The Curtain Falls

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The words were crystal clear.

As Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no need to beat around the bush. And when facing Iruka and Menma, there was even less reason for him to put on an inscrutable act. He could simply make his position clear.

Iruka had already anticipated and prepared for this to some extent, so upon hearing those words, the weight in his heart finally settled.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was not Tsunade or Minato. Having taken office in a time of crisis and led Konoha to rise step by step, then governed Konohagakure for a full three or four decades, he possessed unmatched prestige within the village. With a single word, he could decide everything in this small corner of Konohagakure.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

A trace of excitement appeared on Iruka's face as he quickly lowered his head in response.

Only Menma, standing to the side, still looked up at Sarutobi Hiruzen with obvious worry and unease. Taking a deep breath as though mustering all his courage, he said, "But I also read the Scroll of Seals. That's supposed to be the village's highest secret, one only the Hokages throughout history are qualified to read. And my identity is still..."

"You are simply you, Menma. You are a child I have watched grow up, and I have always believed in you. You have no other identity. You are Uzumaki Menma, a ninja of Konohagakure. That is my recognition of you as Hokage. You may ignore everyone else's opinions. In the future, all you need to do is prove yourself through your actions. As for the Scroll of Seals, it is no matter. Didn't you defeat Rogue Ninja Mizuki? Consider it your reward. You need not worry about this at all, Menma."

Before Menma could finish speaking,

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and shook his head, interrupting Menma in a gentle tone. The endless warmth in his eyes made him seem, at first glance and first listen, like a kind old man sincerely concerned for his descendants.

Perhaps a little bit of what Sarutobi Hiruzen said had indeed come from the heart.

But Menma preferred to believe that everything Sarutobi Hiruzen did and said was founded upon protecting the so-called greater good of Konohagakure.

Menma would not be fooled by Sarutobi Hiruzen's outward display.

Or, to put it more precisely, Sarutobi Hiruzen's greater good and Konoha's greater good were not his greater good. This village was not where he belonged. His future lay elsewhere, in any other possibility—just not in Konohagakure.

Of course, on the surface, Menma still needed to deliberately show relief and excitement. His eyes shining as he looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, he replied gratefully, "Yes, Grandpa Third."

That expression of seemingly heartfelt joy and delight

fell into Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes as well.

A faint trace of satisfaction surfaced in the Third Hokage's heart.

This was exactly the development and outcome he wanted.

Everything was under control!

"Let this matter end here as well. It's already very late today. Don't you two have the Graduation Ceremony tomorrow? Go back and get some rest early!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said warmly as he looked at them.

They had been occupied since ten o'clock that night, and by now, it was already past three in the morning.

"Yes, Lord Hokage! Grandpa Third!"

After Iruka and Menma bowed in response,

they left the spacious Hokage's Office together.

"Menma, although everything that happened today is over, I still need to remind you: from now on, you must act cautiously and carefully. Starting tomorrow—no, starting today—you will be an official ninja. In the future, you will carry out all kinds of missions. A single moment of carelessness could very well lead to an extremely dangerous outcome. I hope you remember that."

After stepping out of the Hokage Building, Iruka looked at Menma solemnly at a fork in the road and spoke these words.

"Yeah, I understand, Teacher Iruka. I'll definitely act more cautiously from now on!"

Menma nodded heavily.

"Good."

Hearing Menma's answer,

Iruka smiled gently and nodded as well.

"Go back and rest. The graduation ceremony starts at nine. Don't be late."

"Yes, Teacher Iruka."

After saying that, Iruka turned and left, heading back toward his home on the other side.

Menma remained where he was. After watching Iruka's figure gradually disappear into the night, the smile faded from his face.

He turned to glance at the still brightly lit Hokage Building.

A faint chill flashed through Menma's eyes.

This is only the beginning!!

At the end of winter.

The breath of early spring was about to arrive.

January, Year 60 of Konoha.

Menma had officially graduated from the Ninja Academy.

With the novice protection period behind him, what awaited him next were true boss-level enemies, each more dangerous and terrifying than the last.

The night slowly passed.

Dawn quietly arrived.

The next day.

When the first rays of morning sunlight shone upon the earth,

the Ninja Academy, located in the heart of the village, gradually became noisy and lively. Every year, the Ninja Academy had two fixed festive days: one was the school-opening season in March, and the other was graduation season in January!

The young men and women who had successfully passed the graduation assessment would wear their newly acquired headbands and arrive at the Ninja Academy in high spirits to attend their Graduation Ceremony. The Little Ones who had yet to graduate would look at these senior graduates with envy and longing, imagining their own future graduation prospects.

The Little Ones who had yet to witness the Shinobi World's true cruelty

only saw the glamour of becoming a ninja.

They could not see the risks that ninjas had to bear.

For once, Menma did not rise early. He slept until eight o'clock.

This was not only because today was special,

but also because he had just fought a battle last night. Although Mizuki had been a relatively weak opponent, it had ultimately been Menma's first battle since coming to this world. Mizuki had simply been far too weak. If he had possessed the average strength of a Chunin and maintained the highest level of combat awareness,

Menma could not have won yesterday's battle so cleanly.

Because others could not tell.

Menma himself knew very well that he had been a little nervous during yesterday's battle. At the beginning, the arm holding his kunai had even trembled slightly. After all, in his previous life, he had lived in an incredibly peaceful and harmonious country.

The biggest "battle scene" he had experienced was "helping" an adult in his family kill a chicken once.

If Menma had not been nervous at all during this kind of "real-person PK," that would have been strange.

Therefore, the outcome of that battle was not all that important to Menma.

But the battle itself held an extraordinary significance.

It marked the point at which Menma truly began to integrate into this dark and cruel world woven from blood and fire.