The Awkward Group

The group fell silent, watching Jiraiya laugh heartily. For a moment, no one knew what to say.

Kakashi turned the book around and checked the front. A small note was stuck to it, reading, "To Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi was momentarily stunned. The others saw this and gave him odd looks.

Suddenly, another small card slipped out of the book. Might Guy noticed and picked it up, and everyone's eyes turned to the card in his hand.

It was a light blue birthday card. On the front, it read, "Happy 18th Birthday, Kakashi-sensei," with "From Uzumaki Menma" written underneath.

Kakashi felt a warmth well up inside him. His eighteenth birthday was less than a month away, while Naruto and Menma's birthdays were about two months away.

Kakashi seemed to suddenly realize something. He hurriedly took the birthday card from Might Guy, slipped it back into the book, and returned the book to its place.

"All right, all right. It's not right to barge into someone's room without permission. Let's all get out." As Kakashi spoke, he ushered everyone out. Then he put the room back the way it had been when they first entered and left as well.

The others felt awkward too. After all, entering someone's room without the owner's permission really was inappropriate, so no one said a word.

"Everyone, let's pretend we didn't see anything just now." Kakashi looked at them sternly.

With a "click," Naruto's bedroom door opened.

"Huh? Didn't see what?" Naruto asked, looking at the group standing seriously in the upstairs landing.

"Ah?... Naruto, you're awake." Kakashi looked at him guiltily.

The others stared blankly at Naruto, like thieves caught red-handed by the owner.

"What's going on with you guys? Why are you all sweating so much? Huh? Who's this white-haired old man?" Naruto asked curiously, looking at Jiraiya.

"Oh... Oh! Good question! I am none other than Sage Toad Master of Mount Myoboku, the Toad Sage—Lord Jiraiya!" Jiraiya introduced himself with great importance.

"Sa... Sage?" Naruto still had no idea who this person was.

"So, what are you all doing?" Naruto looked at the group and asked again.

"Ah, well... Oh! Right! Might Guy is teaching us Taijutsu," Asuma said with a straight face, making it up on the spot.

At that, everyone immediately sprang into action. Some did squats, some did push-ups, some did sit-ups, and others stood on their hands.

"Oh? You're training? I want to join too!" Naruto said eagerly.

"Why are you all making so much noise?" Menma stood in Naruto's doorway, rubbing his eyes. He looked as though he'd just been woken up and was still half asleep.

"Ah... Menma, you're awake too." Kakashi sped up his push-ups.

Seeing this, everyone else sped up too.

"Didn't the doctor say it would take another day or two for them to wake up? What's going on?" Seeing Naruto and Menma both awake, the group couldn't help grumbling inwardly about how unreliable the doctor was.

Seeing them like that, Naruto grew excited too and said he wanted to join in.

"Wait, older brother, have you learned the Rasengan?" Menma stopped Naruto and asked.

"Not... not yet." Naruto awkwardly scratched his head.

"Then let's go downstairs." Menma waited for Naruto at the top of the stairs.

"Coming." Naruto jogged over and prepared to go down.

"Honestly, your acting is terrible. I bet you can only..." Before Menma could finish, Naruto suddenly missed a step. He stumbled and was about to fall.

Menma still had his arms crossed, grumbling to the others about their bad acting. He hadn't even finished speaking when he felt himself being yanked.

Unsteady, Naruto grabbed onto what felt like a lifeline and clung on for dear life. He had grabbed Menma's clothes, and at this rate, something was bound to go wrong.

Sure enough, the two of them tumbled straight down the stairs. The group on the second floor was startled and rushed to the railing to look down.

"Naruto! Menma!" they shouted, then hurried downstairs. Might Guy was rushing too and suddenly missed a step.

As expected, disaster struck again. Might Guy was at the very back, and when he stumbled, it was like knocking over a row of dominoes. Everyone in front of him pitched forward and tumbled down the stairs, just like Naruto and Menma.

By then, Naruto and Menma had just managed to get up. Clutching his head, Naruto cried, "Ow, that hurts!"

Menma sat up too and held his chin. "Ow... Wait, brother, you..." Before he could finish, a commotion suddenly erupted on the stairs.

"Look out!" Kakashi shouted.

Naruto and Menma hadn't recovered yet when they saw the others tumbling down the stairs just like they had. The two were horrified, but it was already too late to react. The group crashed into a heap.

"Ahh, that hurts! Kakashi-sensei, what are you guys doing?" Naruto complained.

"Ugh... What is with today? Tell me, what bad luck haven't we had yet?" Menma muttered to himself.

Suddenly, the broom leaning against the wall seemed to answer Menma. It toppled straight toward him, but he didn't notice.

"Thud!" Sure enough, the broom smacked Menma right on the head.

"Ah!" Menma grabbed his head again, and the others burst out laughing at the sight.

"Ah! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" Menma cried out in pain.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had seen it all through his crystal ball. He'd only wanted to check on Naruto and Menma, but the moment he turned it on, he saw Naruto miss a step on the stairs and drag Menma down with him, followed by the others rushing downstairs and Might Guy stumbling, sending everyone tumbling down together.

In the end, all seven had landed in a heap. Now only Menma was rubbing his head, while everyone else laughed.

"Idiots." Hiruzen nearly burst out laughing as he watched.

That evening, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai left after making sure Naruto and Menma were all right.

The group had spent the whole afternoon together, and Jiraiya had also taken the opportunity to guide Naruto through the second stage of Rasengan training.

After saying goodbye to them, the two boys went upstairs and returned to their rooms. Exhausted, they collapsed onto their beds.

Menma lay on his bed, closed his eyes, and entered the Sealing Space.

"Hey, Kurama. I'm back," Menma greeted him as he walked over.

"Hmph, brat. You sure made a mess of yourself today." Kurama looked at Menma teasingly.

Menma's mouth twitched. "You just had to bring that up." He pouted and muttered under his breath.

After that, Menma went into the cage and sat down in front of Kurama.

"By the way, Kurama, this is the first time we've been this close, isn't it?" Menma said with a smile.

"Brat, I never invited you in. Get out." Kurama acted as if he were about to shoo him away.

"Come on, Kurama. I just wanted to ask: if Naruto wanted to be like us, would it be difficult?" Menma got straight to the point.

"Like us? Well, the other half of me isn't as easygoing as I am. That brat Naruto isn't much of a talker, unlike you and your silver tongue. He'll probably have a hard time." Kurama replied.

"I see. Got it," Menma said after thinking it over.

"Listen, brat. You didn't come here just to ask me that, did you? Is there something you want from me?" The Nine-Tails seemed to have seen right through Menma as he looked at him.

"Ah, you caught me." Menma scratched his head, looking as awkward as someone caught doing something they shouldn't.

"Hmph! What is it? Let's hear it." The Nine-Tails lay down and closed his eyes to rest, apparently waiting for Menma to speak.

" hee hee, it's nothing much. I just wanted to ask you for some chakra, Kurama." Menma grinned, scratching his head with one hand as he spoke sheepishly.

"You want to borrow my chakra? What for?" Kurama suddenly grew curious and stood up again.

"I was going to keep it from you, but I said I wouldn't lie to my friends, so I'll tell you the truth. I want to steal the Scroll of Seals and bring my mom back to life," Menma explained.

"What? You want to use my chakra to steal something? Hey, brat, have you lost your mind? I, the great Kurama, have no interest in petty theft." Kurama looked down at Menma with an air of superiority.

"Come on, Kurama, you're the best. I'm only going to take a look, not steal it. Please, please, just this once. I'm begging you, Kurama." Menma shamelessly wheedled Kurama.

"Hmph! I can't do anything with you, brat. Just this once." With that, Kurama gave Menma some chakra.

"Great! I knew you were the best, Kurama." Menma excitedly ran off, but stopped halfway. He turned back and bowed to Kurama before running out.

"That brat is getting more and more interesting." Kurama grinned as he watched.

Just then, Menma suddenly opened his eyes. He got out of bed, quietly slipped out of his room, and tiptoed to Naruto's door. He opened it a crack and peered inside.

Naruto was already fast asleep and hadn't noticed Menma's movements.

All right, the operation begins! Menma thought excitedly.