Chapter 52: Three Generations of Old Fogies!

On the outskirts of Konoha Village, the wide Naka River meandered along the edge of the village, winding through dense forests before finally flowing into the distant sea.

Within this forest, several small trickling streams dotted the landscape, adding a touch of vitality to the lush greenery.

Menma, Naruto, and Hinata ran along the path until they came to a stop by a small river.

"This is my secret base!" Naruto introduced excitedly to Menma and Hinata.

Menma looked around. The clearing, roughly the size of a basketball court, was surrounded by verdant forest and overgrown with weeds. In the center sat an old, extinguished campfire.

Some hollowed-out logs hung from nearby tree trunks, and small, finger-sized pebbles were scattered across the ground.

It seemed Naruto practiced here often.

Naruto rummaged through a hollow tree trunk and pulled out three simple fishing rods. These were makeshift rods Naruto had made himself, using branches tied with fishing line and small iron nails as hooks.

"Menma-nii, Hinata, pick one," Naruto said warmly, handing the three rods over.

"I'll take this one," Menma said, casually picking the one closest to him.

Hinata did the same, choosing one at random.

The three did not rush to fish immediately; instead, they began searching for earthworms under the withered trees.

"Byakugan!" Hinata whispered. Veins bulged around her eyes as her vision pierced through the soil, precisely pinpointing the location of the worms.

Following her guidance, Menma and Naruto flipped over a piece of deadwood, discovering several small holes, and began digging with branches.

"Wow! So many worms!" Naruto cried out in surprise.

In the past, when he searched for worms alone, he would spend ages without finding many. It was only after much trial and error that he learned worms preferred the soft soil beneath decaying wood.

Menma gave Hinata a thumbs-up.

The three arrived at the riverbank, each choosing a spot to sit. They hooked the worms onto the small iron nail hooks and cast their lines.

Under the shade of the trees, the clear river water flowed slowly as the three children chatted while fishing.

Menma deliberately told Naruto and Hinata fairy tales he had learned in his previous life. The two became so engrossed in the stories that they almost failed to notice when fish bit their lines.

Naruto scrambled to pull up his rod, only to find a fish no larger than his palm. Feeling a bit disappointed, he placed it in a small pool of water by the riverbank, hooked another worm, cast his line, and went back to listening to Menma's stories.

"In an era of constant warfare, a certain country had a law: if anyone could redeem a compatriot who had been taken as a slave abroad, the state would provide compensation. One day, a man named Zigong redeemed a citizen but refused the compensation. When Confucius, his teacher, found out, he actually criticized him," Menma told Naruto the story of Zigong.

"Why?" Naruto's small face showed confusion.

The person was redeemed, and Zigong didn't take the money, saving the state funds—wasn't that a win-win?

Menma explained patiently, "Because Zigong's action was a matter of personal morality. By refusing compensation, he achieved his own 'small righteousness,' but he invisibly raised the cost and standard of doing good. If Zigong doesn't accept state compensation, then in the future, if others redeem citizens and ask the state for compensation, they might be criticized by others as being 'not selfless enough.' This is what we call moral kidnapping."

Menma analyzed it bit by bit for Naruto: "You cannot demand that others follow your exact standards. Doing so only raises the bar of morality to a level that only a few can afford, which ultimately discourages ordinary people from being kind."

"In that way, doing good becomes a burden. Who among ordinary people would be willing to do it?"

"Morality is meant to restrain oneself, not to kidnap others," Menma concluded. "If an act of kindness becomes a burden, eventually, fewer and fewer people will be willing to do good."

Little Naruto nodded, appearing to half-understand.

Seeing this, Menma didn't push further; he only hoped the boy would remember the story.

Next, Menma shared several other fables with Naruto.

Time passed quietly, and the three managed to catch several fish, which they began to roast over a fire.

Naruto volunteered to treat Menma and Hinata to a grilled fish feast prepared by his own hands, only to have his face slapped by a fish's tail with a "thwack," sending Menma and Hinata into fits of laughter.

Naruto wasn't annoyed; he just scratched his head and laughed along.

He cherished these leisurely moments of playing with peers.

On a large tree not far away, Hyuga Takashi was silently protecting Hinata from the shadows. Seeing the three begin to eat the grilled fish, he took out some dried rations from his pouch and began to chew on them.

Suddenly, a slight movement occurred beside Hyuga Takashi.

He turned his head and found that, at some unknown point, a little old man with slightly spiky hair and a small goatee in civilian clothes had appeared to his right.

Hyuga Takashi immediately dropped his rice ball, his entire body tensing.

"Relax," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, offering Hyuga Takashi a kind smile, looking like any ordinary elderly neighbor.

"Lord Third!" Hyuga Takashi recognized the Third Hokage, who also served as the head of the Ninja Academy. Despite his surprise, he remained respectful.

He simply didn't understand why the Third Hokage would be appearing here.

"I'm going to check on the children. You should rest as well," Hiruzen said before leaping down from the tree trunk.

"Yes, Lord Third!" Hyuga Takashi bowed slightly but did not dare to relax.

He stood quietly on the branch, watching Hiruzen Sarutobi walk toward the three children.

The "boss lady" Hinata keenly sensed the movement and looked up at the approaching old man.

Menma, however, had actually noticed Hiruzen's arrival long ago; he had simply pretended not to know and continued eating his fish until Hinata looked up, at which point he followed her gaze.

Naruto, who was busy stuffing his face, also noticed something unusual and looked in the direction of Hinata's gaze.

"Eh? Old man, who are you?" Naruto had never encountered anyone else at this secret base.

"Ah, I am just a passing old man," the Third said, walking over with a smile, slightly surprised by Hinata's wariness and keen perception.

And that boy named Menma reacted a bit slower than Hinata, but he seemed like a good prospect as well.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had intentionally not worn his Hokage cloak or hat today, wanting to approach the three children as an ordinary elderly man.

However, he clearly did not know Hinata well.

As Hiruzen approached the campfire where the three children were sitting, just as he was about to strike up a conversation...

Hinata curled her lip and uttered something shocking: "Isn't that the old geezer Third?"

*Pfft—*

Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly choked on his own blood.

*Wait, that's not right. I remember this girl from the Hyuga clan being quite an introverted child?* Hiruzen was stunned.

Up in the tree, Hyuga Takashi pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed.

"Oh, let me introduce you. This is the Third Hokage of our village," Hinata said, waving her grilled fish toward Menma and Naruto.

"Hokage!!!" Little Naruto's eyes instantly lit up with longing and admiration.

In his understanding, the Hokage was the strongest person!

Menma, meanwhile, continued eating his fish slowly. He picked up a stick with a piece of grilled fish on it and handed it over: "Old man, want some?"

Looking at the sincere gaze of the child and the offered fish, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly felt that these three little ones were quite interesting.

He laughed heartily, took the fish, and sat down by the campfire.