Chapter 84: A New Year, Menma And Naruto
“Hey, Menma, don’t you feel lonely living alone in such a big house?” On the veranda, Naruto wrapped in a red scarf, the white breath he exhaled dispersing in the winter night.
He looked around this unfamiliar residence, the spacious veranda and Japanese-style room; he had felt it was very quiet even when looking from outside.
Naruto had known Menma for about half a year, but this was the first time he came to Menma’s home to play.
Previously, when lingering at the street corner a few times, he always heard the surrounding neighbors gossiping: the owner of this courtyard seems to be some great merchant who is often away doing commerce, with only the adopted son living here.
So Naruto noticed that the rooms behind Menma were not only much larger than his own apartment, but also much emptier, even able to hear some echoes.
“Lonely?” Menma sat on the edge of the veranda, hands propped backward on the ground, body leaning back, head raised looking at the fireworks blooming in the night sky.
“It’s actually fine.” Having lived two lives, or rather three lives, Menma had a very mature mindset and was long accustomed to spending New Year alone.
In the previous years at the orphanage, although those little children were very noisy, it was indeed quite lively, and Nono Yakushi would prepare New Year gifts for the children.
As for the fifteen years in the ‘Limited Tsukuyomi World’, Menma always felt it was fake, that Obito had cast an illusion technique on him to keep him quiet.
But his own existence could not be explained.
“What about you? Naruto.” Menma kept the backward leaning posture, turning his head to look at Naruto’s small face that was always full of sunshine and cheerfulness: “How have you been spending it alone?”
“Me?” Being asked about himself, Naruto felt a warm current in his heart, scratched the back of his head, grinned and said: “I’m fine too, although I have no parents and have always lived alone, spending New Year and holidays alone, I’m used to it.”
Children in the Naruto world mature early in general, so it wasn’t strange for these words to come from four-year-old Naruto’s mouth.
Gurgle~~
A rumbling sound came from Naruto’s stomach, making Naruto a bit embarrassed.
“Let’s go, I haven’t eaten dinner yet, we can eat together.” Menma stood up and opened the sliding door.
Naruto also stood up and saw several dishes covered with food covers on the table, his eyes lighting up.
“You sit down first, I’ll go heat up the dishes.” Menma removed the food covers, touched the plates with his hand, found the dishes had gone a bit cold, so he told Naruto to wait.
These dishes were specially made today by the hired women for Menma, including both hot and cold dishes.
After all, the two women also had their own families and needed to go home to reunite with family during New Year.
Menma had them prepare some food, gave each a red envelope, and let them go home early to spend New Year with family.
The two women felt a bit guilty and made a lot of exquisite and delicious dishes.
Originally Menma thought it was a bit too much, that he alone couldn’t finish these dishes and most would be wasted.
Now that Naruto was here, it was just right.
The invited Naruto carefully took off his shoes and walked into the dining room.
He curiously looked around, slowly climbing onto the chair by the table.
Naruto sighed with emotion; compared to his home, this house was so big, and it even had a dedicated dining room and kitchen.
Soon, Menma heated the hot dishes in the microwave, found two sets of bowl and chopsticks from the kitchen, and began setting them out.
Naruto watched Menma busying about in the dining room and kitchen with an envious look throughout.
After placing a bowl of boiled rice cakes in front of Naruto, Menma returned to his own seat.
The two four-year-old kids’ bodies were still a bit too small compared to the table and chairs; Naruto even needed to stand on the chair.
“Remember what to say before eating?” Menma looked at Naruto beside him.
“Mm-hmm!” Naruto smiled, clasped his hands together, his voice louder than the fireworks: “Itadakimasu!”
Menma also clasped his hands: “Itadakimasu.”
After the pre-meal ritual, the two picked up their bowl and chopsticks and began eating heartily.
Naruto, who had always lived alone, rarely got to eat such fresh and hot food, busily eating this and that in a flurry.
Seeing Naruto eat mostly meat, Menma pushed a portion of vegetables in front of him: “It’s not good to be picky, remember to eat more vegetables.”
Naruto, who was eating a piece of beef, saw the pushed vegetables and paused.
This feeling of being cared for made Naruto’s nose redden.
“Mm! Thanks, Menma!” Naruto sniffled, picked up the vegetables and swallowed them in big bites: “Super delicious!”
Although he used to hate eating vegetables, at this moment, the feeling of being cared for was really too good!
——————
Sarutobi clan territory.
After finishing dinner, Hiruzen Sarutobi added some tobacco to his pipe, lit it, and walked to the study while puffing smoke.
Behind him, in the kitchen and living room, his eldest daughter-in-law was busy cleaning up, while his eldest son sat on the sofa reading the newspaper.
Ever since his wife Biwako sacrificed during the Nine-Tails Attack, and after the conflicts with his youngest son intensified, he had run away from home.
Now this home always made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel like something was missing.
Returning to the study, Hiruzen Sarutobi went behind the desk, placed a crystal ball on the table, and began performing the Telescopic Technique.
“Just right to see what little Naruto is doing, hope he’s not too lonely.” On the crystal ball in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, little Naruto’s figure gradually appeared.
“Hm? This room… doesn’t look like Naruto’s home.” Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly noticed the anomaly, and after zooming out the crystal ball’s view a bit, he saw a small figure opposite the dining table.
“Did he go to play with Menma? Right, little Menma is also an orphan.” Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered; the great merchant who adopted Menma was too busy with commerce, so couldn’t return to live here long-term.
Seeing such a big house with only Naruto and Menma, two kids together, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a bit heartbroken.
But then seeing the table full of various dishes, even more abundant than at his own home, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s old face smiled again.
‘Looks like allowing Menma and Naruto to interact was a good choice.’ Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his pipe; he was actually very clear about Naruto’s encounters in the village.
He knew who was spreading the rumors behind his back that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Fox Demon incarnate.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t publicly reveal Naruto’s true identity.
During the Third Great Ninja War, Minato killed quite a few ninjas and had enemies in various ninja villages.
Moreover, Naruto was the Nine-Tails jinchūriki…
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that although such growth was a bit tough, he believed Naruto would definitely grow up healthy.
“In another two years, Naruto will be six and it’s time for the Ninja Academy.” Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered; each clan had peers around Naruto’s age.
Their generation could start cultivating friendship at school.
He also needed a qualified teacher to teach Naruto the Will of Fire.
“Menma…” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s old eyes stared at the child in the crystal ball, recalling the report Shikamaru Yamanaka made when applying for the adoption procedure for this child.
The emergence of fire release chakra talent in the chakra test indicated he had ninja talent and could be admitted to the Ninja Academy.
Suddenly, Menma in the crystal ball image looked up at the ceiling, then lowered his head to continue eating.
“His perception isn’t bad either.” Hiruzen Sarutobi set down the pipe in his mouth, exhaled a puff of smoke, and smiled deeply with profound eyes.
