"Welcome back, Menma — our hero of Konoha!" Tsunade stood at the village gate, leading a group of jonin and chunin waiting for his return.
If it weren't for Menma, the consequences of all this could have been disastrous.
But now? Everything was over. No one in Konoha had died — all thanks to Menma.
Carrying his new little brother, Gaara, on his back, Menma saw Tsunade and the others waiting to welcome him. He curled his lips. (ˉ▽￣～) Cut~~ I don't want to talk. Can't I just act cool?)
"Stinky brat, what's that look for?" Tsunade snapped after noticing his expression.
"Sister Tsunade, don't give me a verbal reward — I want something practical. Not long ago, I promised the Uchiha clan I'd treat them to Akimichi's barbecue. You'd better reimburse it," Menma said matter-of-factly.
That's reality — and it meant he saved a ton of money. Free food always tasted better.
"Understood, brat!" Tsunade said, grinding her teeth. Then she looked at Gaara. "Leave him to us."
"No. He's my little brother now. I'll take care of him in Konoha — he doesn't know anyone here." Menma immediately defended.
Tsunade: w(Д)w
She now wanted to slap him straight into the ground.
"Jiraiya, he's yours," Tsunade ordered.
Jiraiya sighed, stepping forward. "Don't worry. I won't hurt your little brother — I guarantee it on my personality." He'd returned first after the tailed beast battle.
Do you even have personality? (ˉ▽￣～) Cut~~
Still, Menma handed Gaara over, patting the boy's head. "Don't worry, little brother. They won't dare hurt you. Whoever does — tell me. I'll kill them."
As soon as he finished, Tsunade kicked Menma squarely in the rear. He flew into a tree with a loud thud.
"Let's go," Tsunade said, signaling her people to take Gaara away. The next phase — political negotiations between the two nations — had just begun. The Land of Wind was about to bleed dry for this.
Meanwhile, Menma groaned, rubbing his backside. "Damn it! Who kicked me!?"
"Alright, Menma," Jiraiya said with a laugh. "You should've given Tsunade some face in front of others. She's Hokage now."
Menma just grumbled. Fight her? Maybe. But win? Probably not. Don't fight? My pride's already dead.
Jiraiya silently gave Tsunade's kick a thumbs-up.
"Damn you, Sister Tsunade — you kicked my ass!" Menma muttered while rubbing it. Then, after hearing Jiraiya's remark, his eyes narrowed. So it was you who ratted me out!
"It seems this month's dividends won't go to Sister Tsunade anymore," Menma muttered darkly.
Jiraiya: "…" One kick = one month's dividend from the Nine-Tails?
If Tsunade heard that, she'd cry — that was a fortune.
Jiraiya decided to help smooth things over. "Menma, if you do that, Tsunade might start bringing girls over for blind dates every day."
Blind dates?
Menma: (ω)!
"The pain's gone! Pretend I didn't say anything just now," he replied quickly. A man must bend and stretch. One day, I'll get my revenge.
Jiraiya smiled warmly. That's a good boy.
After saying goodbye, Menma returned to the Chunin Exam grounds to find Naruto.
By now, all the spectators were gone, leaving only Naruto and a few others behind.
"Hey, Naruto, let's head back," Sasuke suggested.
"No, what if my brother can't find me?" Naruto said stubbornly.
Sasuke: ￣□￣｜｜
He just wanted to know — is the Chunin Exam still even happening? What about my match with Naruto!? w(Д)w
"Don't worry," Shikamaru said. "Brother Menma is strong. He'll be fine."
Naruto nodded reluctantly.
Just then, Menma appeared before them.
Naruto rubbed his eyes, then ran straight over and hugged him tightly. "Brother!"
"I'm fine," Menma said, patting his younger brother's back.
Naruto, our family will be together again soon. Just wait a little longer.
Naruto didn't reply — he just clung to his brother. The violent shaking earlier had terrified him. If anything had happened to Menma… he had no one else in this world.
Menma looked over Naruto's shoulder at Sasuke. "Sasuke, grab your brother and go to the Akimichi barbecue place. My treat."
Sasuke: "?"
He was confused but didn't dare ask. He just nodded and ran home.
Once Sasuke was gone, Menma said, "Today, Lady Tsunade's treating everyone to barbecue. You're all welcome."
"Barbecue! Barbecue!" Choji instantly came back to life.
"Man, I'm exhausted," Shikamaru muttered, thinking about Temari. He'd seen her and Kankuro being escorted away by Kakashi and Guy earlier. He suspected it was connected to the invasion, but there wasn't enough info to know for sure.
"Brother Menma," Shikamaru asked, "did something happen today?"
Menma told them everything.
Shikamaru: (ω)!
Choji: (ω)!
Kiba: (ω)!
Shino: (ω)!
Naruto: (ω)!
All were shocked. No wonder — they'd been born into a peaceful era.
"Don't worry," Menma said calmly. "It's all over now. Let's go."
He led the way to the Akimichi barbecue restaurant, the others trailing behind him.
Looking at Menma's back, Shikamaru had a hunch — maybe Brother Menma wasn't just informed about the invasion… maybe he'd participated.
At the Akimichi barbecue restaurant, business was quiet after the Sand invasion. The owner, thinking no one would come, nearly jumped when Menma entered with a crowd of young ninjas.
Big spender alert.
"Boss, today I'm reserving the whole place," Menma declared.
Owner: (ω)! Reserved!?
"Wait, there'll be more people."
Sure enough, moments later, a group wearing matching clothes with the Uchiha clan's fan crest walked in, all with blank expressions.
Seeing them, Naruto whispered, "So many Sasukes…"
Each of them looked just like him when he wasn't talking.
"What did you say, Naruto?" Sasuke, who had just entered, asked sharply.
Naruto stuck out his tongue. "Nothing!"
(End of Chapter)
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