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

Chapter 420 Deidara: TMD Jinchuriki?

Upon hearing the name "Otsutsuki," a visible change finally appeared on Shisui's usually gentle and composed face.

His arms, which were clasped in front of his chest, tightened slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Otsutsuki.

This name is unheard of by most people in the ninja world; only some families with centuries of history may still have some legends about the Sage of Six Paths.

But for Zhishui, the meaning of these three words is much heavier.

His thoughts drifted back to a night a few years ago.

Although he was saved by Shura back then and did not die from Danzo's plot, he had not yet made a final decision and was still painfully torn between Konoha and his clan.

At that time, Shura invited him to participate in an operation.

He embarked on that incredible journey to the moon with Shura and Uchiha Hikaru, accompanied not only by his two genius juniors, Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku, but also by the then wavering Hyuga Hizashi.

He still vividly remembers the magnificent castle floating in the artificial sun that they saw when they passed through that bizarre passage and arrived at the interior of the moon, the vast number of powerful combat puppets, and...

The last descendant of the Otsutsuki clan on the moon, Otsutsuki Sakuto, and his young son, Otsutsuki Toneri.

In that battle, he witnessed firsthand what the power of the Otsutsuki clan truly meant.

It was from then on that he learned the truth about the thousand-year history of the ninja world and completely understood why Lord Shura had been collecting bloodline limits and why he was willing to wage war to unify the entire ninja world!

Shisui turned his head slightly, his gaze passing over Kimimaro beside him and landing on the white-haired boy sitting quietly in the front row of the audience.

Otsutsuki Toneri.

This descendant of the Otsutsuki clan from the moon was currently wearing a blue-gray vest from the Land of Stars, with a Star Ninja headband tied around his forehead, and his pure Byakugan eyes curiously surveying the arena below.

Beside him, the baby-faced Ai Suzuhara, with a gentle smile, leaned slightly forward, seemingly introducing something to him.

Who would have thought that this seemingly shy boy actually carries the direct bloodline of Hamura Otsutsuki, the brother of the Sage of Six Paths!

What does the information Kimimaro brought mean at this moment?

Those Otsutsuki clan members from outer space have their eyes on this planet and on this grand event!

One, or even several, enemies comparable to the Sage of Six Paths!

Shisui took a deep breath, and his gaze slowly swept over his companions who had come to Konoha with him.

Yukimi, Ita-suke, Sato-saku, Suzuhara Ai, Morishita Toshito, Hinata Neji, Kaguya Kimimaro, Haku, Miyagi Chino, and Toneri in the front row.

Each and every one of them is an outstanding member of the younger generation of the Star Country, an elite among elites, capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities in any of the five great nations' ninja villages.

This is a sharp-edged force capable of tearing apart enemy lines on the main battlefield and carrying out the most difficult missions.

However, they may be facing a being on par with the legendary Sage of Six Paths!

They are members of the clan of Kaguya Otsutsuki, who created the chakra system and is revered as the "Goddess of the Rabbit"!

Such an enemy has no known form of power, fighting style, or weaknesses.

Whether any known tactics, ninjutsu, or bloodline limits will still be effective against that kind of opponent is unknown.

A heavy pressure, like an invisible mountain, weighed on Zhishui's heart.

But he knew he must not panic at this moment.

He is the supreme commander of this team, and any wavering on his part could have unpredictable consequences.

Shisui slowly took a deep breath, the noisy and hot air from the Konoha arena filling his chest, but it couldn't dispel the chill.

He forced himself to calm down, his brain began to work overtime, and he adjusted his strategy.

"Kimimaro." Shisui's voice returned to its usual calm and decisive tone.

"Pass down the order: all coordinated actions related to the 'Konoha Crush Plan' will proceed as planned. Orochimaru's actions will create chaos, which is our opportunity. We cannot afford to lose our composure due to unknown threats."

"but--"

He paused, his gaze sharp as he swept over each of his companions.

"Highest priority order: Upon confirmation of an encounter with an 'Otsutsuki,' or upon sensing strange chakra or spacetime fluctuations beyond comprehension in the arena, all personnel must immediately abandon their current mission and prioritize their own safety by evacuating!"

"Yes!" Maro replied without hesitation, his Byakuya eyes filled with a chilling intensity.

He immediately turned to the side and operated the communication device he carried with him, instantly transmitting Shisui's command in the form of encrypted chakra signals to the receiving devices of every Jonin from the Land of Stars present.

Almost at the same moment.

Xuejian's cheers paused for a moment, but she quickly resumed waving her arms, only now a hint of seriousness appeared in the depths of her eyes.

Itada Suke lowered his arms, which had been wrapped around his body, and let them hang casually at his sides.

Sato Sakumo withdrew his outstretched body, his curiosity in his red eyes replaced by wariness.

Toshihito Morishita and Hazuki Murahashi exchanged a glance. Without a word, their years of partnership allowed them to immediately adjust their positions, subtly forming a tactical formation that allowed them to observe their surroundings and support each other at any time.

Hyuga Neji suddenly opened his half-closed Byakugan, veins bulging around his eyes. He activated his Byakugan to its maximum power and began to scan the venue without making a sound.

Kimimaro, Haku, Chino, and others also entered a state of combat readiness.

Shisui took in everyone's reactions and felt somewhat relieved.

These are the ninjas of the Land of Stars.

With just one command, they can immediately adjust and enter the optimal combat state.

Then, Shisui's gaze returned to the arena below, landing on the boy who was about to begin his first battle.

The person who changed the fate of the Uchiha clan, changed his own fate, and is even changing the fate of the entire ninja world!

At this moment, Menma was dressed in an ordinary black tracksuit and wearing a Konoha headband, looking like an ordinary Konoha genin, standing in the center of the stadium where the competition was about to begin.

Sunlight shone on him, and he tilted his head slightly, seemingly listening to Naruto excitedly saying something, a faint, helpless smile on his lips.

Around him, the other teams had already lined up. At Moonlight Gale's signal, except for the two teams that were about to engage in the first battle, the members of the other six teams turned around and walked towards the players' passage, returning to the rest area.

"Brother Mianma! Go for it! Beat those guys on the other side to a pulp!" A passionate voice suddenly rang out from the departing crowd, drawing considerable attention.

Ignoring the strange looks from the other examinees and staff around her, Karin cupped her hands to her mouth, her fiery red pupils flashing with fanaticism, her face flushed, and she backed away into the passage while waving her arms vigorously at Menma in the arena.

"We absolutely have to win!!"

Her infatuated expression made Hei Tu, who was following behind her, slap himself in the face and let out a silent wail.

She quickened her pace, embarrassed, trying to get away from her shameful teammate.

Ranmaru merely blinked, looking curiously at Karin, then at Menma in the arena, a thoughtful expression appearing on his small face.

Sasuke followed his teammates Sai and Shigaraki Tanuki silently toward the rest area, but his gaze never left Menma on the field.

Those eyes were fixed on the black figure he had been chasing, as if trying to see right through it.

His right hand, wrapped in bandages, unconsciously clenched and unclenched repeatedly.

A faint stinging pain came from his palm. It was a side effect of the excessive strain on his right hand's meridians and the backlash from the lightning chakra during Kakashi's special training these past few days, in order to master the A-rank lightning ninjutsu called "Chidori" as quickly as possible.

But this pain was nothing compared to the anxiety and longing in his heart.

He needs strength!

We need the power to kill that man!

We need the power to force the truth out of the still water!

I need... to be able to stand in front of my mother and ask her in person why she abandoned me!

This Chunin Exam will be a good testing ground.

Look at how much you've grown during this time!

Can he catch up with or even surpass Menma, who has always been ahead of him?!

Just as Sasuke was staring intently at Menma, a figure walked slowly to his side and walked alongside him.

Sasuke frowned slightly and turned his head to the side.

What came into view was Gaara carrying a huge gourd on his back.

Those pale blue eyes stared calmly ahead, as if the surrounding noise and attention had nothing to do with him.

"Don't worry," Gaara suddenly said, his voice calm.

"Those people from Iwagakure are no match for him."

Sasuke's brows furrowed even more.

What does that mean?

The way this guy talks... it sounds like he's really familiar with Menma?

Sasuke's gaze fell once more on Menma in the arena, and a strange, inexplicable feeling welled up within him.

"The second match." But soon, Sasuke withdrew his gaze, looked coldly at Gaara, activated his crimson three-tomoe Sharingan, and his fighting spirit soared.

"I'll make you speak!"

The Sharingan with its three tomoe gleamed with an eerie light, and combined with his cold and confident tone, it did indeed exude a certain sense of oppression.

After several days of intensive training, Sasuke regained his confidence in his abilities.

With his newly learned Lightning Release: Chidori, combined with the abilities of his three-tomoe Sharingan, he was confident he could fight even an elite Jonin!

Moreover, he's just a genin from the same cohort?

Gaara didn't even glance at Sasuke, but simply raised his head slightly, his pale blue eyes gazing at the cloudless sky.

The sunlight was blinding, and he squinted slightly.

"uh-huh."

A soft, ambiguous hum escaped from Gaara's nose.

Then, he left Sasuke with a view of his back carrying a large gourd.

Sasuke stood frozen in place, the three tomoe in his eyes trembling slightly with anger.

This guy...

This attitude...

This is infuriating!

"Damn it!" Sasuke cursed under his breath, clenching his fists.

He must personally crush this arrogant guy under his feet in the second game!

The other side of the rest area.

Shikamaru had his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped, and he exuded an aura of utter despair.

Ino and Choji followed behind him, their expressions not looking too good either.

"Hidden Mist Village... Hozuki Suigetsu... two Ninja Swordsmen... Water Transformation Technique... and a sensory ninja from the Uzumaki clan..." Shikamaru muttered to himself, his weariness deepening with each word.

"They seem like the most troublesome opponent... Why did it have to be us...?"

Ino wanted to offer some words of encouragement, but when she thought of the information she had gathered about Hozuki Suigetsu, the long sword Sewing Needle that was said to be able to extend and retract infinitely and pierce through everything, and the blunt sword Kabuto-giri in the hands of that guy named Chojuro, her pretty face became a little nervous.

Choji slowed down his eating of potato chips, his chubby face full of worry: "Shikamaru... can we win?"

Shikamaru looked up at the sky and sighed, offering no reply.

Because he himself didn't know the answer.

The circular grandstand of the venue, a mid-level area.

This place is a gathering place for many Konoha genin who were eliminated in the second exam.

Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, Sakura Haruno, Rock Lee, Tenten, and Yakumo Kurama sat together.

Sakura still had a small piece of gauze on her forehead, a mark left from the injury she sustained from the Sound Ninja's harp mallet, but it didn't stop her from looking around anxiously, searching for a certain figure among the crowd leaving and entering below.

"Huh? Which match was it, Sasuke-kun? I didn't hear you clearly." Sakura slapped her head in annoyance.

Tenten, who was standing next to him, seemed to be better from her leg injury. She was leaning on a simple crutch and chided, "It's the second match, against that red-haired kid from the Land of Stars named Gaara. The first match was against Menma and the Iwagakure team."

"Oh! Oh! I see!" Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, then clenched her fists again, her face flushing.

"Sasuke-kun will definitely win! He's a genius who awakened the Sharingan!"

Lee, sitting on Sakura's other side, was somewhat discouraged by his elimination from the exam, but hearing Sakura's words immediately reignited his fighting spirit. He turned around abruptly, gave Sakura a thumbs-up, flashed his bright teeth, and shouted with fervent enthusiasm, "Sakura! This time, I admit Sasuke's strength is temporarily superior to mine! But! Youth never gives up!"

"Next Chunin Exams, I'll train even harder and pass with honor! I hope you'll be impressed then!"

"This is the vow of youth!"

His sudden, blunt, almost confessional "declaration" made Sakura's forehead instantly crease. She turned her head away and scoffed without hesitation, "No way! Stay away from me, you muscle-bound idiot!"

Kiba watched from the side, chuckling, while Akamaru on his head barked twice, whether in agreement or mocking Lee, it was unclear.

Shino pushed up his sunglasses and silently looked down, lost in thought.

Watching Sakura and Lee interact day and night, Tian Tian smiled helplessly. Suddenly remembering something, he asked Sakura, "By the way, Sakura, I heard that Menma is the top student in your year, and his grades have always been the best?"

Sakura's attention was drawn back. She nodded, cupped her face in her hands, rested her elbows on her knees, and looked on with longing: "Yes! According to Iruka-sensei, in all the years since the Ninja Academy was founded, Menma is only the second student unanimously recognized by all the teachers as a 'commoner genius'! Theory, taijutsu, ninjutsu, tactics... he got almost perfect scores in everything!"

"The second one?" Tian Tian tilted her head curiously. "Then who was the first one?"

"I know that!" Ya immediately leaned over and answered eagerly, a hint of smugness on her face.

"The first one is the Fourth Hokage! Iruka-sensei mentioned in class that the Fourth Hokage graduated with perfect scores in all subjects at the Ninja Academy; he was a true genius!"

"Woof!" Akamaru barked.

Not far behind them, near the railing in the passageway, several Konoha Jonin casually leaned against the wall or railing.

Sarutobi Asuma, with a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his mouth, listened to the children chattering in front of him. When he heard "Fourth Hokage," he instinctively turned his head and looked at a silver-haired Jonin next to him, Hatake Kakashi, who was leaning against the wall and nodding his head as if he were dozing off.

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was not only a hero of Konoha, but also Kakashi's mentor.

Asma sighed inwardly and looked away.

Just then, a fragrant breeze wafted over, and Akane Yuhi walked over with a stern face.

Asma's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly took the cigarette, which was still half-smoked in his mouth, and flicked it with his finger. The cigarette butt flew in an arc and precisely flew over the stands.

"Red, what brings you here?" Asma asked with a somewhat embarrassed smile.

He and Kurenai were deeply in love, but Kurenai's Class 8, consisting of Kiba, Shino, and Sakura, was unfortunately eliminated in the second exam, while his own Class 10, consisting of Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji, successfully advanced.

Hong has been in a bad mood these past few days, and Asuma doesn't want to run into trouble at this time.

Kurenai ignored his little gesture, glanced around, and asked, "Huh? Where's Might Guy? Isn't he with you guys?"

Asma pointed to the other edge of the stands.

Following her gaze, Kurenai saw a figure with a watermelon-shaped haircut wearing a green bodysuit, standing upside down on a narrow railing with one hand, his body taut and straight, while his other hand was placed on his waist, as if performing some kind of solemn ceremony.

It was Matt Kai.

Kurenai's lips twitched slightly, and she sighed, rubbing her forehead, "This guy... still has so much energy."

Or rather, he's still just like an overly enthusiastic fool.

However, at this moment—

"Ooooooooooo!!!"

"It's starting! It's starting!"

"Go for it, Konoha kids!"

Suddenly, a burst of cheers and shouts erupted from the stands, even more intense and enthusiastic than when they entered!

The sound waves swept across the entire stadium like a tsunami, making people's eardrums numb, and the stands under their feet seemed to tremble slightly.

Kakashi, who was dozing against the wall, was startled awake by the sudden, enormous sound. He yawned lazily, his right eye half-open, and glanced casually at the arena below.

In the center of the arena, after confirming that all non-participants had left, Moonlight Gale cleared his throat and began to read out the rules of the first match in his weak, breathy voice.

"Ahem...ahem...The competition will be a three-on-three team battle with no time limit, continuing until one side is completely incapacitated, voluntarily surrenders, or is deemed by me to be unable to continue fighting..."

"The use of lethal forbidden techniques is prohibited, as is the intentional killing of opponents... Well, that's about it."

"So——"

Moonlight Gale's gaze swept across the left and right sides, revealing six boys and girls.

On the left is the Menma Squad from Konohagakure.

His face was calm, his hands hung naturally at his sides, showing no sign of tension.

Naruto's azure eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit, and he looked eager to try, constantly moving his wrists and ankles.

Hinata's long hair cascaded down her shoulders, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her pure Byakugan eyes would occasionally glance at Menma. When their eyes met, she would quickly look away, her heart racing.

To the right is Deidara's squad from Iwagakure.

Deidara's blue eyes were filled with excitement. He played with several small white spider-shaped clay figurines in his hand, a playful smile on his lips. His gaze kept sweeping over Menma and Hinata, especially lingering on Hinata's white eyes for a few more seconds.

Kong remained silent, expressionless, his eyes blankly scanning the Konoha ninja opposite him, lost in thought.

Kirara remained expressionless, her doll-like face framed by her purple pupils fixed on Hinata.

"Are both sides ready?"

Moonlight Gale asked finally.

Mianma nodded slightly.

Deidara tossed the clay spider in his hand, grinning, "Of course! I've been waiting for this for ages, hmm!"

"So..."

Moonlight Gale raised his right hand, and then swung it down sharply!

"The first match begins!!"

The moment the words fell, the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators in the entire stadium exploded like a powder keg that had been lit!

"Ooooooooooo!!!"

The sound waves swept everything away!

Amidst the deafening cheers, Deidara's smile grew even brighter. How exciting it was to perform his art under the spotlight!

"To be able to witness the true artistry of Deidara under such a grand spectacle—" He was about to say a few opening remarks to demonstrate his status as a veteran artist.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

On the other side, Naruto, who had been waiting impatiently for a long time, had no interest in listening to his opponent's nonsense. He quickly formed hand seals in front of his chest and shouted!

boom--! ! !

A series of white smoke billowed up around Naruto like an explosion!

As the smoke cleared, the arena was now packed with... Naruto!

Countless orange figures filled almost half of the field behind Naruto!

The tens of thousands of spectators in the stands erupted in even louder gasps!

"Whoa!!"

"What is this?!"

"A clone technique?! How come there are so many?!"

Ordinary viewers have never seen such an exaggerated number of clones.

Even some ninjas were shocked by the terrifying amount of chakra this genin possessed!

On the field, every shadow clone was in the same starting stance, and every shadow clone had the same excited and somewhat ferocious smile on their face!

"Go!"

"Whoa! Charge!!"

"Beat that blond guy up!"

Hundreds of Naruto's shadow clones unleashed a chaotic yet incredibly powerful roar, like a bursting orange torrent, howling as they swarmed towards Deidara and his two companions on the opposite side!

The sounds of footsteps and shouts combined to create quite a stir, raising clouds of dust.

Deidara, who was about to give a grand speech, hadn't even finished uttering the word "art" when his smug smile froze instantly, and his blue-green pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints!

Even though he considered himself a genius, he was stunned by the sheer number of shadow clones, which numbered over a hundred!

What the hell is this amount of chakra?!

A Jinchuriki of a Tailed Beast?!