Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Menma's Adoption
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Outside the Konoha Orphanage, the children's playful laughter drifted on the wind.
Yamanaka Mitsuba and Gato stood at a distance, their gazes sweeping over the group of carefree figures.
Yamanaka Mitsuba placed one hand on his hip.
"Mr. Gato, these children are all war orphans from Konoha and the surrounding areas. Their backgrounds are clean, but whether they have ninja talent still needs further testing."
He was the person in charge of negotiating with Gato this time, as well as handling the subsequent adoption procedures.
Yamanaka Mitsuba, a Chunin of the Yamanaka Clan, currently 15 years old. More than a decade later, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, he formed a team with Nara Shikaku and Naoki, assisting Kakashi in battling the Edo Tensei-revived Zabuza and the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
"No problem. Actually, requiring ninja talent would be me being too strict." At this moment, Gato wore a kindly expression, a far cry from his ruthless demeanor when dominating the business world.
"Then let's go visit the director first," Yamanaka Mitsuba said, heading toward the orphanage.
Gato followed closely behind with one bodyguard.
As they approached the orphanage, Gato's small eyes narrowed slightly beneath his sunglasses, scanning each orphan as he searched for the target assigned by "that lord."
But after searching the group for a long time, he didn't find the child described by "that lord."
'Strange, could he not be here?' Gato frowned inwardly.
Suddenly, a lonely figure under a large tree in the distance caught Gato's attention.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves in dappled patterns across the grass. Under the tree's shade, a child fiddled alone with a doll in his hands, as if cut off from the world.
That indifferent expression and aloof aura were just like "that lord's."
Gato couldn't help but walk over.
Crunch—
Menma had actually noticed Gato the moment he arrived. But to avoid drawing attention, he hadn't deliberately guided him over.
Once Gato reached the tree shade, he slowly raised his head. His youthful little face held a calmness beyond his years.
"You're here. How are the preparations?"
This familiar tone reminded Gato of "that lord's" instructions.
'You'll find a child named Menma at the Konoha Orphanage. He is a member of the organization, higher rank than you. Your task is to take good care of him.'
Gato had originally thought it was a teenage orphan with high ninja talent who had been recruited into the organization.
After all, "that lord" himself had destroyed half of the Hidden Cloud Village, and the subdued Kakuzu had displayed terrifying combat prowess in protecting him.
But the child before him looked only three or four years old, still full of baby fat, clutching a dark red fox doll wearing a creepy mask.
Was this really the target assigned by "that lord"?
So Gato tentatively said, "The house and branch office are all arranged."
"Let's go." Menma stood up, his tone brooking no argument.
"Yes." Gato finally confirmed—this child was indeed the one "that lord" wanted him to find.
In front of the orphanage.
"Menma!" Yunnai, the acting director of the orphanage, placed both hands on her hips and stood with Yamanaka Mitsuba. Her eyes toward Menma were filled with helplessness.
This child was always so reclusive and antisocial. It was hard to feel at ease about him.
"So his name is Menma." Gato nodded to Yamanaka Mitsuba. "I have a good connection with this kid. He'll do."
Yamanaka Mitsuba was slightly surprised. He had just found the acting director Yunnai, and Gato had already picked a suitable candidate.
His orange eyebrows rose slightly as he glanced at the little kid next to Gato holding the fox doll.
Yunnai hurriedly explained, "Menma is an orphan from three years ago. His personality is quite reclusive; I'm afraid he's not suitable..."
Three years ago...
Hearing this information, Yamanaka Mitsuba recalled the terrifying orange-red Nine-Tails demon fox.
After that day, the village had many more orphans.