The Capital of the Land of Bears.
A woman with her hair tied in a blue, crystalline bun walked alongside a towering, misshapen man. Together, they navigated the road leading into the city.
"This city... it truly has no walls?" Guren mused, watching the steady flow of travelers as the city's silhouette sharpened in the distance.
She had wandered the shinobi world for years, yet this was the first time she had encountered a major settlement without fortifications. In a world plagued by constant strife, whether it was a capital city, a hidden village, or even a small hamlet, defensive walls or palisades were a universal constant. In prosperous cities, slums usually clustered outside the gates, seeking the scraps of security provided by the core.
After all, in this chaotic era, the larger the city, the safer it tended to be. Major urban centers were rarely the targets of direct shinobi warfare.
"Sister Guren, how are we supposed to deliver Lord Orochimaru's message?" Gozu asked. His small, dull eyes were sunken deep into his skull, and his voice carried a wooden, sluggish tone.
Guren, draped in a high-collared green coat, gave a soft snort. Her gaze swept toward several Star Shinobi approaching at high speeds. She crossed her arms over her chest. "If this 'Shura' is truly here, we simply speak his name."
Whish—
Three Star Shinobi dropped from the sky, kunai drawn as they formed a tense perimeter around Guren and Gozu.
"Identify yourselves and state your business, strangers!" the lead shinobi barked.
Nearby travelers and merchants quickly scattered, leaving the stretch of road eerily empty within seconds.
"We are here on orders to find Lord Shura," Guren said simply, her lips curving into a thin smile.
Upon hearing the title 'Lord Shura,' the expressions of the three shinobi shifted from aggression to guarded respect. "On whose orders?"
Seeing that they didn't deny his presence, Guren knew she had found the right place. "On the orders of Lord Orochimaru."
The lead shinobi exchanged a quick glance with his subordinates.
Soon, Guren and Gozu were escorted into the Star Village—or more accurately, the Star Base.
As they walked, Guren observed the architecture. A river split the city in two, creating a stark contrast. To the west lay a vast plain dotted with civilian housing and bustling residential districts. In the far distance, civilians were busy constructing irrigation systems during their downtime from the fields.
To the east, however, the buildings were dominated by a sterile, off-white aesthetic. Most of those moving between the structures were either ninjas or officials in crisp, matching uniforms.
Karin located one of Menma's shadow clones to report the situation.
"Orochimaru's people?" The shadow clone remained stationed here specifically for communication, listening to reports from Karin and Gato regarding administration and construction.
"Let them in," Menma's clone muttered after a moment's thought. He donned his white, three-eyed fox mask and took his seat at the head of the hall.
As Guren and Gozu were led inside, a pressure even more suffocating than Orochimaru's washed over them, forcing them both to one knee.
Guren fought to maintain her composure before the mysterious masked man. She held up a scroll with a steady hand. "Lord Shura, Lord Orochimaru commanded us to deliver this to you."
Menma signaled for Karin to take the scroll. He noted that since these two hadn't buckled under his killing intent, their strength was likely approaching the Jonin level. He vaguely recalled them being sent by Orochimaru to capture the Three-Tails alongside a young boy.
That snake has a sharp intuition, Menma thought.
He surmised that as soon as word of the upheaval in the Land of Bears reached the outside world, Orochimaru had guessed exactly who was pulling the strings. But sending Guren suggested this was about more than just delivering mail.
Menma opened the scroll.
In the message, Orochimaru mentioned that his research into the Iburi Clan had reached a breakthrough. However, his supply of tissue and hair samples had run dry. He invited Menma to the Land of Rice Fields to collect the results and deliver fresh samples.
Furthermore, Orochimaru expressed interest in establishing a permanent research outpost in the Land of Bears, citing a fascination with the toxic gases of Hell Valley and the village's fallen star. Finally, he mentioned an upcoming journey to the Hidden Mist Village and extended an invitation for Menma to join him.
Just as I thought. Menma closed the scroll and looked down at Guren.
He remembered her as one of Orochimaru's most loyal subordinates and a former candidate for the Living Corpse Reincarnation. She was eventually passed over for other vessels and became a base commander before eventually going into hiding.
"There is no need for a separate outpost. I will arrange a laboratory for you within our own facilities," Menma stated. His voice left no room for argument. He had no intention of letting Orochimaru run an uncontrolled black site on his doorstep, likely filled with gruesome human experiments.
"..." Guren opened her mouth to protest, but the sheer weight of the pressure emanating from the man silenced her. She bowed her head. "As you wish, my Lord."
After Karin led the duo away, Menma headed into the depths of the base.
Deep underground, the Iburi Clan—who had been fully relocated—were busily constructing their new home.
"Lord Shura!" Cheers erupted as Menma entered their level.
The conditions here were infinitely better than the damp caves they once inhabited. They had a modern city right above them and a steady stream of supplies. Yet, a lingering sense of guilt haunted the clan. Their unstable bloodline prevented them from walking in the sun, and they felt they couldn't repay the man who saved them.
Gotta and Yukimi stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Lord Shura, what are your instructions?"
"Orochimaru's research into your bloodline has made progress," Menma said. "I need fresh samples—blood, skin cells, and hair."
At the mention of Orochimaru, Gotta's expression soured, but the hope of walking in the sun outweighed his distaste. He immediately gathered the clansmen.
Menma collected the samples into glass vials. Since the relocation, his own shadow clones had been studying the Iburi bloodline, but his progress was slow compared to Orochimaru's clinical, often depraved, efficiency.
"We humbly see you off, Lord Shura!"
As he left, Gotta led the entire clan in kneeling, their eyes following the silhouette of the "Asura" until it vanished into the corridor.