Menma's voice sounded from behind Jiraiya:
"By the way, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya's steps halted, and he slightly turned his head.
Menma continued: "The next time you go to Mount Myoboku, please deliver a message to that old toad for me."
Jiraiya couldn't help but turn around, complaining somewhat discontentedly: "Hey, hey, hey, kid, the Great Toad Sage is a Sage who has lived for over a thousand years. You should at least show some respect!"
Menma ignored his complaint. Looking directly at him, he said word by word:
"Please tell it that I have already found the Otsutsuki clansman who came to this planet together with that woman Kaguya. The invasion of the Otsutsuki Clan against the ninja world, I will personally resolve it."
His tone suddenly turned cold, carrying a chilling warning:
"However, Mount Myoboku had better behave itself and not attempt to interfere in the internal process of the Ninja World again. Otherwise, the next war of the Land of Stars will inevitably erupt at Mount Myoboku."
This barefaced threat made Jiraiya's face instantly darken, his heart greatly shaken.
At the same time, the information revealed in Menma's words made him even more startled and doubtful.
'Kaguya?'
'Otsutsuki Clan's invasion?'
'These unfamiliar terms seemed to involve more ancient secrets.'
The wind at the ferry crossing seemed to become piercingly cold at this moment.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the river surface a golden-red. The ferry boat slowly left the shore, sailing downstream.
Jiraiya stood alone at the stern of the ferry, his long white hair fluttering in the evening breeze. He gazed for a long time at the two figures gradually shrinking on the shore.
His face lacked its usual playfulness, his brows knit tightly. His eyes were filled with unprecedentedly complex emotions: shock, confusion, vigilance, and a hint of indescribable... wavering.
Shura's final warning against Mount Myoboku and those words about the [Otsutsuki Clan] echoed in his mind like thunderclaps.
He had to immediately send this intelligence, along with everything he had seen and heard in the Land of Stars, back to Konoha and Mount Myoboku as soon as possible, and deliver them to Hiruzen and the Great Toad Sage.
The threat level of the Land of Stars far exceeded his imagination!
However, at the same time, another scene was also unable to be dispelled from his mind.
The boundless golden sea of rice, the sincere, satisfied smiles on the farmers' faces, the prosperous and orderly cities, and those ordinary people filled with hope for life.
All of this formed an overly stark contrast with the usual state of the Ninja World in his memory… constant war, vast wealth disparity, and noble oppression of commoners.
Shura's ideology was not empty slogans but was presented through tangible prosperity and stability.
This impact was far more powerful than any verbal debate.
On the other side, Menma at the ferry crossing let Jiraiya leave, knowing that the next time they met, it might be on the battlefield.
He was well aware of this Konoha's Sannin's identity and anticipated that the other would report what he had seen and heard in the Land of Stars back to Konoha, and his own intelligence back to Mount Myoboku.
However, he believed even more in the power of seeing with one's own eyes.
Hollow ideological disputes were often pale and weak. But those golden rice fields, the content smiles on farmers' faces, children's carefree running, and the vibrant vitality and order presented by the entire society… these tangible scenes were more impactful than any flowery rhetoric and empty promises.
He needed Jiraiya to become a 'witness', to carry this impact back to Konoha, back to that Ninja World still bound by the old order.
After sending off the complex-minded Jiraiya, Menma took Ajisai and set off on the return journey to the Star City.
With their speed as Ninja, they arrived by evening.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm golden hue over the Star City's buildings.
Ajisai followed closely behind Menma, her heart pounding like a little rabbit was in her chest.
When she saw the Uzumaki Clan's crest hanging on the entrance of the residence before her, she felt an additional wave of inexplicable nervousness and awkwardness.
'Is this Menma's home?'
'Is my coming here so suddenly too much of an intrusion?'
Menma, however, was very natural. He pushed open the main door and called inside: "I'm back."
A response immediately came from inside.
A red-haired woman wearing an apron and still holding a spatula popped her head out from the kitchen, her face beaming with a warm smile: "Welcome home, Menma!"
Then, Kushina's gaze fell on the somewhat at a loss purple-haired girl behind Menma, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
Menma stepped aside and introduced to Ajisai: "This is my mother, Kushina."
Then to Kushina, he said: "Mom, this is Ajisai."
Ajisai, who was originally somewhat slow to understand, upon hearing the word 'mother', instantly reacted. She quickly stood up straight and bowed deeply to Kushina, her voice tight with nervousness: "H-hello! Kushina-sama! I am Ajisai! I apologize for the rude intrusion!"
Kushina, looking at this polite yet somewhat timid girl, smiled even more gently. She waved the spatula in her hand and said breezily: "Oh my, no need to be so formal! Just call me Auntie! Come in, come in, we're just about to have dinner!"
At that moment, hearing the commotion, Minato, Hikari, Mikoto who was helping in the kitchen, and Gaara playing by himself also came out from the living room, curiously looking towards the entrance.
Seeing so many people all at once, especially sensing the powerful Ninja presence inadvertently emanating from Minato and Hikari, Ajisai became even more nervous, her small hands unconsciously clutching her clothes.
Seeing this, Menma introduced them one by one, his tone calm, trying to ease her anxiety: "This is my father, Namikaze Minato. This is Aunt, Uchiha Mikoto. This little guy is Gaara. This is Uchiha Hikari."
Then, turning to his family, he introduced simply: "This is Ajisai. Hmm... a little sister I met in Amegakure."
Kushina's eyes lit up. She stepped forward and warmly took Ajisai's hand: "So she's a little sister Menma acknowledged! Then she's family! Don't stand at the door, come in and sit. The food will be ready soon!"
Minato also revealed a gentle smile and nodded: "Welcome to our home, Ajisai. Please treat this place as your own."
Mikoto also smiled gestured, her eyes gentle.
Gaara hid behind Mikoto, peeking out with his little head, his emerald-green eyes curiously examining this suddenly appearing, pretty purple-haired big sister.
Feeling the warmth of the household, Ajisai's nervousness eased considerably, a warm current quietly welling up in her heart.
This feeling of being accepted and welcomed was so unfamiliar yet precious for someone who grew up in the cold, tense environment of Amegakure.
However, amidst this warm atmosphere, Ajisai suddenly felt a faint yet discernible, gaze carrying a scrutinizing intent falling on her, faintly carrying a hint of killing intent.
She instinctively looked up and met a pair of scarlet eyes.
They were Hikari's eyes, in which three black tomoes were slowly rotating, staring directly at her.
Hikari's gaze lingered on Ajisai for a moment, then slowly turned to Menma. She puffed up her cheeks, her eyes becoming 'ferocious', with undisguised questioning intent, as if saying:
'Really... just a little sister?'
Menma received Hikari's 'murderous' filled gaze and somewhat helplessly rubbed his nose but didn't offer further explanation.
Ajisai, being stared at by Hikari's highly oppressive Sharingan, felt her just relaxed mood involuntarily tense up again, and instinctively moved closer to Menma's side.
This small action naturally did not escape Hikari's eyes. The 'ferocious light' in her eyes seemed to intensify a bit.
The dinner atmosphere was overall warm and lively.
Kushina and Mikoto's culinary skills were excellent, having prepared a table full of sumptuous dishes.
Minato was gentle and refined, constantly serving food to Ajisai, telling her not to be restrained.
Gaara was very quiet but also silently observed this new sister.
During the meal, Menma briefly mentioned Ajisai's specialty, the [Enclosing Technique], which could seal ninja tools or items into a type of card and release them during battle, indicating her Space-Time Ninjutsu talent.
Hearing this, Minato showed strong interest. As the most proficient user of the Flying Thunder God Technique since inheriting it from the Second Hokage, he had deep research and understanding of Space-Time Ninjutsu.
"Enclosing Technique? Sealing items in a specific medium? A very interesting concept," Minato said gently to Ajisai. "If you are interested, we can discuss it later. Perhaps I can offer some help with your technique."
Ajisai was overwhelmed by the favor, quickly nodding: "R-really? Thank you, Minato-san!"
Hikari spent most of the meal eating quietly, only occasionally using her Sharingan to glance at Menma and Ajisai. Especially when Ajisai showed a happy smile because of Minato's words or instinctively looked at Menma, Hikari's eyes would narrow slightly, and the atmosphere around her seemed to drop a few notches.
Kushina seemed to notice something and under the table gently kicked Menma's foot, giving him a 'you handle this yourself' look.
Menma could only pretend not to see and bury himself in eating.
After dinner, Kushina and Mikoto cleared the tableware.
Minato took Gaara to watch TV in the living room.
Hikari stood up, walked in front of Menma, folded her arms, lifted her chin to look at him, her tone betraying no emotion: "Menma, come outside with me for a moment. I have something to ask you."
After saying this, without waiting for Menma's response, she took the lead walking towards the garden.
Menma sighed, knowing this 'interrogation' was unavoidable. He said to the somewhat uneasy Ajisai, "Sit for a while."
Then he followed Hikari out.
In the garden, moonlight was like water.
Hikari stood with her back to Menma, her long black hair slightly fluttering in the night breeze.
"Speak," Hikari's voice carried a trace of chill. "What's really going on with that Ajisai? Really just a 'little sister'?"
Menma walked to her side, looking at her exquisite profile slightly puffed under the moonlight, and explained with a smile: "Really just a little sister."
"I met her by chance in Amegakure. She helped me a bit. And her background is also tragic… a victim of war. I see she has good talent, is simple-hearted, and I wanted to give her a place to belong and better opportunities for development."
Hikari turned around, her scarlet Sharingan staring directly at Menma, as if trying to see through his heart: "Just that simple? Nothing else?"
"Nothing," Menma said, consoling. "My mind right now is all on how to deal with the upcoming challenges. You know that."
Menma slightly raised his head, looking at the starry sky.
Hikari also looked up, gazing at the myriad stars. She naturally knew that Menma was referring to the threat from the Otsutsuki Clan from beyond the sky.