechanical sounds:

"Warning...Warning...Severe spatiotemporal turbulence detected...Signal-time coordinates significantly shifted...Error...Error...Target spatiotemporal anchor point lost...Relocating...Location failed...Warning..."

"Hey! What time-space error?!" Boruto angrily squatted down and poked the little turtle's hard shell with his finger.

"What kind of hell have you brought us to?!"

Sasuke ignored Boruto's argument with the turtle-like creature.

He slightly loosened his right hand that was covering his eyes, enduring the discomfort, and once again concentrated the little chakra and perception he had left.

Although his left eye is temporarily unusable, his basic perception and keen observation of the environment remain top-notch.

He caught a faint human voice carried by the wind, coming from somewhere in the forest.

"Boruto, keep up, and don't make a sound." Sasuke shouted, interrupting Boruto's complaints. In a flash, he had already silently sped off in the direction from which the voices came.

His movements were still swift, but his one-armed posture and slightly heavy breathing revealed his poor condition.

"Hey? Wait for me, Sasuke-sensei!" Boruto, seeing this, didn't bother to question the little turtle that kept "warning" him anymore. He grabbed it and quickly chased after it.

The two moved quickly through the trees and soon approached the edge of the forest.

Pushing aside the last dense shrub, a bright and open view suddenly appeared before me.

A fairly large town appeared outside the forest.

The buildings are mostly traditional wooden structures, with occasional brick and stone houses. The streets are well-planned and lined with shops. Although it is not as high-rise and technologically advanced as Konoha in the future, it is full of vitality and everyday life.

In the afternoon, there were few pedestrians on the suburban streets, and the streets were quiet with only a few people around.

Boruto followed Sasuke out of the forest and landed in a quiet alley on the edge of town. He looked around curiously: "This town is...? It looks familiar, but it's not quite the same..."

His gaze was quickly drawn to the metal headbands on the foreheads or necks of several passersby on the street, reflecting the sunlight.

The shape and pattern of the headband were exactly the same as the headband on his forehead.

"Konoha's headband? Could this be..." Boruto's heart skipped a beat.

Sasuke did not answer; his gaze had already moved beyond the houses in front of him and reached further into the town center.

With a powerful leap, he landed on the roof of a two-story house next to him, then knelt on one knee on a water tank on the roof, looking down at the view.

Boruto followed closely behind, landing beside him and following Sasuke's gaze.

The next moment, Boruto's eyes widened, and an expression of disbelief and astonishment appeared on his face.

In the direction slightly north of the town center, a familiar yet unfamiliar mountain, carved with several huge heads, stands majestically.

That's the symbol of Konoha, the Hokage Rock!
However, upon closer inspection, Boruto discovered that the number of statues on the Hokage Rock was incorrect!
On the far left is the face of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Then, there was the serious face of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Next, we see the appearance of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Finally, there is the statue of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

And then... that was it.

There is no statue of the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, nor of the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi.

There was no Seventh Hokage, nor his father, Naruto Uzumaki, with that face that always wore a bright smile, a face that seemed to light up the entire village!
On the Hokage Rock, only the faces of the four Hokage are carved, silently overlooking the village under the sunlight.

"What... what's going on?" Boruto pointed at the Hokage Rock in the distance, his voice trembling with surprise. "Why aren't there any statues of Dad, Granny Tsunade, or Uncle Kakashi? Is this... is this really Konoha?"

“Because of this place…” Sasuke’s voice was so low it almost disappeared into the wind.

"It was the 'former' Konoha."

"We were probably teleported to Konoha before you were born by Urashiki Otsutsuki using this tool."

Just then, Sasuke's extremely keen senses, honed through countless life-and-death experiences, made him suddenly realize something.

He looked down, following the direction he sensed.

On the small street directly below, several people were walking at a leisurely pace.

Leading the way was a young man with silver hair, wearing a black mask and a headband that covered his left eye.

He was wearing a Konoha Jonin uniform with a green vest over it. One hand was casually in his pocket, while the other hand was holding an orange-covered book, which he was reading with great interest, his steps leisurely.

Kakashi in his youth!

Behind Kakashi were three children of similar age to Boruto, dressed in different clothes.

The one at the very front, with short, spiky golden hair as bright as the sun and wearing an orange and blue tracksuit, was shouting and yelling as he "fought" with a struggling black kitten in his arms. His face was filled with childlike excitement and a defiant spirit as he yelled, "Don't run away! I'm going to catch you this time!"

Uzumaki Naruto.

But Sasuke's gaze, after passing Naruto, was fixed on the two people behind him.

She was a shy girl with long black hair and delicate, fair skin. She was wearing a light purple tracksuit and was holding a gentle white kitten. Her face was flushed with shyness, and her eyes were tender when she occasionally looked up at her companion.

Hinata Hinata.

Walking beside Hinata, side by side with her, was a black-haired boy whom Sasuke had never seen before.

The boy was well-proportioned, dressed in a simple black tracksuit, with a brand-new Konoha headband neatly tied around his forehead.

He had short black hair, with a few strands hanging casually over his forehead. He had a handsome face and a calm, gentle expression.

He was also holding a small orange cat in his arms, which was unusually well-behaved.

At this moment, the boy whom Sasuke had never seen before was slightly tilting his head, seemingly whispering something to Hinata beside him, with a faint smile on his lips.

Suddenly, the black-haired boy who was talking to Hinata raised his head without warning.

His gaze landed precisely on the young man, Uchiha Sasuke, who was standing on the rooftop water tank, staring intently at them.

The moment their eyes met, the boy's eyes showed a slight surprise, but no wariness, only an indescribable amusement.

Their eyes met briefly under the clear afternoon sky of Konoha.

Time and space seemed to freeze at this moment.

Boruto followed Sasuke's blank gaze and looked down, where he saw Kakashi and the group of young Naruto.

He also saw Hinata, who was following behind Naruto, in the places where Sasuke and Sakura should have been, and the unfamiliar black-haired boy.

"That's... Dad? Mom? And Uncle Kakashi? Wait, who's that guy?" Boruto exclaimed.

"Sasuke-sensei, that person isn't you! What's going on?!"

Down on the street, Naruto, startled by Boruto's shout, looked up and saw two strangers on the roof. He immediately pointed and yelled, "Kakashi-sensei! Look! There are two strange guys on the roof!"

Kakashi then slowly shifted his gaze from "Icha Icha Paradise" and lazily glanced at the roof.

When he saw the one-armed Uchiha Sasuke, his brow above his right eye furrowed slightly.

Menma, who was holding the orange cat, slowly withdrew his gaze from the young Sasuke, and the faint smile on his lips seemed to deepen slightly.

"Tsk tsk, this is more interesting."

(End of this chapter)