Kakashi's Birthday (Part 1)

Inside the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant, the aroma of grilled meat permeated the air, mingling with the distinct scent of burning charcoal. Menma and Naruto were sitting in the shop, devouring the barbecue; the sizzling, oily meat on the grill gave off an enticing sheen.

Sitting nearby were Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi, all of whom had come at Menma's invitation. The atmosphere in the shop was rather quiet, as not many people came to eat barbecue first thing in the morning.

"So, why did you drag us out for barbecue so early in the morning?" Asuma asked, looking at the brothers, Naruto and Menma. Just then, a waiter walked over to serve them fresh ingredients and drinks.

"Menma said he lost his appetite the moment he saw noodles today, so we came for barbecue instead," Naruto replied, reaching out to grab another slice of meat.

"Barbecue is just better. That noodle dish this morning was practically inedible," Menma remarked while complaining, his mouth stuffed full and his cheeks bulging.

"Yeah, yeah! I agree," Naruto said, stuffing more meat into his mouth with an expression of pure enjoyment.

"Though, it's impressive that you managed to swallow it," Menma added, expressing his admiration for Naruto.

"Let's get down to business. Do you have any ideas for Kakashi's birthday?" Might Guy asked, sitting bolt upright with a serious look in his eyes.

"Eat, hang out, eat again, and finally a surprise. That's it," Menma said, continuing to eat his barbecue, his words muffled as he took an occasional sip of his drink.

"You really are concise," Kurenai Yuhi said, smiling as she teased Menma.

"By the way, how are your gifts coming along?" Asuma asked.

"Already prepared! As my best friend and eternal rival, how could I possibly forget this?" Might Guy said, pulling out a barbell. The metal gleamed under the shop's lights.

"Typical of Might Guy-sensei, thoughtful and full of personal charm," Menma said, sounding like he was complaining, as he realized that whenever it came to gift-giving, Might Guy's first thought was always a barbell.

"Of course! How could I not be attentive for Kakashi's 18th birthday?" With that, Might Guy burst into loud laughter that echoed through the shop.

"So, what have you all prepared?" Might Guy asked, looking at the group.

"Mine is a custom lighter," Asuma said, producing a lighter engraved with the words "To Kakashi." The casing looked quite exquisite under the light.

"As for me, it's a custom kunai," Kurenai Yuhi said, showing the group a kunai whose blade glinted coldly in the light.

"You guys probably already know mine," Menma said, placing a brand-new copy of Icha Icha Paradise on the table. The others exchanged subtle expressions upon seeing it.

The group shared an awkward laugh before turning their gaze to Naruto.

"Don't tell me you haven't prepared anything. I told you a week ago, and I even reminded you yesterday," Menma said, looking at Naruto with a hint of irritation in his eyes.

"My shadow clone is preparing it; this one can only be done on the day," Naruto said, scratching his head.

"What is it?" Menma asked, leaning forward with interest.

The others looked at Naruto as well, their eyes full of anticipation.

"Grilled fish," Naruto said.

"..." A heavy silence fell, and no one spoke; only the ambient noise of other customers in the shop continued.

"Grilled fish is actually pretty good. I heard Kakashi-sensei likes fishing," Menma said, continuing to eat his barbecue.

"Right? Right? Kakashi-sensei mentioned before that he used to fish and eat his catch often when he was a kid," Naruto said excitedly, looking at Menma as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"Alright then, let's go find Kakashi!" Might Guy said, unable to wait any longer to celebrate Kakashi's birthday.

The group nodded in agreement.

After Naruto and Menma finished their meal, they arrived at Kakashi's doorstep. The path leading to the entrance was lined with unknown flowers and plants that swayed gently in the breeze. Might Guy stepped forward and knocked, the sound ringing out clearly in the quiet street.

"Hey, Kakashi! You aren't still in bed, are you?" Might Guy shouted.

"Oh? You're here early," Kakashi said, opening the door with a smile. The sunlight falling on his face added a touch of warmth to his expression.

"Happy birthday, Kakashi-sensei."

"Happy birthday, Kakashi."

The group spoke in unison.

Before Kakashi could react, they all handed him their gifts.

"Thank you all so much. Come on in and sit for a while," Kakashi said, inviting them inside. The room was decorated simply, with some ninja weapons and gear hanging on the walls as ornaments.

"Kakashi-sensei, my gift is very special, so I'll give it to you later," Naruto said to Kakashi, a mysterious glint in his eyes.

"Then I shall look forward to your gift," Kakashi said, smiling at Naruto.

"Kakashi-sensei, this is for you," Menma said, pulling a special kunai marked with his Flying Thunder God Mark from his ninja pouch. The kunai reflected a faint light in the room.

"This is... a Flying Thunder God Kunai?" Kakashi asked.

"That's right. This is my custom-made kunai; it wasn't cheap to produce. It's much more durable than a standard one, so consider it a bonus gift for you, Kakashi-sensei," Menma said, smiling at Kakashi.

"Very well, I'll accept it," Kakashi said, taking the kunai.

"Kakashi-sensei, you'd better clear your schedule today. Menma and I are planning to stick with you all day long," Naruto said, standing beside Kakashi.

"Why?" Kakashi asked, puzzled.

"Because there's a master of dark cuisine at home," Menma replied, as if mentioning something truly terrifying.

"A master of dark cuisine?" Kakashi repeated, confused.

"Oh, you'll find out tonight, Kakashi-sensei," Menma said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Tonight?" Kakashi was even more confused; he couldn't quite grasp what Menma and Naruto were talking about.

Inside Kakashi's home, the group chatted away. A relaxed atmosphere filled the room, with sunlight streaming through the windows and casting patches of light on the floor. Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi shared stories about Kakashi's childhood with Naruto and Menma, though they all intentionally avoided the subject of Rin and Obito.

The group chatted about Kakashi's past, and Kakashi countered by sharing their own embarrassing stories, leaving all four of them feeling awkward. Naruto and Menma listened, feeling equally uncomfortable. Their expressions shifted between embarrassment and helplessness, occasionally scratching their heads in sheepishness.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Kakashi stood up, walked over, and opened it.

"Oh! It's you guys, come in, come in quickly," Kakashi said with a smile, greeting the visitors and ushering them inside.

"Kakashi has changed a lot," Kurenai Yuhi whispered, her voice audible only to those nearby.

"Mhm, indeed. He's become much more cheerful than before," Asuma replied.

"Kakashi is, after all, my eternal rival!" Might Guy struck his signature pose, his face beaming with pride.

It was true; since Menma arrived in this world, many things had changed, most notably Naruto and Kakashi.

Regardless, I still have to follow the main plot for the most part. I can't deviate too much; I'm not confident I can defeat Madara on my own, let alone the Six Paths-level opponents that come after. Menma shivered at the thought, his heart racing as he contemplated those terrifying adversaries. A flicker of worry crossed his eyes, and his body tensed slightly.

"What's wrong, Menma? Are you feeling unwell?" Kurenai Yuhi noticed Menma's face had gone pale and assumed he was feeling sick.

"No... nothing. I was just thinking about that breakfast from this morning," Menma smiled and explained.

"Just how bad could it be to give the kid psychological trauma?" Asuma wondered, unable to imagine how terrible it must have tasted.

"Next time, I'll invite you all over for dinner. Let you taste the cooking of my mom... our family's nanny," Menma nearly slipped up, but he caught himself quickly.

"If her cooking is that bad, why keep her as a nanny? Why not replace her?" Kurenai Yuhi asked.

"She said she was arranged by the Third Hokage. Menma said forget it, maybe she's just learning to cook and using us for practice," Naruto chimed in.

"Is that so?" Asuma muttered. The group looked thoughtful, their faces etched with confusion.

"Oh, you're all here," a voice said as someone stood before them.

"Oh, it's Yugao and Hayate. Long time no see," Asuma stood up to greet Uzuki Yugao and Gekko Hayate, and the others followed suit.

Back when Kakashi was in the Anbu, he and Uzuki Yugao had been close friends. As for Hayate, he and Kakashi had been classmates at the Ninja Academy; while they weren't as close as Kakashi was with Obito and the others, they were still classmates.

"Eh? These two children must be the sons of the Fourth, right?" Hayate looked at Naruto and Menma, then turned his gaze toward Asuma and the others.

"These two are indeed the sons of Minato," Kakashi said, walking over from behind.

"Oh~ I see," Hayate replied.

Gekko Hayate... the one who, during the Chunin Exams—no, specifically during the Konoha Crush Plan—was tracking Yakushi Kabuto and Baki and overheard them discussing the attack on the village. He was discovered by Baki and forced into a duel on the rooftop. Gekko Hayate used the "Dance of the Crescent Moon" to strike Baki's shoulder, but because of Baki's special ability, he couldn't pull his blade out, and he was ultimately killed by Baki's Wind Blade. Menma thought to himself as he looked at Hayate.

At the same time, Menma's first impression of Hayate was that he looked incredibly frail, as if he were suffering from some illness.

"Hey, mister, are you suffering from kidney deficiency?" Menma didn't think twice and blurted out his inner thoughts. As soon as the words left his mouth, the air in the room seemed to freeze.

The group was stunned, all of them turning to stare at Menma.

"Huh? What's kidney deficiency, Menma?" Naruto asked, looking curiously between Menma and Hayate.

"It's nothing, Hayate is just sick, not what you said," Uzuki Yugao said, looking at Menma with a touch of embarrassment.

"Then why not go to the hospital and get it checked out?" Naruto asked.

"The doctor said it will take a few years of rest and recuperation, and that I should stop taking missions," Hayate replied.

Menma fell into deep thought, wondering what it all meant. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were contemplating something of great importance.