The Future Minato Wanted to Change!

By chance, a young Naruto bumped into an equally solitary young Menma.

Menma made Naruto treat him, and the two of them ate Ichiraku Ramen together, becoming friends.

They explored the forest together, clumsily caught fish, and ate them with relish even when they burned them. A girl with the Byakugan joined them too, and the three children became inseparable little companions.

During the cold New Year season, Menma would drag Naruto away from his lonely home, where he was eating instant noodles, and bring him back to his own house so they could share a lavish meal.

And Menma's surroundings also changed from the Orphanage to a wealthy, spacious estate.

Looking at the "screen," at that version of himself who was with his older brother, living days countless times better than his own childhood had been, a brilliant smile on his face, Naruto's tears broke loose again—but this time, they were warm.

A feeling both aching and warm filled his chest.

He had never experienced a childhood like that, with companions, with care, and with the joy of looking forward to the New Year.

If only I'd had a big brother like that when I was little... how wonderful that would've been... The thought surfaced in Naruto's heart, carrying endless envy and a trace of belated comfort.

But the warm tone suddenly changed!

In the images, Menma gradually grew up, his temperament becoming ever steadier and more restrained, and also increasingly... dangerous.

He put on a white Fox Mask with three eerie eyeholes and draped himself in a black cloak embroidered with intricate patterns of the Nine Masked Beasts.

The shadow behind him writhed, and Dark Kurama's power turned into nine Summoned Beasts of different forms, each radiating a terrifying aura.

Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger,