First Time Leaving the Village

The next day, 7:45 in the morning.

At Konohagakure's main gate.

"Whoosh!"

Menma carried a backpack over his shoulders as he flashed over at high speed from a distant rooftop. He landed at the designated meeting spot, where four figures, including their employer Tazuna, were already waiting.

The other three were Kakashi, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.

Like Menma, each of them carried a backpack containing essential Ninja Tools and daily necessities.

This was the standard equipment for ninjas leaving the village to carry out missions.

Just as Menma arrived—

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm here! I'm here!"

A Golden Figure flashed in from the distance, accompanied by Naruto's familiar boisterous voice.

"Mm, everyone's here. Let's go, then."

Kakashi looked at Naruto racing over and nodded lightly. After handing their travel permits to the ninjas guarding the main gate for inspection, he led Menma, Naruto, and the others out of Konohagakure and onto the road to the Land of Waves.

Almost at the same time.

Konohagakure.

In its northwestern corner.

Inside a sealed chamber somewhere within Root's underground Secret Base.

Shimura Danzō received the relevant news at the First time.

A trace of extreme viciousness flickered in Danzō's one exposed eye.

"Ino!"

At his soft call—

"Whoosh!"

A Pitch Black figure suddenly emerged from the shadows at the edge of the room.

"Go. Deliver the item we agreed upon to Orochimaru, then tell him that I accept his plan. But he must first show this old man some sincerity!!"

Danzō spoke in an indifferent tone.

"Yes, Lord Danzō!"

After bowing his head sharply in acknowledgment, the black figure leaped away and vanished from the spot.

"Hmph. Letting a twelve-year-old Nine-Tails Jinchuriki leave the village so easily... Hiruzen, you truly have become senile. Then don't blame me for being ruthless!!!"

It was as though Danzō could see Sarutobi Hiruzen inside the Mission Center building through countless barriers. His words were filled with chilling intent.

Unlike the Konohagakure that had reached its second peak before the Third Shinobi World War, and even more unlike the Konoha of its founding days that could easily intimidate the entire Shinobi World, present-day Konohagakure had truly entered an era where the old had not yet gone and the new had yet to rise.

Its pillars had either all grown old or died one after another in battle.

Among the current generation of adults in their prime, there were very few worth noticing.

As a result, Menma's status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had become unprecedentedly important. If another Shinobi World War were to erupt, Konoha would inevitably have to rely on the power of Menma, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

Konoha was now a giant beast that appeared powerful on the outside but was incomparably weak within. Without something to prop up its image, it could easily collapse and perish with a single push!

Therefore.

Any unusual action or incident involving Menma would draw everyone's attention. This first departure from the village was an important turning point!

Menma himself was actually aware of this to a certain extent.

But as far as Menma was concerned, a little more attention was no big deal.

As long as it did not truly affect him, it did not matter. All he needed to do now was lie low and grow stronger while waiting for the necessary opportunity!

And that opportunity was drawing closer and closer!

As Menma stepped out of Konohagakure, he glanced back at the enormous main gate behind him, a peculiar gleam appearing in his pupils.

As the group continued onward.

Since their employer Tazuna was an ordinary person.

Team Seven could only proceed on foot at the pace of a Regular Ninja.

At this speed, under normal circumstances, it would take them more than a day to reach the Land of Waves.

And that was assuming they were lucky enough to find a boat.

Otherwise, including the waiting time.

The round trip would indeed take more than two days.

As they set out.

Kakashi also briefly explained some relevant matters to the Little Ones on the team. After all, this was the first time Menma, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had left the village.

"Only one day? Then it really isn't far! But Tazuna-san, why didn't you hire ninjas in your own country? If it's only a C-rank mission, Regular Ninja should be able to handle it, right?"

After hearing this, Sakura nodded while looking at Tazuna with curious eyes.

Naruto and Sasuke beside her also turned to look at Tazuna. Clearly, they were interested in this question as well.

Only Menma remained calm.

"Young lady..."

"Ah, just call me Sakura!"

"Mm, Sakura, our Land of Waves is merely a small country. The entire nation is only about as large as the territory governed by any main city in the Land of Fire. It's impossible for us to have our own ninja village or ninjas. There may occasionally be some wandering ninjas, but hiring them is too risky. Naturally, seeking proper ninjas is the safest approach! Konoha is one of the Five Great Nations, and it's also the closest to our Land of Waves, so of course I came to Konoha to post the mission!"

Tazuna explained in a somewhat helpless tone.

"Oh, so that's how it is?"

A look of realization appeared on Sakura's face as she nodded.

Although Sakura Haruno was a top student in theoretical knowledge, the Ninja Academy did not teach everything. Its theoretical classes almost entirely covered matters related to ninjas. Other knowledge and information were only touched on briefly, with the focus placed on teaching the Will of Fire, the origins of Konohagakure, and a scant introduction to the Five Great Nations. It was impossible to learn anything else at the Ninja Academy.

Therefore, it was only natural that Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, and the others had misconceptions about the layout of the Shinobi World.

"So does that mean countries besides the Five Great Nations don't have any proper ninjas? Speaking of which, besides Konoha, who else is part of the Five Great Nations again?"

When it came to theoretical knowledge.

Naruto continued to perform at his reliably terrible level.

His personality in this timeline was almost no different from that in the Original Work. The only difference was that he could still absorb some theoretical knowledge related to ninjas here. As for anything else, there was no point expecting Naruto to study it properly or master it seriously.

"The Five Great Nations refer to the ninja villages of five countries. Besides Konoha in the Land of Fire, there's Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, Iwagakure in the Land of Earth, Sunagakure in the Land of Wind, and Kirigakure in the Land of Water. Naruto, didn't the teacher teach us this in our second year?"

Sakura looked at Naruto with a rather strange expression.

This was basic common knowledge of the Shinobi World, wasn't it?