Shinigami in the Ninja World

Chapter 239: Facing off against Konoha

Hinata took great care in correcting Karin for getting the name wrong, her expression serious and stubborn.

"Sorry," Karin muttered softly, bowing her head slightly. "The dream I've been having lately felt so real that I got confused."

She hesitated, unwillingly saying the name: "Menma."

Naruto smiled in response.

Kurama's eyes lit up.

"Naruto!"

Karin hesitated, her hand moving toward the mark near her ear. Her memories of Naruto weren't as clear, but unlike the others, there were still some traces left. Was it because of the "Shinigami powers"? Or perhaps because she entered the Infinite Tsukuyomi world later than the others?

"Menma, you've been gone from the village for over a year, but now you're finally back." Hinata smiled warmly, pulling close to Naruto, proudly wrapping her arms around his.

Naruto didn't react much. Having just arrived in this world, he had no idea what kind of relationship "Menma" and Hinata shared.

His momentary lack of response or rejection only made Hinata smile even more.

"Hinata, you!" Karin clenched her teeth. "Didn't we agree…"

Hinata smugly hummed, leaning in close. Her voice dropped to a near-whisper, as if trying to provoke Karin further: "While you were gone, I couldn't stop thinking about you."

"A lot has changed in the village."

"I'm now the head of the Hyuga Clan, and the Caged Bird technique has been completely abolished."

She continued chatting away, pulling Naruto along with her as they walked.

Karin followed closely, fuming.

The Konoha village remained as it was before Sasuke's alterations—busy and lively. But unlike the real-world Konoha, this village had a more peaceful and lived-in atmosphere. It felt more like an ordinary village rather than a ninja stronghold.

"Menma" was treated very differently in this village compared to how "Naruto" was in his own world.

Here, he was a hero.

Once people realized that this man, dressed in a Shinigami outfit with a white haori and blonde hair, was "Menma Uzumaki," almost everyone greeted him warmly and enthusiastically.

Merchants pushed their goods into his hands.

Children shared their snacks with him.

Adults clapped and cheered for him.

Hinata even arranged a homecoming banquet for him, where Naruto met with many people from Konoha once again.

Some of them still roughly resembled their real-world personalities.

But the biggest change was with Sasuke Uchiha. He had become a flamboyant playboy, constantly showing off and flirting with girls. He joked with Sakura Haruno and acted ambiguously with other women. At one point, he was even competing for Ino Yamanaka's attention with another handsome man Naruto didn't recognize.

After dinner, Naruto returned to the park where he first arrived.

"This world doesn't seem too bad," Kurama muttered while rubbing his belly.

It had stayed visible on Naruto's shoulder the entire time, and even though people like Hinata knew it was a tailed beast, no one showed any signs of fear or disgust. They accepted it without issue.

"Do you want to stay here?" Naruto tilted his head toward Kurama.

Kurama shook its head without hesitation. "Of course not, it's too fake."

"Just thinking about how they used to be…"

"And seeing them like this now in this world…"

Kurama paused for a moment and glanced at Naruto. "I don't mean those few women. It's the behavior and the stark contrast. It disgusts me."

Naruto didn't argue.

He felt the same way.

Inner wounds wouldn't magically heal through such inexplicable changes. Instead, those long-buried feelings suddenly surfaced, making everything that seemed forgotten rise from the depths of memory.

It was enough to make one feel sick.

"What's the plan now? Are you going to visit that home?" Kurama asked, glancing at the address Minato had given Naruto. "It's been a long time since I've seen your dad."

Naruto looked at the address but quickly turned his gaze away. "We've already found the entrance to the Pure Land."

The space between life and death was the final barrier between the living world and the Pure Land.

"There's no point wasting time with these false images."

"Let's break the Infinite Tsukuyomi as soon as possible."

Kurama nodded in agreement.

As they talked, in a secluded cave somewhere in the Land of Fire…

A black-haired boy was sparring with a man who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan. The boy was shirtless, sweating profusely as their blades clashed.

"Menma, that's enough for now," a soft voice called from the entrance.

The black-haired boy stopped.

The Uchiha man grunted before vanishing.

The boy turned to the speaker, a man wearing a white robe, bearing the Rinnegan and the prominent Nine Tomoe Rinnegan on his forehead. Respectfully, the boy addressed him: "Teacher."

"I've predicted this—an impending disaster is coming to destroy the world," Madara Uchiha said softly. "It's time to act."

Menma Uzumaki's face darkened. "You mean me… from another world?"

"Yes, another version of you," Madara replied. "Like you, he's incredibly gifted and wields the power of the Nine-Tails."

"Though you're still not quite on his level."

"But don't worry. Your teacher will fight alongside you to deal with the one who seeks to destroy this world."

Menma responded quietly, "Understood, Teacher."

Madara looked over at the boy who was the spitting image of Naruto Uzumaki and nodded slightly.

Though the Infinite Tsukuyomi was his creation, he wasn't the omnipotent god he had hoped to be in this world. What he could do here wasn't much different from the real world—at best, he could manipulate some of the illusions within this dreamscape.

These beings, born from people's obsessions…

Like Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Izuna Uchiha…

And even the "Menma Uzumaki" standing before him.

The God Tree had absorbed chakra from across the entire world, and these beings, formed from people's wills, possessed nearly the same strength they had in life.

But Menma was different.

Even though Madara had altered Menma's memories, constructing a life trajectory similar to Naruto's, Menma's talents were undeniable. His power had already surpassed that of Obito before he became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. Menma could even rival Nagato, who wielded the Rinnegan.

Yet he couldn't master Naruto's strange abilities—neither the spells Naruto used nor the unusual powers of his weapons.

Madara pondered.

Where exactly did Naruto Uzumaki's abilities come from?

And even if he could harness these ninja's power, could they really defeat Naruto?

Back in the Konoha village, at the park…

"Are you going to bring Karin?" Kurama asked, tilting its head. "It seems like she still remembers the real world."

Naruto thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No."

"Really?" Kurama swished its tail. "I guess her strength wouldn't be much help anyway."

"What about Sasuke? He's acting a bit strange, but he's still an Uchiha, and he knows how to use the Shinigami's power."

Naruto looked up at the moon. "That's not the real Sasuke."

Kurama blinked in surprise. "So, like Minato, he's just another fake, born from someone's obsession?"

Naruto nodded. "Sasuke's obsession wouldn't be to become some kind of womanizer."

Kurama grumbled. "Well, who knows? Maybe that's secretly what he wants."

"He's like me," Naruto smiled softly. "If Sasuke were pulled into this world, he wouldn't care about romantic relationships. He'd want his family back."

"His parents alive, a sane older brother, and relatives he could spend time with."

"A Sasuke obsessed only with girls…"

"Can only be someone's fantasy of him."

Kurama nodded thoughtfully.

Naruto stood up. "Let's go find the Six-Tails, and…"

He trailed off, turning suddenly toward a power pole not far away.

A figure had appeared, standing at the top.

The moon was full and bright, and the figure seemed to extend upward from the pole, as if piercing into the moon itself.

"This chakra…" Kurama's nose twitched in disbelief. "Naruto, it's almost identical to yours."

Naruto squinted, trying to make out the figure. The person stood with their back to the moon, their face obscured in the shadows.

"Menma?" Naruto voiced the thought he shared with Kurama, calling out the name.

His tone wasn't entirely certain.

The figure atop the pole had black hair.

"So, you already know my name?" the person said slowly, their voice serious and filled with hostility. "It seems you've already learned a lot about this world."

"Naruto Uzumaki."

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

Not only did this person know about his existence, but they also knew his real name…

And harbored inexplicable hostility toward him.

Why?

The answer was obvious.

Madara's interference. No one else could have orchestrated this.

"I know what you're thinking," Menma raised his hand and formed a hand sign. "But I won't let you destroy this world."

Chakra surged as a summoning jutsu unfolded.

A gigantic slug with pale purple skin appeared out of thin air, slamming heavily to the ground.

Six slimy tails lashed behind it.

Its small, narrow eyes were marked with the Three Tomoe Sharingan, a clear sign that this tailed beast was under Madara's complete control.

"It's the Six-Tails," Kurama growled softly. "That's his power."

The sudden appearance of the tailed beast threw the crowd into chaos.

Though the people in this dream had lived in peace, this familiar sight triggered a primal fear deep within them. They fled in all directions, as if recalling past horrors.

The deafening panic spread quickly.

The Fourth Hokage, Kizashi Haruno, with his starfish-shaped hair, was the first to arrive, followed closely by the previous three Hokage and Minato Namikaze, along with several veteran jonin.

"Two Menmas?" Kizashi gasped, glancing between them. "Minato, did you have twins?"

"Now's not the time for jokes," Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, his tone grave. "I remember Minato only had one child."

He cast a wary glance at Menma. "That black-haired one, even though he looks like Menma, seems… different."

"Grandfather, I am the real Menma Uzumaki," Menma said as he leaped onto the head of the Six-Tails. "That person who looks like me came from another world. He's not a good person."

"He's here to destroy this world."

Naruto didn't respond.

"Destroy the world?" Hashirama Senju's expression grew serious as he studied Naruto. "Is this true?"

Naruto ignored him, lifting his head. "Madara, are you going to show yourself?"

"I can already feel your presence."

In the sky, a figure slowly materialized. A man holding a black staff appeared, his form twisting into view. "Still as sharp as ever, even in this world?"

"Is this what you're relying on?" Naruto gripped the hilt of his sword. "All of these Hokage, jonin…"

"And…"

"A fictional version of me created by you."

Madara smiled faintly. "Yes, this is my trump card."

"A fully intact, healthy Konoha has more than enough power to stop you from destroying this world."

He continued to emphasize the idea that Naruto wanted to destroy the world.

Hashirama glanced at Madara, then at Naruto. "If Madara says so, even though you give me a good feeling, you're dangerous if your goal is to destroy the world."

"I won't let you succeed."

Tobirama turned, "The ANBU are already evacuating the villagers, Brother, you can fight without worry."

Hashirama formed hand seals.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence."

The earth rose as towering, dense trees burst from the ground, quickly spreading and engulfing the park.

Naruto drew his sword.

It wasn't Vortex, but a different one.

"Ready, Kurama?" he asked, beginning to chant the release words.

Kurama leapt from his shoulder. "Finally going to use my power, Naruto?"

"Let's cause a little chaos."

"I've been wanting to destroy the Konoha Village for a while now, and it looks like I'll finally get my chance."

Hashirama's tone grew heavier. "Kurama, why do you have such thoughts?"

Kurama ignored him and lunged at the Six-Tails.

At the same time, Naruto's sword released seven shadowy figures, each of a different color.

"Nine Masked Tailed Beast."

The creations born from the chakra of the tailed beasts sprang to life, prepared to face off against the incoming Konoha ninja.

~~~

Tenten's Infinite Tsukuyomi needs more episode, Hahah

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