Jiraiya, the Documentary Writer

Chatting and laughing with Ino, Menma arrived at the Yamanaka Clan compound. He took out a gift he had bought on the way and handed it to Hiashi Yamanaka, who opened the door.

"Thank you! Menma, you're far too polite. Please, come in!" Hiashi Yamanaka accepted the gift with a smile and ushered Menma and Ino inside.

"Dad, you talk with Menma for a bit. I'll go make dinner. Menma, I hope you'll honor us by staying for a simple meal!" The moment she entered, Ino darted into the kitchen, giving Menma no chance to refuse.

"Um... won't this be too much trouble for Ino?" Menma was a little at a loss. He had never been treated like this before.

"Hahaha, not at all. I already heard from the neighbors when I got back. I should be thanking you for helping Ino clean up the shop!" Hiashi Yamanaka said heartily.

"Then I'll gladly accept. Thank you," Menma said.

"You're too polite, Menma." Hiashi Yamanaka said, "All right, come with me to the study."

In the Yamanaka Clan study, Hiashi Yamanaka brought over two tatami cushions, brewed two cups of tea, and set them on the low table, signaling for Menma to sit and talk over tea.

"Menma, I've already heard about your situation from Kakashi.

Well, what are your thoughts on Kakashi saying that you were brimming with killing intent?" Hiashi Yamanaka chose his words with care.

Menma gave a bitter smile. "That probably wasn't Kakashi-sensei's exact wording, was it?!

Actually, I think Kakashi-sensei misunderstood. I was just inexperienced, so I instinctively had some rather extreme thoughts. That shouldn't be such a big deal, right?"

Hiashi Yamanaka took a sip of tea. After setting down his cup, he sighed. "It is precisely because it was an instinctive thought that it needs to be taken seriously!

Kakashi told me about two incidents, and both of them concerned me.

First, you felt the urge to kill an enemy who had lost the ability to resist.

But Menma, you need to understand that not only had your enemies lost the ability to fight back, they had not tried to kill you when they fought you in the first place.

So your killing intent came from nowhere. That is what makes it most serious!

Second, there was Zabuza Momochi's past. You placed yourself in his circumstances and proposed a truly terrifying solution!

I don't know why you would think that way, Menma, but it is undoubtedly a very dangerous thought!

Menma, from these two matters, I feel that you seem to have no reverence for life at all!"

Menma did not quite understand. "But isn't being a Ninja a profession filled with darkness and violence? Isn't it normal to have thoughts like that?"

Hiashi Yamanaka sighed. "It isn't normal. Of course it isn't! Look, if the same things had happened to your classmates, they would not have had thoughts like yours!

If you were an adult Ninja now, Menma, then having such thoughts would be normal. But you are only a twelve-year-old child!

It is not much now that you have thoughts of slaughter, Menma. But once you have truly experienced the taste of killing in the future, it will not be so easy to pull yourself out!

We Ninja possess powerful strength that ordinary people do not. As the saying goes, when one holds a weapon, the urge to kill arises. So if it is not kept in check, sooner or later one will sink into the desire for slaughter.

Ninja may kill to protect themselves, may kill for missions, and may kill for profit, but they must never kill for the sake of killing!

That is all I have to say. Go back and think it over carefully, Menma!"

Menma fell into thought.

After dinner at Ino's home, Menma said goodbye to Hiashi Yamanaka, picked up the registration form, and prepared to leave.

Ino walked Menma out of the clan compound. As they parted, she said, "Well, I don't know what Dad said to you, Menma, but what I want to say is, no matter what you do, you just need to stay true to yourself!"

Menma turned back and looked at the bright face of the girl beneath the warm lights, and something dawned on him. "Mm-hm, thank you, Ino!"

"It'd be great if I could help you, Menma. Also, you can just call me Ino!" Ino said with a smile.

"Sure, Ino. Then you don't need to use honorifics either. Just call me Menma!" Menma readily agreed.

"Mm, Menma, be careful on your way home!

And... good night!" Ino went along with it immediately.

"Mm-hm, good night, Ino!"

On his way home, the shops lining both sides of the street were brightly lit, and crowds flowed through the road. Adults laughed and chatted among them, while children played and frolicked. It was a peaceful, tranquil scene.

When Menma returned home, his father had already left for his night shift, while his mother was cleaning up.

"Menma, you're back? Have you eaten?" Kushina asked with concern.

"Mm-hm, I ate already!" Menma replied.

"By the way, Menma, Lord Jiraiya will be visiting tomorrow to discuss you becoming his disciple, so remember not to go out tomorrow."

"Oh, Lord Jiraiya finally came back?" Menma was overjoyed at the news. His stalled Wind Release Chakra development could finally advance further!

Rasengan, Big Ball Rasengan, Rasenshuriken... Just thinking of them made Menma's heart race with excitement!

"That's right. Lord Jiraiya is a serious and earnest Ninja, so you need to be more serious tomorrow too, understand?"

What? Jiraiya was serious and earnest? Menma groaned inwardly. Was this another character whose story had been radically rewritten?

Menma's expression did not change as he spoke naturally. "Mom, can you tell me more about Lord Jiraiya?"

"Of course! But where should I start?

Hmm, Lord Jiraiya is an incredibly powerful Ninja. He is tall, wears a forehead protector with the character for 'oil' written on it, and has long white hair that reaches his waist.

Lord Jiraiya is extremely powerful. He is one of the Legendary Sannin, and during the Third Shinobi World War, he served as one of the commanders and led Konoha to victory! He is a great contributor who brought peace to the Shinobi World!

Lord Jiraiya has a calm personality and is not good with words. But beneath his stern exterior, he has a kind and dependable heart.

Oh, and Lord Jiraiya is also a famous documentary writer in the Shinobi World!

His works are based on real people and true events, delving deeply into the humanity hidden in people's hearts. That gives his writing the power to strike straight at the heart!

His most famous work is <The Longest Day: The Kannabi Bridge Battle of Konoha Year 47>.

It is a war epic about fate and changing fate through courage.

It is not a military history, but a story about people.

In this book, the fear and panic of weak individuals facing darkness and the unknown, as well as the cruelty and unpredictability of fate, are rendered in vivid detail.

But the Konoha Ninja caught within it gathered their courage to persevere and fight, ultimately welcoming a victory and glory that belonged to them.

..."

Kushina went on and on about Jiraiya's glorious accomplishments, never realizing that Menma's thoughts had already drifted far away.

Jiraiya, a documentary writer?!!

Six!!!