The scent of blood at the shrine in the Land of Demons had not yet fully dissipated when a world-shaking piece of news swept across the western reaches of the shinobi world like a storm: Daimyo Hamahata Shun of the Land of Demons and his subordinate nobles had been completely slaughtered by a mysterious group of rebels.
Furthermore, Priestess Miroku—the living totem who symbolized a millennium of faith for her people—publicly announced that she was leading the entire Land of Demons to join the Land of Stars, a rebellious nation established less than a year ago that was already causing upheaval across the western continent!
When the news hit, it was like pouring boiling oil into an icy lake, triggering a massive explosion of controversy.
In the Capital of the Land of Demons, a city ravaged by Moryo's influence, the mixed scent of charred ruins and blood still lingered among the broken walls. The terrified citizens huddled under dilapidated eaves, watching blankly as columns of distinctly different shinobi marched into the city.
They wore unified deep-blue, near-black uniforms. Their movements were swift, their discipline strict, and their gazes sharp—yet they lacked the typical arrogance or indifference most shinobi displayed toward commoners.
These Star Shinobi quickly took over the remaining city defense systems, establishing checkpoints at collapsed gates and key points along the damaged walls. Their actions were clean and decisive, silently announcing the total collapse of the old order.
Following the shinobi units were groups of efficient personnel dressed in the civil service attire of the Land of Stars. Carrying vast numbers of scrolls, ledgers, and measuring tools, they ignored the anxious stares of the surviving local officials and quickly moved into the luxurious manors and government offices formerly belonging to the Daimyo and nobility.
Most of these mansions had been destroyed or looted during the unrest, but the civil servants paid it no mind. They set up temporary tents beside the ruins, lit lanterns, and began working through the night.
Counting the census, verifying land acreage, registering losses, tallying the population, and taking over the remaining supplies in the treasury—they functioned like a precise, high-efficiency machine. They began forcibly integrating the traumatized Land of Demons into the vastly different operational system of the Land of Stars.
The territory of the Land of Stars, like a hungry beast, instantly swallowed the vast lands of the Land of Demons.
Its population surged as well: the original 1.2 million citizens, combined with nearly 2 million from the Land of Demons, pushed the total population of the Land of Stars past the 3.2 million mark.
A medium-scale nation that could no longer be ignored on the shinobi map had taken shape!
While it still paled in comparison to the tens of millions within the Five Great Nations, it stood head and shoulders above the numerous small surrounding countries.
What made the rulers of neighboring lands even more restless was the immense influence wielded by Priestess Miroku herself. As the spiritual leader of the Land of Demons, she possessed a near-sacred prestige among the many small nations in the west with similar beliefs.
The ideologies promoted by the Land of Stars—"Abolish aristocratic privilege," "Equality between shinobi and commoners," and "Concentrate power to end the chaotic era"—spread like wildfire among the oppressed lower classes and frustrated minor shinobi clans.
Countless eyes turned toward that land said to have "no nobles and no exorbitant taxes." The seeds of unrest were quietly sown. The philosophy and system of the Land of Stars, like an invisible tide, began to seep silently into those small countries still firmly held in the grip of Daimyo and noble lords.
The news was a hurricane sweeping through the neighboring states. The Daimyo and nobles of small countries squeezed in the gaps between the Five Great Nations, who constantly worried about annexation, were horrified to find that the reach of the Land of Stars had not stopped.
The Land of Birds, the Land of Snow, the Land of Vegetables, the Land of Marshes…
Time slipped away amidst silent expansion and tense preparations.
At the beginning of the New Year in Konoha Year 56, a thin layer of snow covered the village.
As evening fell, wisps of cooking smoke rose, blending with the aroma of food wafting from various households, weaving a touch of warmth into the freezing air.
In Naruto's home, the stove was unusually active.
Warm yellow light glowed through the window, illuminating a sumptuous spread on the dining table: steaming miso soup, golden and crispy tempura, tender potato stew with beef, and a massive plate of gyoza piled high.
"Time to eat, Naruto," Menma said. He had already discarded all the trappings belonging to "Shura."
At this moment, he wore ordinary deep-blue, high-collared clothes. His black, spiky hair looked much softer under the indoor lighting.
"I'm digging in!" Naruto couldn't wait. He grabbed his chopsticks, his azure eyes sparkling, his small face radiant with pure happiness.
His cheeks were soon bulging, stuffed with gyoza, as he mumbled incoherently, "Menma-niichan makes the best gyoza!"
Menma sat across from Naruto, slowly sipping his soup. Watching Naruto's bright, sunny smile, the nerves he had kept taut for an entire year seemed to relax slightly.
A genuine curve formed at the corner of his mouth. "Eat slower. No one's going to steal it from you."
"Hehe." Naruto scratched his bright blonde hair sheepishly. "It just feels great to have a big New Year's meal with Menma-niichan! It feels like…"
His excited words came to an abrupt halt. The smile on Naruto's face dimmed for a fleeting second, but he quickly shook his head to dispel the gloom, hoisting a large, somewhat goofy grin again. "Yeah! It feels like home!"
In the past, Naruto could only watch other harmonious families with envy. But since meeting Menma, he felt as though he had found family, filling his life with joy and cheer.
Menma watched him quietly, noting that pure, almost stubborn yearning in Naruto's eyes and the faint loneliness hidden beneath the smile.
Deep within Menma's black eyes, a flicker of extremely complex emotion passed through—pity, the resolve to protect, and an unshakeable will.
He picked up a cup of tea nearby and took a light sip, temporarily suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart.
Naruto enjoyed the meal immensely, clearing the table like a whirlwind. By comparison, Menma's eating manner was far more refined.
Knock, knock, knock!
Outside the door, three steady, measured knocks rang out.
"Coming, coming!" Naruto sprang up like a coiled spring and raced to pull the door open.
The outside chill, carrying fine snowflakes, rushed into the room.
An old man stood at the entrance—the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He wore his white-and-red Hokage robes over thick indoor clothes, his chin adorned with a white goatee. He held a gift box wrapped neatly in colored paper. His face wore his habitual, kindly smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling with grandfatherly wrinkles.
He looked exactly like an ordinary old man coming to give a New Year's gift to his grandson.
"Old Man Third!" Naruto shouted in surprise, enthusiastically making way at the door. "Come in, come in! It's freezing outside!"
"Ho ho, Happy New Year, Naruto." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled as he stepped into the warm house. His gentle gaze swept over the room, eventually landing on Menma, who had stood up. For a split second, an indiscernible look of scrutiny flashed deep in his eyes.
Hiruzen could practically recite the background file of this orphan who often played with Naruto from memory. It was precisely because the boy was also a Konoha orphan that Hiruzen allowed them to associate.
"Oh, Menma is here too. Happy New Year," Hiruzen said warmly.
"Lord Hokage, Happy New Year." Menma bowed slightly. His movements were textbook, his attitude respectful—there wasn't a single flaw to be found.
His lowered eyelids perfectly masked all emotion.
"Good, good. It's a good year for everyone." Hiruzen handed the gift box to the eager Naruto. "Here, Naruto. A New Year's gift for you."
"Whoa! Thanks, Old Man Third!" Naruto took the box with delight, hugging it to his chest, his face beaming with pure joy.