Speculation on Dragon Veins Connecting Parallel Worlds

On the top floor of Star City's administrative building, inside Menma's office, the atmosphere was solemn.

A huge map of the shinobi world hung on the dark wall, with the territory representing the Land of Stars marked out in eye-catching detail.

Menma stood quietly before the window, the hem of his black Hokage Cloak perfectly still. He gazed at the city outside as it gradually sank into dusk, his eyes deep and unreadable.

Kisame Hoshigaki stood silently not far behind him, the bandage-wrapped greatsword Samehada on his back. No emotion showed on his sharklike face, but the slight tension in his body showed that he was ready to move at any moment.

The office door was lightly knocked on, then pushed open.

Namikaze Minato was the first to walk in, his gray eyes carrying their usual gentleness, though there was also a heavy gravity settled within them.

Following closely behind was Uzumaki Fuka. She held a stack of documents, her red hair tied behind her head, her expression capable and efficient.

Then came Uchiha Hikari and Shisui Uchiha, a trace of travel-weariness still in their steps.

"Calling us here so urgently—did something happen over in Wind Prefecture?" Minato asked, concern in his voice.

Even though he now had an Impure World body, his sharpness as a father and former Hokage had not diminished.

Menma turned around, swept his gaze over everyone, and gave a slight nod.

"Everyone's here. Fuka, give us the details on the puppet factory."

Uzumaki Fuka stepped forward and spread the documents across Menma's broad desk, pointing at Wind Prefecture on the map.

"My lord, an explosion occurred at noon today in the Number Two Puppet Production and Research Workshop located in Sunagakure City, formerly Sunagakure. Our preliminary judgment is that it was sabotage. A chunin puppeteer