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

Chapter 86 The Cold Cicada Project
The capital of the Bear Kingdom is located east of the You River.

The buildings of the new star ninja village rose from the ground, and the entire urban area was designated as a military control zone, with eye-catching prohibitions posted on the gray and white high walls.

The patrolling Star Ninja kept any civilians who tried to approach outside the cordon.

"Nameless Lady!" The prison iron gate opened with a screeching sound, and the two Star Ninjas guarding the gate bowed respectfully to the black-haired girl.

Uchiha Hikaru continued walking inside expressionlessly, his footsteps echoing in the long, dark corridor.

The dim light in the detention cell cast Kakuzu's strong figure onto the stone wall as he idly counted his salary that had just been paid this month, as well as the subsidies he received for guarding the prison.

"A rare guest indeed. The musty smell of the dungeon can't compare to the sunlight above ground," Kakuzu's hoarse voice came from beneath his mask.

“The ‘Higurashi Project’ can begin now, you haven’t forgotten, have you?” Uchiha Hikaru tilted his head slightly and glanced at Kakuzu, who was counting money. The two Anbu ninjas in the corner unconsciously straightened their backs.

"Has another year passed outside?" Kakuzu put away the money, took out a bunch of keys, and led Uchiha Hikaru deeper into the prison.

For Kakuzu, the thing he has no shortage of is time, and the thing he cares about the least is also time.

In addition, he has been in charge of prison guard duties for a long time and has not been on the ground for a long time, so it is normal that he does not know what life is like outside.

The two walked one after the other into the dark depths of the dungeon, and soon Kakuzu stopped at a cell.

Uchiha Hikaru turned his head and saw that Pakura from Sunagakure was sitting cross-legged on a pile of hay, her hands and feet bound by iron chains.

Sensing someone's arrival, Yecang suddenly looked up, the chains rattling loudly.

During his imprisonment, Yecang attempted to escape more than once, but each time he was caught by the masked man, whose attack methods were extremely strange!
His Scorching Release ninjutsu requires an attack on the target to evaporate the water in their body and kill them.

But this guy called 'Kakuzu' could extend his body like a puppet, so my Blazing Release couldn't even touch him before I was shattered!

It's like a natural enemy of me!
As for the black-haired girl beside him, although Yekura had never fought her, she could see a familiar arrogance in her eyes...

Just like, just like the Uchiha clan of Konoha!
Outside the cell, Uchiha Hikaru and Kakuzu glanced at Yekura a few times before continuing deeper into the dungeon.

Soon, the two arrived at another cell.

Three Star Ninjas are imprisoned inside.

They are Akahoshi, with purple hair; Yotaka, with a bald head; and Shizo, with black hair.

They were nailed to the cross and interrogated every day. Now they are in a state of delirium, and the mental torture inflicted by illusions is far greater than the physical torture.

These three were the traitors who betrayed the Star Village's information and sent out distress requests to the Sand Village, Iwagakure Village, and Konoha Village last time.

Last time, Kakuzu arrested more than a dozen Star Ninjas who still had ulterior motives based on the list given by Menma. After Kakuzu's interrogation and the lie detector test conducted by Uzumaki Vanilla's Kagura Mind's Eye perception ability, it was basically confirmed that it was a force lurking inside, led by these three.

These three were just minor characters at the bottom of the Jonin hierarchy.

This time, we'll use these guys to create a nest.

"How many?" As a member of the organization, Kakuzu naturally knew about part of the 'Higurashi Project'.

"Let's send the Sand Village ninjas back first, just send one team." Uchiha Hikaru said after thinking for a moment, "Let's send the Iwagakure ninjas back in a few days and do it again."

"Alright, then it's up to you." Kakuzu used the key to open the iron door of the cell.

Uchiha Hikaru strode in, his Mangekyou Sharingan beginning to bloom beneath his flowing long hair.

The same kaleidoscope pattern appeared on the backs of the hands of the three Star Ninja traitors. Their heads, which had been unconscious, lifted, their eyes now empty and lifeless. ——————

Two days later.

On the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Bears.

Yashamaru, along with three other team members including Yura, is heading to a border outpost for a routine patrol mission.

"Yashimaru-sensei!" Yura, whose long hair covered half of her face, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"What's wrong?!" Yashamaru quickly raised his hand, signaling the team members to activate their realms.

All of them wore standard Sand Village protective gear, with headscarves and face shields, revealing only their eyes. Among them, Yashamaru wore a Jonin vest similar to that of Konoha and was the leader of this patrol team.

Since the 'Long Sword Coup' launched by the Star Ninja Village in the Land of Bears last year, which massacred the daimyo and nobles of the Land of Bears, the patrol mission level along the border in this area has soared to B-rank. This is even without encountering any enemies. If the number of enemies is small and they are repelled, it will be fine.

If the enemy is numerous or very powerful, it's definitely an A-level mission, and it might even break out into war!
Therefore, Yashamaru, the leader of this patrol team, was also very cautious.

"There's something unusual at three o'clock!" Yura reported immediately after using his sensory ninjutsu to investigate, his hands forming hand seals.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Yashamaru drew his kunai.

The others also drew their weapons, one of whom was a puppeteer.

The four-person team headed towards the unusual location that Yura had sensed.

Soon, the group saw three staggering figures being chased by several Star Ninjas at the end of the yellow sand ahead.

“It’s Yekura-senpai and the others!” Yura recognized one of them and said in a low voice.

Yashamaru confirmed the other party's identity and immediately ordered, "Provide them with backup!"

Yashamaru was the first to rush out.

Yura and the others followed suit.

A major battle broke out on the border. Yashamaru's patrol team met up with the three escaped members of Yekura and immediately launched an attack on the pursuing troops from Hoshigakure.

When Yekura and the other two saw that they were their own ninjas, they cooperated in the counterattack.

After a fierce battle, the Sand Ninja paid the price of one dead and two seriously injured, killing the five Star Ninja pursuers.

But just as Yashamaru was trying to get information from a captured Star Ninja, he discovered that the man had already bitten off the poison sac and committed suicide.

Yashamaru couldn't help but admire the determination of these Star Ninjas, and then walked towards Yekura and her group who were resting.

"Are you all alright?" Yashamaru, as the Fourth Kazekage's brother-in-law and a Jonin of Sunagakure, had known Pakura for many years.

"This is... intelligence from Hoshigakure..." Yekura struggled to pull a scroll from her ninja tool pouch with her bloodied right hand and handed it to Yashamaru.

After saying that, Yekura collapsed, but was fortunately caught by Yashamaru.

Two other Sand Ninjas in her team were also killed and seriously injured.

Seeing the still-wet bloodstains on the scroll, Yashamaru immediately ordered his men to carry Yekura and the other person back to the village!
(End of this chapter)