Rain drummed incessantly on the carriage roof, a continuous drone like an endless lament.
The damp, chilly air seeped into every inch of space, mingling with the scent of dust and the faint mustiness of the cargo.
Menma hid in the shadow of the piled sacks, his presence suppressed to that of an inanimate object. The perception of his Mind's Eye of Kagura spread out from him like invisible ripples, 'reflecting' the chaotic slaughter outside directly into his mind.
The ferocity of the bandits, the resistance of the Amegakure's Ninjas, the terrified wails of the refugees.
And that purple-haired girl hiding behind the overturned wagon, nervously throwing shuriken.
Her Chakra was weak but clear, like a stubborn glimmer of light in the gloomy rain.
Menma watched her precise shuriken suppressing the enemy, saw her frown anxiously when her comrades were injured, and watched her finally work with the other Ninja to repel the bandits.
The fight ended. Rain washed the blood from the ground.
The other Amegakure's Ninjas began silently looting money and tools from the corpses, keeping to themselves, not interfering with each other.
Only the purple-haired girl, after quickly checking the bandit she had dealt with, rummaged through his pack and pulled out a few shriveled rice balls and a hard bean cake.
She hesitated, her gaze sweeping over the refugees huddled among the ruins, their eyes vacant, especially the few sallow, emaciated children.
She pressed her lips together and finally walked over, quietly slipping the rough food into their hands.
"Eat..." Her voice was low, almost drowned by the rain.
A middle-aged Amegakure's Ninja counting silver coins noticed her action and sneered. "Ajisai, playing the good samaritan again? You can't save them all. People die every day in this damned place. Better to spend your time pocketing a few more coins."
Ajisai didn't turn around or argue. She just silently finished distributing the last of the food, kicked the empty pack aside as if to block out the gazes, stood up, and became the slightly tense young Kunoichi again.
She walked over to the caravan leader and spoke with him in low tones.
Soon, the caravan moved on.
Menma withdrew his perception, his figure blending into the cargo shadows as the bumpy carriage gradually approached Amegakure.
The village was shrouded by massive pipes and towers, never seeing sunlight, the very rain carrying the taste of rust and oppression.
The caravan entered a spacious but worn-looking warehouse district.
Menma took advantage of the porters unloading to slip to the back of a warehouse, behind a pile of discarded building materials where the mixed scents made hiding easier.
He sat down cross-legged again and closed his eyes.
The power of his Mind's Eye of Kagura expanded fully, like an incredibly fine, invisible net slowly enveloping the entire Amegakure.
Countless points of Chakra lit up in his perception.
Most were weak as candle flames… ordinary villagers and low-level Ninja.
A few were brighter, like torches, scattered at patrol points and watchtowers throughout the village.
And deep within the central black tower, a powerful, cold, venomous Chakra, like a coiled serpent, resided, surrounded by a dozen elite guards. Clearly, that was Hanzo's lair.
His perception extended further down and out.
Underground, within the intricate pipe system, several abnormally powerful Chakra Signatures appeared.
One was cold, vast, with a godlike indifference, faintly resonating with the surroundings… the Deva Path.
Nearby were several slightly weaker but still prominent points. One had a sharp, light quality like paper… Konan.
The others had varied auras, savage, cold… likely other Akatsuki's members.
"Hmm?" Menma's perception paused as it passed over one particular Chakra, cold, slippery, with a reptilian scent.
'Orochimaru?'
'He works fast. As expected, he couldn't resist his greed for the Rinnegan. He's already infiltrated them.'
He carefully marked the locations of these key targets and began a more detailed search.
His perception combed through every corner of Amegakure like a fine-toothed comb, searching for any Chakra that might carry Otsutsuki traits or was abnormally deep and obscure.
Yet, after several sweeps, he found nothing.
'As expected... To have evaded Kaguya's search and hidden in the Ninja World for a millennium, unknown even to the Sage brothers and Black Zetsu, his concealment ability must be top-tier. Either he's not in Amegakure right now, or he has a special method to completely block Chakra Perception.'
Menma frowned.
Jigen, having hidden for a thousand years, must possess extremely high-level concealment, perhaps not solely based on Chakra Hiding.
So he switched targets, starting to look for clues possibly related to the [Kara] organization, specifically the scientist Amado.
'According to the original timeline, Amado should already be obsessed with cloning technology due to his daughter Akebi's death, and receiving funding from Jigen. To support money-burning research like cloning, he must have a substantial economic base and a hidden laboratory.'
Just as Menma was concentrating on this thought, his Mind's Eye of Kagura detected a Chakra Fluctuation approaching the warehouse he was in.
The fluctuation was weak, at the Genin-level, and...
It was familiar.
Clear and weak. It was the girl called Ajisai.
'The Animal Path girl? What is she doing here?' Menma's interest was piqued.
This was good timing. He needed to leave the warehouse anyway to find some Amegakure's Ninja for more valuable intelligence. Hiding here forever wasn't an option.
Menma quickly formed hand seals and performed the Transformation Technique.
A puff of white smoke, and his form changed into that of a boy around eleven or twelve, dressed in rags, with a pale, undernourished face… the very image of a wandering orphan common in the Land of Rain.
He suppressed all his powerful aura and curled up in the shadow of a cargo crate, waiting.
From the direction of the warehouse door came the sound of a lock turning with a key, followed by the groan of the door being pulled open.
Ajisai walked in carrying several heavy-looking wooden boxes. She seemed to be helping move supplies.
Rain had dampened her purple, drooping curls, and water droplets clung to her hair buns.
After putting down the boxes, she wiped sweat from her temple and turned, spotting the boy Menma was disguised as in the corner.
She visibly started, then looked around warily. Finding only him, she relaxed slightly but frowned.
"You..." She whispered, stepping closer quickly. "Are you from the refugee group earlier? How did you get in here? Do you have a death wish! If the patrol finds you, you're dead!"
The boy Menma was playing just shrank back, his lips moving silently.
Seeing this, a flicker of pity crossed Ajisai's eyes.
She sighed, her tone softening. "Are you hungry?"
She put down the boxes and felt around in the pouch at the small of her back, pulling out a small cloth bundle containing three oil-paper-wrapped rice balls that looked rather dry.
She hesitated, then held out two.
"Here, take them. Eat quickly. After you finish, find a way to get out of here. You really can't stay." Her voice was soft, urging. "Squeeze out through that broken vent over there. The alley outside is rarely used. You should be able to get out if you're careful... Don't get caught."
Menma looked up at the rice balls offered to him, then at the girl's face, filled with concern and kindness.
He suddenly let out a soft chuckle, the sound abrupt in the empty warehouse.
Ajisai was stunned.
The next moment, her vision blurred!
The boy who had been cowering in the corner vanished like a ghost. An irresistible force gripped the pressure point on the back of her neck. Her Chakra instantly stagnated, her whole body went numb, and she was lifted lightly into the air.
"You...!" Ajisai's eyes widened in terror, only managing a short syllable.
In barely two breaths, the dizzying sensation vanished. She found herself thrown onto a cold, slippery rooftop, positioned very high, overlooking the twisted silhouette of much of Amegakure.
The black-haired boy stood before her. The panicked, blank expression was gone, replaced by a disconcerting calm and scrutiny.
Rain fell on him but strangely didn't wet his clothes, as if an invisible barrier existed.
"You... who are you?" Ajisai's voice trembled. She tried to get up and reach for a kunai, but her body felt weak, and immense fear gripped her.
'This speed, this strength...'
'He was definitely a terrifying enemy!'
Menma didn't answer, just looked at her with interest, his gaze sweeping over the Amegakure's forehead protector and her unique purple training clothes. "How long have you been a Ninja?"
Ajisai bit her lower lip, her face pale, but she tried to straighten her thin back. She closed her eyes, stiffened her neck, and said, "Don't... don't waste your effort! I won't say anything! Just kill me!"
Seeing her bluster, putting on a brave front yet trembling uncontrollably, Menma found it somewhat amusing.
He took a step forward, his boot making a soft sound on the waterlogged roof.
Raindrops densely beat on the rooftop shed the two were on, splashing in the puddles.
"You weren't so brave when you were giving food to the refugees," He said flatly, his tone unreadable.
Ajisai's eyes snapped open, staring at him with shock and doubt. "You... how do you know? You were in the caravan?"
She immediately realized he must have been lurking nearby, watching her earlier actions clearly.
Menma neither confirmed nor denied, just continued asking, "Life isn't easy for Genin like you in Amegakure, is it? Who do you fear more, Hanzo's men or the Akatsuki?"
Ajisai pressed her lips tighter, enduring her fear. She closed her eyes, a hint of resolve in her voice. "Guh... Just kill me!"
Menma wasn't in a hurry. Watching the girl, so clearly terrified yet putting on a tough front, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
'This girl was more interesting than I'd expected.'
'Perhaps I could learn something about Amegakure from her.'
He had initially planned to use a Genjutsu on Ajisai, but this child was too pure, so much so that Menma felt a bit reluctant to do it.
Rain continued to beat rapidly and icily on the iron shed atop the high tower.
Ajisai sat slumped on the ground. Rain, blown in by the wind, soaked her purple training clothes, outlining her thin shoulders.
She kept her eyes shut, teeth clenched, waiting for the expected pain or death.
However, the expected pain didn't come. Instead, there was an almost inaudible soft sigh, carrying a hint of... pity?
She trembled and opened her eyes. The mysterious boy had turned his back to her, looking out at the village's hazy, twisted silhouette in the rain.
His profile, in the gloomy light, looked exceptionally calm, even somewhat bored.
"Your Chakra," He suddenly spoke, his voice cutting evenly through the rain, "And the courage you show, aren't suited for this place."
Ajisai was stunned, not understanding.
Menma didn't elaborate. He just turned and walked towards the stairwell, gesturing for Ajisai to follow.
"Come on, follow me."
Ajisai hesitated. The other party seemed to have no immediate intention of harming her, and his earlier mysterious speed made escape seem futile.
She bit her lip and finally chose to follow.
Menma seemed quite familiar with Amegakure's underground structure. He led Ajisai through a maze of pipes and condensation-dripping alleyways, finally arriving at a noisy, bustling place.
The air was thick with the smells of cooking oil, cheap tobacco, damp clothes, and human sweat.
Overhead were crisscrossing thick pipes dripping condensation. Below was a crowded flow of people, stalls lining the edges of a wide underground space, brightly lit and bustling with noise.
This was Amegakure's underground market, a gathering place for the poor, Rogue Ninja, and black-market merchants.
Menma led Ajisai into an inconspicuous ramen shop in a corner.
The greasy cloth curtain couldn't block the rich aroma of bone broth.
He lifted the curtain, found the table deepest in the shadows, and gestured for her to sit opposite. "Relax. I'm treating you to something to eat."
Ajisai, still shaken, her hands and feet cold, instinctively obeyed, shrinking on the stool like a frightened bird.
"Two bowls of tonkotsu ramen. Extra menma in one." Menma said to the approaching owner in a dirty apron, not consulting Ajisai.
He even pulled out a few bills bearing the Land of Rain's Daimyo from his pocket… clearly picked from some unfortunate soul.
"Please wait a moment, customers." The owner glanced at them, didn't ask questions, took the money with a smile, and left.
The small space was temporarily theirs alone.
The bubbling of the boiler and the distant market noise became the background.
Ajisai kept her head down, hands tightly clutching her soaked clothes, not daring to look at the person opposite.
"I'm not here to kill you, nor to spy on Amegakure's military secrets." Menma's voice broke the silence, surprisingly calm. "I'm looking for someone. A scientist named Amado. Have you heard of him?"
Ajisai looked up sharply, a flash of confusion in her eyes, then shook her head vigorously, her lips still trembling. "N-No. I've never heard that name."
Menma wasn't surprised. A scientist of Amado's level would inevitably keep a low profile.
He changed his approach. "Then, after we eat, take me around. Tell me, which companies in Amegakure are very large, especially those... involved in medicine or biological research."
"N-No! I can't!" Ajisai reacted as if scalded, her voice trembling but with a thread of stubbornness. "I can't... take you..."
"How many years has it been since Hanzo truly left that high tower?" Menma interrupted her, his gaze seeming to pierce her feigned composure. "He and his loyal followers, curled up at the peak of power, do they still care about you lower-level Ninja struggling in the mud, living day-to-day? Look at those refugees outside, look at those orphans. Their numbers grow every day. They die silently every day. Is an Amegakure like that worth protecting with your life?"
These words hit Ajisai like a hammer.
She was an orphan herself and knew the hardships of survival in the Land of Rain.
She remembered the vacant, longing eyes of the refugees when she distributed food, the nameless corpses by the roadside...
She fell silent, hands gripping her clothes tightly under the table.
Menma watched her struggling expression and continued, "If you get the chance, leave this place. Go to the Land of Stars. A kind-natured Ninja like you will die sooner or later if you stay in a place like Amegakure."
"Land of Stars?" Ajisai looked up sharply, her eyes wide with surprise. "You... you're a Star Ninja?"
Menma neither confirmed nor denied. Just then, the shop owner arrived with two steaming, fragrant bowls of tonkotsu ramen. The rich aroma of the broth temporarily dispelled the heaviness of their conversation.
"Sorry for the wait! Please enjoy!"
The steaming ramen aroma wafted over.
Menma picked up his chopsticks, looked at the milky white broth, chashu, soft-boiled egg, and green onions in the bowl, took a deep breath, and showed a satisfied expression. "What I love most is tasting ramen from different places. Each flavor represents a different culture and life."
He picked up a bundle of noodles, blew on them, and ate heartily, letting out a contented sigh.
This sudden, almost ordinary action inexplicably loosened Ajisai's taut nerves a little.
She sneaked a glance at him.
At this moment, Menma looked like an ordinary, hungry boy, completely different from the mysterious, abyss-like figure from before.
The food's aroma and her genuine hunger made Ajisai pick up her chopsticks too and take small bites.
Warm food in her stomach dispelled some of the chill and fear.
"And you?" Menma asked suddenly after swallowing a mouthful, his tone casual as if making small talk. "Besides being a Ninja, what do you like? Or, what do you want to do?"
Ajisai kept her head down, gently stirring the noodles in her bowl with her chopsticks. Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of longing. "I... I want to keep a pet."
"Oh?" Menma raised an eyebrow, seeming interested. "A cat? Or a dog? In a place like Amegakure, a Ninken might be more practical."
Ajisai shook her head slightly, her voice even softer, almost a bit embarrassed. "...I want to keep a panda."
"Pfft-" Menma almost choked on his soup. He looked up, somewhat stunned, at the girl opposite him, her face serious yet shy.
"A panda?" This answer was truly unexpected.
Pandas weren't exactly common pets.
'This girl's hobby... was quite unique.'
Ajisai seemed embarrassed by his reaction, her cheeks slightly red. She lowered her head again and explained quietly, "I saw one in a very old picture book once. I thought they were fluffy, cute, and very quiet..."
Menma looked at her and smiled. "Pandas are cats too, in a way."
'Perhaps that fluffy, seemingly peaceful creature could bring a bit of imagined warmth and companionship to her cold world.'
In the corner of the small ramen shop, only the faint sounds of them eating and the distant market bustle remained. The atmosphere became strangely peaceful for a moment.
…
Meanwhile, deep underground beneath a company bearing the sign [Regenerative Medicine], in an unknown corner of Amegakure.
Inside a laboratory filled with precision instruments and culture tanks, the lighting was cold.
Amado, wearing orange glasses and a white lab coat, stood before a large cylindrical glass tank.
The tank was filled with pale green nutrient fluid, soaking a clone that looked no different from a human girl of about seventeen or eighteen.
Amado adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses focused and calm as he recorded the data flickering on the instruments.
Suddenly, a piercing alarm shattered the laboratory's silence!
Several screens beside the tank instantly lit up with red lights, showing curves of vital signs plummeting.
Amado's brow furrowed instantly. His hands flew over the control panel, adjusting nutrient ratios, injecting emergency medication, trying to stabilize the clone's physiological indicators.
His movements were precise and swift, without a trace of panic, but the fine sweat on his temples betrayed his inner tension.
However, it was all in vain.
On the monitor screen, the heartbeat curve finally flatlined.
Immediately after, the clone's body began to visibly collapse, dissolve within the nutrient fluid...
Amado stopped all actions, slowly took off his glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingertips.
Only the persistent alarm of the instruments remained in the laboratory, exceptionally piercing.
He sighed deeply, leaning tiredly against the cold metal console, staring at the gradually clouding fluid. A trace of hard-to-conceal despair flashed in his eyes.
"Failed again..." He murmured, his voice echoing in the empty lab, filled with endless frustration.
But soon, he put his glasses back on. His eyes regained their previous calm and focus as he began clearing the experimental data, preparing for the next attempt.
That was the kind of person he was. He never complained, only buried failures deep inside and moved forward.
But his tightly pressed lips revealed that his heart was far less calm than it appeared.
The shadow of his daughter seemed to linger faintly in the failed clone.