Vortex Misaki's fingers unconsciously tightened, clenching Karin's small hand until it turned white. Her back was pressed against the hostile gazes of the Grass Hidden Village ninjas—those eyes were like they were driving away a plague god, wishing she and Karin would disappear immediately.
Why... why would [Jian] target us?!
Her throat tightened, and those terrifying rumors flashed through her mind: the [Jian] organization refined living people into puppets, Menma's Nine-Faced Beast fed on human blood, and no one who stepped into their stronghold ever returned alive...
"Men... Menma-sama..." The leading Jonin's voice trembled, his head bowed. "The Uzumaki bloodline... is right here..."
He secretly nudged Misaki's back with his elbow, squeezing a whisper through clenched teeth. "Hurry up! Don't get us all killed!"
But Misaki's feet felt rooted to the ground. If she went... what would she encounter?
The terrifying stories spread by Hidden Cloud Village flashed back in her mind: some said [Jian] would peel off the skin of those with Bloodline Limits, others said they used living people for forbidden Ninjutsu experiments, and some even said Menma ate children...
Each version was more horrifying than the last.
"Hmm, very good." Menma's voice came through his mask. "You are much more sensible than the people of Kumogakure."
He slowly scanned the trembling Grass Hidden Village ninjas, finally letting his gaze fall on Karin and her mother.
"I will keep my promise."
This sentence fell like a pardon, and the tense bodies of the Grass Hidden Village ninjas visibly relaxed. Some collapsed to the ground, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads.
"Then..."
Menma raised his hand, the black Spiral Wheel Ring still slowly rotating in his palm, emitting a heart-pounding energy fluctuation.
This action immediately made the just-relaxed Grass Hidden Village ninjas tense up again; a few timid ones instinctively took half a step back.
"This is no longer needed."
Under everyone's terrified gaze, Menma actually lightly tossed the Spiral Wheel Ring upwards—
The black sphere silently rose into the sky, like a reverse shooting star. The Grass Hidden Village ninjas unconsciously looked up, their eyes following the shrinking black dot, their faces filled with confusion and unease.
What is he going to do? Why would he throw such a dangerous thing...
"Boom—!!!!"
An earth-shattering explosion suddenly tore through the sky. A violent shockwave erupted in the air, and a visible circular air current instantly spread. The closest Grass Hidden Village ninjas were directly thrown backward, and more instinctively covered their ears, their faces drained of color.
When the dazzling light dissipated—
In the clear blue sky, a "hole" nearly a hundred meters in diameter appeared. The originally floating clouds were completely evaporated, and sunlight poured down unimpeded, illuminating everyone's pale faces clearly.
Chakra dispersion control... the effect is quite good.
Naruto silently evaluated under his mask. This Spiral Wheel Ring, its power was less than half of the complete version—without the Nine-Tailed Chakra's enhancement, it was essentially just a fancy firework. But for these Grass Hidden Village ninjas, it was already shocking enough.
The Grass Hidden Village ninjas stared blankly at the "hole" in the sky, then stiffly looked down at Menma. When the hand that had condensed the Spiral Wheel Ring was raised towards the Uzumaki mother and daughter, everyone unconsciously held their breath.
"Come, Uzumaki Clan."
Menma's voice was terrifyingly calm as he made an inviting gesture.
"Come with me."
This sentence seemed to flip a switch. The Grass Hidden Village ninjas immediately pushed the mother and daughter, their voices full of disgust.
"Did you hear? Hurry up and go!"
"Don't dawdle! Do you want to kill everyone in the village?!"
"Once you leave, don't ever come back!"
Misaki staggered back, seeing faces filled with hatred. The mouths that had once greedily bitten her arm were now spitting out the most vicious words. Even after contributing all her Chakra, even enduring the pain of being bitten... in the end, it still couldn't buy protection?
"We know! We'll go ourselves!"
Karin's sudden shout interrupted her mother's thoughts. The little girl fiercely slapped away a reaching hand, stubbornly holding her head high.
"Don't touch my mom!"
She tightly squeezed Misaki's fingers and actively stepped forward. Her small back was held straight, as if she intended to use her slender body to shield her mother from all malice.
— — — — — —
The world twisted and reassembled in an instant.
The Uzumaki mother and daughter only felt a blur before their eyes, and the surrounding scenery peeled away like shattered mirrors. When their vision refocused, both of them froze in place simultaneously—the original Grass Hidden Village gate had now transformed into an elegant Japanese-style guest room.
The tatami mats emitted a faint scent of rush grass, and the faint sound of flowing hot spring water could be heard from beyond the paper doors. A wooden plaque hanging on the wall read "Dog's Hot Spring," one of the most famous hot spring inns in the Land of Hot Springs.
That was... Space-Time Ninjutsu?!
Misaki had heard of such Ninjutsu, but this was her first time experiencing it firsthand.
"Let's rest for a bit." Menma's voice suddenly became much more amiable, completely different from the oppressive feeling he exuded earlier in the Grass Hidden Village. He casually sat by the low table.
"I've already informed Tanuma to come over; he will arrange everything for you." Menma pointed to the tea set in the corner of the room. "I won't be staying here too long, so if you have any questions, you can ask them now."
Misaki's throat tightened. She shielded Karin behind her and knelt heavily on the tatami mats.
"Sir... you need the Uzumaki bloodline, right?" Her voice was resolute. "If... if it's for research... I alone am enough... please, spare my daughter..."
"Mom?!"
Karin tugged at her mother's sleeve, confused. Unlike others' reactions, she not only wasn't afraid of the man in front of her but also felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.
How strange...
She secretly sized up Menma, a strange sense of security welling up in her heart. This warm feeling, she had only ever experienced it with her mother.
Menma shook his head helplessly. "I think you've misunderstood. You see, you two are among the few 'kin' I have left in this world."
"Kin...?" Misaki's lips trembled slightly; this term left her completely bewildered.
Menma nodded slightly, speaking in a relaxed tone. "Allow me to formally introduce myself—my name is Menma." He drew out the sound. "As for my surname..."
"Menma Uzumaki, pleased to meet you~"
To lighten the mood, Naruto's tone was cheerful, but Misaki remained frozen until—
A golden chain suddenly snaked out from behind Menma, tracing an elegant arc in the air.
"This is...!"
Misaki's pupils suddenly constricted. As an Uzumaki Clan member, she was all too familiar with it—the shining chain, the unique Chakra fluctuations...
"Adamantine Sealing Chains..."
She uttered the name of this secret clan Ninjutsu, the light of the chains reflecting on her pale face, illuminating her wide, astonished eyes.