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

Chapter 370 Where did the Uchiha clan go?

As young Sasuke digested the massive amount of information, he felt that the anomalies in this spacetime were even deeper than he had imagined.

The Uchiha clan either "migrated" or defected...

Sasuke, a young boy who joins the Anbu; Hinata, whose personality changes drastically; Menma, a mysterious boy who suddenly appears; the powerful and eerie "Shura"; and Uchiha Hikaru, who appears out of nowhere and single-handedly defeats Iwagakure...

Just then, Jiraiya seemed to remember something and added in a more relaxed tone, "Oh, right, there's also a legend passed down by those former Sunagakure ninja who fled from the Land of Wind. There's no solid evidence, so just listen to it and forget about it."

Young Sasuke looked up at him, gesturing for him to continue.

"It is said that the reason why the Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Shura had such a fierce conflict back then, besides border friction and territorial disputes, was for an even more bizarre reason," Jiraiya recalled, stroking his chin.

"They say that in the depths of the desert bordering the Land of Wind and the Land of Stars, there were extremely terrifying chakra fluctuations, and some witnesses even claimed to have seen... Tailed Beasts, and more than one."

"Among them was one that resembled the Nine-Tails, but some of the fleeing Sand Village ninjas swore that they had glimpsed a gigantic beast with ten tails deep in the desert."

Jiraiya spoke casually, as if he were simply recounting an absurd rumor.

However, to young Sasuke, it was like a thunderclap exploding in his mind!
'Nine-Tails?!' Young Sasuke was shocked.

Isn't Naruto the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?

Moreover, based on his initial interactions with Naruto in this timeline, he confirmed that the Nine-Tails was also sealed within Naruto's body!

How could another nine-tailed fox appear in the desert?
When the words "Ten-Tails" appeared, they pierced through all his thoughts, making his blood seem to freeze at that moment!

Ten-Tails?!
Otsutsuki!
Could the anomaly in this spacetime be crucial...?

Throughout his history, the Ten-Tails' hull, the Gedo Mazo, was controlled by the Akatsuki organization until the Fourth Shinobi World War. Obito Uchiha summoned the Gedo Mazo to absorb the chakra of the other tailed beasts, which was the core of the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" and the core of Obito Uchiha and Madara Uchiha becoming the Six Paths.

In this unusual time and space... traces of the Ten-Tails have seemingly appeared in the desert?

Is it also related to Asura?

A terrifying thought instantly gripped young Sasuke's heart.

Jiraiya watched as the one-armed man's expression changed drastically upon hearing "Nine-Tails" and "Ten-Tails," his pupils contracted, and even his breathing faltered. The last trace of doubt in Jiraiya's heart was finally dispelled.

This "wandering performer" not only knows about the Nine-Tails and reacts strongly to it, but also seems to know information about the Ten-Tails.

It should be noted that even Jiraiya, who had traveled the ninja world for many years, only learned some fragmented information about the 'Ten-Tails' from some legends a few years ago.

A subtle and heavy silence fell over the room.

After Jiraiya finished recounting the rumors about the "Ten-Tails," he fell silent, casually sitting cross-legged on the tatami mat, his gaze fixed on the young Sasuke's face, observing the most subtle changes in his expression.

Young Sasuke kept his eyes tightly closed, as if he were meditating, but his slightly trembling eyelashes and the cold sweat seeping from his forehead revealed the turmoil he was experiencing inside.

The amount of information Jiraiya revealed was too much, and the impact was too strong. It was like countless scattered puzzle pieces flying and colliding wildly in his mind, trying to piece together a complete but even more terrifying picture.

"Shura... Land of Stars... Uchiha Hikaru... The appearance of what appears to be the Ten-Tails..." These keywords echoed repeatedly in his mind.

It is almost certain that the huge discrepancy between this timeline and the history he knows is most likely rooted in the mysterious and unpredictable Asura!
The fact that this man could see through the "Karma" on Boruto at a glance indicates that he knew of the existence of the Otsutsuki clan, and that the appearance of the Ten-Tails was also related to him.

So, who is he?

Young Sasuke's mind raced as he investigated every known entity that possessed great power and might be connected to the Sharingan or the Ten-Tails.

Uchiha Madara?

He should have died by this point in time; the timing, his abilities, and his style of doing things don't quite match up.

If it were Madara, he would have no reason to hide his identity, let alone adopt such an attitude towards the Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Obito?
Nagato, who inherited the name "Uchiha Madara," deceived the Akatsuki organization, and was the mastermind behind the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Obito did indeed possess the Mangekyou Sharingan and had once controlled the Gedo Mazo, the shell of the Ten-Tails.

However, Kakashi still had Sharingan at this time, while Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan was in his right eye, with a shuriken-shaped pattern, which was completely different from the vortex pattern seen in the fleeting glimpse under the "Shura" mask.

Moreover, Obito's style of doing things was more inclined to hide behind the Akatsuki organization and take advantage of Nagato.

The difference between this and the positive approach of "Shura" in rising to power and establishing a nation is too great.

There seem to be discrepancies in the timeline as well.

More importantly, Obito's understanding of the Otsutsuki clan was not that deep; in fact, both Obito and Madara Uchiha were pawns deceived by Black Zetsu.

Could it be Cixian?
No, according to the intelligence he knew, Jigen and his organization, Kara, had always been hiding in the shadows and acting mysteriously. It was impossible for them to establish a country in the ninja world so openly and make enemies everywhere.

Moreover, Jigen's goal is more focused on recovering the Chakra Fruit, which is very different from Shura's current behavior.

Are they other unknown members of the Otsutsuki main family?
This possibility exists.

The Otsutsuki clan members are not limited to Kaguya, Momoshiki, Kinshiki, and Urashiki.

Perhaps other Otsutsuki in this timeline discovered Kaguya's rebellion beforehand and found this place.

but……

When Shura mentioned "Otsutsuki," his calm yet condescending and even contemptuous attitude was different from the pure arrogance of Otsutsuki Urashiki and Momoshiki, who regarded humans as "inferior beings."

Shura seems to be looking down on the Otsutsuki?
Furthermore, if Shura is indeed an Otsutsuki, what is his purpose in establishing a nation and integrating bloodlines?
Wouldn't it be more direct to capture the tailed beast jinchūriki and plunder their chakra?

Even after racking his brains, young Sasuke still couldn't completely match the Shura of this timeline with any known powerful figure or force in his memory.

This man seemed to have traveled to this world from another dimension, completely disrupting the original course of history.

'And that boy named Menma, and that girl named Uchiha Hikari…' He silently repeated those two names in his mind.

A mysterious boy appeared and took his place, thus changing the composition of Class 7.

A girl with the Uchiha surname who was able to defeat Onoki and tens of thousands of Iwagakure members.

Such talent is probably equivalent to the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, or even comparable to Madara Uchiha's strength.

What is her relationship with Shura?
Is her appearance related to the Uchiha clan's "defection"?

Just as young Sasuke's thoughts were sinking into a quagmire, becoming more and more chaotic the more he struggled, Jiraiya's voice broke the silence and pulled him back to reality.

"Speaking of which," Jiraiya shifted to a more casual posture and asked seemingly casually, "How long do you two plan to stay in Konoha?"

Young Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, his dark pupils still showing signs of fatigue.

He met Jiraiya's gaze, remained silent for a few seconds as if weighing his words, and then spoke in his hoarse but clear voice: "To be honest, Lord Jiraiya... we are investigating an extremely dangerous and elusive enemy. This enemy's target is very likely... the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha."

He paused deliberately, observing Jiraiya's reaction.

Sure enough, upon hearing "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," Jiraiya's nonchalant expression turned serious.

The young Sasuke's tone became more serious as he continued, "We've been tracking him for some time, all the way to the vicinity of Konoha, but we lost his exact trail. Considering his goals, we believe he's highly likely to infiltrate Konoha. That's why we've come here—to find him, stop him, and eliminate him completely."

He looked at Jiraiya with a sincere gaze: "Please believe me, we have absolutely no ill intentions towards Konoha. On the contrary, our goals are the same: to protect the Jinchuriki and eliminate that potential threat."

Young Sasuke paused to gather his thoughts before adding, "As you probably know, there are always some clandestine organizations or individuals in the ninja world who covet the power of the Tailed Beasts. The enemy we're investigating may be different from those organizations... but it's far more dangerous. We can't stand idly by."

These words are a mixture of truth and falsehood.

It's true that they're investigating Urashiki Otsutsuki, and it's also true that their target is the Nine-Tails inside Naruto, but their origins and Urashiki's true identity have been deliberately obscured.

Describing Urashiki as a "mysterious and dangerous enemy who covets the tailed beasts" is highly persuasive at this point in time, especially for Jiraiya, who is well aware of the existence of the Akatsuki organization.

Sure enough, upon hearing young Sasuke's words, especially the phrases "an organization that covets the tailed beasts" and "may be even more dangerous," Jiraiya's nonchalant expression finally vanished completely.

"An organization that covets the tailed beasts... Heh." Jiraiya chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in his laughter.

He knows it all too well.

The Akatsuki organization from Amegakure, and Pain...

Jiraiya seemed to be lost in a brief memory: his arduous journey deep into Amegakure, his fierce battle with Pain, and his near-death experience.

If it weren't for the battle between Shura and another enemy that occurred at that time, he might have died at the hands of his former disciple.

Immediately, he refocused his gaze on the young Sasuke, his eyes, which always held a playful or lecherous quality, now becoming serious.

Jiraiya didn't press young Sasuke about how he knew about the organizations coveting the power of the Tailed Beasts, nor did he question why the young man referred to himself as the "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki" so naturally. "Speaking of which, young man," he said slowly, word by word, crossing his arms and leaning slightly forward as if trying to see right through the young Sasuke, "I want to see right through him."

"You... are from the Uchiha clan, aren't you?"

It's not a question, but a statement that's almost affirmative.

The air in the room seemed to freeze at that moment.

The twilight outside the window deepened, and the last ray of sunlight pierced through the paper window, casting an obscure shadow between the two.

Young Sasuke's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm and composed.

He neither immediately admitted nor denied it.

Admitting it would mean more explanation and trouble, while denying it might completely lose Jiraiya's trust, or even be seen as someone with ulterior motives.

Silence can sometimes be a form of response.

Young Sasuke raised his eyes, his gaze calm as he looked at the legendary Sannin, and asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time—a crucial question he needed to understand:

"The Uchiha clan...where are they now?"

His tone was devoid of emotional fluctuation, but Jiraiya keenly sensed the concern and doubt that were being suppressed beneath the calm.

Jiraiya was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It seems you really don't know."

Jiraiya's voice lowered, carrying a sense of vicissitude as he recounted the past: "About six years ago... a huge upheaval occurred in Konoha. The source was the Uchiha clan."

Young Sasuke's breath hitched almost imperceptibly, and his body tensed slightly.

Even though he was mentally prepared, and even though the Uchiha clan in this timeline might have taken a different path, hearing about the turmoil within the Uchiha clan still made his heart clench.

six years ago……

It was exactly the time in his memory when the Uchiha clan was about to launch a coup and then be "annihilated" by Itachi Uchiha!
Is this the turning point in history?

Jiraiya noticed the other's subtle physical reaction but didn't point it out. He continued, "The cause of this matter is complicated. The conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village has been brewing for a long time. The rumors of a coup are not unfounded. And the trigger... is Uchiha Itachi."

The name was like a cold dagger, instantly piercing the deepest part of young Sasuke's heart.

Even after so many years, even though he has come to understand part of the truth, the complex emotions mixed with pain, hatred, sadness, and a hint of twisted family affection still surge up uncontrollably.

What did Itachi do in this timeline?
“Uchiha Itachi, that boy known as the genius of the Uchiha clan, he…” Jiraiya paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, before finally letting out a sigh.

"He chose the most extreme method. One night, he raised his sword against the Uchiha clan."

Despite having anticipated it, hearing the word "butcher's knife" still sent a chill down Sasuke's spine.

Did Itachi in this timeline make the same choice?
"But things didn't go as he wished." Jiraiya's tone shifted, becoming even more somber: "Within Konoha, some unpleasant things also happened at that time. Some high-ranking officials took advantage of this tragedy to try to further... clean up and control the situation."

"I don't know all the specific details, but I'm certain that the situation was extremely dangerous at the time. For the surviving Uchiha clan members, Konoha... was no longer their home, but an even more dangerous prison."

Young Sasuke unconsciously clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging deep into his palms.

High-level officials... purge... take control... prison...

The meaning behind these words when put together is self-evident!

Danzo Shimura!

And his "root" hidden in the darkness!
Even in different times and spaces, that man's methods and ambitions are still so disgusting!

"At this most critical moment," Jiraiya's voice carried an indescribable emotion, like a sigh or a regret: "Uchiha Shisui... stepped forward."

"Brother Shisui?" Young Sasuke almost blurted out, but he forcibly held back, though his pupils involuntarily contracted slightly.

Uchiha Shisui!
In his time and space, still water is an eternal regret in his heart.

That gentle, strong brother who loved his village and family ultimately met a tragic end, having his eyes stolen and being forced to commit suicide.

In this timeline, Shisui is still alive?

And on that "night of genocide," did he stand up?

“Yes, Uchiha Shisui.” Jiraiya nodded affirmatively. He saw a fleeting tremor in the young Sasuke’s eyes, which further confirmed some of his suspicions.

"Before that night, Shisui had been missing for more than half a year due to some issues."

"On the night that Itachi Uchiha raised his sword to slaughter his clansmen, Shisui, with the support and cover of Shura and Hikaru Uchiha, led the surviving clansmen and resolutely... betrayed Konoha."

Betray Konoha!

These words struck young Sasuke's heart like a heavy hammer.

The Uchiha clan's mass defection!
This is completely different from the history he knows!
As for Shisui's disappearance, young Sasuke had guessed that it was most likely that Danzo Shimura had ambushed Shisui, but Shisui was saved by Shura.

"Where did they go?" Young Sasuke heard his voice was a little dry and had a rough guess in his mind.

Jiraiya cast his gaze out the window at the night sky over Konoha, and slowly uttered the answer he had long expected: "The Land of Stars."

really!

"Is it because of Shura?" The information he had received earlier flashed through young Sasuke's mind.

"Was the Uchiha clan's defection orchestrated by 'Shura' behind the scenes?"

Jiraiya was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, then shook his head: "Yes, and not entirely. Shura did provide support and protection. But ultimately, it was the internal problems of Konoha that drove the Uchiha clan to the brink, giving Shura an opportunity."

“Zhi Shui… He simply chose, in that desperate situation, the path that he believed would best preserve the lives of the majority of his people.”

"Even though that path leads away from Konoha."

He paused, then added, "Not just the Uchiha clan."

"On that very night, the Hyuga clan also experienced a violent upheaval. Hyuga Hizashi, the head of the Hyuga branch family, led a group of branch family members who were dissatisfied with the main family system to launch a rebellion, killing several main family elders. He then also defected from Konoha and eventually sought refuge in the Land of Stars."

Has the Hyuga branch family also defected?

Young Sasuke was shocked once again.

What about Neji?
That genius, burdened with the fate of splitting the family, also followed Hizashi in his defection to the Land of Stars.

A series of information shocks gradually helped young Sasuke to develop a clearer yet more unsettling understanding of this abnormal space-time.

The oppression from the upper echelons of Konoha, especially the dark methods of Danzo and "Root," the successive defections of the two powerful clans, Uchiha and Hyuga, the timely intervention and absorption of the mysterious powerhouse Shura, and the rapid rise of the Land of Stars...

All of this is no accident!

'Danzo... Root...' The young Sasuke murmured the two names in a low voice, his voice cold.

Even in this time and space, even though history has been reversed, that man and the darkness he represents still permeate the shadows of Konoha.

An almost uncontrollable, chilling killing intent quietly rose from the deepest part of his heart.

If he could, he would love to find that man immediately, burn away his disgusting ambition with Amaterasu, and pierce his already rotten heart with Chidori!

But then, he suddenly realized an even more serious problem.

This timeline has already taken a completely different path from the history he knew, due to the biggest variable, Shura.

The mass defection of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the rise of the Land of Stars, the appearance of what appears to be the Ten-Tails, and the ridiculously powerful yet never-before-seen Uchiha Hikaru...

All of this will drastically change this space-time!
In a few more years, things may change even more.

His and Boruto's unexpected intrusion was itself a huge "disturbance".

In order to capture Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, they will inevitably have to operate in this time and space, and may even get involved in local conflicts.

Every move they make, every intervention they make, could trigger an unpredictable chain reaction, leading this already skewed spacetime toward an even more unknown and dangerous future.

Protecting Naruto in this timeline and hunting down Urashiki Otsutsuki are their missions.

But how will they deal with the abnormal forces in this spacetime, Shura and his Star Kingdom?
Young Sasuke felt an unprecedented heaviness and confusion.

(End of this chapter)