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

Chapter 88 Orochimaru's Invitation

The capital of the Bear Kingdom.

A woman with a blue afro and a tall, ugly-looking man walked side by side on the road leading into the city.

"This city doesn't even have city walls?" The blue-haired woman murmured, gazing at the pedestrians on the road and the gradually clearer outline of the city.

Having traveled the ninja world for many years, this was the first time she had ever seen a city without walls.

In the war-torn ninja world, whether it's the capital, a large city, a small village, or even a ninja village, there are basically defensive structures such as city walls or fences to protect the core area.

In some bustling cities, even outside the city walls, simple thatched huts are built, forming slums.

After all, in this chaotic world, larger cities often mean greater safety.

At least they wouldn't be easily drawn into wars, and ninja wars rarely involved attacks on cities.

"Sister Honglian, how should we convey Lord Orochimaru's message?" The ugly man had a pair of dull eyes set in deep-set sockets, and his tone was wooden.

Crimson Lotus, draped in a green coat, gave a light snort, glancing at the several Star Ninjas rushing towards them from a distance. She crossed her arms and said, "If that Asura is really here, we can just say so directly."

call out--

The three Star Ninjas landed suddenly, their swords still drawn, forming a standoff with Honglian and the other two.

"State your identities and purpose, you unidentified ninjas!" the leading Star Ninja warned sternly.

Seeing this, other pedestrians and travelers in the vicinity quickly moved away, and in the blink of an eye, the road became empty.

"We are ordered to find Lord Shura." Red Lotus parted her lips slightly, stating her purpose directly.

Upon hearing the title 'Lord Shura,' the three Star Ninjas' expressions turned serious: 'Whose orders are you on?'

Seeing that the other party did not deny it, Guren knew that she had come to the right place and said directly, "Orochimaru-sama's orders."

The leader, Xingren, gave his companions a wink.

Soon, Honglian and Niu Tou were taken into Xingren Village, or rather, Xingren Base.

As she walked, Honglian observed the surrounding buildings and conditions, discovering that a river divided the city in two, creating a stark contrast.

Scattered across the vast plains west of the river are civilian buildings and numerous residential areas, while in the distant farmland, some busy people seem to be using their off-season to construct new water conservancy facilities.

On the east side of the river is a cluster of buildings with gray and white as the main colors, and the people coming and going are mostly ninjas and officials in uniform.

Vanilla Whirlpool found one of Menma's shadow clones and reported the situation.

"Orochimaru's people?" Menma, the shadow clone, was left here specifically for communication.

Normally, he mainly listens to reports from Vanilla Whirlpool and Kado on government affairs and construction progress, and then issues some orders and instructions.

"Let them in." Menma hesitated for a moment, then put on a white three-eyed fox mask and sat down in the main seat.

When Guren and Niu Tou were led in, an even greater pressure than Orochimaru's swept over them, forcing them to kneel on one knee.

Seeing the mysterious masked man sitting in the main seat, Honglian forced herself to remain calm and presented a scroll: "Lord Shura, we are here to deliver this scroll to you on Lord Orochimaru's orders."

Menma gestured for Uzumaki Vanilla to bring the scroll over, secretly thinking that the two of them must be close to the level of Jonin to have managed to maintain their composure under his pressure.

After thinking about it carefully, it seems that these two were sent by Orochimaru to capture the Three-Tails with a kid?
You can't do it without some strength. 'Orochimaru's judgment is pretty accurate, isn't it?'

Menma estimated that when news of the upheaval in Hoshigakure of the Land of Bears spread, Orochimaru had already guessed who was behind it all.

However, the reason he sent Honglian here was definitely not just to deliver a message.

Mianma took the scroll from Xuanwo Xiangcao and opened it to take a look.

In the scroll, Orochimaru mentioned that the research on the Ibri clan had made some breakthrough progress, but the previously stored flesh and hair of the Ibri clan had been used up. He was asked to go to the Land of Rice Fields to retrieve the research results and send some flesh and hair over as well.

Secondly, Orochimaru hoped to establish a base in the Land of Bears. He was interested in the poisonous gas of Hell Valley and the meteorite from the Hidden Star Village and wanted to study them.

Finally, Orochimaru, intending to go to Kirigakure, extended an invitation to him to travel with him.

"As expected." Mianma put away the scroll and looked down at the red lotus.

He only vaguely remembered that this person seemed to be Orochimaru's subordinate and one of Orochimaru's potential vessels, but later other vessels came along, so he never got to use him.

It seems she was in charge of one of Orochimaru's bases, and after failing to capture the Three-Tails, she went into seclusion with a kid.

It seems that Naruto visited Konoha when he got married.

"There's no need to establish a separate base; I'll just arrange an experimental building for you," Menma said firmly.

He didn't want any uncontrolled strongholds on his territory, especially since there might be human experiments inside.

"..." Honglian opened her mouth as if to say something but then stopped, ultimately overwhelmed by the oppressive aura emanating from the mysterious masked man before her, and could only lower her head and say, "Yes, sir."

Menma speculates that Orochimaru wanted to establish a contact point here, so he sent Guren, the former number one candidate for the Reanimation Jutsu.

After letting Vanilla take Red Lotus and Bull Head down, Menma also got up and headed deeper into the base.

Deep beneath this base, the Ibri clan, who have already relocated, are busily building their new home.

"Lord Shura!" When Menma arrived at the floor where the Ibri clan lived underground, he was greeted with enthusiastic cheers.

The conditions here are much better than the tree hollows they dug before, and the ground is a city with no shortage of supplies, which are delivered to them.

However, this relentless demand caused some hidden worry among the Ibri clan, because the instability of their bloodline limit prevented them from engaging in activities in the sunlight.

The guilt of not being able to serve Lord Shura and repay his kindness lingered in my heart.

Wu Tai and Xue Jian, having changed into new clothes, stepped forward respectfully: "My lord, what are your orders?"

"Orochimaru has made some progress in his research on your clan's bloodline limits. I need some of your clan's blood, skin cells, hair samples, etc." Menma stated his purpose directly.

Upon hearing that it was about Orochimaru's research progress, Gota showed disgust, but since it was for the sake of his clan being able to walk in the sunlight, he immediately summoned his clansmen.

Mianma collected their blood, skin tissue, and hair, and put them in test tubes.

Since the Ibri clan moved here, Menma's shadow clones have also been researching the Ibri clan's bloodline limit, but the progress has been relatively slow, far slower than Orochimaru's insane dissections.

"Respectfully bidding farewell to Lord Shura!" As they parted, Wu Tai led the entire clan in kneeling on one knee, watching Lord Shura's figure disappear into the corridor.

(End of this chapter)