Chapter 51: Menma, Naruto, Hinata
“Menma!!!”
A crisp childish voice pierced through the silence of the Training Room, interrupting the boy’s contemplation.
Menma walked out of the Training Room, came to the window on the second floor, pulled open the window, and happened to see a petite figure waving vigorously.
Hinata stood in the morning light, raising her head and shouting Menma’s name.
Behind her stood a shy Byakugan boy with a headscarf wrapped around his head covering his forehead, who looked like Hyuga Ko.
As a member of the Branch Family, his talent should be second only to Neji, and in the future, during Pain’s attack on Konoha, he would protect Hinata to the death as a Branch Family guard.
“What are you dawdling for! Come down quick!” Big Sister Hinata placed her hands on her hips, her voice carrying an authority that didn’t match her petite appearance.
Hyuga Ko quietly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, a bit afraid of this young lady’s second personality.
As a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, eight-year-old Hyuga Ko hadn’t graduated from the Ninja Academy yet, but he already possessed the strength of a Genin. Because he was a bit older than Hinata, he was selected as her guard.
Besides daily protection of this young lady, he also had to serve as her sparring partner.
If it was the gentler Hinata, Hyuga Ko would be very fond of her, holding back his strength during spars and carefully training with her.
But when it came to this fiery-tempered young lady, Hyuga Ko didn’t dare take her lightly.
Every time, he would end up bruised and swollen from the beatings, and during spars with her, it felt like she had studied the Gentle Fist for over a decade, while he was the one being trained.
“Coming!” The corners of Menma’s mouth curved up, then he quickly ran downstairs.
Before long, two small figures were walking side by side on the park path covered in Fallen Leaves.
Hyuga Ko kept a perfect distance, observing from afar, trying not to disturb the young lady’s private friendships and giving them private space.
“Let me tell you, that old geezer in my family is completely different from that old geezer, such an old fossil, luckily my mother is still as gentle and virtuous as ever, which sometimes makes me feel guilty even when I lose my temper…” Big Sister Hinata walked with Menma, chattering about her own experiences.
“I think I get how you felt back then now, but I’m still having a hard time accepting it.” Hinata kicked a pebble, which traced a parabola into the distant pond, her eyebrows lightly furrowed over her Byakugan, full of Entanglement.
For her, the ‘Limited Tsukuyomi World’ was her real world, where she had lived over a decade of her life.
Suddenly coming to this world, though it seemed no different from that one, the personality changes in familiar people still made her very uncomfortable.
This unreal feeling made Hinata irritable every time she went out, snapping at the sky, the ground, and even the air.
Only when facing her mother would she be a bit more docile.
“So, do you miss that side?” Menma silently stepped half a step closer, feeling the slight tremble of her fingers as their sleeves touched.
“I do miss it a little, but…” Big Sister Hinata exhaled, suddenly taking Menma’s hand.
“When I’m with you, I’ve already prepared myself to leave the family.” Big Sister Hinata revealed the secret she had kept in her heart for several years.
In the Ninja World, many women retire from being ninjas after marriage to raise children and take care of the family.
For example, Uchiha Mikoto, once a Jonin, completely left the ninja profession after marrying Fugaku, and at home she could still guide Itachi and Sasuke’s training.
Moreover, women take their husband’s surname after marriage, like Haruno Sakura changing to Uchiha Sakura after marrying Sasuke.
Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma weren’t married yet, but they already had a child, and after giving birth, she changed her surname to Sarutobi and joined the Sarutobi Clan.
So when Big Sister Hinata said she was already prepared to leave the family.
Menma was still very moved.
But this moved didn’t last long.
“So—”
Big Sister Hinata pulled Menma’s hand, squinting with a smile: “If you dare let me down, I’ll slaughter you, okay~”
The killing intent in this smile had almost materialized, making Menma shiver uncontrollably.
Hyuga Ko in the distance quickly turned his head, pretending to look at the scenery.
“Menma bro!” At that moment, a joyful shout came from afar.
Hinata looked toward the voice and was stunned for a moment.
She saw a little boy with golden hair and several whisker marks on his face running quickly over, raising his hand to greet Menma.
“He’s…” Hinata thought this little boy looked very familiar.
“Uzumaki Naruto, my… friend.” Menma said softly, giving Hinata a look.
She immediately understood.
Her pair of Byakugan eyes stared up and down at Naruto who ran up to the two of them, exactly like Menma in her memories when he was little.
“Menma bro! Good morning!” Naruto didn’t know how to express his current joy with words.
Menma was the first friend he had ever made; no one had taught him how to interact with friends, nor did he have experience playing with friends.
Then, Naruto noticed the little girl beside Menma, who had a pair of white eyes and was very cute.
A flash of Bewilderment passed through his deep blue eyes when he saw their clasped hands.
“Hello, I’m Uzumaki Naruto!” Naruto greeted familiarly: “Are you Menma bro’s friend?”
“Yeah, I’m Menma’s good friend!” Big Sister Hinata smiled, elbowing Menma with her elbow.
Oof!
Menma, hit in the stomach, almost threw up.
This elbow strike was merciless, nearly dispelling his Shadow Clone.
“Good morning, Naruto.” Menma raised his head and introduced to Naruto: “Her name is Hinata Hyuga, my… good friend.”
After all, they were still too young; he couldn’t introduce her as his girlfriend.
“Then… wanna play together?” Naruto looked expectant.
Menma glanced at Big Sister Hinata.
Two people who had lived for over a decade, honestly, had no common games to play with a three-year-old kid, thinking playing with sand was too childish.
But Big Sister Hinata also recognized that this Naruto should be Menma’s brother in this world, or counterpart, just unable to recognize each other due to some reasons.
So Big Sister Hinata took the initiative: “Let’s go fishing at the Naka River outside the village.”
“Okay, then let’s race to see who gets there first!” Naruto was already impatient.
For them with Ninja Talent, they could jump over ten meters high from a young age, and a three-year-old kid’s physical strength already far surpassed ordinary people.
When Naruto went fishing to improve his meals, he would consciously do some throwing training.
This was only three years old!
Hinata turned and leaped onto the roof with fluid movements, and amid her fluttering black hair, that fleeting gentle smile was only understood by Menma.
The three kids ran freely, soon chasing each other on the rooftops.
Little Naruto ran very fast; this was his first time playing with a little friend.
He even looked back.
But he saw his Menma bro and that cute little girl chatting and laughing behind them, not too fast or slow.
For some reason, little Naruto felt a sense of anxiety.
Please keep reading! Please add to favorites! Please vote recommendations! Please vote monthly tickets! New book data is very important! Especially keep reading! Please try to scroll to the last page! Thank you all readers!
