Chapter 19: I’m Here To Deliver Local Specialties!
Central Mountains of the Land of Lightning, shrouded in clouds and mist.
The rugged mountain road wound upward through the peaks, and a merchant caravan consisting of over a dozen horse carriages was slowly advancing along the path.
The surrounding peaks were steep, the terrain treacherous, the climate humid and perpetually enveloped in thick fog. Without familiarity with the landscape, it was easy to get lost.
“Oi, kid, we’re almost at the Cloud Village.” On one horse carriage, the dark-skinned merchant Joey called out, tilting his head back.
His eyes were somewhat vacant as he gazed at the black-haired boy lying on the roof of the carriage, fiddling with a small fox.
This little fox had a mask over its head, with a “three” mark on its forehead.
“Thanks, Uncle Joey.” Menma put away the Nine-Face Fox and flipped down from the carriage.
This merchant caravan was composed of several small merchant caravans. Because the Cloud Village was located deep in the Central Mountains of the Land of Lightning, with treacherous terrain shrouded in clouds and mist, it was hard for outsiders to find.
Thus, Menma had used Kado Company’s trade routes to find a small merchant caravan heading to the Cloud Village and had subjected its leader to an Illusion Technique.
Soon, the merchant caravan arrived at the village entrance gate of the Cloud Village.
Two Cloud Village ninjas guarded it, registering and recording the commoners and ninjas entering and exiting the village.
Menma jumped down from the horse carriage and gazed from afar at the Cloud Village hidden in the clouds.
Amid the swirling clouds and mist between the peaks, elliptical platforms were built against the mountains, enveloping the peaks and forming a highly unique building complex.
The villagers mostly lived inside these elliptical buildings.
Further away, one could faintly see a gourd-shaped building hanging upside down in the thick fog, appearing and disappearing.
“What’s your name? What are you here in the Cloud Village for?” The guard’s voice interrupted Menma’s observation.
“I’m called Danzō, no family name.” Menma grinned, disguising himself with Naruto’s cheerful personality.
Anyway, Lord Pot Shadow wouldn’t mind a few more black pots.
He pointed his thumb at the merchants behind him and said, “This time I’m traveling with Uncle Joey to sell goods from the Land of Tea, and along the way to thank a Cloud Village ninja.”
“Danzō, huh?” One of the Cloud Village ninjas quickly sketched Menma’s appearance and then registered it.
“What’s the name of the ninja you’re thanking, or any characteristics? Maybe I know him.” The other Cloud Village ninja felt some goodwill toward this kid who kept talking about thanking a Cloud Village ninja.
“Uh, he looks a bit fierce and menacing, dark skin, head wrapped in bandages.” Menma recalled and said.
This answer made the gate guard ninjas shake their heads helplessly: “With just that description, it’ll be hard to find him. There are plenty of people dressed like that in the Cloud Village.”
“No problem, I brought some local specialties from home. If we can’t find him, I’ll just give them out randomly.” Menma pointed to the horse carriages behind.
The Cloud Village guards at the village entrance didn’t investigate further, just registered them and let the caravan pass.
After entering the Cloud Village, Menma separated from the merchant caravan and headed familiarly toward the Raiden Building where the Raiden worked.
During his time in the Limited Tsukuyomi World, he had also traveled the Ninja World for many years, visiting many ninja villages. Most of the roads and buildings in the Cloud Village matched his memories.
yo~yo~yo~yo~yo~
As he climbed a staircase toward a platform, music came from above.
‘No way, this coincidence?’ Menma’s expression twitched.
“Been training since morning~ Stomach’s super hungry~”
“My favorite, rap-lovin’ me~”
“Lunch decided: chicken sukiyaki~”
“yesh! yesh! yesh!”
When Menma reached the large platform, he saw Killer Bee holding a microphone on a high stage, loudly rapping.
Two Cloud Village ninjas beside him were forcing smiles and clapping along.
The surrounding villagers whispered among themselves, trying to take detours.
‘I remember in the Limited Tsukuyomi World, Killer Bee was a super popular big singing star.’ Listening to Killer Bee’s off-key rap, Menma actually missed the Killer Bee from the Limited Tsukuyomi World.
“Hey hey~ yo~ kid over there~”
“First time in the Cloud Village? yo~”
Perhaps due to the Tails’ attraction, Killer Bee suddenly noticed Menma not far away. His gaze behind the sunglasses locked on, and he called out loudly.
The two Cloud Village ninjas with Killer Bee also looked over, becoming alert upon seeing an unfamiliar face.
“Hello, I’m a merchant from the Land of Tea, brought some local specialties to thank a Cloud Village ninja who helped me.” Menma walked up proactively.
“Didn’t expect a rap show here.”
Menma added another sentence.
Making the two Cloud Village ninjas couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Killer Bee, like finding a kindred spirit, did a big jump, flipped in the air, and landed steadily in front of Menma.
He gestured with his hands and said in rap cadence: “Yo~ kid, good taste~”
“Wanna come to my~ personal concert~”
Killer Bee had been restricted from leaving the village by the Fourth Raiden for many years. Normally, aside from training in Cloud-Thunder Gorge, he was doing rap.
Though people in the Cloud Village didn’t discriminate against jinchūriki as much as in Konohagakure and the Sand Village, after becoming a jinchūriki, Killer Bee still faced quite a bit of exclusion, even assassination attempts by former companions, and his rap was too annoying and hard to listen to.
“Maybe next time, I need to check the village mission center.” Menma scratched his head, politely declining Killer Bee’s invitation.
The other two Cloud Village ninjas also walked over.
One asked: “Who are you looking for?”
“I don’t know his name, just a rough appearance.” Menma repeated what he had said at the village entrance.
After hearing Menma’s explanation, this Cloud Village ninja frowned: “Finding someone by such a vague description won’t be easy.”
Ninjas valued intelligence highly. Searching directly by appearance like Menma was easy to get targeted by the Cloud Village.
Clearly, these two had grown suspicious of Menma.
“No problem. If we can’t find him, I’ll leave the specialties at the mission center, as thanks to the Cloud Village.” Menma smiled openly, giving the impression of a sunny, cheerful boy.
The village mission centers were basically around the village leader’s building, the area with the most ninja activity. The two Cloud Village ninjas weren’t worried about trouble inside the village.
After all, in all the years since the Cloud Village was founded, no one had ever caused trouble inside the village.
With the Raiden’s hot temper, hearing anything, he’d probably smash through a window and beat people.
Moreover, Cloud Village ninjas were renowned for their ferocity.
As one of the Five Great Nations, the Cloud Village’s strength was evident, having fought Konoha for so long.
Killer Bee and the other two didn’t force Menma to stay, stepping aside to let him pass, watching his departing back.
“Yo yo~ Brought thank-you gifts?” For some reason, as he watched the black-haired boy disappear into the clouds and mist, Killer Bee felt a vague unease.
“Bee! This guy’s suspicious!” Suddenly, in Killer Bee’s spirit world, the Eight-Tails Gyūki issued a warning.
Boom!
An explosion suddenly rocked the nearby Raiden Building!
A thick plume of black smoke slowly rose amid the cloud-shrouded peaks!
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