Conditions

Konoha Root.

Inside Uzumaki Menma's room, Naruto was wolfing down food.

Uzumaki Menma sat beside Naruto, watching him eat.

Uzumaki Menma's mind was somewhat muddled right now.

His Grandpa Danzo seemed to have no designs on Naruto at all. He had even sent Root members to bring lots of delicious food for him and Naruto.

Naruto soon finished all the food on the table and let out a satisfied burp.

"That was so good. I've never had anything that delicious before."

"Since Lord Hokage takes care of you, how could you have never eaten good food?"

Naruto patted his round little belly and explained, "Hokage Grandpa is very busy. Every month, he just gives me money to buy food, but the people in the village don't want to sell anything to me, so I mostly eat cup noodles."

It seemed Naruto's life was still very difficult.

By comparison, Uzumaki Menma had it much better in Root.

While Uzumaki Menma and Naruto were playing in the room, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived at Root.

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi entered Danzo's office, Danzo sneered, "Heh, Hiruzen. That Nine-Tails brat came to my Root on his own. You really did a fine job watching over him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paid no heed to Danzo's mockery. After laughing twice, he said, "I'm very relieved that Naruto came here."

Danzo said in a sarcastic tone, "Really? Back then, you did everything you could to stop me from taking Menma away, thinking I would do something to him. And the only reason you trust me now is because your Telescope Technique lets you monitor me at any time, isn't it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down in a chair and said sincerely, "Danzo, I can tell you that I haven't used the Telescope Technique to observe Root for over a year. Because I can sense that you've completely come to see Menma as your own grandson."

Danzo fell silent for a while, neither admitting nor denying it.

Seeing that Danzo said nothing, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and said, "Danzo, I think it's about time you let Menma go out and see the world. Staying in Root all the time isn't good for his growth."

Danzo snorted coldly. "What? Let Menma go out so those ignorant villagers can insult him? What good did that order you issued back then do, hiding the identity of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Doesn't everyone in the village still discriminate against that brat Naruto?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed but offered no rebuttal.

He had been too naive about this matter.

He had originally thought that after hiding everything, children born afterward would not know Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

That way, Naruto could still have playmates in the future.

But things had not gone as hoped.

Although the adults who knew Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki did not talk about it, their fear and hatred still remained.

Those adults still told their children that Naruto was a monster.

Influenced by what they saw and heard, those children still regarded Naruto as a monster, avoided him, and hated him.

Danzo shook his head helplessly. His old friend was simply far too indecisive.

Danzo glanced at the Root ninja standing by the door.

The Root ninja understood and headed for Uzumaki Menma's room.

"Young Master Menma, Lord Danzo requests that you and your friend come to his office."

Uzumaki Menma checked the time. Nearly an hour had passed.

Danzo had stipulated that Naruto could stay in Root for only an hour. Time was up.

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto arrived at Danzo's office.

When Naruto saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, he happily hugged him. "Hokage Grandpa."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed Naruto's head. "Did you have fun?"

Naruto nodded his little head vigorously. "I made a new friend today. The two of us had lots of fun. Menma, this is the Hokage Grandpa I told you about."

Naruto did not need to introduce him; Uzumaki Menma could recognize Hiruzen Sarutobi as well.

Uzumaki Menma politely greeted him, "Hello, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi kindly patted Uzumaki Menma's head. "From now on, you can call me Hokage Grandpa too, just like Naruto."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naruto, then at Uzumaki Menma.

It seemed the two brothers had not recognized each other.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked toward Danzo.

Danzo frowned and shook his head at Hiruzen Sarutobi, signaling him not to reveal that the two were brothers.

As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi had not solved the village's discrimination against the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Danzo was unwilling to let Uzumaki Menma and Naruto recognize each other.

However, Danzo knew it was only a matter of time before Uzumaki Menma and Naruto did so. Aside from their hair color, they looked almost identical.

Moreover, Danzo had not deliberately made Uzumaki Menma change his surname to Shimura.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had also guessed Danzo's thoughts. Rising to his feet, he took Naruto's little hand and said, "Naruto, it's time for us to go home. Come find Menma to play with next time."

Naruto waved at Uzumaki Menma. "Menma, let's play together again next time."

After Hiruzen Sarutobi and Naruto left.

Only Danzo and Uzumaki Menma remained in the office.

Danzo simply stared quietly at Uzumaki Menma.

Uzumaki Menma did not even dare breathe too loudly. "Grandpa Danzo, what is it?"

"Do you really want to leave Root and go out to play?"

Uzumaki Menma froze. Danzo's sudden question about whether he wanted to go out and play left him at a loss.

Should he say he wanted to go out, or that he did not?

Uzumaki Menma cautiously asked, "Can I?"

Danzo lowered his gaze and slowly said, "I can let you go out and play for a while every day..."

Before Danzo could finish, Uzumaki Menma had already run excitedly in front of him, jumped up, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you, Grandpa Danzo!"

Danzo touched the cheek Uzumaki Menma had kissed. His old face suddenly reddened, then he put on a stern expression and said, "There is a condition. If you cannot meet it, then Root... you won't be leaving."

Uzumaki Menma nodded his little head rapidly. "Mm-hmm, Grandpa Danzo, tell me."

Danzo said seriously, "Starting tomorrow, you will begin training. Only after completing your daily training goals will you be allowed to leave Root."

"Okay, okay!" Uzumaki Menma agreed immediately.

Uzumaki Menma had already been very interested in ninjutsu. He could learn ninjutsu and go out to play, so of course he was more than willing.

A subtle smile curled Danzo's lips. "Since you've agreed, I hope you can keep it up."

Seeing Danzo's smile, Uzumaki Menma was struck by a bad feeling.

"All right, go back and rest. Starting tomorrow, you'll have to get up early. Someone will come for you."

After Uzumaki Menma left, Danzo called out, "Kaede!"

A man wearing black gloves, with orange hair tied into a short high ponytail, appeared in the office.

Yamanaka Fu, an outstanding ninja of the Yamanaka Clan, was also a Root ninja directly under Danzo.

Danzo ordered, "Starting tomorrow, you will teach Menma. Don't hold back. The harsher, the better!"