Three People, Two Worlds

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After saying that,

the boys hurriedly took off running. Under normal circumstances, they would have jumped at the chance to get close to Young Master Naruto, but today had been truly unlucky. They had no idea what Naruto thought of them, so it was better to make themselves scarce first.

Watching the boys flee as though escaping a famine, Naruto looked utterly bewildered.

Still, it was best that the matter had been resolved smoothly!

Although his identity differed from that in the Original Work,

Naruto still seemed to be the same Naruto. Only his environment and mindset had undergone a fundamental change.

"They're all gone, so you don't need to worry anymore. Um, what was your name again? My name is Namikaze Naruto."

Naruto turned to look at Hinata behind him, wearing that familiar bright smile as he spoke to her cheerfully.

"Um... my name... is... Hyuga Hinata... Thank you... Young Master Namikaze..."

Perhaps it was a similar encounter.

Though the development was different,

the outcome was almost the same.

At that moment, the little girl's eyes seemed to be filled entirely with the image of the boy before her. Her voice was incomparably soft, and her little expression clearly carried admiration.

"Oh? Hinata! That's a lovely name!"

Naruto said warmly, making the little girl's cheeks flush even redder.

Her dainty little hands lightly brushed through her hair.

Their eyes met.

Three people, two worlds.

Two entirely different dimensions.

Like two parallel lines that could never intersect.

Menma stood in the distance, his expression somewhat blank as he watched the little boy and little girl standing together.

So we really are different after all, Naruto!!!

After taking one final look at Naruto and Hinata, who were still chatting with smiles on their faces,

Menma lowered his eyes, then turned and strode away.

The same snowy winter scene.

Yet two utterly different worlds!

That was the vast difference between heaven and earth!

Menma walking away.

Naruto remaining where he was.

Then the Hyuga Clan's Guard.

And Naruto's personal Guard.

It was such a harmonious scene.

Miss Hinata.

Young Master Naruto.

A pair who had come together even earlier than in the Original Work, and suited each other even better.

They could only be described as a match made in heaven.

But all that liveliness belonged to them and had nothing to do with Menma. The faint ripple that had just arisen receded like the tide at that moment, swiftly yet steadily.

As though nothing had ever happened.

Returning home as usual, Menma

expressionlessly dealt with the ingredients he had obtained. After preparing a simple meal, he sat down at the dining table. That unique emptiness, loneliness, and coldness were known only to Menma himself!

I never should have had such expectations! None of this belongs to me. These are privileges that only the true Son of the Fourth Hokage can have!

Menma's heart was ice-cold.

December of Year 53 of Konoha.

Since coming to this world, this was the coldest winter Menma had ever felt.

And on the final day of that December, just before the arrival of a brand-new year,

"Little Menma, have you been getting proper rest and eating well lately?"

That "kind and benevolent" Third Hokage came to visit Menma once again, carrying a large pile of gifts—various foods children liked to eat.

This was something Sarutobi Hiruzen did at regular intervals over the past five years.

Generally, he would visit Menma once every month or so.

Especially on a New Year's Eve like this, Sarutobi Hiruzen would not miss it. He believed this was the best way to show Menma care and concern.

In fact, Naruto in the Original Work had been moved by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He had regarded Sarutobi Hiruzen as the first person he could confide in.

But Menma was different.

This Third Hokage might indeed have some sincere concern for him, but more than that, he viewed Menma from the standpoint of the ninja village and from his perspective as Hokage.

An orphan?

The Son of the Fourth Hokage?

No!

He had only one identity: Konohagakure's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Nothing more.

"Yes, Grandpa Third. I've been resting and eating properly lately, and I exercise often too. Look, I'm much stronger than before."

Whether because his acting was insufficient or because his heart resisted it,

Menma ultimately could not be as carefree as Naruto in the Original Work. However, naturally showing some closeness toward Sarutobi Hiruzen was something Menma could do sincerely. After all, he knew that in Konohagakure, only Sarutobi Hiruzen could "protect him" and grant him a certain degree of freedom.

If he had to make a choice, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still far better than that old bastard Shimura Danzō.

At the very least, no matter how old and muddleheaded the former was, he still had a little of the ninja village's greater good in his heart and still cared about appearances!

Danzō, on the other hand, was simply thoroughly sinister and deceitful.

If he fell into that guy's hands,

heh!

No one could possibly accept that.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was still better. Not by much, but at least he had a tiny bit of conscience.

"Oh? That's good. Eat more, sleep more, exercise more, and our little Menma will grow up strong and healthy."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a kindly expression, smiling warmly at Menma.

"Yes, Grandpa Third."

Menma replied respectfully.

"The New Year is almost here. Do you have any New Year wishes, Menma?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked softly.

"Hmm? I want to grow up sooner, then become a great ninja acknowledged by everyone in the future."

Menma wrinkled his little nose as though thinking, then looked up at Sarutobi Hiruzen and spoke in a serious, determined tone.

"Oh? A great ninja acknowledged by everyone? That truly is a wonderful wish. But for that wish to come true, you'll need to work hard yourself, Menma."

Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Menma's little head and said gently.

"Yes, I'll definitely work hard, Grandpa Third."

Menma nodded firmly.

"Mm, you'll be six soon, so you're about the right age. Next year, you should go study at the Ninja Academy, Menma."

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued.

"The Ninja Academy? Really? Grandpa Third, I can go study at the Ninja Academy?"

Menma's eyes immediately lit up. He stared straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his voice carrying a hint of eagerness.

This time, Menma truly had no intention of pretending.

As he had grown older and approached the age of six, Menma had constantly worried about whether he would be able to enter the Ninja Academy as he wished.

After all, from the moment he was not Naruto, but Menma,

the plot of this world had already diverged from the Original Work.

Everything from the Original Work could only serve as a reference.

If he truly believed that whatever happened in the Original Work would definitely happen in this timeline, then he would be completely mistaken.