Hyuga Compound

A month had passed.

Every morning, Uzumaki Menma endured hellish training.

Just as he managed to adapt to the training volume, Yamanaka Fu would immediately increase it, giving Uzumaki Menma no chance to catch his breath. He seemed intent on pushing Menma to his absolute limit, making Uzumaki Menma miserable.

However, no matter how grueling the day's training was, Uzumaki Menma would recover completely after a night's sleep.

Uzumaki Menma had tried faking injuries, but Yamanaka Fu saw through it every time.

And the increased training after being caught made Uzumaki Menma's scalp tingle.

Despite the brutal training, Uzumaki Menma somehow managed to adapt and persevere.

After his morning training, he would leave Root in the afternoon for some fun time with Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji.

But because Uzumaki Menma was so exhausted from his morning training, he could barely move.

Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji would come to Root to find Uzumaki Menma and then take turns carrying him to play.

By now, the three of them were quite familiar with coming to Root.

This time, it was Shikamaru's turn to carry Uzumaki Menma.

After leaving Root, Shikamaru asked, "What should we do today?"

Choji suggested, "Ninja games?"

Uzumaki Menma rolled his eyes. "I'm in this state, how can I play ninja games?"

Naruto suggested, "How about we go graffiti on the Hokage Rock?"

Shikamaru rejected Naruto's idea. "We just did that the day before yesterday, and they finished cleaning it up yesterday. The adults are looking for us everywhere."

"Menma can't play ninja games, and we can't go graffiti, so what should we do?"

Uzumaki Menma suddenly remembered someone. "Honestly, Naruto, I think we've forgotten someone."

Naruto scratched his head. "Forgotten someone? Who?"

"Idiot, Hinata!"

Naruto suddenly realized. "That's right, how could we forget Hinata? Come to think of it, we haven't seen her since we parted ways with her."

Shikamaru asked curiously, "Hinata? Who is that?"

Naruto explained, "Hinata is a friend I met before I knew you guys, Menma and I. We just haven't seen her in a long time."

Uzumaki Menma suggested, "Then let's go find Hinata!"

"Okay!" Naruto immediately agreed, but then added with difficulty, "But we don't know where Hinata is."

Uzumaki Menma said, "Hinata's full name is Hinata Hyuga. That means Hinata is from the Hyuga Clan. Why don't we just go to the Hyuga Clan's compound to find her?"

Naruto excitedly exclaimed, "Great! Then let's head to the Hyuga Compound!"

Shikamaru frowned. "But I heard the Hyuga Clan has strict rules. We probably won't be able to get into their compound."

Uzumaki Menma raised his little fist and declared confidently, "What are you afraid of? In Konoha, the four of us can go anywhere! No one can stop us!"

"Menma, don't move around too much. Don't blame me if you fall off my back," Shikamaru sighed helplessly, feeling that going to the Hyuga Compound would be troublesome.

However, since Naruto and Uzumaki Menma both wanted to go, and Choji looked like he wanted to go too, Shikamaru had no choice but to follow. Besides, if they were caught by someone from the Hyuga Clan, he could at least come up with a plan. After all, as comrades, they had to stick together.

The four of them, Naruto, Uzumaki Menma, Shikamaru, and Choji, arrived near the Hyuga Clan's compound.

At the entrance of the Hyuga Compound, two Hyuga ninja stood guard.

Shikamaru suggested, "Why don't we ask if we can go in to find someone first?"

Uzumaki Menma agreed. "It would be best if they let us in directly. If not, we'll sneak in!"

The four of them approached the Hyuga ninja guarding the gate.

Shikamaru asked, "Uncle, we want to come in and find someone. Can you let us in?"

The Hyuga ninja first looked at Naruto and immediately recognized him as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Then he looked at Uzumaki Menma on Shikamaru's back and was suddenly stunned.

The two looked so alike.

Both Hyuga ninja simultaneously recalled a rumor from three years ago: 'Two children suddenly appeared in Konoha, they are the incarnations of the Nine-Tails.'

This meant that this black-haired child was Konoha's second Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

The Hyuga ninja said with a stern face, "No one is allowed to enter the Hyuga Clan's compound without permission. Leave immediately!"

Having been refused entry, the four could only consider ways to sneak into the Hyuga Compound.

At this moment, Choji found a small stone pedestal near a wall.

If they stepped on the stone pedestal, they should be able to climb over into the Hyuga Compound.

The agile Naruto was the first to stand on the stone pedestal. He pushed off with his legs and grabbed the edge of the wall with his hands, climbing onto it.

Naruto looked inside the compound. There was no one there.

"No one's inside, hurry and come in."

Shikamaru and Choji followed right behind, climbing over the wall.

Now, only the half-paralyzed Uzumaki Menma was left.

Shikamaru and Naruto reached out to Uzumaki Menma.

Uzumaki Menma stood up shakily, grabbing Shikamaru and Naruto's hands.

As Shikamaru and Naruto pulled with all their might, Choji seized Uzumaki Menma's collar and lifted him directly over the wall.

Once all four were over the wall.

The four-person squad successfully entered the Hyuga Clan's compound.

However, the moment they landed, the four felt as if countless eyes were watching them.

But there was clearly no one around!

Naruto asked, his voice trembling, "Menma, Shikamaru, Choji, did you feel that? I feel like I'm being watched."

Cold sweat was already beading on Shikamaru's forehead. "Of course, I felt it. I heard the Hyuga Clan's eyes can see through things; they must have discovered us."

The potato chips in Choji's hand had already fallen to the ground, but he was stiff all over, not daring to pick them up.

Uzumaki Menma was startled when he felt like he was being watched.

But he quickly relaxed.

Being discovered was a foregone conclusion.

Since they had been found but no one had appeared to drive them away, it meant the Hyuga Clan members were likely observing them and wouldn't bother them for trespassing in the Hyuga Compound for now.

Uzumaki Menma, sitting on the ground, lifted his small head and proudly declared, "I told you, the four of us can do whatever we want in Konoha! Shikamaru, hurry up and carry me, we're going to find Hinata!"

Inside Hyuga Hiashi's room.

Hyuga Hiashi sat cross-legged on the tatami mat.

Before Hyuga Hiashi, a Hyuga ninja knelt on one knee.

After discovering the trespassing Uzumaki Menma and the other three, the Hyuga ninja, due to the special nature of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, hurried to report to Hyuga Hiashi.

Hyuga Hiashi activated his Byakugan and saw Uzumaki Menma and the other three sneaking around. His large head was filled with confusion.

Why was Uzumaki Menma, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who had always lived in Root, also here?

As someone who had experienced the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Uprising, Hyuga Hiashi knew the true identities of Naruto Uzumaki and Uzumaki Menma, and he also knew that Uzumaki Menma had been adopted by Danzo.

Hyuga Hiashi couldn't understand why two Jinchuriki, along with children from the Nara and Akimichi Clans, would sneak into the Hyuga Compound.