Chapter 154
New Year of Konoha Year 56, Menma and Naruto
Chapter 154 New Year of Konoha Year 56, Menma and Naruto
Before the stench of blood from the Land of Demons' shrine had even dissipated, a shocking piece of news swept through the western part of the ninja world like a storm: the daimyo of the Land of Demons, Hamahata Shun, and his nobles had been slaughtered by a mysterious rebel force.
Meanwhile, the priestess Miroku, the living totem symbolizing the thousand-year-old faith of the Demon Kingdom, openly announced that she would lead the entire Demon Kingdom to join the rebellious Star Kingdom, which had been established for less than a year but had already stirred up a storm in the western part of the continent!
The news spread like wildfire, like boiling oil poured into an icy lake, creating a huge uproar.
The city of Ghost Capital, ravaged by demons and monsters, still reeks of burnt and bloody odors amidst its ruins.
The terrified people huddled under the dilapidated eaves, watching blankly as squads of completely different ninjas entered the city.
They wore uniform dark blue-black suits, moved swiftly, were strictly disciplined, and had sharp eyes, yet lacked the arrogance or indifference that ordinary ninjas showed when facing civilians.
These Star Ninjas swiftly took over the remaining city defense system, setting up checkpoints at key points of the collapsed city gates and damaged city walls. Their actions were clean and efficient, silently proclaiming the complete collapse of the old order.
Following closely behind the ninja forces were groups of capable personnel dressed in the uniforms of civil officials from the Land of Stars.
Carrying a large number of scrolls, account books, and surveying tools, they quickly moved into the luxurious mansions and government offices that originally belonged to daimyo and nobles, under the fearful gaze of the surviving officials.
Most of these residences had been damaged or looted during the turmoil, but the civil officials didn't care. They set up temporary tents next to the ruins, lit lamps, and began working through the night.
The process of taking stock of household registrations, verifying farmland, registering losses, counting the population, and taking over the remaining supplies in the government treasury was like a precise and efficient machine, forcibly incorporating the traumatized land of the Demon Kingdom into the completely different operating system of the Star Kingdom.
The land of stars, this newly formed nation, was like a greedy beast, instantly swallowing up the vast lands of the land of demons.
The population of the Star Kingdom also increased rapidly: with the original population of over 1.2 million, plus the nearly 2 million people of the Demon Kingdom, the total population of the Star Kingdom exceeded 3.2 million.
A medium-sized nation, not to be ignored on the map of the ninja world, has already taken shape!
Although its population is still less than that of the five major powers, which number in the tens of millions, it stands out among the many smaller countries in the surrounding region.
What made the rulers of the surrounding countries even more uneasy was the enormous influence represented by the priestess Miroku herself.
As the spiritual leader of the Land of Demons, she enjoys an almost sacred prestige among the many small countries in the western part of the Ninja World Continent that share similar beliefs.
The Star Kingdom's ideals of "abolishing aristocratic privileges," "equality between ninjas and commoners," and "concentrating forces to end the chaos" spread like wildfire among the oppressed lower classes and frustrated small ninja clans.
Countless eyes turned to that land that was said to have "no nobles and no exorbitant taxes," and seeds of restlessness were quietly sown.
The ideals and systems of the Star Kingdom, like an invisible tide, began to quietly seep into the small countries that were still firmly controlled by daimyo and noble lords.
The news swept through the surrounding small countries like a hurricane.
Those daimyo and nobles of small countries caught between the five great powers, constantly worried about being annexed, were horrified to discover that the tentacles of the Star Kingdom had not stopped reaching out.
The country of birds, the country of snow, the country of vegetables, the country of swamps...
Time slipped by silently amidst the expansion and tense preparations.
At the beginning of the new year in Konoha 56, a light snow covered the village.
As evening falls, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys, mingling with the aromas of food wafting from each household, spreading a touch of warmth in the chilly air.
For once, smoke rose from Naruto's house.
The warm yellow light shone through the window, illuminating the sumptuous dishes on the table: steaming miso soup, golden and crispy tempura, tender and flavorful stewed beef and potatoes, and a large plate piled high with fried dumplings.
"Dinner's ready, Naruto." Menma had already removed all the "Shura" costumes.
At this moment, he was wearing an ordinary dark blue turtleneck, and his short black hair looked much softer under the light.
"I'm starting!" Naruto eagerly grabbed his chopsticks, his bright blue eyes sparkling, his little face radiating pure joy. His cheeks were bulging, stuffed full of fried dumplings, and he mumbled indistinctly, "Brother Menma's fried dumplings are the best!"
Menma sat opposite Naruto, slowly sipping the soup in his bowl. Looking at Naruto's sunny and cheerful smile, his nerves, which had been tense for a whole year, seemed to relax a little.
A genuine smile curved his lips: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
"Hehe." Naruto scratched his dazzling blond hair sheepishly, his blue eyes sparkling. "Because having a New Year's feast with Menma-nii felt amazing! It was like..."
Naruto's excited words came to an abrupt halt, and the smile on his face dimmed for a moment, but he quickly shook his head to dispel it, and once again raised a big, slightly silly smile: "Ah! It feels just like home!"
Before, Naruto could only envy other people's harmonious families, but since meeting Menma, Naruto felt like he had found family, and was filled with joy and happiness.
Menma quietly observed the pure, almost obsessive longing in Naruto's eyes and the barely perceptible loneliness hidden beneath his smile.
Deep within his dark, pockmarked eyes, a complex emotion flickered—a mixture of sorrow, a determination to protect, and an unwavering resolve.
He picked up a cup of tea beside him, took a small sip, and temporarily suppressed the turbulent thoughts in his heart.
Naruto thoroughly enjoyed the meal, devouring the food on the table in a flash, while Menma's eating manners were much more refined in comparison.
Tuk-tuk-tuk!
Three knocks, neither too loud nor too soft, with a steady rhythm, sounded at the door.
"Coming, coming!" Naruto immediately jumped up like a spring and ran quickly to open the door.
The cold air outside, carrying fine snowflakes, rushed in.
An old man stood at the door; he was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He wore a white Hokage robe with red trim, lined with thick loungewear, and sported a gray beard. He carried a gift box carefully wrapped in colorful paper, his face bearing his usual kind and amiable smile, with benevolent wrinkles etched at the corners of his eyes.
He looked like an ordinary old man who had come to give his grandchildren a New Year's gift.
"Third Hokage!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise, warmly making way for him at the doorway. "Come in, come in! It's so cold outside!"
"Hehe, Happy New Year, Naruto." Hiruzen Sarutobi walked into the warm house with a smile, his gaze sweeping gently across the room before finally landing on Menma, who had stood up. A fleeting, elusive scrutiny crossed his eyes.
This orphan, who often played with Naruto, could practically recite all of Mena's information by heart.
It was precisely because the other party was also an orphan of Konoha that Hiruzen Sarutobi allowed them to play together.
"Oh, Menma's here too. Happy New Year," Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly.
"Lord Hokage, Happy New Year." Menma bowed slightly, his movements were standard and his attitude respectful, without a single flaw.
His lowered eyelids concealed all his emotions perfectly.
"Alright, all good." Hiruzen Sarutobi handed the gift box to the eager Naruto: "Here, Naruto, this is your New Year's gift."
"Wow! Thank you, Third Hokage!" Naruto happily took the box and hugged it to his chest, his little face full of pure joy.
(End of this chapter)