The Ninja Who Infiltrated the Hyuga Compound

Under the watchful eyes of his friends, Uzumaki Menma's training for the day finally came to an end.

Completely exhausted after a double dose of physical and mental torment, Uzumaki Menma was utterly drained.

Uzumaki Menma looked up at his friends and asked, "Okay, who's turn is it to carry me today?"

"Yesterday was Naruto, so it should be me today."

Neji walked in front of Uzumaki Menma, turned his back, and squatted down.

Uzumaki Menma slumped onto Neji's back like a puddle of mud.

Neji asked, "Should I carry you back to your room to rest?"

"No, resting would just waste all that hard training, wouldn't it? Today, I'll take you all on a proper tour of Root. Let's go!"

Guided by Uzumaki Menma, the group began their tour of Root.

Naruto and the others were amazed by all the strange and bizarre things in Root.

Naruto pointed to a sealed-off room, its windows nailed shut with wooden boards, and asked, "Menma, what's in there? Why is it boarded up so tightly?"

Uzumaki Menma glanced at it and said, "Nothing, let's go see the next research lab. It's a science lab, and there are lots of fun things inside."

The room Naruto was pointing at was one that Uzumaki Menma had once snuck into.

It was an abandoned research lab that had once been used for human experimentation, and it still contained many limbs preserved in medicinal fluids.

When Uzumaki Menma saw it, he got a huge fright and had nightmares for days.

To prevent Uzumaki Menma from sneaking in again, the Root ninja had sealed the research lab up tightly.

The next lab was filled with technological products under development.

The researchers in the lab were gathered around, tinkering with a pile of parts.

Shigaraki Tanuki, the head of research at the lab, saw Uzumaki Menma and his group of friends arrive and asked, puzzled, "Young Master Menma, what brings you here?"

Uzumaki Menma explained, "Uncle Shigaraki, we're here for a tour. What are you guys working on now?"

"We're currently researching electronic real-time surveillance equipment. We just need to assemble it."

After explaining with a smile, Shigaraki Tanuki took out seven walkie-talkies and handed them to Uzumaki Menma and his friends.

"Since you're here for a tour, here's a gift for you. These walkie-talkies are enhanced, and their range covers almost all of Konoha."

Shigaraki Tanuki was very fond of Uzumaki Menma.

In fact, everyone in Root liked Uzumaki Menma.

Before Uzumaki Menma arrived.

The entire Root was lifeless. Everyone's mind was filled only with missions, devoid of personal feelings, and with no sense of the future.

But after Uzumaki Menma came to Root.

The entire Root began to gradually become vibrant.

The inhumane experiments were gone. Although Danzo was still very strict, he had become slightly more humane.

This gave them a sense of belonging and hope in Root.

Everyone knew that Danzo was grooming Uzumaki Menma to be his successor.

If Uzumaki Menma were to lead them in the future, they would definitely be willing and unconditionally support Uzumaki Menma.

Because Uzumaki Menma, who had grown up in Root since childhood, treated everyone in Root as his family, and they felt the same way.

Uzumaki Menma immediately tested the walkie-talkie he was holding.

After turning on the walkie-talkie, Uzumaki Menma said 'hello, hello' into it.

And Uzumaki Menma's voice came through in the walkie-talkies of Naruto and the other five.

Uzumaki Menma was very satisfied with the gift. "Thank you, Uncle Shigaraki."

Naruto and the other five also thanked Shigaraki Tanuki.

Shigaraki Tanuki said with a smile, "Alright, you guys have fun. I'll get back to work."

"Okay."

Uzumaki Menma and his six friends began playing games in Root with the walkie-talkies.

The laughter of the seven echoed throughout Root.

In the evening.

Everyone left Root and returned to their homes.

Three days later.

It seemed that because the Hidden Cloud Village's delegation had arrived in Konoha, Uzumaki Menma's friends were all forbidden from going out by their parents.

Even Naruto was told by Hiruzen Sarutobi to stay at home, and four Anbu were dispatched to guard Naruto's surroundings.

Although they couldn't meet in person.

But because of the existence of the walkie-talkies, the seven could chat together at any time, so it wasn't too boring.

This day.

Uzumaki Menma, having finished his training, was passing by Danzo's office when he heard Danzo's furious voice.

Curious, Uzumaki Menma pressed himself against the door to eavesdrop.

"These Hidden Cloud Village bastards actually have the nerve to make demands? They're the ones who came to Konoha seeking a peace treaty. With these conditions, you'd think we, Konoha, were the ones who lost the war! Hiruzen, quickly tell those bastards to get lost! If you're too embarrassed to do it, I'll have my Root ninjas handle it!"

"Danzo, calm down. I wasn't planning on agreeing to their demands either. I'll have one last meeting with them tomorrow. If they continue to make demands, I'll tell them to leave Konoha, leave the Land of Fire."

Danzo suggested malevolently, "Why not just keep them in Konoha for good? The Hidden Cloud Village's ninjutsu is quite good."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said helplessly, "Danzo, we haven't broken ties with the Hidden Cloud Village yet. Even if we can't reach an agreement, we can't attack them. Attacking an envoy from another village is a major diplomatic taboo. If we do that, no other village will dare to cooperate with Konoha."

Danzo was silent for a moment, then suddenly shouted towards the door, "Go back to where you're supposed to be! I'll beat you if you eavesdrop again!"

Clearly, Danzo wasn't talking to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but to Uzumaki Menma, who was eavesdropping outside the door.

Uzumaki Menma grimaced and returned to his room.

Uzumaki Menma took out his walkie-talkie and started chatting with his friends.

Night fell.

Two sneaky ninjas were traversing the rooftops of Konoha's buildings.

The two ninjas secretly infiltrated the Hyuga Clan's compound.

At this time, Hinata was chatting with Uzumaki Menma and the others.

Suddenly.

Hinata heard a sound of footsteps on the roof.

Lying in bed, Hinata fearfully buried her head in her blanket and said softly into the walkie-talkie, "I hear footsteps on my roof."

Naruto's voice came from the walkie-talkie: "Could it be birds or something on your roof?"

Hinata said with certainty, "No, I'm sure it's human footsteps, and there are two of them."

Lying in bed, Shikamaru suddenly sat up, thinking seriously.

Ever since the Hidden Cloud Village's delegation came to Konoha, his dad's expression had been very serious these past few days, and all of his friends had been strictly forbidden by their parents from going out.

And almost every one of his friends' families either had a Kekkei Genkai or a family secret technique.

Shikamaru thought of a possibility.

Shikamaru solemnly instructed, "Hinata, you hide first. Everyone else, quickly notify your families' adults and hurry to Hinata's house!"