A Talk with Hiruzen Sarutobi

As the two spoke, a sudden sound shattered the tranquility.

"Excuse me, may I interrupt?" A figure slowly approached. It was an elderly man with a weathered face. His steps were slightly sluggish, yet he carried a steady, composed air as he walked up to the two brothers.

Naruto looked at this stranger he had never seen before and asked, "Who are you, old man?"

Seeing this figure, Menma recognized him immediately. The visitor was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I am just an old man passing by," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, looking at the bewildered Naruto and the silent Menma beside him.

Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi caught the scent of grilled fish, and his stomach let out a loud growl. Naruto burst into laughter upon hearing it, and Hiruzen Sarutobi joined in with an awkward chuckle.

Naruto then picked up a grilled fish and handed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi, saying, "Here, old man, have this. I caught it today! You should have the first one."

Looking at the beaming Naruto, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Menma and said, "Is that so? Thank you. This fish looks truly delicious."

Hearing this, Naruto immediately wore a smug expression, as if to say, "Look who caught the fish."

"What's the big deal? I caught the most fish," Menma muttered under his breath, watching Naruto's smug display.

Naruto then picked up another grilled fish and handed it to Menma. Just as he was about to grab one for himself, Menma, who was sitting beside him, spoke up.

"Brother, why don't you go back to the pond and get two more?" Menma looked at Naruto with expectant eyes.

"Geez, fine." With that, Naruto slowly stood up and headed toward the pond.

After taking a bite of his fish and watching Naruto walk away, Menma turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said slowly, "Lord Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, are you so broke that you've come to steal our fish?"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi choked on his fish. His body jerked violently as he coughed, his face flushing a deep red. It took a long while for him to recover, and he looked at Menma with a hint of shock in his eyes.

"It seems you already know who I am?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, curious.

"Your face is carved so large on the Hokage Rock; only Naruto would fail to recognize you," Menma replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Hiruzen Sarutobi scratched his head awkwardly and laughed, "Is that so? I see."

Menma watched him, unable to help but size him up.

Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed Menma's intense gaze and asked, "Is there something on my face?"

"No, I'm just checking to see if there's any guilt on it," Menma replied slowly, taking another bite of his fish.

"Guilt?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Menma with a mix of surprise and curiosity, wanting to know why he would say such a thing.

"Does Lord Third not know? About what my mother, Kushina Uzumaki, said to you?" Menma continued eating as he spoke.

"You..." Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless, staring at Menma in disbelief.

"Incredible, isn't it? I find it incredible too. I have memories from the moment I was born. Perhaps it's because of the Nine-Tails inside me." Menma took a bite of fish and rubbed his stomach with one hand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was even more astonished. He sighed and said, "I truly feel sorry about your parents. I..." Before he could finish, Menma cut him off.

"You don't need to apologize to me. Apologize to our parents! You failed to keep your promise to them!" Menma set down his fish and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, clearly angry.

"I know. That was my mistake," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, filled with remorse.

"That's not your only mistake. If you had been faster, our parents wouldn't have died. If you had been firmer, those rumors wouldn't have spread throughout Konoha. If you had cared even a little bit about Naruto and me, we wouldn't be living like this, unable to afford food and forced to catch our own," Menma's eyes were slightly red, as if he were standing up for Naruto.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Menma, then toward the direction Naruto had left, and sighed, "You are right. I was wrong to let you live in such hardship. What compensation do you want? I will do my best to satisfy you."

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had finally reached the point, Menma's eyes lit up. He immediately said, "Our demands aren't high. We just want our parents' inheritance back—the house and my father's Scroll of Seals." His gaze was firm, as if this request had been carefully considered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the serious-faced Menma, took a bite of fish, and finally replied, "Very well. I agree. I will arrange everything within two days."

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had agreed, a happy smile bloomed on Menma's face. He said cheerfully, "Brother was right; Lord Third really is a good Hokage." In Menma's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi's agreement was proof that he was worthy of recognition. With that, Menma laughed heartily.

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed along with him, albeit awkwardly.

After a moment, Menma leaned in, his expression turning serious again. "Lord Third, about my name—my mother named me Menma Namikaze. Why was it changed to Menma Uzumaki? Was it to prevent others from guessing that we are the sons of the Fourth Hokage?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't seem surprised that Menma knew this. He spoke slowly, "That's correct. The name of the Yellow Flash carries too much weight. To prevent enemies from coming after you, I had to change it to Menma Uzumaki."

"Just as I thought." Menma lowered his head slightly, as if he had expected this answer, and seemed to be contemplating something deeper.

After a while, he looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said earnestly, "Lord Third, I hope you won't tell Naruto about our conversation. The reason is simple: I don't want Mom to know about the life Naruto and I are living now. I assume you wouldn't want to face the fiery wrath of the Red Hot Habanero, would you?" Menma's lips curled into a playful smirk as he thought, You're sweating, aren't you, old man?

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, "Sigh, no problem. I won't tell Naruto."

"Tell me what?" Naruto returned, looking at the two of them with curiosity.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled for a second. His gaze darted to Menma, his mind racing for an excuse. A moment later, he smiled at Naruto and said, "Oh, Naruto, Menma was just saying he planned to sneakily eat your fish and told me not to tell you."

Hearing this explanation, Menma didn't know whether to praise or curse him. He thought to himself, Truly an old fox. It's a shame you aren't a Nine-Tails jinchuriki.

Seeing Menma's silence and knowing his personality, Naruto became indignant. "Menma, how could you steal my fish while I was gone?"

Menma looked at the angry Naruto, unsure of what to say. He had to bite the bullet and admit it; what else could he do? Tell him the truth?

That wouldn't do. Back then, those words from Mizuki had nearly pushed Naruto to the brink of darkness. If it hadn't been for Iruka appearing in time to offer Naruto trust and support, Naruto might have truly fallen into the abyss.

"I didn't even eat it! It was just a joke, do you have to be so serious?" Menma looked away, pretending to be annoyed.

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, you two brothers don't need to fight over a fish. Didn't you say there were plenty? Why not just grill another one?"

Naruto sat down, prepped the two fish he had brought back, skewered them, and set them by the fire.

Some time later, the three sat on the ground, satisfied. Hiruzen Sarutobi used the time to instill the Will of Fire in them. Naruto listened with great interest, but Menma was indifferent. His goal was simple: to stay by Naruto's side as his younger brother.

The sky gradually darkened, and night draped over Konoha like a black silk cloth. Naruto and Menma bid farewell to Hiruzen Sarutobi and returned to their cramped living quarters.

The room was filled with a faint, cold air, and a small bed took up most of the space. Naruto quickly fell into a deep sleep, his breathing even and calm. Menma lay with his hands behind his head, quietly watching the cold moon outside the window. The moonlight filtered through, casting a layer of silver frost upon his face.

Kaguya Otsutsuki, huh? I really should prepare early. I need to find a way to get my hands on the Scroll of Seals. Menma thought to himself. He had considered the Edo Tensei Kushina and Minato, but while he felt obtaining their remains wouldn't be difficult, the idea of robbing his own parents' graves felt wrong.

"I am the man who will become Hokage!... Zzz..." Naruto suddenly shouted in his sleep. Menma, as if used to it, glanced at him and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep as well.