Chapter 26: Leaving The Orphanage
Outside the Konoha Orphanage, the children’s playful laughter drifted with the wind.
Shikamaru Yamanaka and Mr. Kado stood not far away, their gazes sweeping over this group of carefree figures.
Shikamaru Yamanaka placed one hand on his hip and said, “Mr. Kado, these children are all from Konoha and the surrounding war orphans, with clean backgrounds. Whether they have ninja talent still needs further testing.”
He was the person in charge of this negotiation with Mr. Kado and the subsequent adoption procedures.
Shikamaru Yamanaka, a chunin from the Yamanaka family, was 15 years old now. During the Fourth Great Ninja War more than a decade later, he formed a team with Nara Shiosui and Naoki to assist Kakashi in battling the reanimated Zabuza and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
“No problem. Actually, requiring ninja talent was my own strict demand.” At this moment, Mr. Kado had a kindly face, far from the ruthless demeanor he showed when dominating commerce.
“Then let’s go visit the director first.” Shikamaru Yamanaka said as he walked toward the orphanage.
Mr. Kado also followed closely behind with a bodyguard.
After approaching the orphanage, the small eyes under Mr. Kado’s sunglasses narrowed slightly as he scanned every orphan, searching for the target assigned by ‘that lord’.
But after searching this group of orphans for a long time, he still didn’t find the child described by ‘that lord’.
‘Strange, could he not be here?’ Mr. Kado frowned inwardly.
Suddenly, a lonely figure under a big tree in the distance caught Mr. Kado’s attention.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, mottledly sprinkling on the grass. The child under the shade of the tree was alone fiddling with the doll in his hand, as if isolated from the world.
That indifferent expression and alienated demeanor were almost identical to ‘that lord’.
Mr. Kado involuntarily walked over.
Crunch—
Menma had actually seen Mr. Kado when he first arrived, but to avoid drawing attention from others, he hadn’t deliberately guided Mr. Kado.
After Mr. Kado reached the shade of the tree, he slowly raised his head. His childish little face showed a calmness beyond his years: “You’re here. How are the preparations?”
This familiar tone reminded Mr. Kado of ‘that lord’s’ instructions.
‘You will find a child named Menma at the Konoha Orphanage. He is a member of the organization, at a higher level than you. Your task is to settle him well.’
Mr. Kado had originally thought it was a teenage orphan with high ninja talent who had been recruited into the organization.
After all, ‘that lord’ himself had destroyed half of the Cloud Village, and the subdued Kakuzu had also displayed terrifying combat power while protecting him.
But the child before him looked only three or four years old, still childish, yet clutching a dark red fox doll wearing a creepy mask.
Was this really the target assigned by ‘that lord’?
So Mr. Kado tentatively said, “The house and branch company have been arranged properly.”
“Let’s go.” Menma stood up, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
“Yes.” Mr. Kado finally confirmed—this child was indeed the one ‘that lord’ wanted him to find.
In front of the orphanage.
“Menma!” The acting director Yunna placed both hands on her hips, standing with Shikamaru Yamanaka. Her eyes looking at Menma were full of helplessness.
This child was always so aloof and unsociable, making people worry.
“So his name is Menma.” Mr. Kado nodded to Shikamaru Yamanaka and said, “I have a good rapport with this child. It’ll be him.”
Shikamaru Yamanaka was slightly surprised. He had just found the acting director Yunna, and unexpectedly Mr. Kado had already found a suitable candidate.
His orange eyebrows raised slightly as he glanced at the child next to Mr. Kado holding the fox doll.
Yunna hurriedly explained, “Menma is an orphan from three years ago. His personality is quite aloof; I’m afraid he might not be suitable…”
Three years ago…
Hearing this information, Shikamaru Yamanaka recalled that terrifying orange-red Nine-Tails Fox Demon.
After that day, the village had many more orphans.
Shikamaru Yamanaka’s attitude toward Menma softened a bit. He squatted down, took out a piece of chakra paper from his pocket, and said to Menma, “Little friend, come try this.”
Menma expressionlessly took the square chakra paper and tried channeling fire release chakra.
Soon, the top of the test paper began to burn.
“It’s fire release.” Shikamaru Yamanaka wasn’t surprised. Most of the orphans here were war orphans from Konoha and the Land of Fire; having talent was normal.
So he stood up and said to the acting director Yunna, “Then, this child it is.”
“But…” Yunna was still a bit worried. Menma was too young, and his personality was too aloof.
“Aunt Yunna, let me go.” Menma looked up at Yunna and said softly.
Although Menma was the youngest among the more than twenty children at the orphanage, at this moment, he gave Yunna the feeling of facing an adult.
For some reason, Yunna always had the sense that Menma didn’t belong in the orphanage.
In the end, Yunna sighed deeply, leading the orphanage children to see Menma off as he was taken away.
“Menma! Remember to come back to see us!” Aqi, the oldest among the children, shouted loudly.
The other children also waved their hands one after another, their eyes full of reluctance.
Menma slightly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Aqi and those orphans, recalling his agreement with Kabuto Yakushi.
“I will.” Menma answered softly.
After leaving the orphanage, Mr. Kado and Shikamaru Yamanaka took Menma to the administrative center next to the Hokage Building to complete the adoption registration and other procedures.
With special approval from Hokage-sama, everything went smoothly all the way, and the adoption procedures were completed quickly.
Mr. Kado brought Menma back to the mansion he had just bought in Konoha.
“Master!” The servants of the mansion bowed one after another.
“Mmm, all of you withdraw.” Mr. Kado waved his hand.
The servants all withdrew.
In the room, only Menma and Mr. Kado remained.
“We don’t need so many servants; keep two for daily care.” A voice both familiar and awe-inspiring to Mr. Kado came from the shadows.
Mr. Kado turned around abruptly, only to see ‘that lord’ wearing a mask slowly emerging from the shadows.
“I thought you’d be quicker. You made me wait so long.” ‘Menma’ looked at his original body and didn’t hesitate to complain.
The original body Menma didn’t say anything to his clone, just looked at Mr. Kado and said, “You go out first.”
“Yes!” Mr. Kado respectfully complied.
As he was about to withdraw, ‘that lord’s’ voice came from behind again: “Actions inside Konoha Village will follow Menma’s arrangements.”
“Yes!” Mr. Kado bowed again and slowly exited the room.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Mr. Kado quietly waited outside the door.
Inside the room.
“Alright, hurry and dispel the shadow clone jutsu. Staying at the orphanage was suffocating.” The clone Menma pursed his lips.
The original body Menma formed hand seals: “Release!”
Poof!
A puff of smoke dispersed, and the clone Menma vanished. A large amount of memories surged into the original body Menma’s mind.
Along with it, Menma also dispelled the transformation jutsu, returning to the appearance of a three-year-old child.
“By the timing, Orochimaru should be defecting soon.” Menma walked to the window and opened it.
From here, he could see the Hokage Building and Hokage Rock in the distance.
The face of the Fourth Hokage was particularly conspicuous in Menma’s eyes.
