Kakashi's Birthday (Part 2)

"Bang, bang, bang." A series of knocks sounded abruptly at the door.

"Excuse me, is Kakashi-senpai home?" A familiar voice followed, and Menma knew exactly who it was the moment he heard it.

Kakashi heard the sound and walked to the door once more, reaching out to pull it open.

"I knew it was you, Tenzō." Kakashi smiled as he addressed Yamato.

"We have quite a few guests today, let me introduce you." With that, Kakashi pulled Yamato toward the group and began the introductions.

"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Tenzō. He used to serve in the Root, and now he works in the Anbu directly under the Hokage. We've worked together in the past, and he is also my friend..." Kakashi helped Yamato and the others get acquainted, and soon everyone was chatting and laughing.

The room was filled with a harmonious atmosphere. Sunlight spilled through the windows onto the floor, creating patches of light that looked like a golden carpet laid out across the room.

"The Root? That old geezer Danzo, huh?" Menma didn't bother hiding his disgust for Danzo, frowning as he spoke.

"Menma, what's gotten into you today?" Might Guy reached out and tapped Menma, sounding a bit angry.

"My mistake, my mistake, Guy-sensei. I just have no love for the Root or Danzo, that's all. No other meaning behind it." Menma quickly explained. He realized he had been acting strangely today, as if he were blurting out whatever came to his mind.

"Why do you feel that way?" Kakashi asked. The others looked at Menma as well, their eyes full of confusion, as if trying to uncover the reason behind his words.

"It's simple. Danzo has his eyes on me and Naruto, and I have my eyes on Danzo. I even killed a member of the Root last night. It's that simple." Menma said calmly, as if he were describing a trivial, everyday matter.

"What?" The group was shocked, their eyes widening as they stared at Menma in disbelief.

"What exactly happened last night!" Kakashi looked at Menma with concern and hurried to ask.

"It's just that Danzo set his sights on Naruto. He must have come to our house during the day when we weren't around; he left in a hurry and left some traces behind..." Menma recounted the events of the previous night to the group, though he left out the part about reanimating Kushina.

"Lord Danzo is laying his hands on a Jinchuriki? What exactly is he trying to do?" Kurenai Yuhi said angrily, her eyes burning with rage.

"Kurenai, watch your tone." Asuma reminded her promptly, a warning look in his eyes.

"Actually, all Danzo wants is to be Hokage. But the Root is meant to stay buried underground; it shouldn't affect Konoha, which lives under the sun. The Root has now reached out toward the Konoha that lives in the light, blocking the sun. A Konoha without sunlight will only wither in the darkness." Menma's words were profound, and everyone understood the meaning behind them.

The scene fell into a sudden silence. Everyone looked at one another, no one speaking, but their faces were heavy with gravity, as if a dark cloud were hanging over their hearts.

"I will tell the old man about this. Don't worry, Menma, we will definitely get an explanation for you and Naruto. Just don't do anything reckless." Asuma spoke up, his eyes firm and sincere.

Menma had originally wanted to bring up the Nine-Tails incident, but considering it was Kakashi's birthday, he swallowed the words back.

"Oh dear, I've ruined a perfectly good birthday party. I'm truly sorry, Kakashi-sensei." Menma stood up and apologized to Kakashi with a face full of regret.

"It's fine, it's fine. I'm just happy you all came to keep me company. It's getting late, why don't we go find somewhere to grab a bite?" Kakashi looked at the group and suggested with a smile.

"Where are we going?" Naruto asked, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Kakashi.

"I know a good spot. Follow me." Asuma said, leading everyone outside.

Before long, the group arrived at a hot pot restaurant. Red lanterns hung at the entrance, swaying gently in the breeze, and several potted green plants were placed by the door, adding a touch of vitality to the shop.

"Ah, hot pot. That's a pretty good choice." Kakashi said, a satisfied look on his face.

After entering, they sat at the largest table, nine people huddled in a circle.

As they began to order, Menma sat there looking around, then fell into deep thought.

A massive village like Konoha doesn't even have a decent restaurant. If I opened one, the first floor could be open seating, the second floor could have private rooms for 10 or 20 people, and I could even set up a super-large room for 50. Hiss... that actually sounds pretty good. If I expanded the restaurant across the entire ninja world, I'd be making money while lying in bed... Thinking of this, Menma couldn't help but grin foolishly. The more he thought about it, the more perfect this money-making scheme seemed.

"Menma, why are you sitting there grinning like an idiot?" Naruto reached out and shook Menma, asking.

"Yeah, Menma. What are you thinking about that's so funny? Tell us so we can laugh too." Kurenai Yuhi asked curiously.

"I just thought of a great way to make money." Menma looked at the group, his eyes filled with a sense of mystery.

"Oh? Let's hear it. If it's any good, I wouldn't mind buying a share." Asuma said with a smile.

Menma shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it here. What if someone outside hears? I'll tell you later, but I guarantee it's a goldmine." Menma was full of confidence; after all, five-star hotels in modern society were incredibly profitable.

"You brat, I think you're just worried we'll hear it and beat you to the punch. I'll say it right here: I wouldn't steal from a junior." Asuma declared firmly.

"Since you're an elder, shouldn't you be showing some support, Asuma?" Kurenai Yuhi teased.

"If my student has an idea, I will definitely support it! I believe in you, Menma." Might Guy said, striking his signature pose. He gave a thumbs-up, his white teeth flashing as if he were about to shout, "This is youth!"

As they chatted and laughed, the hot pot they ordered was brought to the table.

Time quietly slipped into the afternoon. The others had things to attend to, leaving only Naruto and Menma to keep Kakashi company.

"I didn't think even Bushy Brows-sensei would have things to do this afternoon. I was planning on challenging him to a taijutsu match." Naruto said, looking a bit dejected with his lips slightly pouted.

"You? Challenging Guy-sensei to taijutsu? Did you lose your mind?" Menma looked at Naruto as if he were looking at someone delusional. He wouldn't dare challenge Might Guy to taijutsu himself; in his eyes, that was just a case of a newborn calf not fearing the tiger.

"Hmph, I'm going to make Bushy Brows-sensei see the results of all my training." Naruto hadn't forgotten his taijutsu training amidst all the playing. He had mastered the Rasengan long ago, though he couldn't use it one-handed like Menma—he still needed a shadow clone.

"Naruto, I'll make a bet with you. Guy-sensei could kick you to death in one blow. Want to bet?" Menma looked at Naruto playfully, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"What is that supposed to mean? Who bets like that? What do you mean Bushy Brows-sensei could kick me to death? You don't have to be so harsh." Naruto was genuinely a bit angry, his face turning red. Menma realized he had said the wrong thing.

Ever since he reanimated Kushina, Menma had changed. He had become somewhat reckless, saying whatever came to his mind.

"Sorry, sorry. I went too far." Menma apologized quickly.

Kakashi also felt Menma had crossed a line. He had noticed that Menma was acting very strangely today, speaking without a filter, as if he weren't thinking at all about what should or shouldn't be said.

"Oh, come on, I'm sorry." Menma continued to apologize.

"I'm not talking to you." Naruto turned his head away, acting as if he were sulking.

"Come on, brother, I was wrong. How about you just beat me up?" Menma continued to coax Naruto.

"Bang!" Naruto landed a heavy punch right in Menma's stomach.

"You... actually... hit me," Menma said, clutching his stomach in pain.

"Didn't you ask me to hit you? I'm just fulfilling your request," Naruto said, looking at Menma with his arms crossed over his chest.

"As long as... you're not angry anymore... it's fine." Menma knelt on the ground, still clutching his stomach. Naruto had really put some force into that blow; Menma felt dazed, and he even suspected that Naruto had channeled chakra into the punch.

Menma lifted his shirt, revealing a striking red fist print on his abdomen.

"Why hit so hard? It hurts," Menma said, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Are you okay, Menma? I didn't mean to hurt you." Naruto panicked at the sight, his eyes filled with worry.

Kakashi was also stunned by the scene, thinking to himself, Did he really have to hit that hard? He hurried over to check the injury, but suddenly noticed that the mark on Menma's stomach was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Such amazing self-healing ability," Kakashi said, looking at Menma with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Don't be too surprised. The Uzumaki Clan naturally possesses great vitality and self-healing power, and with the Nine-Tails inside us, injuries like this are nothing. But it really does hurt," Menma explained.

"I'm sorry, Menma. I shouldn't have used so much force." Naruto felt very guilty; he had never intended to hurt Menma.

"I don't blame you, brother. But you really are impressive; you actually gathered chakra into your hand unconsciously for that punch." Menma didn't mean to blame Naruto. He was still curious—could Naruto have a talent for learning Strength of a Hundred? With Naruto's chakra reserves and the Nine-Tails acting as a power bank, he would definitely be able to shatter a Susanoo with one punch eventually.

The more Menma thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and he even felt an urge to learn it himself. With that thought, Menma stood up and looked at Kakashi.

"Kakashi, since we have nothing to do this afternoon, why don't you teach us some ninjutsu?" Menma looked at Kakashi with expectant eyes.

Hearing this, Naruto's expression changed, and he looked at Kakashi with the same anticipation.

"I really can't do anything with you two. Actually, it's not impossible. Let's start by testing your chakra natures." With that, Kakashi took out two pieces of chakra test paper. In truth, he had wanted to teach them for a long time because he had discovered that Naruto and Menma were very talented, especially Menma, so he had been prepared for this.

"Hold this paper in your hand and inject your chakra into it," Kakashi said, handing the paper to the two of them.

"Like this? Seems simple enough." Naruto took it and began to inject his chakra.

Menma was also excited; he wanted to know his own chakra nature, so he took the paper and began to inject his chakra as well.

"After you inject your chakra into the paper, if it's Fire nature, the paper will burn; if it's Wind nature, it will split down the middle; if it's Lightning, it will wrinkle; if it's Water, it will get damp; and if it's Earth, it will crumble," Kakashi explained in detail.

After Naruto placed the paper in his palm and finished injecting his chakra, he opened his hand to find the paper split into two halves.

"It looks like your chakra nature is the rare Wind type, Naruto," Kakashi said.

"Then what about mine?" Menma opened his hand to show the paper in his palm to Kakashi.

At that moment, the four corners of the paper were showing different effects, and it had also split in two.

"Menma, you actually have all five chakra natures," Kakashi said, looking at Menma in disbelief.

Naruto walked over as well, looking at Menma with envious eyes.

"Does that mean I can use ninjutsu of all five natures, just like you, Kakashi?" Although Menma already knew, he still asked Kakashi. He hadn't expected such happiness to come so suddenly.

"Yes, that's right," Kakashi confirmed.