I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 341 341 Jiraiya: Is This Right?

Taichi and his Special Police team arrived at the village entrance, immediately becoming the focus of the villagers.

He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the slightly nervous villagers, his voice steady: "I am Uchiha Taichi, captain of the Kamio City's Police Department's Special Police Squad. We have a preliminary understanding of the situation. We need to immediately inspect the scene and search for clues. Please take us to the place damaged by the bandits."

"Captain Taichi, I am the village chief of Gunma Village!" Chief Oiwa hurried forward, his face respectful and hopeful. "You can call me Oiwa. We'll take you there right away!"

As he spoke, he signaled the villagers to clear a path.

At this moment, Taichi's sharp gaze swept over Jiraiya and Ajisai standing not far away, especially the conspicuous Amegakure's forehead protector on Ajisai's brow, causing his eyes to narrow slightly.

He strode towards the two and said, "You two, you don't seem to be locals. Please show your travel documents."

Ajisai glanced nervously at Jiraiya. Seeing his slight nod, she took out the two temporary passes from her small bag and handed them over.

Taichi took the documents, carefully checking the information against their faces, paying particular attention to Jiraiya for a few moments, seeming to sense his unusual aura.

But he merely observed a bit more before handing the documents back to Ajisai, his tone still flat but carrying a note of warning: "The documents are in order. Since you are also Ninja and hold temporary passes, please be sure to abide by our country's laws while within the Land of Stars. If there's nothing special, I advise against lingering near a crime scene to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

With that, he said no more, turned, and with the three squad members, followed Chief Oiwa, quickly heading towards the crime scene at the village edge.

Watching Taichi's retreating figure, Jiraiya stroked his chin and muttered under his breath, "Tch, truly the Uchiha's inherited... arrogance."

Ajisai blinked curiously and asked in a small voice, "Mister, do you know them? That leader's eyes seemed to turn red earlier..."

Jiraiya's gaze followed the young man's back as he explained, "The leader is a Ninja from the Uchiha Clan. That clan is notorious for its obsession and arrogance, but behind that arrogance lies their innate confidence, those eyes called the [Eyes that Mirror the Heart], the Sharingan. I never expected that in the Land of Stars, even Uchiha clansmen have become police maintaining public order..."

The villagers clustered around Taichi and his team as they headed towards the robbed farmhouse.

Old Man Yamashita walked over and warmly invited, "Ajisai-chan, Jiraiya-sama, it's almost dark. If you don't mind, stay at my place for the night. My wife passed away two years ago, and my grandson boards at school in the city, so I have two spare beds."

Jiraiya, wanting to observe the Land of Stars' operational model further, immediately smiled and accepted: "Then we'll trouble you, old man! However, we'd also like to follow and see the crime scene now. Perhaps... we can be of some help."

Seeing their enthusiasm, Old Man Yamashita couldn't refuse and nodded. "Alright then, follow me."

When Jiraiya and Ajisai followed Old Man Yamashita to the robbed farmhouse, many villagers were already gathered outside.

The two exchanged a glance and, with tacit understanding, leaped up, landing lightly on the roof of a nearby house, observing the situation below from a high vantage point.

It was a simple earthen house at the village's edge. A bamboo fence wall had been smashed to pieces. The yard was a mess, scattered with chicken feathers and signs of struggle. Clearly, the family's few chickens had been taken.

Several victimized villagers were gathered around Chief Oiwa and Taichi, emotionally recounting what happened.

These male villagers bore injuries of varying severity. Bruised and swollen faces were considered light, one of them held a leg bent at an odd angle, his face deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down.

The black-haired female squad member knelt, her hands glowing with soft green Chakra light, beginning emergency treatment for the severely injured villager.

Her movements were still somewhat clumsy, clearly having recently learned Medical Ninjutsu.

Taichi listened seriously to the villagers' accounts, occasionally asking key questions.

The other two male team members were also busy.

The skinny, bespectacled Iwamichi Tetsuya was crouching on the ground, carefully inspecting the messy footprints and signs of struggle, attempting to analyze the bandits' numbers, physical characteristics, and route.

The slightly plump, amiable-looking Yamazaki Shota was holding a notebook, listening to the villagers' accounts while quickly recording key points of the case.

Soon, preliminary inspection and analysis yielded results.

The three quickly gathered with Taichi.

Tetsuya adjusted his glasses and reported calmly: "Captain, based on footprint depth, stride, and type, there are at least five opponents, generally robust in physique. Two have light steps, suspected of having Ninja fundamentals."

Sakura Maki finished the preliminary treatment, wiped the sweat from her brow, and added: "On the damaged fence and ground, I sensed several very faint Chakra remnants with mixed nature. We can confirm there are Ninja within the opposing group, possibly more than one."

Shota closed his notebook, pinched his chin, and analyzed: "Judging by their behavior pattern, although they violently robbed and injured resisting villagers, they did not assault or abduct women from the households. Their targets were clearly food and valuables. Combining Tetsuya and Maki's information, we can preliminarily determine this bandit group is mixed with defeated Ninja, their psychology in a state of constant alarm, urgently needing supplies. However, current information cannot confirm whether they are Sunagakure or Iwagakure's deserters."

On the roof, Jiraiya, relying on exceptional hearing, clearly heard the analysis and conversation below.

A flash of approval passed through his eyes. He whispered to Ajisai, "These youngsters, though young, their on-site investigation and intelligence analysis abilities are quite professional."

Simultaneously, he silently sensed the four's Chakra below.

Apart from Taichi, who clearly had Genin-level Chakra, the other three had chakra levels that hadn't even reached traditional Genin standards.

Yet, for some reason, the steady, capable, and tacit cooperation these four exuded made Jiraiya feel they were more formidable than many ordinary wandering Genin, even some Genin from Great Ninja Villages.

His gaze fell again on their dark blue uniforms. The seemingly ordinary clothing faintly revealed the outline of an internal structure, similar in design to the border Star Ninja's Chakra Armor but seemingly more focused on assistance.

Taichi synthesized all the intelligence, his eyes sharpening. He swiftly issued orders: "The situation is basically clear. Tetsuya, you are responsible for tracking, find the approximate location of their hideout. Maki, Shota, with me. We will advance with Tetsuya at the center, maintaining about fifty meters distance, fanning out forward for a dragnet search! We must dig out this scourge!"

"Yes!" The three responded in unison without hesitation, immediately acting according to orders, their movements swift and orderly.

Jiraiya and Ajisai jumped down from the roof. They saw the villagers seeming much more reassured by the police's arrival, even starting to discuss how to thank them.

Chief Oiwa was calling out to villagers to kill a chicken and a duck and bring out treasured dried mountain goods to prepare a proper meal for the special police.

Seeing this, Ajisai couldn't help but ask curiously: "Chief Oiwa, these Land of Stars' police are helping you suppress bandits. Don't you need to pay hiring fees? In other countries, hiring Ninja costs a lot of money."

Hearing this, Chief Oiwa smiled and explained: "Ninja-sama, it's different here from other countries. Police-sama and the Ninja-sama in the army are official personnel of the Land of Stars' government, receiving fixed salaries. Suppressing bandits and maintaining public order are their duties. The taxes we usually pay include public security management."

"Of course, we can't watch the police-sama fight for us without showing anything. Using our village's specialty products to treat the police-sama to a home-cooked meal, expressing our gratitude, is reasonable. But we can't be too extravagant, otherwise if the inspectors above find out, both we and the police-sama will have trouble."

His explanation was clear and logical, obviously very familiar with these rules.

The more Jiraiya listened, the more interested he became. He scrutinized this Chief Oiwa, who was much younger than most village chiefs he had seen, and asked, "Chief Oiwa, you seem quite young but know a lot?"

Chief Oiwa's face showed a simple, honest smile as he explained: "To be honest, many things have changed. Two years ago, a bear barged into the village. I drove it away with a few friends, so everyone chose me as village chief."

"Before becoming chief, we were first sent to school in the city to study culture and basic government affairs for a few months. We learned to read and write, understood the law, and every year must go to the city's Government Academy for advanced training for half a month. Seeing more, learning more, naturally we know some things."

Jiraiya listened dumbfounded. This method of selecting and improving grassroots management through education and training was unheard of to him.

This defied the basic order of the Ninja World for centuries.

Having received Ninja Education since childhood, with deeply ingrained concepts about the classes of commoners, Ninja, nobles, Daimyo, a deep doubt flashed in Jiraiya's mind.

Then, remembering some rumors, he couldn't help but frown and press: "Then... what about the original village chief? Was he executed?"

Jiraiya, with his ninja education, instinctively felt repelled by such radical change.

Chief Oiwa, however, shook his head and pointed to a somewhat silent middle-aged man not far away who was helping with the fire: "There, it's Ozawa. Now he lives and works with us."

Jiraiya looked at the silently working former village chief, his face turning calm, but his brow furrowing even tighter.

Everything the Land of Stars showed him was completely different from the world he knew, as if he were in another world.

This systematic change's impact force made him feel even more apprehensive than mere military victories.

Just then-

Boom!

A loud explosion came from outside the village, shattering the evening tranquility!

Jiraiya and Ajisai reacted swiftly, instantly leaping onto the roof again.

The villagers panickedly ran towards the village center.

Jiraiya focused his gaze towards Mount Gunma north of the village. He saw dust rising from the mountainside, faintly visible several figures in disarray dashing out from the explosion range… Taichi and his team!

Among them, the tracker Tetsuya was in the worst condition, his body actually pierced by several kunai, blood staining his uniform, being supported with great effort by Shota.

Over a dozen ferocious-looking bandits quickly charged out from the mountain forest, surrounding the four.

A sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked bandit yelled at a burly leader: "Boss Toyama! You guessed right! Those damn peasants really went to find Star Ninja! But... why are there only four kids? And only one wearing a Star Ninja's forehead protector?"

The man called Boss Toyama was tall, with bulging muscles, wearing Iwagakure's standard flak jacket. The Iwagakure's forehead protector tied to his head was pierced by a deep scratch, marking him as a Missing-Nin.

Beside him stood four ninja whose aura was clearly different from ordinary bandits, two even wearing Sunagakure's attire!

Toyama spat and sneered with a grim laugh: "Who the hell cares who comes! Since they dare come, slaughter these arrogant brats! Then go down the mountain, slaughter that village, grab enough and talk later!"

"Awooo!" The bandits and Missing-Nin let out bloodthirsty howls, brandishing weapons and swarming forward.

On the roof, Ajisai nervously grabbed Jiraiya's sleeve: "Jiraiya-sama! They're in danger!"

Jiraiya's face turned serious, his voice low: "Of course I see! At a time like this, how could the Toad Sage stand idly by!"

The two moved, charging towards the battlefield.

However, just as Jiraiya thought the surrounded Taichi and his team would fall into a difficult fight or even danger, the situation on the field took an unexpected turn.

Facing enemies far outnumbering them, Taichi, Shota, and the less injured Maki quickly stood back-to-back, protecting the severely injured, unconscious Tetsuya in the center.

"Ninja tool barrage!" Taichi ordered calmly.

Instantly, dense kunai and shuriken like raindrops shot towards the charging enemies, suppressing the frontline bandits' offensive.

Shota flipped his wrist. The Chakra Capacitor Device on his arm glowed faintly, activating Ninjutsu almost seal-less.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Spears!"

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Several sharp stone spears suddenly thrust out from beneath several bandits' feet, instantly impaling them!

Screams rose and fell.

Simultaneously, Maki quickly drew a uniquely shaped [Kunai Gun] from the holster on her thigh, aiming at several other Missing-Nin charging fastest, and pulled the trigger.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several kunai tied with explosive tags shot out rapidly, accurately landing among the Missing-Nin.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Continuous explosion flames engulfed those Missing-Nin, blowing them into disarray.

Toyama watched dumbfounded, exclaiming in astonishment: "What the hell! These brats aren't even Genin, are they? How can they use Ninjutsu without hand seals? And what weapon is that?!"

A Sunagakure's Missing-Nin who had experienced war with Star Ninja shouted fearfully: "Toyama! I told you these Star Ninja are weird! Their armor stores Chakra, letting them cast quickly! That kunai gun, even people with weak Chakra can use it! Don't treat them as ordinary Genin!"

Just as the Missing-Nin were somewhat stunned by this counterattack, Taichi seized the opportunity, formed hand seals, his chest swelling.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A giant fireball with scorching heat waves swooped towards Toyama's face!

Toyama's face changed color. He hastily slapped the ground: "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

A thick earthen wall instantly rose, barely blocking the fireball's impact but also exploding with flying gravel.

For a moment, relying on excellent equipment, tacit cooperation, and Taichi's Sharingan insight, the four-person team actually barely held off over a dozen bandits and Missing-Nin's siege.

Toyama, seeing the strong attack failing and his side instead losing several, immediately changed strategy, shouted furiously: "Stop fucking hiding! Take out all the explosive tags! Use Ninjutsu to blast them to death! If we don't use them now, we'll all end up here today!"

The surviving Missing-Nin, hearing this, reached into their robes, preparing to take out explosive tags, or began forming more complex hand seals, attempting to cover the opponents with area Ninjutsu.

"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"

"Unsealing Technique: Shuriken!"

Jiraiya and Ajisai finally arrived in battle!

Jiraiya's white hair like living giant pythons surged out, instantly entangling two sealing Missing-Nin, flinging them hard onto the ground.

Ajisai took out sealing cards, summoned countless sharp shuriken like a storm shooting towards bandits on the other side, beating them into fleeing in disarray.

"Not good! They have reinforcements!"

"Boss Toyama! What do we do?!"

The Missing-Nin instantly thrown into disarray, panickedly shouting.

However, looking back, they saw Toyama who had just been clamoring to slaughter the village had already without hesitation turned and was fleeing desperately deep into the mountain forest!

"The boss ran!"

"Retreat!"

With the leader's flight, the remaining bandits and Missing-Nin instantly morale collapse, no longer caring about fighting, scattering like birds and beasts, following Toyama's direction in panicked flight.

The battlefield temporarily regained calm.

Taichi panted, his Sharingan fixed on Toyama's escape direction. He glanced at the unconscious, severely injured teammate Tetsuya on the ground, his eyes filled with self-blame and anger.

Just then, the single tomoe in his eyes suddenly rapidly spun. In his crimson pupils, a second tomoe clearly evolved!

Under extreme emotional stimulus, his Sharingan evolved!

Taichi forcefully suppressed his surging emotions and quickly made a decision: "Maki! You stay, care for Tetsuya, emergency treatment! Shota, with me! We cannot let that leader escape!"

Sakura Maki, though worried, immediately responded: "Yes! Captain, be careful!"

Jiraiya and Ajisai walked over.

Jiraiya looked at Taichi's newly born Two-Tomoe Sharingan, inwardly sighing at the Uchiha Clan's talent, and said: "Need help? That leader seems difficult to deal with."

Taichi looked at Jiraiya. Though still carrying the Uchiha arrogance, his tone held more solemnity: "Thank you both for your assistance. Please help look after Maki and Tetsuya. As for pursuit... we must go."

He paused, his gaze sharply looking towards the bandits' fleeing direction, calmly analyzed: "Now is when their morale is most collapsed. That Missing-Nin leader only has a few close followers left. If we can't take this opportunity to eliminate him now, once he recovers, regroups deserters, or flees elsewhere, catching him will be difficult."

Taichi's gaze swept over Gunma Village where lights were just coming on not far away, his voice low but firm: "And... given this group's savage nature, they will definitely take revenge on the village. We cannot leave this hidden danger."

Jiraiya looked at this youth, only fifteen but already possessing excellent team leader qualities, pondered for a moment, no longer dissuading.

He patted his chest and solemnly promised: "In that case, I won't stop you. Your teammates can safely be left to us! On the Toad Sage Jiraiya's credit guarantee, they will not be harmed again!"

"Thank you!" Taichi looked deeply at Jiraiya, said no more, exchanged a nod with Shota, and the two moved, like leopards dashing out, following the traces left by the bandits, quickly disappearing into the deepening twilight of the mountain forest.

Jiraiya watched them leave, then turned to look at Maki, who was treating the wound with all her might, her face still carrying some lingering fear. He looked again at this Land of Stars' village so completely different from his understanding, couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, and muttered in his heart:

'It seems the Uchiha Clan is integrated better here than in Konoha.'

'Old man... just how did you force them to become like this...'