Inside Tazuna's house, the atmosphere was solemn and sorrowful.
Tsunami, holding her son Inari, led everyone to a room that was clean and tidy but simply furnished.
Against the wall stood an old wooden table. On its surface, a small oil lamp cast a dim yellow glow, illuminating a photo frame placed in the center.
In the photo frame was a young man named Kaiza, with a bright, cheerful smile, clear eyes, two scars of different lengths on his chin, and skin tanned a healthy bronze from years of going out to sea.
Yuto and several young people around his age silently walked to the table and lined up.
Looking at the vivid face in the photograph, their eyes instantly reddened.
Yuto was the first to bow deeply, his forehead almost touching the cold tabletop. His voice choked, filled with endless self-blame and pain:
"Kaiza-nii... I'm sorry! We... we're back! It's our fault for being useless..."
The other young people also bowed, sobbing quietly.
In Yuto's intermittent narration, interspersed with painful memories, a past event detailing the struggle and sacrifice of the lower-class people of the Land of Waves slowly unfolded before everyone.
A few years ago, not long after Kaiza arrived in the Land of Waves, he was still a young fisherman full of ideals and unwilling to be pushed around by fate. A tide of thought originating from the distant Land of Stars, carried by merchant ships and travelers, quietly flowed into this island nation.
That was the ideology and the book known as The Will of Stars.
The social picture depicted in the book… one without noble oppression, where the power of Ninja serves the people, and everyone can gain dignity through hard work… like a torch lit in the darkness, deeply shocked and attracted a group of young people in the Land of Waves who were dissatisfied with the status quo, including Kaiza and Yuto.
They seemed to have found a new direction in life and secretly joined an underground organization called the [Red Star Alliance].
This organization was active among the great nations of the Ninja World, its purpose being to spread the [Will of Stars], advocate for overthrowing the old class order, and establish an equal new world.
However, the main strength and resources of the Red Star Alliance were concentrated in large countries like the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Water.
For a small, resource-poor country like the Land of Waves, the support it could provide was extremely limited, mostly spiritual guidance and meager activity funds.
Burning with enthusiasm to change his homeland, Kaiza became the de facto leader of the [Red Star Alliance Land of Waves Branch]. He led Yuto and over a dozen like-minded companions, carefully sowing the seeds of resistance in the oppressive land of the Land of Waves.
They held secret meetings, spread ideas, and tried to awaken the people oppressed by the Matsuo Group and the corrupt Daimyo.
But their actions soon brought disaster.
At that time, the Matsuo Group had already basically controlled the Daimyo and noble classes of the Land of Waves through bribery and threats, monopolizing foreign trade.
The resistance activities of Kaiza and his group undoubtedly touched the Matsuo Group's sore spot.
The Daimyo of the Land of Waves quickly issued a wanted notice for Kaiza and the others, and the Matsuo Group directly sent hired Ninja and samurai to carry out a bloody crackdown and arrests.
Lacking effective organization and armed strength, the Red Star Alliance Land of Waves Branch quickly collapsed under the Matsuo Group's brutal suppression.
To cover the evacuation of some of the younger members, including Yuto, and preserve the seeds of revolution, Kaiza and a few core members resolutely chose to hold the rear.
However, due to the appearance of a despicable traitor within their ranks who betrayed their retreat route and hiding place, Kaiza and the others were ultimately unable to escape and were captured by the Matsuo Group's samurai.
Soon after, they were publicly executed in front of the entire island's population on charges of 'inciting rebellion', as a warning to others.
Yuto and the other surviving young people, filled with grief, indignation, and humiliation, took a dilapidated small boat, braved the wind and waves, and crossed the ocean to the 'ideal country' in their hearts, the Land of Stars, to seek true strength and the hope of revival.
"Waa—!" Hearing the details of his foster father's tragic death, Inari, who had been tightly held by his mother, could no longer hold back. He burst into loud sobs, broke free from Tsunami's embrace, rushed to Yuto, and pounded his small fists against Yuto's thigh, crying and shouting accusingly: "Why! Why did you leave Dad behind and run away back then?! Why didn't you stay and help Dad?! Sob sob sob..."
Yuto let Inari hit him, tears mixing with sweat rolling down his face. He closed his eyes in pain, his voice hoarse: "Inari... I'm sorry... we... we were supposed to retreat in two separate groups... but... there was a traitor... a trusted companion betrayed Kaiza-nii's whereabouts... by the time we got the news and rushed back to help... it was... it was already too late..."
Every time he thought back to those who died back then, a huge wave of guilt almost swallowed him.
"Inari! Stop it!" Tsunami rushed forward, crying as she tightly hugged her emotionally out-of-control son back in her arms. She looked at Yuto and the other young people kneeling on the ground in agony, her voice trembling but filled with understanding: "Don't blame them... Inari... your father... he did it to protect everyone..."
On the corridor outside the room, Boruto, Menma, and Hinata stood quietly, watching the heartbreaking scene through the doorframe.
Boruto clenched his fist. He thought of his father, who was always too busy to come home much but valued his companions more than anyone. If something similar happened to his father...
Menma's gaze was calm as he watched the scene inside. This tragedy was just a small microcosm of the cruel nature of this world.
The Red Star Alliance, being an organization supported by the Land of Stars, Menma naturally knew it attracted ordinary people like Kaiza and Yuto from many countries in the Ninja World.
They were full of passion, spreading ideas, but change was not something that happened overnight. The struggles and sacrifices within were inevitable.
Big Sis Hinata pressed tightly against Menma. The sorrowful atmosphere, the pain of losing an important person… she seemed to feel it herself. Only, her way of showing concern was to grip Menma's arm even tighter, as if afraid that if she let go, this person most important to her would also be in danger.
Across from them, Yusuke, leading the three Land of Stars' Genin, also stood silently on the other side of the corridor.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Boruto looked at the tall, steady Yusuke, who carried a large sword on his back, and couldn't help lowering his voice to ask: "Um... Iida Yusuke-san, your Land of Stars... is it here to help Yuto and the others overthrow the rule of the Land of Waves' Daimyo?"
When Ninja intervene in the internal affairs of other countries, it usually comes with clear political objectives.
Upon hearing this, Yusuke slowly shook his head. His voice was steady, carrying a sense of candor: "No, you misunderstand. Our most important mission on this trip is to represent the Land of Stars and head to Konoha Village to participate in the upcoming Joint Chunin Exams. Escorting Yuto and the others back to their homeland is just a commission we took from the Red Star Alliance along the way."
"We will not actively intervene in the internal affairs of the Land of Waves unless... someone threatens the safety of our citizens or the delegation's itinerary."
His explanation temporarily dispelled some of Boruto's doubts.
Boruto's gaze then curiously examined the three Genin behind Yusuke.
The bespectacled girl with striking red hair seemed particularly lively. Noticing Boruto's look, she immediately flashed a bright smile and introduced herself proactively: "Hello there! I'm Uzumaki Karin, a Genin of the Land of Stars! These are my teammates, Kurotsuchi, and Ranmaru! Nice to meet you!"
The girl beside her, with short black hair, tall stature, and notably long, straight legs, coolly gave a fist-and-palm salute. The boy with medium-length purple hair, a delicate face, and looking not much older than Inari, Ranmaru, bowed slightly, a bit shyly.
"Uzumaki... Karin?" Boruto was taken aback. The name sounded familiar... he thought he had heard Sarada mention it.
'And the surname Uzumaki...'
'Was she a distant relative of Father?'
But what surprised him even more was the girl named Kurotsuchi!
'She was actually the future Fourth Tsuchikage?!'
'Why was she here?'
'And as a Genin of the Land of Stars?!'
Boruto instinctively turned to look for Adult Sasuke to seek answers, but remembered his master had already gone to the bridge. He could only temporarily suppress his myriad questions.
Menma, pretending not to recognize any of them, introduced himself: "My name is Menma, Konoha's Genin."
As soon as he finished speaking, Big Sis Hinata beside him immediately hugged his arm even tighter, as if staking a claim, her gaze carrying undisguised vigilance, especially towards the overly enthusiastic Karin. She spoke stiffly: "Hyuga Hinata, Konoha's Genin."
Her keen intuition told her that this red-haired woman was looking at Menma a bit strangely!
Karin seemed completely unaware of Hinata's hostility. Her attention was entirely captured by Menma, who was leaning on a crutch.
She pushed up her glasses, the gaze behind the lenses carrying undisguised concern and an indescribable excitement.
She walked a few steps to stand before Menma, examining him carefully: "Are you injured? You look very unwell, very weak. I've studied some Medical Ninjutsu. Would you like me to examine you? Maybe I can help you recover faster!"
As she spoke, her fingers moved slightly, as if eager to start the examination immediately.
Hinata's brow instantly furrowed into a knot. Her grip on Menma's arm tightened further, almost pulling him behind her. Her eyes, like knives, scraped over Karin's reaching hand.
Menma looked into Karin's eyes… a gaze that seemed concerned but actually held a hint of slyness and an 'I know you' look.
Within the small core circle of the Land of Stars, Menma occasionally showed his true face. Karin and her mother, being among his earliest followers, were naturally among those in the know.
Menma sighed inwardly, but on the surface, he maintained weakness and politeness, nodding: "Mm, then... I'll trouble you."
"No trouble! No trouble!" Karin's face bloomed with a smile, a silly, infatuated expression on her face as she immediately reached out her hands.
"Hey!" Hinata finally couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed Karin's wrist, which was already halfway extended, with a force that made Karin frown slightly.
Hinata forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes, her voice squeezing through her teeth: "This... Karin-san, examination is examination, but where exactly are your hands trying to go?"
With her wrist caught, Karin didn't struggle. Instead, she met Hinata's hostile gaze, maintaining an innocent smile on her face: "Don't misunderstand, Hinata-san. Medical Ninjutsu examination naturally requires physical contact to accurately perceive Chakra Flow and injury conditions~ I just want to more carefully check Menma-kun's chest and veins…"
Between the two young women, invisible sparks crackled, and their intersecting gazes seemed to flash with electricity.
Across the way, Boruto, and Kurotsuchi and Ranmaru standing behind Yusuke, watching this sudden standoff thick with jealousy and gunpowder scent, instinctively shrank their necks, feeling the temperature instantly drop to freezing.
Kurotsuchi muttered quietly: "Strange... Karin is so forward today? Usually at the Ninja Academy, she ignores those boys who try to curry favor with her..."
Watching this scene, the corner of Yusuke's mouth twitched slightly.
As an outstanding member of the younger generation of the Land of Stars, he had trained in the Anbu and had the privilege of seeing Shura's true face a few times. He knew full well the true identity of this Menma before him.
Karin is a princess of the Uzumaki clan. How could she not recognize this important person? It's just that her performance was a bit too... enthusiastic.
Yusuke cleared his throat, appropriately changing the subject, also offering his assessment of the current situation: "Um... Menma needs rest. Karin, stop once the examination is done. I just heard that work at the bridge has started, but the Matsuo Group has likely sent people to cause trouble. I'll go check the situation."
"Kurotsuchi, Ranmaru, stay here and help protect Tsunami-san and Inari."
"Yes, Yusuke-sensei!" Kurotsuchi and Ranmaru immediately straightened up and responded.
Ranmaru raised his red eyes, seemingly casually sweeping over Menma, then quickly lowered his head. A flicker of doubt passed through his mind: 'Why did I feel a sense of familiarity from this Konoha's Genin... was it my imagination?'
Yusuke glanced again at Karin and Hinata, still engaged in a silent 'war' with their eyes, shook his head helplessly, turned, and left Tazuna's house, heading quickly towards the bridge.
A short while later, Yusuke arrived at the head of the Land of Waves' bridge.
Tazuna and a dozen or so workers were gathered at the end closest to the land, everyone's face filled with fear and unease, staring at the thick, almost unbreakable white fog in the middle section of the bridge.
From within the fog came the clang of metal clashes, the roar of ninjutsu collisions, and faint shouts.
Yusuke's arrival caused the already nervous workers to stir even more, looking at him, a strange Ninja carrying a huge Ninja Sword, with vigilance and fear.
Yusuke's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Tazuna, who seemed to be the leader. He tried to make his tone as calm as possible: "Excuse me, which one is Tazuna-san?"
Tazuna hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, his face showing fatigue and vigilance: "I'm Tazuna. You are..."
He felt that this tall, silver-haired Ninja had a very special temperament. He lacked the businesslike distance of the Konoha's Ninja, nor did he have the naked killing intent of the previous attackers. Instead... he seemed a bit like a helpful neighbor.
"I am Iida Yusuke, a Ninja of the Land of Stars." Yusuke introduced himself briefly. "Entrusted by Yuto, I came to see if there's any way I can help."
He mentioned Yuto's name.
"Yuto?" Tazuna and the surrounding workers showed surprised expressions, then began whispering among themselves.
"That Yuto who was with Kaiza?"
"Didn't he flee to the Land of Stars? How come he's back?"
"He brought Land of Stars' Ninja? Found a backer?"
...
Regardless, having an extra Ninja for help was always an extra shred of hope.
Tazuna pointed towards the thick fog, speaking worriedly: "Iida Yusuke-san, just now a very vicious Ninja came to kill me. Thanks to the Konoha's Ninja we hired, Kakashi-san, who held him off. They're fighting fiercely in the fog now. Later, two more Konoha's Ninja went in. The specific situation... we don't know either."
Yusuke nodded, indicating understanding. After all, Tazuna was just an ordinary person.
He looked up at the thick fog, immediately analyzing that this was Kirigakure's signature technique, the Hiding in the Mist Technique. He could also sense the fierce Chakra Fluctuations coming from within... it was at least Jonin-level combat.
Yusuke drew the huge Kubikiribocho from his back with a 'clang', the heavy blade cutting through the air with a low hum.
"I'll go in and take a look. You all retreat to a safer place." He said to Tazuna and the workers, then moved, charging into the thick, impenetrable fog like a leopard, his figure instantly swallowed.