Chapter 85: Konoha 55, Chance Encounter With Toono Joji
The first day after the New Year, a heavy snow fell gently, blanketing Konohagakure in a layer of pure white.
In the shadows of Menma’s residence, an Anbu Ninja stood quietly, surveilling Naruto who was snoring soundly in the Japanese-style room.
Due to the sudden heavy snow last night, Menma had let Naruto stay over for the night. The two had played video games all night until dawn, finally falling asleep snoring in the warm Japanese-style room.
Menma’s house had heating supply, so the entire interior was toasty warm in winter.
The Ninja World’s technology level was still too strange. Many countries were still in the feudal agrarian era, while ninja villages used near-modern tech products, even things like computers and wireless radios.
Naruto slept until noon, waking up leisurely only after the snow had stopped.
After waking, Naruto rubbed his eyes, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings and the different bedding on him, still a bit dazed.
“Yo, you’re awake? It’s just noon, eat something and I’ll send you back later.” Menma, hearing the noise from the kitchen, poked his head out: “Go wash up first.”
Seeing Menma, Naruto then remembered that yesterday, because it was New Year and being alone at home was too boring, he had come to find Menma to play, then eaten an unprecedentedly lavish meal at Menma’s place, and played video games all night.
Still a bit groggy, Naruto followed Menma’s directions to the bathroom and simply washed up.
The feeling of warm water wetting the face towel and wiping his face made little Naruto much more awake.
After wringing out the towel and hanging it up, Naruto looked at himself in the mirror above the sink and suddenly felt an urge to cry.
He, who had always lived alone, had never felt cared for by anyone, nor knew what home was.
Although he had only known Menma for half a year and met only a few times, being with him always brought an inexplicable sense of closeness.
After washing his face again with warm water to hide the earlier tears, Naruto came out of the bathroom.
On the dining table were two bowls of steaming hot ramen, with narutomaki swaying slightly in the clear broth.
“This bowl with narutomaki is yours, this one with bamboo shoots is mine.” Menma beckoned Naruto to sit.
After eating, Menma sent Naruto home.
The two walked together on the village streets covered in heavy snow, huffing breaths and chatting idly.
“Last time, that Third Grandpa seemed to become my guardian, sending me living expenses every month.” Naruto rubbed his hands together. Perhaps because he was dressed warmly for winter and had a hat covering his hair, the pedestrians around didn’t recognize him and showed no malice toward him.
This made little Naruto much more relaxed.
“Third old man?” Menma recalled last year when he and Hinata had gone with Naruto to play at Naruto’s secret base, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had suddenly appeared.
To be honest, Menma’s impression of the Third was not good.
It mainly stemmed from the huge contrast before and after the Third Hokage in the Naruto anime he watched before crossing over, and there were many plot points that didn’t make sense.
Although later Kishimoto drew Shimura Danzō and Root to take the blame.
But because the contrast was too great, many readers didn’t buy it.
“Yeah, and he even chats with me, asks about my life.” Naruto didn’t know why the Third became his guardian, but having an elder to rely on was something little Naruto cherished greatly.
“Heh—” Menma sneered coldly twice.
The things the Third did were too contradictory. He was too indulgent toward Orochimaru and Danzō.
Orochimaru launching the Konoha Collapse plan instead boosted the Third’s reputation.
Otherwise, with all the things the Third had done ruling for so long, nicely put it was greed for power and the Hokage position, bluntly put it was blocking the upward paths for the young.
Menma had even sensed the Third old man’s covert spying yesterday, probably using the crystal ball to monitor Naruto’s every move again.
The two walked and chatted, arriving just at a department store holding a big New Year promotional event.
Menma suddenly stopped.
Naruto let out an “eh,” following Menma’s gaze.
A slightly chubby kid wearing glasses, arms full of various electronic products, was coming out of the department store happily.
Naruto noticed that this department store was named ‘Kado Department Store’.
Menma walked over and asked a store clerk at the door: “What was that kid’s name just now?”
“Young Master Menma!” The clerk bowed respectfully, glanced at the kid who had walked away, and said: “Seems to be called Tonō Sukesuke, he often comes to our store to buy electronic toys and some small experiment supplies.”
‘Is it really him? He looks only about ten years old.’ Menma compared the kid just now to the Tonō Sukesuke who became a Special Jonin doctor in his memory, basically confirming it was this person.
‘But he should have a complete family now, probably hard to poach.’ Menma looked in the direction where Tonō Sukesuke had disappeared, lost in thought.
The Naruto world was already short on scientists, and talents like Tonō Sukesuke were especially rare.
If ranking them, Tonō Sukesuke’s research ability could be said to be second only to Tobirama Senju and Orochimaru’s all-around scientist level.
Others like Sasori, Bishamon, Shinno and such had limitations, more focused on research in specific fields.
Those scientific ninja tools were downright cheat-like. If mass-produced on a large scale to equip genin, any genin could exert chunin-level combat power!
A chunin, if used properly, could also exert combat power close to jonin!
Pre-prepared ninjutsu scrolls loaded into scientific ninja tools like cannon shells, and the user ninja only needed chakra to trigger the scientific ninja tool.
‘If scientific ninja tools are simplified, lightweighted, made into something like rifles, and only need to fire shuriken, kunai, or some small ninjutsu…’ Menma could already imagine what kind of military revolution the birth and mass production of scientific ninja tools would bring to the Ninja World!
“Eh! Menma! Is this department store yours?!” Naruto’s surprised shout pulled Menma back from his thoughts.
Menma turned and saw Naruto with stars in his eyes.
He then noticed the department store was holding New Year activities, hung with all sorts of ribbons and banners, with a long line at the door.
Remembering how Naruto was usually discriminated against by shop owners when buying daily necessities—not selling to him or selling expired stuff—Menma had a store clerk call over the department store’s general manager.
“Young Master Menma honors us with your presence, how can we help?” Soon, a short man in a suit and leather shoes, with a scar above his left eyebrow, hurried over.
Morita Ryo had traveled and done business with Kado for many years and was said to have been a wandering samurai in his early days.
“This is Naruto Uzumaki, my little bro. From now on, when he comes to the store to buy stuff, don’t give him any trouble.” Menma clenched his right fist, thumb pointing at Naruto behind him.
“You got it! Young Master!” Morita Ryo was full of enthusiasm.
He didn’t slack because they were two kids. Kado had specifically instructed him before leaving, and even all the Kado Department Store’s funds were controlled by this young master.
Moreover, being from outside the village, he had no discrimination or prejudice against Naruto.
“Come on, next time come browse the department store.” Menma had originally wanted to take Naruto to buy some daily necessities, but seeing the store crowded with activities and so many people now, he didn’t want to squeeze through the crowd.
