Chapter 88: Orochimaru’s Invitation
Capital City of the Land of Bears.
A woman with blue spiky hair and a tall, ugly-faced man walked side by side on the road leading into the city.
“This city doesn’t even have walls?” The blue-haired woman gazed at the pedestrians coming and going on the road and the gradually clarifying city outline, unable to help but express some emotion.
She had wandered the Ninja World for many years, yet this was the first time she had seen a city without walls.
In the war-torn Ninja World, whether capital cities, large cities, small villages, or even ninja villages, they all basically had defensive structures like walls or fences protecting the core area.
In some prosperous cities, there were even simple thatched huts built outside the walls, forming slums.
After all, in this chaotic world, larger cities often meant greater safety.
At least they wouldn’t easily be drawn into wars, and ninja wars rarely launched attacks on cities.
“Big Sister Guren, how should we convey Lord Orochimaru’s message?” The ugly man’s sunken eye sockets housed a pair of dull small eyes, his tone wooden.
Guren, draped in a green coat, snorted lightly, her gaze sweeping toward several Star Ninja speeding from not far away, arms crossed over her chest: “If that Lord Shura is really here, we’ll just say it directly.”
Whoosh—
The three Star Ninja landed abruptly, kunai drawn, forming a standoff with Guren and the other.
“State your identities and intentions, unidentified ninja!” The lead Star Ninja warned sharply.
The surrounding pedestrians and travelers scattered upon seeing this, and in an instant, this stretch of road was deserted.
“We were ordered to seek Lord Shura.” Guren’s red lips parted lightly, directly stating their purpose.
Upon hearing the title “Lord Shura,” the three Star Ninja’s expressions grew solemn: “Ordered by whom?”
Seeing they did not deny it, Guren knew she had found the right place and said directly: “Lord Orochimaru’s command.”
The lead Star Ninja gave his companion a look.
Soon, Guren and Gozu were escorted by them into the Hoshigakure Base, or rather, the Star Ninja Village.
Along the way, Guren observed the surrounding buildings and situation, noticing a river that divided the city in two, creating a stark contrast.
To the west of the river, the vast plains were dotted with civilian buildings and large residential areas, with some busy folk in the distant fields seemingly repairing water facilities during the off-season.
To the east of the river, meanwhile, were building complexes dominated by gray-white colors, frequented by ninja and officials in uniform attire.
Uzumaki Kushina found one of Menma’s shadow clones and reported the situation.
“Lord Orochimaru’s people?” This shadow clone of Menma was left here specifically for communication.
Normally, it mainly listened to reports from Uzumaki Kushina, Kado, and others on government affairs and construction, then issued commands and instructions.
“Let them in.” Menma pondered briefly, donned the White Three-Eyed Fox Mask, and sat on the main seat.
When Guren and Gozu were brought in, an oppressive aura even stronger than Orochimaru’s hit them head-on, forcing the two to their knees on one leg.
Seeing the mysterious masked man seated on the main seat, Guren forced herself to stay composed and presented a scroll: “Lord Shura, by Lord Orochimaru’s command, we deliver this scroll to you.”
Menma signaled Uzumaki Kushina to take the scroll, pondering inwardly that these two had not lost composure under his pressure, estimating their strength was close to jonin level.
Recalling carefully, these two seemed to be the ones Orochimaru sent out with a kid to capture the Three-Tails.
They needed some strength for that.
‘Orochimaru, that guy, his judgment is pretty accurate.’
Menma figured that when news of the drastic changes in the Land of Bears’ Star Ninja Village spread, Orochimaru had already guessed who was behind it.
But sending Guren here was certainly not just for passing a message.
Menma took the scroll from Uzumaki Kushina’s hand and opened it for a look.
In the scroll, Orochimaru mentioned that research on the Iburi Clan had achieved some breakthrough progress, but previously stored flesh and blood tissue, hair, and such from the Iburi Clan had been used up, asking him to go to the Land of Fields for the research achievements while delivering some flesh and blood tissue and hair.
Secondly, Orochimaru hoped to establish a base in the Land of Bears; he was interested in the Hell Valley poison gas and the meteorite in the Star Ninja Village and wanted to study them.
Finally, Orochimaru intended to head to Kirigakure and extended an invitation to join him.
‘As expected.’ Menma put away the scroll and looked down at Guren.
He vaguely remembered her as one of Orochimaru’s subordinates, a backup vessel candidate, though later other vessels appeared, so she was never used.
She seemed to be the head of one of Orochimaru’s bases, and after failing to capture the Three-Tails, she went into hiding with a kid.
She even visited Konoha during Naruto’s wedding.
“No need for a separate base; I’ll directly arrange an experimental building for you.” Menma stated unequivocally.
He didn’t want any uncontrolled bases on his turf, who knows what human experiments might be inside.
“…” Guren opened her mouth as if to speak but held back, ultimately awed by the mysterious masked man’s pressure, and could only lower her head: “Yes, Lord.”
Menma surmised that Orochimaru wanted to establish a liaison point here, so he sent Guren, once the top candidate for Impure World Reincarnation.
After having Uzumaki Kushina lead Guren and Gozu away, Menma also headed to the depths of the base.
In the deepest underground level of this base, the relocated Iburi Clan was fervently building their new home.
“Lord Shura!” When Menma arrived at the Iburi Clan’s underground floor, he was met with enthusiastic cheers.
The conditions here were far better than the tree holes they used to dig, and with a city on the surface, supplies were plentiful and delivered right to them.
But this constant taking without giving back left the Iburi Clan with some faint worries, as their unstable bloodline limit prevented activity under sunlight.
The guilt of being unable to serve and repay Lord Shura lingered in their hearts.
Gōta and Yukimi had also changed into new clothes and stepped forward respectfully: “Lord, what are your orders!”
“Orochimaru’s research on your clan’s bloodline limit has made some progress. I need some blood, skin cells, hair samples, and such from your clan.” Menma stated his purpose directly.
Hearing it was progress on Orochimaru’s research, Gōta showed disgust but, since it was for their clan to walk in sunlight, immediately gathered the clan members.
Menma collected their blood, skin tissue, and hair, storing them in test tubes.
Since the Iburi Clan’s relocation, Menma’s shadow clones had also been researching their bloodline limit, though progress was slow, far from the speed of Orochimaru’s mad dissections.
“Escort Lord Shura!” At parting, Gōta led the entire clan in kneeling on one knee, watching Lord Shura’s figure disappear down the hallway.
