Konoha Barbecue Restaurant.
To celebrate Team 7's official formation, after taking a team photo with Menma and the other two and completing their team ninja registration, Kakashi brought the three of them to Konoha Barbecue Restaurant to celebrate.
This was also a Konoha tradition. On the night a Genin team was first formed, the supervising ninja would treat them to a meal, though the location varied.
"Basically, wealthy Jonin treat everyone to barbecue, while poor ninja treat everyone to dango or ramen," Kakashi said, leaning back in his seat.
"Well, I'm not exactly poor, so I brought you here for my first treat."
They had barely chatted for a few moments when a burst of noise came from the entrance.
Menma looked over and saw two ninja entering with several children.
I see. Today was the day of the Genin assessment, so they had come to celebrate their Genin teams' formation as well.
"Yo, Kakashi. It's rare to see you in a place like this!"
Kurenai Yuhi was the one greeting him, with Yamashiro Aoba, wearing sunglasses, beside her.
"You little guys are impressive. You actually passed Kakashi's test," Yamashiro Aoba teased.
"Kakashi, this doesn't sound like you. You didn't go easy on them during the test, did you?"
"Well, how should I put it? There were all sorts of reasons, but my three subordinates are truly excellent," Kakashi responded.
"Enough talk. Since we ran into each other, Kakashi, come have a drink with us.
Let the kids sit together and eat on their own. The three of us can get another table!" Kurenai Yuhi suggested.
"Sure. Then tonight, let's have a proper drink. How about whoever gets drunk first pays the bill?" Yamashiro Aoba added with a smile.
Kakashi shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the proposal. He rose and followed the two of them to a small table in the corner.
The Genin teams all knew one another. They had all been classmates, so there was no need to hold back. They each came over and sat at Menma's table.
Some grilled meat, some chatted, and the atmosphere was lively.
"By the way, Menma, how did you pass that Hatake Jonin's test?
You should know that none of the upperclassmen from the past several years managed to pass his assessment." The speaker was Choji Akimichi, who had tied Sakura for first place in the written exam. Unlike in the original story, this world's Choji was a slender child.
"Well, I guess our strength met Kakashi's standards.
Sakura excels at tactical planning and genjutsu.
Sasuke's mastery of Fire Release far exceeds that of an ordinary Genin.
I only passed by riding their coattails."
Menma took a sip of juice and gave a brief answer, deliberately downplaying his own role.
"Mm, I know you're brushing me off, but strength alone doesn't make much sense.
Some of the upperclassmen before us were stronger than Chunin, yet they still failed that Hatake Jonin's test." Choji had not been fooled by Menma's words.
"I'm not done yet," Menma added.
"There's another reason. This is just my guess.
It should be because of our identities."
Menma sat up straight and began speaking at length. "Look, Sakura on our team is the Fourth Hokage's daughter.
Sasuke is the young clan head of the Uchiha Clan.
My status is a little lower, but I'm still the only male heir of the Uzumaki Household.
With identities like ours, they couldn't possibly send us back to the Ninja Academy to study again, could they?"
Menma paused there before continuing his analysis. "And forget about me. Look at you guys.
The princess of the Hyuga Clan.
The eldest daughter of the Yamanaka Clan.
The future heir of the Akimichi Household.
Whose status is weaker than ours?
Did you really think you passed the Genin team-entry assessment on strength alone?"
"I see. That makes sense now." Choji suddenly understood.
"But that feels so frustrating. Did we only pass because we used the back door?
Thinking about it like that, I suddenly don't feel motivated anymore." Hinata frowned, her heart heavy.
The other children at the table also fell into thought, and the atmosphere visibly cooled.
Menma realized that his words had been poorly timed. He hurriedly stood up, slapped both hands onto the table, and tried to salvage the situation.
"What are all of you thinking about?
Putting status aside, aren't you the most diligent and strongest among your peers in your respective clans?"
Besides, the status of being a clan head's child does not merely bring you benefits. It also means bearing greater risks!
When carrying out missions, as the princess of the Hyuga Clan, shouldn't you choose the most dangerous one?
When war breaks out, as the heir of the Akimichi Household, shouldn't you charge into the front lines?
When covering a retreat, as the young clan head of the Uchiha Clan, shouldn't you voluntarily stay behind to hold off the enemy?
He who would wear the crown must bear its weight!
If you enjoy conditions better than those of ordinary ninja, you must shoulder responsibilities greater than those of ordinary ninja!
If a flame wants to burn brighter, it must constantly be fed thicker firewood!
What ordinary ninja can do, we must do. What ordinary ninja cannot do, we must do even more!
The flame passes on, generation after generation, never dying out. This is the Will of Fire!"
"Ooh~~~~~!" Hearing Menma's words, everyone's eyes lit up again, and they let out a cheer.
Seeing the atmosphere grow lively again, Menma breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down.
Brats, I watched so much motivational nonsense in my previous life. A couple of lines were enough to fool you all to death!
Menma did not notice that in the corner, a girl was staring at him without blinking, her eyes gleaming as though she had remembered something. She suddenly giggled, her cheeks flushing faintly.
At the barbecue restaurant's corner table, the three of them had also heard Menma's speech.
"Kakashi, is that your subordinate? He's really remarkable!"
Yamashiro Aoba took a sip of sake and sighed to Kakashi.
"Yes. All three of my subordinates are excellent, but Menma is the most outstanding of them all."
Kakashi agreed with Yamashiro Aoba's assessment.
"That child is called Menma?
Whose child is he?
Why have I never heard of him before?" Kurenai Yuhi asked.
"Menma is the child of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki," Yamashiro Aoba explained.
"Is that so?
I didn't expect him to be from a civilian family. It's rare to see talent like that." Kurenai Yuhi said.
"He isn't exactly from a civilian family. Although Menma's father, Minato Namikaze, is only a Tokubetsu Jonin, he possesses Konoha's one-of-a-kind spatial talent and is the sole user of the space-time Ninjutsu, the Flying Raijin Technique.
His mother, Kushina Uzumaki, is the sole survivor of Uzushio Village after its destruction, as well as Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchuriki," Kakashi explained.
"Menma's talent was likely inherited from his mother's Uzumaki Bloodline. At such a young age, he already possesses strength comparable to a Chunin."
"Not only that. Though he hasn't shown it, I suspect his father also has a powerful bloodline, one that is at least stronger than the Uzumaki Bloodline," Yamashiro Aoba said.
"Oh? Why do you say that?" Kurenai Yuhi asked in confusion.
"Look at Menma's hair color. Like his father's, it's gold.
According to the records, every member of the Uzumaki Clan, male or female, has red hair." Yamashiro Aoba kept it concise.
"You mean Menma might have inherited Minato Namikaze's talent for space-time Ninjutsu?" Kakashi thought of one possibility.
"I don't know. But Kakashi, you could mention it to Lord Hokage and let Menma try practicing the Flying Raijin Technique. Maybe there will be a miracle," Yamashiro Aoba replied.
"We'll see. The most important thing right now is building a solid foundation. When the time is right, I'll speak to Lord Hokage." Kakashi had his own plan.
"But speaking of which, Kakashi, your team has the young clan head of the Uchiha Clan, the orphaned child of your teacher, the Fourth Hokage, Lady Haruno, and the son of the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
Looking at it that way, you're carrying quite a heavy burden." Kurenai Yuhi teased.
"Aren't you two the same?
Your subordinates include nearly every major clan in Konoha. If you fail to teach them well, you'll have a hard time of it." Kakashi replied with a curl of his lip.
"Just thinking about it gives me a headache. They're all children of major clans. If anything goes wrong during a mission, we might have to kill ourselves to atone," Yamashiro Aoba complained.
"That's your problem to worry about. My subordinates would be fine even if they entered the Chunin Ninja Exams right now," Kakashi said disdainfully.
"Hey, hey, hey. My subordinates are excellent too, all right?" Kurenai Yuhi said unhappily.
"By the way, speaking of the Chunin Ninja Exams, I have some news," Yamashiro Aoba said.
"I heard that next year, we might jointly hold a Chunin Ninja Exams with several small ninja villages around the Land of Fire."
"Oh, really?
That's a good thing. Letting these children see the Ninjutsu styles of other ninja villages and broaden their horizons will benefit their future growth," Kurenai Yuhi said.
"Mm. And we can show off Konoha's military strength while we're at it.
Those small ninja villages have started making little moves again lately. The Chunin Ninja Exams will be a good chance to give them a warning." Kakashi saw further ahead.
"That's not what I wanted to say." Yamashiro Aoba waved his hand.
"I mean, how about we send all these children to next year's Chunin Ninja Exams?
They're already strong enough. They can gradually make up the remaining experience over the next half year or so.
Most importantly, if they become Chunin, they can lead teams and carry out missions themselves. Then we won't have to keep playing house with children."
"Mm. It does sound a little like running away, but it isn't a bad idea," Kakashi agreed.
"Isn't that a little too soon? These children are all highly talented. Shouldn't we protect them and let them gain experience for a few more years?" Kurenai Yuhi was somewhat worried.
"Only talent that grows is truly talent. Excessive protection is harmful to their growth instead," Kakashi said.
"I agree with Kakashi. Look at him. When he was their age, didn't he experience countless life-and-death battles on the battlefield before achieving what he has today?" Yamashiro Aoba said.
"But this isn't wartime now. Wouldn't that be..." Kurenai Yuhi was still worried.
"I understand what you mean, but we can't protect them for their entire lives!" Kakashi interrupted Kurenai Yuhi and said.
"Besides, I trust my subordinates. I believe that before the Chunin Ninja Exams, they will grow strong enough to stand on their own!"
"That's true. Especially that Menma from your team. I think he has what it takes to become Hokage," Yamashiro Aoba agreed.
"Oh, please. You think you can tell whether someone has what it takes?" Kurenai Yuhi mocked.
"He says that about everyone. Last time, he even said Minato Namikaze had what it takes to become Hokage," Kakashi ruthlessly exposed Yamashiro Aoba.
"Hahaha, if Minato Namikaze can become Hokage, then I can unify the Shinobi World." Kurenai Yuhi laughed wildly.
"Well, nice words don't cost money. Why not say more of them and make people happy?
Last time I told Minato that, he was so happy he even bought me drinks!" Yamashiro Aoba said carelessly.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
The barbecue restaurant was filled with cheerful laughter.
Before you continue