I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Gathering in the Land of Waves

The Land of Waves had unexpectedly fallen under the control of the reestablished Uzushiogakure, the once-destroyed village of the Uzumaki Clan.

Upon hearing the news, Orochimaru raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. Although the Uzumaki Clan boasted formidable chakra reserves and unique sealing techniques, Uzushiogakure was still a newly revived village. Even if Konohagakure was secretly backing it, such a blatant annexation of neutral territory was uncharacteristic of a faction seeking to remain under the radar.

This aggressive expansion was undoubtedly a provocation that could ignite war with the other Great Shinobi Villages.

For instance, Kumogakure and Iwagakure—both known for their opportunistic nature—would not miss a chance to claim a strategic foothold in a smaller nation's turmoil.

But was Uzushiogakure showcasing its strength to gain recognition among the Five Great Villages? If so, Orochimaru's previous assumptions about the village's leadership had been entirely mistaken.

Could it be that Konoha was not the one pulling the strings? Was Uzushiogakure's resurgence driven solely by the strength of Uzumaki Menma?

Mulling over the possibilities, Orochimaru decided to venture into the Land of Waves himself. As a rogue ninja hunted by both Konohagakure and the Akatsuki, there were few places in the world that could offer him refuge.

Days later, he arrived at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves.

Gazing at the distant silhouette of Nanamuni Island, he bit his thumb and performed a Summoning Jutsu, extracting a hidden ring from the stomach of a summoned viper. After breaking its seal, he smoothly crossed the sea.

Once ashore, Orochimaru shed his serpent form, assuming the guise of a pale-skinned young man concealed beneath a straw hat. He mingled with the local fishermen, extracting valuable information through casual conversation.

It appeared that Gato, the corrupt shipping magnate who had ruled the Land of Waves from the shadows, had made the fatal mistake of provoking Uzushiogakure. His forces were eradicated, his company dismantled, and all his assets absorbed under Uzushiogakure's direct control, now facing a complete restructuring.

However, rather than monopolizing the shipping industry, Uzushiogakure's leadership implemented policies that prioritized the well-being of the Land of Waves' citizens. Investment in infrastructure, particularly the construction of a bridge connecting to the Land of Fire, was underway.

Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed in curiosity.

This approach was unlike that of any Kage he had encountered. Instead of ruling like a typical military leader, Menma seemed to govern as both a Daimyo and a Shinobi Leader. A hybrid of political and military power—an ambition that should not be underestimated.

Traveling further, Orochimaru reached the bustling port once controlled by Gato's company.

Despite the recent battle, trade operations had resumed swiftly. Rumors swirled that the Land of Waves was being transformed into a central hub for international commerce.

After gathering intelligence from port officials, Orochimaru's interest in Menma only deepened.

Unlike the stagnant rule of the Third Hokage or the oppressive reign of Pain, this young leader embraced innovation. If an opportunity arose, Orochimaru planned to meet him in person.

As he observed a merchant vessel docking, a thin smile formed on his lips.

He was not the only one intrigued by Uzushiogakure. The ship harbored no fewer than ten shinobi, including some unexpected figures.

The Land of Waves was quickly becoming a focal point for all major powers.

---

Land of Waves – Uzushiogakure Headquarters

Seated behind a mountain of paperwork, Naruto Uzumaki—now known as Uzushiogakure's leader, Menma—rubbed his temples in frustration.

He was still young, not yet at the peak of his strength, but the sheer volume of administrative work reminded him why his future self in another timeline had spent countless nights buried in Hokage duties.

No wonder Hokage Naruto had little time for training.

Thankfully, this workload was only temporary. Once this transitional period ended, his subordinates would handle the daily operations.

Watching this unfold, Zabuza Momochi—once a rogue Kirigakure assassin—felt a sense of relief.

Had his coup in Kirigakure with Kisame Hoshigaki succeeded, and he had ascended as the Fifth Mizukage, his days would have been consumed by endless paperwork rather than the freedom he had envisioned.

Turning to Haku, he muttered, "You should stick to battle, kid. This bureaucratic nightmare isn't for us."

Haku, however, flipped through documents with genuine interest. "But these are high-level responsibilities. It's because the Mizukage ignored governance that Kirigakure fell into chaos."

"A leader like Menma-sama is exactly what a village needs."

Zabuza scowled. How had Haku—his own apprentice—become so enamored with Menma?

Just then, a masked Uchiha shinobi knocked on the door.

"Menma-sama, emissaries from Kumogakure and Iwagakure have arrived."

Naruto set his paperwork aside and nodded. "Send them in."

Moments later, the Kumogakure and Iwagakure envoys entered, their gazes immediately falling upon Zabuza and Haku. Upon recognizing their Kirigakure forehead protectors, their expressions darkened.

Zabuza smirked, returning their glares with an intimidating stare.

One of the emissaries, exuding arrogance, finally spoke:

"You are the leader of Uzushiogakure? We are here on behalf of Gato. If you know what's good for you, you'll withdraw your forces immediately. We would prefer to avoid conflict."

Zabuza nearly burst into laughter.

Were they seriously underestimating Uzushiogakure? Or were they simply uninformed about its growing power?

Realizing an opportunity to prove his loyalty, Zabuza unsheathed the Kubikiribōchō, his massive Executioner's Blade. His stance made it clear—one wrong move, and blood would be spilled.

Noticing the legendary sword, the emissaries hesitated.

But then, as if drawing some internal conclusion, they sneered, "So that's it. The reemergence of Uzushiogakure was nothing more than a front for Kirigakure. Do you truly believe you can hold the Land of Waves without choking on it?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed. With a simple hand gesture, the emissaries were promptly ejected from the office.

They were mere scouts—disposable pawns sent to gauge Uzushiogakure's strength. If a full squad had been deployed, they were likely lying in wait, watching for his response.

He had no intention of wasting words on weaklings.

At that moment, Shisui Uchiha returned from his patrol, whispering an urgent report in Naruto's ear.

Multiple shinobi factions had infiltrated the Land of Waves, including Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and even Konohagakure.

To his surprise, Sunagakure had also dispatched operatives.

More alarmingly, Shisui noted an abnormal increase in serpentine creatures across the region.

Which meant only one thing—Orochimaru was here.

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