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

Chapter 377 Urashiki Otsutsuki Arrives

Menma and his group walked along the seaside path. Unexpectedly, they did not encounter any further interception from the Matsuo Group, whether by ninjas or samurai, until they reached their destination.

It was as if the "Ghost Brothers'" defeat had temporarily made the other side restrain their claws, or perhaps they were brewing something.

The destination was a two-story wooden house located by the sea.

The house looks quite old; the wood has been eroded by the sea breeze and salt, turning a dark color, but the structure remains sturdy.

There was a small open space in front of the house where fishing nets were drying. To the south of the house was a dense forest that stretched into a quiet fishing village in the distance, and to the north was the largest port in the Land of Waves.

On the main road, you can occasionally see a few villagers carrying loads on their shoulders, walking with difficulty. It's unclear whether they are going to the port to try their luck or carrying their catch of fish to the town to sell, but their faces all show numbness and exhaustion.

Tazuna looked at his home and let out a long sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and a relaxed smile appeared on his face: "We're here. This is my home."

"Aww! We're finally here!" Naruto cheered, hands on his hips, curiously looking at the seaside cottage and gazing at the distant seascape, appearing very excited.

Hinata was also drawn to the surroundings: the azure sea, the long coastline, and the salty yet free-spirited air.

She glanced furtively at Menma's profile beside her; his fair cheeks flushed slightly, and a shy thought arose in her mind: 'If...if I could live with my sister and Menma-kun on such a quiet beach someday, how wonderful that would be...'

Menma's gaze lingered more on the distant port and the passersby.

He keenly sensed that although the fishing village seemed peaceful, an invisible sense of oppression enveloped the surroundings. The villagers' eyes darted around, and they moved cautiously. Behind some windows, there seemed to be eyes watching Dazner's house furtively.

Matsuo Group's reach has clearly extended to every corner of this land.

Tazuna stepped forward, knocked hard on the wooden door, and turned to Kakashi, saying, "The materials for the final closure of the bridge are all ready. For the next few days, all you need to do is protect me and the workers who are willing to come back to continue building the bridge. Please stay at my house for the time being."

Kakashi scratched his head, his deadpan eyes scanning the surroundings, his tone still nonchalant: "Ah, then I'll have to bother you. It's better than sleeping in the open."

The wooden door creaked open from the inside, and a dark-haired woman dressed in a simple pink sweater and a black long skirt appeared in the doorway.

She looked to be in her early twenties, with delicate features, but a lingering worry and weariness clung to her brows.

Upon seeing Tazuna outside the door, her face immediately lit up with a delighted smile: "Daddy! You're back!"

“Ah, I’m back, Tsunami.” Tazuna’s wrinkles smoothed out when he saw his daughter.

He turned to the side and introduced the people behind him to his daughter, "Oh, by the way, these are the Konoha ninja lords. Thanks to them, I was able to return safely. They will be here to protect us as we build the bridge for the next few days and will be staying at our home temporarily."

The woman named Tsunami quickly bowed deeply to Kakashi and the others, her voice filled with gratitude: "Thank you so much, sir ninjas! You've escorted my father all the way back, thank you for your hard work! Please come in!"

Naruto was a little embarrassed by such a formal thank you, and waved his hand with a chuckle, "Not at all, it's just our mission!"

Kakashi nodded slightly and led Menma, Hinata, and Naruto into the house.

The living room is small and simply furnished, but it is clean and tidy, exuding a warm and homey atmosphere.

Tazuna plopped down on a cushion next to the low table, let out a long sigh, and gestured for Kakashi and the others to sit wherever they liked.

Jinbo considerately helped his father take off his worn-out backpack.

Just then, a series of "thump-thump-thump" footsteps came from the stairwell, and a little black-haired boy wearing a tiny fisherman's hat rushed down the stairs like a cannonball, throwing himself directly into Tazuna's arms, and calling out in a clear voice, "Welcome back! Grandpa!"

Naruto put down his backpack and looked curiously at the chubby-faced little boy who looked about five or six years old. His eyes widened in surprise, and he pointed at Tazuna, exclaiming, "Wow! Drunkard uncle! You, you're already a grandfather?!"

Tazuna rolled his eyes at Naruto, then hugged his grandson tightly, saying smugly, "Of course! I'm over forty years old, is it strange that I'm a grandfather? By age, I could be your grandfather!"

Naruto instinctively wanted to retort, but when his gaze fell on the small figure in Tazuna's arms, who was relying on his grandfather, the words suddenly caught in his throat.

He seemed to have been struck by something; his eyes flickered, and his initial urge to argue vanished instantly. He silently shut his mouth, only looking at Yi with a hint of envy and loneliness in his eyes.

Dazna affectionately patted his grandson's head, and was about to say something when the little boy, Irene, nestled in his arms, suddenly raised his head. His big, dark eyes did not have the innocence and liveliness that a child of this age should have; instead, they carried an almost indifferent precocity and pessimism.

He looked at Menma, Naruto, and Hinata, his voice low but cold: "It's useless. You can't beat Matsuo and those murderers. Everyone who opposes Matsuo... will die in the end."

The fact that these cold and desperate words came from a child stunned everyone.

Naruto was the first to react, and his suppressed temper flared up again. He pointed at Ira and shouted angrily, "Hey! Kid! What nonsense are you talking about! I don't care how bad a villain Matsuo is, but I, Uzumaki Naruto, am going to be Hokage! How could I be intimidated by a guy like that!"

Tazuna quickly patted his grandson on the back, trying to ease the tension: "Irin, don't talk nonsense. These ninja masters are very powerful. They will protect Grandpa and the bridge."

However, Inari only glanced at Naruto with a lifeless look that was out of character for his age, then forcefully broke free from Tazuna's embrace and ran upstairs without looking back, leaving behind a series of heavy footsteps.

"Tsk, what an impolite and unlovable brat!" Naruto muttered, making a face at the stairs.

Hinata, with her keen observation, noticed even more.

She looked at Tazuna and asked softly, "Mr. Tazuna, what happened to that child...?"

She keenly sensed that the house seemed to lack the presence of a male head of the household, and that Yi's attitude was far more than just a child throwing a tantrum.

Upon hearing Hinata's question, the smiles on Tazuna's and Tsunami's faces, who were still standing to the side, vanished instantly.

Her eyes dimmed, she lowered her head, and said softly, "I'll go tidy up the guest room."

He then turned and hurriedly went upstairs, his back view carrying a hint of panic and sorrow.

Tazner watched his daughter's retreating figure as she went upstairs, sighed heavily, picked up the kettle on the table, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it all in one gulp, as if trying to extinguish the bitterness in his heart with cold water.

He put down his cup and began to speak in a low voice: "That child, Inari... not long after he was born, his father was caught in a storm while fishing at sea and never came back... Tsunami raised him all by himself."

"Later, a young man named Kesha came to the village. He was a good young man full of dreams and drive. He became a fisherman, and one time when he went out to sea, he happened to save Jinbo and Inari, who were in danger. From then on, Kesha often came to help at home and treated Inari very well, just like his own child... Gradually, he became a new member of the family. Inari was also very attached to him and regarded him as her real father."

Tazuna's voice trailed off, filled with pain and anger: "But... the good times didn't last long. The Matsuo Group's power grew, and their oppression became increasingly brutal. Keisha couldn't stand seeing everyone being bullied like this, so he stood up and led some unwilling villagers in a rebellion!"

"As a result, he was captured by Matsuo's samurai, falsely accused of 'initiating terrorist activities,' and handed over to that cowardly daimyo... and then, in front of the entire island... he was publicly executed..."

“From then on, Ichiro became what you see here. He didn’t believe anyone could stand up to Matsuo, and he thought that anyone who resisted would die like Keisha…”

The living room was silent.

Naruto opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. The anger on his face disappeared, replaced by a look of sympathy.

He recalled his lonely childhood. Although he didn't know how his parents died, the despair that Ili had experienced, witnessing his father's execution, was unimaginable to him.

After a while, Jinbo came downstairs and said softly that the guest room was ready.

Kakashi thanked them and led the three of them upstairs to the second floor.

The guest room was a slightly larger Japanese-style room, with four clean futons already laid out on the floor.

Tsunami placed a metal kettle filled with hot water on a low cabinet against the wall and said apologetically, "The conditions are simple, it's really unfair to you ninjas." Kakashi waved his hand casually and said in a calm tone, "For us ninjas, having a place to shelter from the wind and rain and rest peacefully while on a mission is already very good. Thank you for your hard work, Miss Tsunami."

The group put down their backpacks.

Menma glanced at the sky outside the window and said, "Then, let's take turns doing the security work. Hinata, you'll be in charge of the first shift, mainly responsible for the safety of Tazuna's family."

"Eight hours later, around 11 p.m., I will relieve Hinata. Eight hours after that, at 7 a.m. tomorrow, Naruto will take over. Kakashi-sensei, you need to conserve your stamina and chakra to deal with any strong enemies that may appear. We will not assign any fixed sentry posts for the time being, but please remain vigilant."

Mianma's arrangement was clearly well thought out.

It's a little past 3 PM now, and the first shift is relatively safe, so it's most suitable for Hinata, who is meticulous and has the Byakugan, to take charge.

The most dangerous time is the late night, eight hours later, especially since people are most likely to be careless in the latter half of the night, which is also the peak time for surprise attacks. He is responsible for guarding the area.

Naruto was in charge of the morning and midday hours, which were when the kid's energy was at its peak.

At the same time, not assigning Kakashi to fixed shifts is to ensure that the Jonin are in peak condition to deal with potential enemies.

Kakashi looked at Menma's clear and well-thought-out arrangements and nodded approvingly: "Hmm, very reasonable. It seems you're already showing the makings of a captain."

He was pleased to see Menma's growth, as this kind of planning and coordination ability is a rare skill for ninjas.

More importantly, it saves him, the mentor, a lot of trouble.

Hinata, feeling both nervous and excited, said, "I...I'll take over...Menma-kun."

Naruto scratched his head, asking impatiently, "Hey Menma-nii, what do we do now? We can't fall asleep even if we just go to sleep!"

Menma smacked Naruto on the back of the head in annoyance: "Of course you're going to scout the surrounding terrain and set up warning traps! What were you listening to in the ninja code and basic mission theory class?"

"Oops!" Naruto rubbed the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly, "I forgot by accident! Hehe."

The four of them then split up and acted separately.

Hinata stayed at Tazuna's house to protect the Tazuna family's safety.

Kakashi also stayed inside to rest, leisurely flipping through "Icha Icha Paradise" while remaining vigilant against any disturbance.

Meanwhile, Menma, along with Naruto, began reconnaissance of the surrounding forests and coastline, using Tazuna's residence as a base.

Menma was in charge of planning and guidance, while Naruto enthusiastically followed along to learn how to set up hidden warning bells and trigger traps.

The two worked together seamlessly and quickly set up three invisible early warning networks at key points around the house.

When the two emerged from a dense grove of trees by the sea, the setting sun had already painted the sea a brilliant golden-red.

Naruto, brushing the leaves off his clothes, excitedly exclaimed, "Menma-nii! That move you used yesterday was so cool! It's the one where 'whoosh,' a bunch of kunai appear, and then 'bang bang bang,' they explode! Can you teach me?"

Menma walked leisurely with his hands crossed behind his head. Hearing this, he glanced at Naruto and said, "You mean 'Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique'? Although that technique is based on the principle of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, it requires a high degree of precision in chakra control and shape transformation. It's quite difficult."

"And—" He paused deliberately, looking at Naruto's face that instantly fell, and added, "The explosive effect was because I attached explosive tags to every single kunai. Each explosive tag costs two thousand ryo on the market, and yesterday's attack burned forty thousand ryo. You do the math, that's enough for how many bowls of Ichiraku Ramen you could eat. Are you sure you want to learn this kind of extravagant fighting style?"

"Two, two thousand taels apiece?!" Naruto gasped, counting on his fingers, his face contorting in a grimace. "A bowl of Ichiraku ramen is sixty taels cheaper, so forty thousand taels is... is... how much was it again..."

Naruto was bad at math to begin with, and after trying for a long time without figuring it out, he scratched his head with both hands: "Then... then is it okay if I don't tie on the explosive tags? As long as the number of kunai increases!"

Mianma nodded: "Of course, but in that case, the power would mainly rely on the accuracy and quantity of the throws, and the effect would be reduced against experts."

"It's okay! As long as I can conjure up lots of kunai, that's cool! I want to learn!" Naruto's enthusiasm instantly reignited, and he looked at Menma with shining eyes.

Menma was somewhat exasperated by Naruto's enthusiasm, but he also knew that Naruto wasn't someone who only had a fleeting interest; once he set his mind on something, he would see it through to the end.

So he stopped, took out an ordinary kunai from his ninja tool pouch, and said, "Alright, since you're so eager to learn, before the sun completely sets, I'll teach you the basic hand seals and chakra manipulation techniques for this technique at the moment of throwing. Watch carefully..."

"Yay!" Naruto excitedly raised his fist.

For the next hour, on this quiet coastline bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Menma patiently demonstrated and explained the secrets of the "Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique" to Naruto.

Naruto studied extremely diligently, practicing hand seals and throwing motions over and over again, trying to divide his chakra the moment the kunai left his hand.

However, no matter how hard he tried, the kunai he threw could only vaguely sway in the air at most, and could not clearly split into multiple entities like the menma.

Mianma observed carefully and understood.

It's not that Naruto lacks talent, but rather that the Nine-Tails sealed within him constantly interferes with his chakra, making this technique, which requires extremely high precision and stability, exceptionally difficult.

Mianma looked up at the sky. The sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving only a last wisp of dark red glow in the sky.

He said to Naruto, who was still practicing with gritted teeth and sweat beading on his forehead, "Alright, Naruto, that's enough for today. It's getting dark, we should go back for dinner. Miss Tsunami should be ready by now."

However, Naruto's stubborn streak kicked in, and without turning back, he continued practicing his throwing motion, saying firmly, "Menma-nii, you go back first! I'll practice a little longer! I feel like I'm almost there!"

Menma knew Naruto's temper and knew he couldn't persuade him, so he shrugged and said, "Then I'll go back and bring you dinner. Be careful."

It's not far from Tazna's house; it only takes a few minutes to get there.

"Okay! Thanks, Menma-nii!" Naruto replied, continuing to focus on his practice.

Menma turned around and walked slowly back the way she came towards Tazuna's house.

However, just as he walked a dozen steps away and casually glanced at the location of Yugao, Sasuke, and Sai, who were hidden in the dark forest beside him, he realized that...

Suddenly, a very faint tremor came from the Tenseigan hidden beneath the skin of his forehead!

It was a natural connection to the Otsutsuki clan!

Menma was slightly surprised. He stopped in his tracks, turned around abruptly, and looked up at the beach where Naruto was!

In the last rays of the setting sun, Naruto was still diligently practicing throwing kunai.

Not far above Naruto's head, in mid-air, a figure dressed in white had quietly appeared and was now floating!

The man had a conspicuous red fish basket hanging from his waist and a red fishing rod slung over his shoulder. He wore a greedy smile, like a fisherman eyeing a plump catch, and looked down at Naruto, who was completely unaware of what was happening.

The figure seemed to appear out of thin air, completely out of place with its surroundings, emanating an unsettling aura.

The man in white seemed to notice Menma's gaze, but he didn't care. He simply turned his attention back to Naruto and said in a flippant voice, "You're really working hard, Naruto Uzumaki."

Naruto, who was concentrating on his practice, stopped what he was doing when someone called his name. He looked up in the direction of the voice, his eyes filled with confusion: "Eh? Are you calling me?"

(End of this chapter)