Second Time Around

In the forest.

Naruto and Hinata stared in disbelief as Neji walked over with Uzumaki Menma on his back.

What exactly had happened while they had gone into the forest to look for the Nine Masked Beasts?

Was this really that surreal?

Neji carried Uzumaki Menma over to the five of them and set him down.

Naruto was too shocked for words, pointing at Neji for ages without managing to say a single thing.

Neji ignored Naruto and instead greeted Hinata. "Lady Hinata."

Hinata was equally confused. "Brother Neji, why were you carrying Menma over from the direction of the Konoha streets?"

"It was nothing! I ran into this guy on the Konoha streets just now, and he asked me to carry him back. Isn't that right?"

Neji shot Uzumaki Menma a sharp look. The meaning was obvious: he could not reveal what had happened when they had peeped in the forest earlier.

Uzumaki Menma nodded his little head. "Neji's right."

Shikamaru asked suspiciously, "But... Menma, why did you go to the streets?"

Uzumaki Menma made up an excuse. "Nothing, I just suddenly felt like it."

No one believed Uzumaki Menma's words.

There had to be something more to it!

Neji waved a hand. "Alright, I've brought him back. I'm leaving."

After Neji left.

Ino asked curiously, "Naruto, Hinata, why did you two look so shocked just now?"

Naruto explained, "It's because Menma and I fought that guy just two days ago."

That left everyone even more baffled. "Huh? You fought two days ago, so why would he be kind enough to bring Menma back today?"

Naruto scratched his head in confusion. "Exactly! How could that guy possibly be so nice? Menma, what's going on?"

Of course, Uzumaki Menma could not admit that he and Neji had gone to peep at the women's bath, so he brushed it off and changed the subject. "It's really nothing. Neji's actually a pretty good guy. Anyway, how did the search for my Nine Masked Beasts go?"

Naruto frowned. "They were way too hard to find. Even with all of us searching together, we only found three."

Byakko and Genbu were each being held by Ino and Hinata.

As for Golden Snake, since it was a snake and the girls were still somewhat afraid of snakes, it was staying in Shikamaru's hands.

"If you can't find them, then there's nothing we can do. Hide-and-seek is over, then."

Uzumaki Menma snapped his fingers, and the remaining six Nine Masked Beasts hidden in the forest all returned to his side.

After he snapped his fingers again, all the Nine Masked Beasts turned into smoke and vanished.

Ino and Hinata pouted. They still wanted to play properly with Byakko and Genbu, and the other six Nine Masked Beasts were cute too. They had not had enough fun yet.

The sky gradually darkened.

Everyone went home.

The next day.

After meeting up with his friends, they went to Hinata's house as usual to wait for her to finish training.

Uzumaki Menma, who had been drinking juice, suddenly stood up. "I forgot something at home. I'm going back to get it! Don't wait for me. Just go play, and I'll find you guys."

Before Naruto and the others could react, Uzumaki Menma darted out of Hinata's house.

Uzumaki Menma walked through the Hyuga Compound.

"I should turn left next," Uzumaki Menma muttered.

For some reason, ever since injecting that Bloodline Completion Elixir, as long as Uzumaki Menma had seen someone before, he could sense roughly where they were if they were within a certain range.

Uzumaki Menma stopped outside a courtyard about the same size as Hinata's home.

He could sense that Neji was inside.

Looking at the tightly shut gate, Uzumaki Menma immediately decided to put his traditional skill to use!

Wall climbing!

Uzumaki Menma skillfully climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard's training ground.

Neji was sparring with Hizashi Hyuga.

In the middle of their spar, Hizashi Hyuga suddenly activated his Byakugan.

Neji was thrilled to see it. "Father, does my strength now warrant you using the Byakugan?"

Hizashi Hyuga smiled. "That's enough sparring for today, Neji. Your friend has come to see you."

Neji muttered in confusion, "Friend?"

Hizashi Hyuga walked to the door and pulled open the training ground's door in one motion.

Uzumaki Menma had been pressing his head against the door, so when it suddenly opened, he fell straight inside.

Neji was stunned when he saw Uzumaki Menma.

Why was it him?

How had he found this place?

Uzumaki Menma immediately got to his feet, scratched his head, and gave an awkward laugh. "You must be Neji's father. Nice to meet you."

Hizashi Hyuga smiled. "Hello. I won't disturb you two, then."

After Hizashi Hyuga left, Neji walked over to Uzumaki Menma and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Didn't we agree yesterday? Next time, we'd go to the women's—"

Neji hurriedly covered Uzumaki Menma's mouth, then guiltily glanced toward the door. Only after noticing that his father had already left did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Neji removed his hand from Uzumaki Menma's mouth and said sternly, "Don't talk. We'll discuss it outside!"

In a corner outside the Hyuga Compound.

Neji complained, "Honestly, I can't believe you. Were you really in that much of a hurry?"

Uzumaki Menma replied righteously, "You got to see it, but I didn't! Of course I was in a hurry!"

Neji was nearly speechless. "How did you find my house?"

"I just looked around and found it."

"You really are lucky. Forget it. Since we're here, let's go."

Neji was starting to get excited too.

That magnificent sight he had seen yesterday—he could see it again today.

Uzumaki Menma and Neji returned to the women's bath outside the bathhouse.

Uzumaki Menma instructed, "This time, don't just focus on watching by yourself. Watch and describe it at the same time, got it?"

"Don't worry!"

Neji was brimming with confidence. Today was different from yesterday!

"Byakugan!"

Neji activated his Byakugan and once again saw what was happening in the women's bath.

Neji quickly pinched his nose shut, then began describing the scene in the women's bath to Uzumaki Menma.

Neji watched and described while Uzumaki Menma listened with great interest.

"Stop describing those women all the time. Describe more of the buildings inside the women's bath. I want to compare it to the men's bath and see what's different."

Neji curled his lip. What was so interesting about buildings? How could they compare to something white and big?

Just as Neji continued describing it.

An ill-timed voice came from behind them.

"Menma, what are you two doing?"

Uzumaki Menma and Neji shuddered at the same time, then stiffly turned their heads to look behind them.

On the wall behind them stood Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, and Hinata, all staring straight at the two of them.