First Meeting with Naruto

Deep within the Iburi Clan's underground cavern, a ray of sunlight slanted down through a hollow in the tree above, bringing life to the lush saplings inside.

Gota, Yukimi, and all twenty-five members of the Iburi Clan had packed their belongings and were ready to move.

"This is where our clan rests in peace." Gota crouched down and gently brushed his fingertips over a tender green sapling, his voice low.

"Our clan's Kekkei Genkai is extremely unstable. We cannot live past the age of twenty-five; we simply dissipate, leaving no bodies behind. So whenever a clansman passes away, we plant a sapling here."

Menma stood silently behind him. As far as his eyes could see, the underground space had already grown into a dense little forest.

Looking at the many newly planted saplings, Yukimi slowly accepted the fact that Tenzo and those children had already passed away.

After paying their respects to the deceased clansmen, Gota led the clan members away.

"This passage connects to another underground cavern. It is a backup base our clan excavated over many years." As they walked through the gloomy passage, Gota explained.

Recalling the terrain aboveground, Menma guessed that they were heading toward the heart of the mountains.

"I'll arrange for people to bring you food, medicine, and all kinds of supplies." Menma pondered for a moment. "The organization's base is still under construction. Move there after some time."

"We will obey your arrangements in all things, my lord!" Gota replied respectfully.

In the basement of Menma's private residence in the Hidden Leaf Village, a specially made Flying Thunder God kunai hung upside down in midair.

Whoosh—

Menma appeared out of thin air, dispelling his Transformation Technique and returning to his childlike original form.

The first S-rank ninjutsu he learned in the Limited Tsukuyomi World had been the Flying Thunder God Technique, taught to him by Namikaze Minato.

Thanks to the Uzumaki Clan's physique, Menma's vast chakra allowed him to use Flying Thunder God to teleport across extreme distances.

"Territory... territory..." After returning home, Menma walked up the stairs from the basement, frowning as he thought.

Back in the Limited Tsukuyomi World, he had swept across the Shinobi World alone, creating the legend of one man fighting eighty thousand Shinobi Allied Forces. Yet he had never considered creating an organization or managing his own territory.

Because he knew that world was fake. There was no Uchiha Madara, no Zetsu, no threat from Otsutsuki Kaguya, and no enemies from the depths of space.

Every moment, he had felt the world rejecting him.

After returning to this world, Menma still had a lingering sense of unreality, but his body was no longer being rejected.

He had subdued Kakuzu and Gato, and now the Iburi Clan served him as well. The framework of an organization had begun to take shape. It was time to establish his own sphere of influence.

After all, this world was nothing like the Limited Tsukuyomi World. Behind the Akatsuki stood Obito and Zetsu, the dead Uchiha Madara had left contingencies in pursuit of resurrection, and Otsutsuki Kaguya was still sealed on the moon.

Far out in the universe, the Otsutsuki Clan was searching everywhere for this planet.

Only by possessing a powerful organization and unifying the entire Shinobi World could he integrate all its resources and chakra to the greatest extent possible.

Besides, as a Chinese man in his previous life, the idea of grand unification had long been deeply rooted in Menma's bones.

"Young master." In the courtyard, the two women, Kinana and Yuka, were hanging laundry and sweeping fallen leaves.

"Don't prepare dinner for me tonight." After giving the instruction, Menma walked straight toward the study.

"Yes, young master." The two women bowed slightly.

Young Master Menma occasionally wandered around the village for fun and found something tasty to eat outside. The two women had long grown accustomed to it. It even allowed them to go home early and reunite with their families.

Inside the study, Menma found a map of the Shinobi World and spread it out on the table, studying it closely.

"The countries in the east of the continent aren't very suitable. They're squeezed between the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Water. Their territory is small, their resources are scarce, and most resources are controlled by the major powers. Development there would inevitably lead to fierce conflict with those three countries, so it isn't suitable for the early stages."

"To the north is the Land of Iron, where heavy snow falls all year round and the environment is harsh..."

"There are quite a few small and medium-sized countries in the center of the continent, but they are wedged between the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth. The Land of Rain also has the Akatsuki. It is the most chaotic region on the continent, so it isn't suitable for development either."

"Then only the west remains..."

In the end, his gaze settled on the western part of the Shinobi World.

"The Land of Demons, the Land of Bears, the Land of Nether, the Land of Snow, and the Land of Swamps—combined, their territories are comparable to the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water. The Land of Demons has the monster Moryo, the Land of Bears has Hoshigakure, the Land of Snow has relatively advanced heavy industry, and the Land of Nether and the Land of Swamps possess vast agricultural resources. Once their resources are integrated, they can make up for one another's shortcomings."

These countries were all medium-sized nations. Though their lands and populations were scattered, they were worth integrating.

There were also some tiny countries wedged between them. They might possess only a single island or city, with little population and limited territory, and could simply be ignored.

Just as Menma studied the map and considered sending Gato orders, a small hand covered it.

"Hey, Menma, let's go eat something delicious." Mini-Kurama, tiny and exquisite like a porcelain doll, lay sprawled over the map. Her eyes were full of anticipation as she looked at Menma, while her nine fox tails wagged happily behind her like a puppy's.

"I really can't say no to you. Come on, let's go have Ichiraku Ramen." Menma affectionately rubbed Mini-Kurama's head.

He put away the map,

"Yay!" Mini-Kurama cheered and leaped onto Menma's shoulder.

Menma put away the map, then took out a scarf and wrapped it around his neck so Mini-Kurama could hide inside it and observe the world.

"Is that him?!"

"Mm-hm, that's him, that... that..."

"How disgusting... Why would they let a monster like that remain in the village?!"

"The one who caused the Fourth Hokage's death..."

"Shh... Keep your voice down..."

Three-year-old Naruto walked alone down the street. The whispers that drifted through the bustling crowd were like kunai, stabbing deeply into his young heart.

Every gaze was filled with hatred, and every whisper carried malice.

Young Naruto did not understand why everyone discriminated against him. Since the moment he could remember, he had lived amid isolation and hostility.

No one was willing to play with him. No one was willing to speak to him. Even shopkeepers refused to sell him anything.

The women once assigned to care for Naruto had been replaced several times because of their disgust for him. In the end, Naruto had no choice but to begin living alone at just three years old.

The stares and whispers around him made Naruto feel even worse. He broke into a quick run, wanting to escape from this world.

Thud!

Naruto, running with his head down, failed to see what was ahead and crashed into someone.

Naruto landed on his backside. When he opened his eyes, he saw a little boy about his own age, leisurely eating dango.

"Hey, kid, didn't your mother teach you to apologize when you bump into someone?" Menma chewed on a dango ball, never expecting to meet his brother in such circumstances.

"S-sorry..." Naruto looked up at him and murmured, "I don't have a mother..."

"What a coincidence. I don't have a mother either." Menma made a dark joke.

Naruto stared at him blankly, an inexplicable sense of familiarity rising within his heart.

"Then as an apology, treat me to ramen." Menma pointed at the Ichiraku Ramen shop beside them.

Naruto's eyes widened. "Huh?"