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

Chapter 337 The Future Minato Wants to Change!
By chance, young Naruto bumped into young Menma, who was also alone.

Menma asked Naruto to treat them to a meal at Ichiraku Ramen, and the two became friends.

They explored the forest together, clumsily catching fish and even eating them when they were burnt. A girl with disdainful eyes joined them, and the three became inseparable friends.

During the cold year-end, Menma would drag the lonely Naruto, who was eating instant noodles at home, back to his own home so they could have a sumptuous meal together.

Meanwhile, Menma's environment changed from an orphanage to a wealthy and spacious mansion.

Looking at the image of himself in the video, with his brother, living a life so much better than when he was a child, with a bright smile on his face, Naruto's tears flowed again, but this time they were warm.

A bittersweet feeling filled his chest.

He had never experienced a childhood like this before, with friends, care, and the joy of looking forward to the New Year.

'If only I had an older brother like this when I was little...' This thought floated into Naruto's mind, filled with endless envy and a belated sense of comfort.

But the warm tone suddenly shifted!

As Mianma in the picture grows up, his temperament becomes more and more calm and reserved, and also more and more... dangerous.

He put on a white fox mask with three strange eye holes and a black cloak embroidered with an intricate nine-faced beast pattern.

The shadow behind him wriggled, and the power of the Dark Nine-Tails transformed into nine summoned beasts of different shapes, each exuding a terrifying aura.

Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, Golden Snake, Southern Dipper Immortal, Northern Dipper Immortal, Celestial Maiden, Death God!
Nine-faced Suvaha!
Using the codename "Shura," he began to operate in the shadows of the ninja world, acting decisively and ruthlessly, yet with an elusive purpose.

A thrilling battle erupted in Kumogakure!

"Shura" single-handedly confronted the perfect combination of the Fourth Raikage A and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee, demonstrating overwhelming power. In the end, he severely injured the two, leaving a mess in the Hidden Cloud Village before leaving gracefully.

He traveled to various places, searching for and "collecting" stray ninjas with bloodline limits such as Uzumaki Vanilla and Uchiha Hikaru. He also recruited wealthy merchant Gato and bounty hunter Kakuzu. His methods varied, and the process was not always peaceful, but the result was that a powerful group of subordinates began to gather around him.

He sent men to attack Hoshigakure (Hidden Star Village) in the Land of Bears, overwhelming them with sheer force, seizing their secret treasure "Star," and effectively taking control of the village.

Immediately afterwards, using Hoshigakure as his base, he launched an operation that shocked the entire ninja world!

He did not simply conquer, but rather launched a massive "revolution"!
He led his subordinates and gradually gathered forces to eradicate the corrupt and incompetent daimyo and noble system of the Bear Kingdom, which oppressed the common people, and established a brand new Star Kingdom!

The ideals and policies of the Land of Stars stirred up a huge wave in the ninja world.

It proclaimed the abolition of the unreasonable feudal hierarchy, with land belonging to the state and then distributed to farmers. The power of ninjas was to serve national construction and the improvement of people's livelihoods, rather than being a tool for noble infighting and oppression.

This ideology quickly attracted countless oppressed civilians, idealistic wandering ninjas, and even some reformers within small countries.

The country of ghosts, the country of swamps, the country of snow...

One after another, small countries in the western part of the Ninja World Continent were overthrown and incorporated into the Star Country by the powerful military force of the Star Country and the revolution that broke out inside them.

The territory of the Star Kingdom is expanding rapidly, like a snowball rolling downhill!
The scene depicts countless ninjas using Earth Release to level the land and construct irrigation systems; using Fire Release and Lightning Release to assist in smelting and forging; using Water Release to irrigate parched farmland; and medical ninjas venturing into villages to treat the sick...

For the first time, the power of ninjas was used on such a large scale and in such a systematic way for the construction and development of the country, rather than simply for killing and destruction.

In just a few years, the Star Kingdom has risen from a small country to a new power with a vast territory, a novel system, full of vitality and strong military strength!
The ninja world took notice, and the five great nations felt unprecedented pressure and vigilance.

Minato and Naruto were deeply shocked by this magnificent and mind-blowing scene.

They witnessed the birth of a completely different ninja world, and also saw the terrifying power, profound planning, and iron-fisted execution of Menma.

The camera angle then shifted back to Konoha.

Within Konoha Village, the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village intensified after the Nine-Tails' attack.

The exceptionally talented Uchiha Shisui was seen as the key to easing tensions between the two sides.

However, after a secret meeting, Shisui was ambushed by Danzo Shimura, who forcibly took one of his Mangekyou Sharingan eyes. He was seriously injured and fled, then disappeared.

Shisui's disappearance enraged the Uchiha clan, who believed that the Konoha leadership had poisoned him, and conflict was imminent.

Under immense pressure and suspicion, Konoha's leadership made a cruel decision.

They issued a secret order to Itachi Uchiha: to personally annihilate the Uchiha clan, who intended to rebel.

In exchange, his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke, was allowed to continue living as a Konoha ninja.

For his younger brother's sake, and for some twisted sense of "righteousness" in his heart, Itachi Uchiha accepted this mission stained with the blood of his clansmen.

However, he knew that his own power was insufficient to slaughter the entire clan, so he secretly contacted the masked mystery man who had caused the Nine-Tails' chaos and called himself "Uchiha Madara" as an "assistant" in carrying out the extermination of the clan.

However, on that bloody night, a change occurred!
Uchiha Shisui returned, and together with the elite ninja forces of the Land of Stars, they descended like divine warriors, forcefully intervening in the Uchiha clan's settlement! They stopped Uchiha Itachi's massacre.

The Star Ninja, along with Danzo Shimura's Root ninja who were ordered to "maintain order" but were actually preparing to cooperate with Itachi in a purge, and the Konoha Anbu ninja who arrived later, engaged in a fierce battle within the Uchiha clan's territory.

The light of kunai, shuriken, and ninjutsu intertwined to form a net of death, with explosions, shouts, and the clanging of metal echoing incessantly.

The Uchiha clan members never imagined that they would be attacked by the village in their own homeland, and were plunged into chaos and panic.

At the critical moment, Uchiha Shisui, who had lost an eye, stood before his clansmen.

He publicly exposed Danzo Shimura's despicable act of sneaking into and stealing his Sharingan, and vehemently questioned the Konoha leadership about their betrayal and ruthless scheming.

However, faced with accusations that could shake the very foundation of the village, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, under immense pressure, chose to protect the village's interests in order to maintain a semblance of stability and authority.

Danzo Shimura went further, accusing the Land of Stars of orchestrating a conspiracy and providing irrefutable evidence that Uchiha Shisui had betrayed the village and colluded with foreign enemies! He attempted to shift all blame onto outsiders and "traitors."

This statement completely chilled the hearts of all Uchiha clan members.

Looking at Shisui, who still stood firm under the protection of the Star Ninja, looking at the Star Ninja fighting bloody battles with the Konoha ninjas, and then looking at the Anbu and Root members who turned their swords against their own clansmen, the Uchiha ninjas, especially the younger generation who were already dissatisfied with the village's policies, felt their hearts tip in their chests.

At Shisui's call to arms, a large number of surviving Uchiha clan members, filled with disappointment and anger towards Konoha, resolutely chose to follow Shisui and join the Star Ninja team, turning their weapons against their former comrades!
The battle became even more chaotic and brutal.

The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan shone with an eerie light on the battlefield, and their Fire Release ninjutsu turned the night sky crimson.

This sudden battle ultimately ended with the successful evacuation of the Star Ninja and the Uchiha clan.

Konoha paid a heavy price.

The Anbu and Root suffered heavy losses, the Uchiha clan's territory was nearly half destroyed, the clan head and his wife died, and more importantly, the village's internal trust and the prestige of the Third Hokage suffered irreparable damage, leaving the village severely weakened.

The scene changes rapidly.

Having gained the power of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the Land of Stars was like a tiger with wings, and its national strength and military power soared once again.

Years later, the Star Kingdom, the Wind Kingdom, and the Earth Kingdom engaged in a large-scale all-out war due to border and resource issues.

In this war, the Land of Stars demonstrated a terrifying power that surpassed the traditional ninja village war model.

With a highly organized ninja army, advanced scientific ninja tools, and new combat tactics incorporating bloodline limits, coupled with Uchiha Hikaru's terrifying strength, which was like a strategic weapon, the Land of Stars achieved an overwhelming victory without even Menma personally taking action!

The Sand Village was defeated, and the Land of Wind was annexed by the Land of Stars.

The Land of Earth was forced to cede a quarter of its territory, suing for peace in humiliation, and becoming a vassal state of the Land of Stars.

After this battle, the Land of Stars became the undisputed most powerful nation in the ninja world, with a vast territory, abundant resources, and a formidable military.

Its gaze began to turn eastward.

That place is the territory of traditional great powers such as the Land of Fire, the Land of Thunder, and the Land of Water.

An unprecedented super war sweeping across the entire ninja world seems inevitable, and the shadow of war hangs over everyone's hearts.

The film's ending focuses on Amegakure in this time and space.

They witnessed Menma's fierce battle with the pale monster known as "Otsutsuki Isshiki".

With a casual swing of his black rod, he easily reaped the lives of more than a dozen elite Amegakure ANBU ninjas. Even Hanzo of the Salamander, who was hailed as the "demigod of the ninja world," was easily pierced and brutally killed in front of him, like a stray dog ​​on the roadside, without any power to fight back.

It was a power gap that completely transcended the conventional ninja system, a gap that instilled despair.

Next up is the duel between Menma and Uchiha Madara, who has regained his youth and the Rinnegan!

The complete Susanoo stood tall, its Wood Release ninjutsu creating a forest that covered the land, while meteors fell from the sky...

Madara Uchiha displayed power as if a myth had come to life; each strike was enough to alter the terrain and destroy a country.

However, Mianma, with a more composed and assertive attitude, resolved each issue and ultimately achieved victory.

Every scene from these two battles was filled with destructive power and violent aesthetics, giving Minato and Naruto an indescribable visual and emotional impact.

Whether it's the strangeness and power of Isshiki Otsutsuki, the legendary reappearance of Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan, or Menma's unfathomable responses and counterattacks.

For the first time, they realized so directly that the power of ninjas could be so incredibly strong!

The light and shadow faded, and consciousness returned completely to reality.

Minato and Naruto were both panting heavily, as if they had just struggled out of the deep sea, their faces pale and their hair soaked with sweat.

They exchanged a glance, both seeing deep shock, bewilderment, and an indescribable weariness in each other's eyes.

The "scene" they had just witnessed, which encapsulated over a decade of dramatic changes, wars, and rise in another world, was so rich in information and so impactful that it left them unable to calm down for a long time.

Menma slowly withdrew his fist, looked at the two of them, and concluded: "Although there are many differences between this world and the world where my stupid younger brother lives, some key historical moments, such as the destruction of the Uchiha clan, should be roughly consistent."

Naruto nodded vigorously, processing the information he had just received, his face showing confusion and a hint of unease: "In my world... after the Uchiha clan massacre, only Sasuke and Itachi remained. But... you're saying the massacre was orchestrated by the Konoha higher-ups? How could that be! The Third Hokage... he was so good to Sasuke!"

Menma glanced at Naruto sideways, his gaze as if he were looking at a blockhead, and asked, "Oh? Is that so? Then why do you think Sasuke would betray Konoha at all costs to pursue so-called power? Is there really no way for such a large village as Konoha to teach him and make him stronger?"

"!!!"

This question sent a chill down Naruto's spine.

Sasuke's resolute yet painful gaze as he defected, his mad thirst for power, his deep-seated hatred for Itachi...

Is there really such a dark truth hidden behind all of this?
Menma ignored the confused Naruto and turned his gaze to Minato, asking, "So, is there anything else you want to ask?"

Minato's state at this moment was even more profound than Naruto's.

He not only saw the tragic plight of the children after another "self" sacrificed himself to protect the village, and the bloody end of the Uchiha clan under the suspicion of the Konoha leadership and political conspiracies, but also a world order reshaped by power and new ideas.

He reached up and touched his forehead, his heart filled with pain and struggle.

Why did Konoha, which I vowed to protect, become like this in another possible future?

Power struggles, suspicion, and the purge of fellow citizens...

Is this still the Konoha I was willing to give my life to protect?

But he quickly suppressed his turbulent emotions and began to organize and analyze the intelligence with a calm mind.

Minato raised his head, his sharp gaze fixed on Menma.

"You and Naruto come from different parallel universes. Naruto's world doesn't have you. In other words, in Naruto's universe without you, the variable of you and the Land of Stars didn't exist. So, how do you prove the authenticity of the 'alternative possibility' you just presented regarding the night of the Uchiha Clan massacre?" Upon hearing the words "Uchiha Clan massacre," Akimichi Choza and Aburame Shiki, who were standing to the side, were already filled with horror, exchanging shocked glances.

Just hearing about this is enough to cause a magnitude 10 earthquake in Konoha!

Menma wasn't surprised by Minato's questioning. He shrugged and said casually, "No proof is needed."

"Because this is something that really only happened in my and Naruto's respective worlds. Between parallel universes, there are similar yet independent stories. For your world, it's just a 'prophecy,' and whether the prophecy comes true is up to you."

He paused, then said meaningfully, "However, Madara Uchiha, who was one of the masterminds behind the scenes trying to orchestrate a similar tragedy, has been dealt with by me. At least in this timeline, the threat from his line of command has been temporarily eliminated."

"Uchiha Madara...is he really still alive? And the mastermind behind it all?" Minato's pupils contracted slightly. Although he had seen Uchiha Madara's figure in the "scene" just now, hearing it confirmed with his own ears still made him feel uneasy.

That legendary figure, who was on par with the First Hokage Hashirama Senju, is either resurrected or still alive today, secretly manipulating such a terrifying conspiracy.

What shocked him even more was Mianma's next sentence.

"However, he is only a relatively important pawn."

piece?!
Even someone like Madara Uchiha was just a pawn?!
What kind of terrifying being must the person playing the game be?

And then there's Otsutsuki Isshiki, who effortlessly defeated Hanzo the Salamander with a single wave of his hand...

Minato felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet.

He stared intently at Mianma, trying to discern deeper meaning from the other's calm and unwavering eyes.

Combining what he had just seen about the rise of the Star Kingdom with Menma's actions in Amegakure, Minato gradually came to a startling conclusion.

Minato asked in a low and serious voice, "Menma, I can sense... that your establishment of the Land of Stars and your challenge to the entire ninja world order are not solely driven by personal ambition or a desire for power."

"Your gaze seems to always be fixed on a more distant and terrifying threat. Just how powerful are your enemies... or rather, the enemies our world will face in the future?!"

Menma smiled with relief when he heard about Minato's question.

He glanced at Naruto, who was still struggling with Sasuke's problem, and deliberately sighed, teasingly saying, "It seems that your excellent mind and keen intuition have been passed down to me. As a result, my poor little brother, tsk, is like a clueless idiot."

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Naruto was instantly roused from his reverie, protesting like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, baring his teeth: "Even though you were my brother in that world! You're going too far with what you said! How am I an idiot! I'm a man who's going to become Hokage!"

Menma chuckled, his laughter laced with undisguised mischief: "It's not that you 'look' like an idiot, it's that you 'are' an idiot."

"You—!" Naruto was so angry that he jumped up and down, raising his fist to argue, but Menma raised one hand and easily stopped him with a simple gesture.

Menma looked at Minato again, his smile fading and his expression turning serious: "Indeed, just as you saw in the clips. When I first investigated the true culprit behind the Nine-Tails' rampage, I discovered that behind them lay the true root of the chaos and war that had plagued the ninja world for over a thousand years. The Uchiha Madara you saw, the Akatsuki from Naruto's world, and even other entities lurking in the shadows of history... were all just pawns manipulated by a deeper hand."

His words were a mix of truth and falsehood, three parts illusion and seven parts truth, cleverly blending and concealing the threat of the Otsutsuki and the conspiracy of Black Zetsu, constructing a logically consistent motivation of "pursuing the truth and fighting against the mastermind behind the scenes".

"The Akatsuki?!" Naruto was shocked when he heard the name.

He had personally experienced battles with Akatsuki members and knew their strength well, especially the oppressive feeling he felt from the mysterious man who called himself "Uchiha Madara" and wore a vortex mask.

If even such a terrifying organization is just a pawn...

How dark must the truth behind that be?
Minato's expression had become extremely serious.

He said in a deep voice, "So, you want to unify the ninja world and integrate all forces in order to gather the resources and combat power of the entire world to fight against those more terrifying enemies hidden behind history?"

Menma nodded, readily admitting, "That's right. A disorganized ninja world is utterly vulnerable in the face of true disaster. Only by uniting our forces can we hope to gain a chance of survival."

He looked at Minato: "If you deny my ideals and think this is just aggression and ambition..."

“No.” Minato unexpectedly shook his head, interrupting him.

His eyes were clear and rational: "If your power and ideals can truly lead your parallel world to the peace, prosperity and strength you have shown, and your ultimate goal is to deal with a greater threat... even if it comes with war and expansion, from the perspective of your world, it is not an unacceptable 'bad thing'."

Minato's thinking went much deeper than Naruto's.

He guessed that the "movie" Menma showed must have been selected and preserved, and might even have embellished some of his actions.

But so what?
That's a story from another time and space.

What he truly cares about are those shocking tragedies that may also be brewing in his own world.

The Nine-Tails' rampage, the Uchiha clan massacre...

And the deeper shadow looming over the ninja world, as revealed in Menma's words.

He vaguely pieced together some clues from Menma's actions in helping Yahiko and others from Akatsuki in Amegakure, as well as Naruto's fearful reaction to Akatsuki.

Perhaps, in some future, the Akatsuki organization will go astray, and Menma's intervention is an attempt to "correct" this potentially key force.

Now that it's confirmed to be a parallel world, there's no need to worry excessively about the paradox of "changing history," so Minato decides to stop beating around the bush.

He took a deep breath, looked intently at Menma, and pleaded in a tone of unprecedented solemnity:

"Then, Menma... please tell me the truth about the ninja world that you know! Tell me about the dark forces hidden in the shadows of history, tell me about the disasters that may befall us in the future! I want to know all of this! I want to use all my strength, wisdom and life to protect Konoha, to protect everything I cherish, and to prevent... the tragedies you have shown from being repeated in this world!"

Menma looked at Minato Namikaze, whose expression was resolute, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

He knew that the golden flash had taken the bait he had thrown out without hesitation.

What Minato wanted to protect and what he wanted to change were, to some extent, aligned with each other.

“Very good,” Menma said softly.

He reached into his robes and pulled out a scroll that faintly emitted a special chakra fluctuation, then handed it to Minato.

"This scroll is sealed with a special seal. Only those who possess both the power of space-time and the chakra of the Nine-Tails can open it safely."

Menma explained, "It contains everything you most want to know: the true identity of the masked mystery who caused the Nine-Tails' rampage, the deep history of the ninja world's millennia-long war, and information about potential invaders from outer space in the future."

Minato carefully took the scroll, as if accepting a heavy responsibility and hope.

Menma continued, "As for the 'mastermind' behind this world, I have already eliminated some of them. At least, the Nine-Tails' rampage should not happen in the same way again in this timeline. However, the internal conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village still exists. I cannot guarantee whether the night of the massacre will occur; it depends on your own choices and actions."

He looked at Minato, his tone carrying a hint of admonition: "As for those invaders from 'outside the heavens,' according to the normal timeline, it should still be more than thirty years before their large-scale arrival. You still have enough time to prepare, to accumulate strength, to change Konoha, and even to change the ninja world. Consider this scroll a gift from me to the 'father' of this timeline."

Minato gripped the scroll tightly, feeling its weight, and nodded solemnly.

Menma concluded, "To truly protect Konoha and prevent tragedy, power alone is not enough. You need to stand in a higher position, with greater influence and decision-making power. So, strive to be a good 'Fourth Hokage.' After I leave this timeline, only you will be able to stop those tragedies from happening in this world."

His words were both an affirmation of Minato's abilities and a trust in him.

Naruto looked away from the significant scroll in Minato's hand, and after processing the heavy conversation about parallel worlds, the mastermind behind everything, and future challenges, he finally found an outlet for the emotions he had been holding back for so long.

He jumped up suddenly, rushed to Menma's side, and his face rekindled with a mixture of impulsiveness and a defiant fighting spirit. Pointing at Menma, he shouted, "Hey! Wait! After all this talk, where's my question?! Where am I?! Tell me, where is that masked bastard Uchiha Madara, and where is the Akatsuki's base?! I'm going to find them and beat them to a pulp!"

Seeing Naruto's hot-blooded state, as if he was about to rush out and start a fight, Menma's lips twitched, and a hint of "I knew it" resignation flashed in his eyes.

Without any unnecessary words, he raised his right hand, clenched his fist, and delivered a solid "brotherly lesson" to Naruto's golden head!
Boom!
A crisp, muffled sound.

Naruto felt a sharp pain on his head, saw stars before his eyes, and let out a miserable howl. He clutched his head and squatted down, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Why did you hit me?!"

With his hands on his hips, Menma looked down at Naruto, who was squatting on the ground, grimacing. He scolded him irritably, "Even though you're Naruto from another world, you're just as stupid! You can't even handle the Nine-Tails inside you, your chakra control is a complete mess, and you rely entirely on Shadow Clones and Rasengans to fight. With your half-baked skills, you think you can take on the Akatsuki one-on-one? Are you tired of living and just want to die?"

"I..." Naruto was speechless, clutching the freshly formed bump on his head, pouting with a mix of grievance and resentment.

He hasn't been able to fully control the Nine-Tails' power yet. When he trained with Jiraiya, he focused more on improving his chakra and basics. His mastery of more advanced techniques was limited, let alone mastering the Nine-Tails' power.

Minato, standing to the side, watched this scene, so full of life, or rather, the atmosphere of violent discipline, and then looked at Menma's expression of disappointment mixed with familiar concern, and Naruto's aggrieved yet lively appearance...

The image of his two sons growing up, bickering and fighting, involuntarily flashed through his mind.

A warm yet bittersweet smile crept onto his lips, dispelling the heavy gloom brought on by the harsh truths he had just learned.

Seeing Naruto's tearful face, Menma's anger subsided slightly, but his tone still carried a lecturing tone: "The method I used to fight those puppets is the same method your enemies use. And the way I communicated when we bumped fists is something you, you idiot, must learn! Stop just watching the show and use your rusty brain to think about it! Strength isn't something you can gain by just shouting slogans and being reckless!"

Naruto, dejected after being scolded, muttered under his breath, "Oh... I know..."

Just then, from the direction of the central square of Loulan City in the distance, came a clamor of voices and the sound of horns, followed by a series of "bang bang bang" sounds of fireworks rising into the sky and exploding!
The colorful light was clearly visible even in the daytime sunlight, painting the sky over that area in a dazzling display.

The noise surged in like a tide, clearly indicating that a grand celebration or ceremony was taking place.

This sudden commotion attracted the attention of everyone on the platform, temporarily interrupting the little episode about family education.

Minato looked in the direction where the fireworks were rising, his expression turning serious again. He looked at Menma and asked, "So, this An Lushan of Loulan... also came from your world through the dragon vein?"

"Ah! That's right!" Naruto snapped out of his frustration at being scolded and eagerly answered, "I was sent here by the Dragon Vein because I was chasing a rogue ninja from Sunagakure named Hyakuzu! That Hyakuzu also wanted to take over the Dragon Vein!"

Menma nodded, confirming Naruto's statement, and added more crucial information: "An Lushan is Centipede. However, he is most likely the 'Centipede' of my world."

"Huh? What's the difference?" Naruto scratched his head and asked, puzzled.

In his view, a centipede is a centipede, a villain.

“There’s a big difference,” Menma explained patiently, after all, the person in front of him was his stupid younger brother.

"When you were fighting those humanoid combat puppets just now, didn't you sense anything unusual? They showed no signs of being controlled by chakra threads, yet their movements were exceptionally agile and precise. They used a wide variety of weapons, and some even had devices that could directly fire chakra rays."

"The origin of this puppetry technology and design concept is my Land of Stars. Although the puppeteer in Naruto's world, Centipede, is a puppeteer from Sunagakure, he has no access to this technology, let alone the ability to manufacture it on a large scale."

What Menma didn't say was that this kind of puppet without chakra threads was the technology of the Otsutsuki clan on the moon.

Naruto suddenly realized, slapped his forehead, and accidentally bumped the bump again, wincing in pain: "Ouch, so that's it! No wonder I couldn't hit anything when I tried to cut with my chakra sword! I thought my sword was broken!"

Minato fell into deeper thought, considering various possibilities: "Direct control without chakra threads... this means a qualitative leap in the core control technology of puppets, placing less burden on the caster while enabling more complex commands. If this technology spreads..."

He didn't continue, but a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

Then, Minato looked at Menma: "So, what do you plan to do with An Lushan? Do you need our assistance?"

Mianma's reply carried an air of authority: "You can continue with your original missions. Protect the new queen of Loulan, or investigate the truth, it's up to you. As for An Lushan... I'll go and find him and kill him. Then, I'll 'borrow' the power of the dragon vein, and it'll be about time for me to leave this space-time."

Minato had a clear understanding of Menma's strength. He nodded and quickly made a division of labor decision: "Understood. Then we'll split up. If An Lushan's goal is to control Loulan, then he will likely show up at the celebration where the new queen makes her public appearance, or take some kind of action. We'll stay hidden and act according to the situation. On the one hand, we'll try to contact and protect the new queen, Sara, and on the other hand, we'll gather information on An Lushan's exact location and plans."

Minato glanced at Naruto, who was rubbing his head and whose eyes were once again filled with eagerness, then looked at the calm and reliable Menma, and added, "Stay vigilant and be ready to deal with any emergencies. Menma, if you defeat An Lushan, or need support, notify us in your own way."

Mianma nodded slightly, accepting the proposal for this temporary alliance.

He glanced at Naruto one last time and said, "Don't hold me back, my stupid little brother."

Then, the figure disappeared from the tower platform.

"Hmph! It's not certain who'll hold us back!" Naruto waved his fist in the direction Menma disappeared, but his face was beaming with a bright smile, and his eyes sparkled with a renewed competitive spirit.

(End of this chapter)