Konoha Year 54.
"Menma and Naruto, starting today, you two can go to school. You'll get to meet lots and lots of other kids." Jiraiya said patiently, smiling down at the twins. After three years, Jiraiya had unintentionally become a competent and doting parent figure.
"Really, Master? There'll be lots of kids?" Naruto asked excitedly. Compared to three years ago, Naruto had grown a lot—taller and more energetic—and he was beginning to resemble Minato more and more. With that ever-present smile on his face, he was like a little sun.
"Mm." Menma responded blandly, the complete opposite of Naruto's enthusiasm.
The next day, the two made their way to the Academy with Kakashi leading them. Kakashi looked particularly unwilling, but he had no choice. Master Jiraiya had given the order.
"Mr. Kakashi, why are you sighing? Are you sad to see us go? If you want, we can go alone," Menma said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"You two can go by yourselves?" Kakashi perked up at the suggestion like a prisoner being offered freedom, but he paused and reconsidered. "Are you sure?"
"Of course, but I'll be sure to let Master Jiraiya know how eager you were to ditch us," Menma replied, smirking.
Kakashi: "…"
He scratched his head and gave in. Better not test Jiraiya's temper.
Hehe. Watching Kakashi get shut down made Menma smile. These days, his happiness was built on Kakashi's suffering. After all, he was an enemy. The humiliation from three years ago was etched in Menma's soul, never forgotten. One day, he would personally serve Kakashi a supercharged version of the Konoha Ultimate Taijutsu.
To that end, Menma had been training relentlessly for the past three years. Even when his main body rested at night, his shadow clones continued to train.
By now, Menma had already reached Chūnin-level strength—and that's without using the Nine Tails Mode. Once he activated that, ordinary Jōnin wouldn't stand a chance. But Kakashi was no ordinary Jōnin.
Kakashi's strength was still a mystery. Especially with Kamui.
And it was Menma's own fault. He'd run his mouth and unknowingly let Kakashi in on the secret of his eye. Kakashi, after the death of Rin, had unknowingly awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—and with it, the dimensional jutsu Kamui.
It allowed him to warp objects and people into another dimension. After overhearing Menma's remarks, Kakashi decided to test it—and once he started, he couldn't stop.
Menma understood Kamui's limitations. The user had to be tangible while using it and couldn't avoid attacks in that state. It also consumed a ton of chakra and had a five-minute usage cap before it became ineffective.
Still, Menma hadn't mastered the Flying Thunder God technique yet—so there was no way he could counter Kamui for now.
He had been trying to find an opportunity to steal the Scroll of Seals for three years—but no luck. Unless another Nine Tails rampage occurred, there wouldn't be another chance.
Damn it, surrounded by enemies, and I still haven't avenged my… chrysanthemum…
Eventually, the trio arrived at the Ninja Academy. The gate was packed—children everywhere, accompanied by their parents, all here for enrollment.
Menma's sharp eyes caught a familiar figure in the distance.
"Naruto, your friend Sasuke is over there," Menma said.
In the past three years, thanks to Jiraiya's return, the Third Hokage had entrusted many matters to him. He even tried to have Jiraiya succeed him as Hokage, realizing that his own time was nearly up.
And the first order of business… was to settle the score with Danzo.
Danzo, still obsessed with becoming Hokage, had planned to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi while he traveled to the Land of Fire's capital to receive official confirmation of his reinstatement.
But the Third was smarter.
When Danzo's Root ninja attacked, expecting to find Hiruzen, they instead ran into Kakashi and his team. The real Third Hokage had already reached the capital and secured approval.
The would-be assassins were eliminated, one by one.
Meanwhile, Danzo sat smugly in the Hokage's office, grinning to himself, thinking Hiruzen was already dead. The moment the Third Hokage returned to the village alive, Danzo was horrified. He didn't know where his plan had gone wrong—but he knew it had failed.
Though the Third Hokage knew Danzo was behind it, he chose not to pursue the matter legally. Instead, he disbanded Root, rendering Danzo powerless.
Hiruzen believed it was more important to maintain peace than to incite civil conflict.
He had considered bringing Danzo back later—there really weren't many available leaders—but Jiraiya's return had given him the perfect replacement. So, the Third began handing more and more authority to Jiraiya.
Meanwhile, relations between the village and the Uchiha clan were growing tense.
The Third believed in peace and negotiation, so he sent Jiraiya to speak with the Uchiha. After many back-and-forth visits, Jiraiya had built up a decent rapport with the clan—especially with Patriarch Uchiha Fugaku and his family.
He even brought Menma and Naruto to visit occasionally. The first time, he got scolded by the Third, but Jiraiya didn't care.
Whether it was right or wrong, he didn't know. But he did what he thought was best.
Even with knowledge of the plot, Menma hadn't expected events to unfold quite like this. Still, overall… things were going well.
Because of those visits, Naruto and Sasuke became good friends. Well—Naruto did most of the chasing.
On the first day they met, Sasuke ignored him. Naruto cried when he got home. Menma had comforted him and said, "Sasuke's just tsundere. Be patient and loving. I believe in your CP. Don't let me down."
"Okay, Brother!" Naruto had worked harder than ever and eventually won Sasuke over.
Without the trauma of losing his family, Sasuke was still a bit prideful—but undeniably adorable.
Menma often wondered, Why wasn't Sasuke a girl? The Uchiha clan had both beautiful men and women. If Sasuke and Naruto were to… combine… their kid might be ridiculously attractive.
Menma's thoughts drifted.
"Erzhuzi~!" Naruto shouted, dashing toward Sasuke.
People turned to look.
From afar, Sasuke's face flushed pink. "Idiot…"
When Naruto reached him, Sasuke scolded, "Don't call me Erzhuzi!"
"Sorry, Sasuke! I just got used to hearing my brother say it all the time," Naruto replied innocently, accidentally throwing Menma under the bus.
Sasuke: "…"
He dared not confront Menma about it.
Menma, watching from a distance, sighed and facepalmed. My brother's an idiot…
"Good morning, Naruto." Uchiha Itachi greeted with a gentle smile, nodding toward Menma in the distance as well.
Menma returned the gesture.
With Naruto and Sasuke close, it was only natural that Menma and Itachi had become acquainted. Two powerful minds quietly bonding—it was strangely poetic.
"Good morning, Brother Itachi!" Naruto beamed, then suddenly leapt onto Sasuke's back.
"Wha—get off me!" Sasuke shouted, caught off guard.
"You carried me last time, now it's my turn!" Naruto clung to him tightly, arms around Sasuke's neck, legs around his waist.
Sasuke's face burned red. He glanced up—right into Itachi's gaze. His blush deepened.
Oh no… my brother's watching… he must think I'm childish! What do I do?!
"Come on, Naruto. Get off. I'll carry you when we get home," Sasuke muttered.
"Okay!" Naruto jumped down cheerfully, then held out his pinky. "Let's make a pinky promise."
Sasuke: "…"
You bastard, Naruto… my image is ruined!
When Sasuke hesitated, Naruto grabbed his hand and forcibly hooked their pinkies.
"If we link pinkies, we can't break the promise for a hundred years!"
Pfft—
Itachi couldn't help but laugh.
Sasuke's face turned redder, and he stared at the ground.
(End Of Chapter)
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