Chapter 51: Menma, Naruto, Hinata

“Menma!!!”

A crisp, childish voice pierced the silence of the training room, interrupting the boy's contemplation.

Menma walked out of the training room and approached the second-floor window. As he pulled it open, he saw a petite figure waving vigorously.

Hinata stood in the morning light, head held high as she called out Menma's name.

Standing behind her was a reserved boy with Byakugan eyes, a headband wrapped around his forehead to cover it. He appeared to be Hyuga Takashi.

As a member of the Branch House, his talent was supposedly second only to Neji. In the future, during Pain's attack on Konoha, he would serve as a Branch House guard and fight to the death to protect Hinata.

“What are you dawdling for! Get down here, now!” The "Big Sister" Hinata stood with her hands on her hips, her voice carrying an authority that belied her petite appearance.

Hyuga Takashi quietly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; he was somewhat intimidated by this young lady's second personality.

As a member of the Hyuga Branch House, although eight-year-old Hyuga Takashi had not yet graduated from the Ninja Academy, he already possessed the strength of a Genin. Because he was slightly older than Hinata, he had been chosen as her guard.

In addition to her daily protection, he also served as her sparring partner.

If it were the gentler Hinata, Takashi would dote on her, holding back his strength and sparring with extreme care.

But when facing this hot-tempered version of the young lady, Takashi didn't dare be so careless.

He ended up with a bruised and swollen face every time. When sparring with her, it felt as though she had studied Gentle Fist for over a decade, and he was actually the one being trained.

“Coming!” A smile curled at the corners of Menma's mouth as he ran downstairs.

A moment later, two small figures were walking side by side along a park path covered in fallen leaves.

Hyuga Takashi maintained a proper distance, observing from afar to avoid disturbing the young lady's private social time, leaving them their privacy.

“I’m telling you, that old geezer in my house is completely different from that other old geezer. He’s such a fossil. Luckily, Mother is still so gentle and virtuous; sometimes I feel like I’m being disrespectful to her when I lose my temper...” Walking alongside Menma, the "Big Sister" Hinata chattered away about her experiences.

“I think I understand how you felt back then, but I still find it a bit hard to accept.” Hinata kicked a pebble, watching it arc into a distant pond. Her Byakugan eyebrows furrowed slightly in conflict.

To her, the "Limited Tsukuyomi World" was her real world; she had lived there for over a decade.

Suddenly arriving in this world, although everything seemed no different from that world, the changes in the personalities of people she knew made her very uncomfortable.

This sense of unreality made Hinata irritable whenever she went out, prone to snapping at the sky, the earth, and the air itself.

She only became submissive when facing her mother.

“Do you miss that side?” Menma moved a half-step closer, feeling the slight tremor in her fingers when their sleeves touched.

“I miss it sometimes, but...” The "Big Sister" Hinata let out a breath and suddenly took Menma's hand.

“When I am with you, I am prepared to leave the clan.” She spoke the secret she had kept in her heart for years.

In the shinobi world, many women retire from being ninja after marriage to raise children and care for their families.

For example, Uchiha Mikoto, once a Jonin, completely left the shinobi profession after marrying Fugaku, though she could still assist in training Itachi and Sasuke at home.

Furthermore, women often take their husband's surname after marriage; for instance, after marrying Sasuke, Haruno Sakura became Uchiha Sakura.

While Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma were not married, they had a child, and after giving birth, she took the Sarutobi name and joined the Sarutobi clan.

Thus, when the "Big Sister" Hinata said she was prepared to leave the clan, Menma was deeply moved.

However, that emotion did not last long.

“So—”

The "Big Sister" Hinata pulled Menma's hand and smiled with narrowed eyes. “If you dare to betray me, I’ll kill you~”

The killing intent within that smile was almost tangible, making even Menma shudder involuntarily.

In the distance, Hyuga Takashi quickly turned his head away, pretending to look at the scenery.

“Menma-niichan!” At that moment, a joyful shout came from afar.

Hinata looked toward the sound but froze.

A young boy with blond hair and whisker-like marks on his cheeks was running toward them, waving his hand high to greet Menma.

“He is...” Hinata felt the boy looked very familiar.

“Uzumaki Naruto, my... friend,” Menma said softly, giving Hinata a look.

She understood immediately.

Her Byakugan eyes scanned Naruto as he ran up to them; he looked almost exactly like Menma did when he was a child in her memories.

“Menma-niichan! Good morning!” Naruto was somewhat at a loss for words to express his current joy.

Menma was the first friend he had ever made; no one had taught him how to communicate with friends or how to play with them.

Then, Naruto noticed the little girl beside Menma. She had white eyes and was very cute.

His deep blue eyes flashed with confusion when he saw their joined hands.

“Hello, I'm Uzumaki Naruto!” Naruto greeted them with unearned familiarity. “Are you Menma-niichan's friend?”

“Ah, I am Menma's best friend!” The "Big Sister" Hinata smiled, then gave Menma an elbow to the ribs.

*Ugh!*

Hit in the stomach, Menma nearly gagged.

That elbow strike was merciless; it nearly broke his Shadow Clone.

“Good morning, Naruto.” Menma looked up and introduced her. “This is Hyuga Hinata, my... best friend.”

Since they were still so young, he couldn't exactly introduce her as his girlfriend.

“Then... do you want to play together?” Naruto asked expectantly.

Menma glanced at the "Big Sister" Hinata.

To be honest, two people who had lived for over a decade had no common games to play with a three-year-old; they felt playing in the sand was too childish.

But the "Big Sister" Hinata recognized that this Naruto was likely Menma's brother in this world—or rather, his counterpart—though they couldn't acknowledge each other for certain reasons.

So, the "Big Sister" Hinata took the initiative: “Let's go fishing at the Naka River outside the village.”

“Okay! Let's see who gets there first!” Naruto was already impatient.

For those with ninja talent, being able to jump over ten meters high from a young age meant that a three-year-old's physical abilities already far exceeded ordinary people.

Even while fishing to improve his diet, Naruto would consciously perform throwing training.

And he was only three!

Hinata's movement as she turned and leaped onto the roof was fluid and seamless. Amidst her flowing black hair, only Menma could read the fleeting, gentle smile.

The three children began to run, soon chasing each other across the rooftops.

Little Naruto ran very fast; this was his first time playing with a companion.

He even looked back.

He saw his Menma-niichan and that cute little girl following behind, chatting and laughing, moving at a leisurely pace.

For some reason, little Naruto felt a strange sense of insecurity, as if something precious might be taken away.