The Death Knell I Ringed for Them

"It's time. Go check on Little Naruto."

The Third Hokage took off his Hokage Robe and changed into ordinary clothes, once again wearing a kind, benevolent smile.

Anyone who did not know him would only take him for an ordinary little old man.

At that moment, Uzumaki Menma's hands paused, as though he had keenly sensed something.

"Is someone coming?"

He closed his eyes and activated his Mind's Eye, instantly taking in every movement within a ten-kilometer radius centered on Little Naruto.

This was the Uzumaki Clan's exclusive sensory ninjutsu, the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

If there was a known, specific Chakra signature, Menma could even sense its exact location and movements.

Sure enough, after activating his Mind's Eye, he discovered a Chakra above Hokage Rock that was "heavy with the stench of decay."

He could not have been more familiar with this rotten Chakra, like decaying wood—or loathed it more.

"That undead old peeping tom is here again."

Menma clicked his tongue in annoyance, then turned to Naruto and said, "Don't tell anyone about what happened here."

"Huh? What..."

Ignoring Little Naruto's shocked and regretful expression, Menma waved his hand and kicked him out of the Sealing Space.

"You're really letting that brat out without worry? No matter how mature he is, he's still just a three-year-old little runt. It'd be easy for someone with ill intentions to pry his mouth open, wouldn't it?"

Hearing the Nine-Tails' booming voice, Menma's smile did not change. He said gently, "Of course I'm not worried. Naruto is a very smart child. I believe he won't tell anyone."

That was a lie.

Menma did not trust the still-young Naruto. Or rather, he would never place absolute trust in anyone.

However, he had long since used the Crimson Moon Book to reshape this Sealing Space into his own. The authority he possessed had long surpassed Naruto's, the owner.

Once he sensed a risk of exposure, Menma would warn Naruto before he revealed anything, or even forcibly drag him into the Sealing Space.

After all, he only had a "frail" soul body right now, while the Real World ran deep. There were also quite a few old schemers and undead old monsters.

Kaguya, Black Zetsu, Madara, Obito, Danzo, the Old Man of the Six Paths hiding in the Pure Land, the Three Great Sages holed up in the Sacred Land, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who knew where he was hiding...

If he wanted to keep moving forward and growing stronger, to transform this world into what he wanted in terms of economics, technology, ideology, and systems, then lying low and building his strength was the proper path.

This was not the narrow Tsukuyomi World. It would be difficult for him alone to deal with that group of old schemers and undead old monsters.

So he needed strength, and he also needed to bring more geniuses under his command. His first target was naturally Naruto Uzumaki, the Child of Destiny.

As though he had thought of something, the curve of Menma's lips rose slightly, becoming somewhat teasing and pleased.

"I really want to see Naruto chatting while standing atop Leaf Village's ruins already. Hahaha!"

"This is..."

On Hokage Rock, Little Naruto opened his eyes in confusion and slowly sat up.

Before his eyes were blue skies, white clouds, rocks, and the noisy, bustling crowd below...

This was Leaf Village, the place where he had lived since childhood yet never felt any sense of belonging.

Bang!

As if waking from a dream, Naruto sprang to his feet. His eyes widened round as he scanned his surroundings again and again.

There was no beach or sea, no Menma-nii with his gentle, friendly smile, and no big fox stuffing himself with food!

"What's going on?! Was I dreaming just now?"

At that thought, Little Naruto immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, his expression becoming listless.

Yeah, I should have understood long ago. How could anyone possibly like me?

How could a place as beautiful and peaceful as a dream possibly exist?

How could the terrifying Nine-Tailed Demon Fox the adults spoke of possibly be a harmless, greedy big fox?

It was only a dream, a beautiful yet false dream.

"But... but it still hurts so much..."

The chubby flesh on Little Naruto's cheeks trembled slightly. His lips quivered, yet a mist of tears still rose in his eyes.

That was the first big brother who had truly acknowledged him.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox was not some ferocious monster that devoured people and drank blood, and he was not some evil incarnation of a demon fox.

But now it was all gone!

Just as Little Naruto sniffled, on the verge of breaking down in tears—

"Naruto."

That familiar, magnetic voice seemed to ring beside his ear again.

No, it sounded more like it appeared directly in his mind.

Little Naruto's tearful expression instantly froze, making him look adorably silly.

After recovering his senses, he carefully spoke, as though afraid of breaking the illusion. "...Menma-nii?"

"You don't need to speak. Just call for me silently in your heart, and I'll be able to hear your voice. No one but you can hear mine."

Little Naruto nodded his head blankly, then asked in his heart with equal blankness, "Menma-nii, are you there?"

"I'm here."

"...Menma-nii?"

"...I'm here, Naruto. I've always been here."

Menma sounded somewhat helpless, but there was still a smile in his voice as he answered gently.

Then his tone abruptly shifted, teasing him with a smile. "But right now, Naruto, if you don't go catch some fish, you'll be going hungry tonight."

Grrr...

As soon as he finished speaking, a sound rang out as though in agreement.

Little Naruto's face reddened. Covering his stomach in embarrassed irritation, he ran toward the riverbank.

Meanwhile, inside the Sealing Space, the smile on Menma's face gradually faded, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

The Crimson Moon Book floated before him, reflecting the scene beyond the Sealing Space like a mirror.

"So noisy..."

The lively crowds beneath Hokage Rock now sounded somewhat grating to his ears.

By unspoken agreement, they dressed themselves up and only tasted a cup of life's suffering amid their comfort.

They were blessed with peace and happiness, drowsing amid the beautiful lights of countless homes, carelessly wasting what came easily to them.

This was Leaf Village, the strongest shinobi village founded by Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, and Madara Uchiha, the Shinobi World's Asura.

A land of outstanding people and abundant resources.

Even after three Shinobi World Wars, it remained strong. Every generation produced geniuses who emerged from nowhere, turning the tide in moments of crisis and propping up collapsing pillars.

Senju, Uchiha, Hyuga Clan, Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, Kurama Clan...

The First Hokage, the Second Hokage, the White Fang of the Leaf, the Legendary Sannin, the Yellow Flash...

If not for his appearance, there would later have been Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha as well.

Uzumaki Menma admired their will and their ninja way, but looking at these ignorant people, were they worth giving their lives to protect?

"Kurama..."

Menma looked down upon Leaf Village beneath his feet, his gaze unfocused as he murmured, "Do you hear it?"

"Hm?" The Nine-Tails responded in confusion.

"That is the death knell I have rung for them."

Menma's gaze was profound, as though he saw a more distant future.

The Old Era was about to reach its end.

And the ninjas of the Old Era were about to welcome their god.