First Meeting and Loss

Just as Menma dried himself with the towel he had brought, changed into a set of close-fitting clothes he had deliberately packed, then put back on the clothes he had taken off before going into the water, and was about to pick up his basket and leave the mountains for home—

The faint sense of being watched that he had vaguely perceived all along vanished completely at that moment.

Has their time run out for today?

Menma showed nothing on the surface, but he murmured to himself inwardly.

This surveillance seemed to come from the void itself.

Menma had discovered it during an accidental "awakening" two or three years ago. Combined with his red-haired lineage, it was most likely a bloodline talent inherited from his mother—the Uzumaki Clan's Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

Even though Menma still could not use Chakra.

This innate ability still allowed Menma to investigate things in reverse, things ordinary people could never learn. For example, the several Anbu who had always stayed close to monitor and protect him, as well as the Third Hokage's Telescopic Jutsu, which he often used through that special crystal.

With Menma's current abilities, he naturally could not precisely identify these instances of surveillance. Still, he could sense them to some extent—when the jutsu was activated and when it ended, as well as the Anbu trailing close around him.

Menma could not pinpoint their exact locations, but he could sense vague traces of their presence. Moreover, as his strength grew and his mastery over his Kekkei Genkai improved, his Mind's Eye of the Kagura might one day reach Karin's level—or even surpass it.

It was precisely because he possessed this ability.

That Menma felt a faint sense of security. At the very least, he was not completely ignorant, and whenever he wanted to do something, he could clearly determine what time would be best.

Especially when the Third Hokage was personally monitoring him, not even a little bit could go wrong.

Of course, the Third Hokage did not have time to observe Menma personally every day. He generally came only every few days, and each observation never lasted more than three hours. After all, he was the Kage of an entire village, with far too many matters to handle each day.

Besides, Menma had Anbu directly under his command following him, and he was within Konohagakure's borders. Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally had no need to worry too much.

Menma made his way down the mountain in light steps.

It was now around noon. Unlike when he had left that morning, Menma carefully chose secluded paths on his way back. Thanks to the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, he could sense the malice of ordinary villagers more clearly than Naruto had in the Original Work.

Menma avoided those people not for any other reason, but because he felt that his bearing and state of mind were not yet up to par. He feared that sensing too much malice would make him lose control and reveal a resentful expression.

That was a major taboo for Menma at this stage.

He could no longer be like Naruto in the Original Work, merely showing unwillingness and loneliness while still acting determined to win everyone's recognition. He certainly could not add fuel to the fire now.

Safely getting through his most dangerous early childhood years was the highest priority.

For the past five years.

Menma had always adhered to this principle.

Whenever he went out, he almost never ran into anyone.

The moment he sensed someone, he would avoid them in advance.

Today, however, was an exception.

Menma had deliberately taken a long detour along the outskirts, choosing a route that almost never saw anyone. Yet near an open area close to his home, he still came across several figures.

Under normal circumstances, Menma would have simply gone around them.

But today, he stopped. First, because the figures in the distance were all children as young as he was.

Second, because of the little girl surrounded at the center—her silky black hair, her clear white eyes, and that familiar face, so young and fragile.

Hyuga Hinata...

Menma instinctively murmured the little girl's name in his heart.

The eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan Main Family.

One of the most popular female characters in the Original Work.

And also one of Menma's favorite characters when he had read the Original Work in his previous life.

Menma had always felt that Naruto in the original timeline had been incredibly lucky. When he fell in love with Hinata, Hinata had always loved him too.

As one of the most devoted Naruto-Hinata supporters in his previous life.

Menma knew very clearly some of their most important childhood memories.

And one of their most significant encounters was the scene before him. When Hinata was bullied by a few troublesome boys, Naruto stepped forward and left an indelible mark in her heart, even though it was a failed attempt at saving the damsel in distress.

The scene before him perfectly overlapped with that memory.

Menma's heart trembled, and he was about to step forward.

Yet at that very moment.

"Stop! What are you doing!? A bunch of boys ganging up on one girl—can you still call yourselves men!?"

A bright, cheerful child's voice, carrying the faintest hint of anger, rang out.

The next second.

A golden-haired figure beat Menma to it.

He charged straight into close proximity.

With his arms spread wide, he shielded the little girl's small figure behind him.

And when Menma saw that familiar blond hair, blue eyes, and a face whose contours bore a faint resemblance to his own.

His expression froze.

The boys who had been surrounding the little girl were also stunned.

Just as one of them was about to start shouting insults.

The slightly older boy in the middle immediately recognized the blond boy's identity.

Quickly grabbing his simple-minded companion, he said, "Young Master Naruto, we were wrong. We'll leave right away, we'll leave right away."

He hurriedly bowed, and his words jolted the few boys beside him, who were still somewhat confused.

They immediately understood the blond boy's identity.

The person before them was Young Master Namikaze Naruto, the son of the Fourth Hokage, who had died fighting for Konoha.

At once.

They hurriedly bowed as well.

The gap in status between them and Naruto was enormous. If their parents found out that they had actually dared to provoke Young Master Naruto, they would beat their backsides black and blue.

Naruto was momentarily stunned when he saw how terrified they looked.

But only for a second. Then Naruto's straightforward nature took over, and he grinned as he waved a hand. "As long as you know you were wrong!! Men shouldn't bully girls!"

"Yes, yes, yes. Then, Young Master Naruto, please excuse us."

"Mm!"