Life at the Ninja Academy gradually settled into a routine flowing at a gentle pace after the dramatic self-introductions on the first day of school.
The tender green leaves grew increasingly lush, and sunlight filtered through the classroom windows, casting warm patches of light on the neatly arranged desks. The air was a mix of chalk dust, the smell of new books, and the unique, slightly sweaty vitality of children.
Menma sat by the window, propping his chin with one hand. His gaze seemed fixed on Iruka, who was enthusiastically explaining the basic theory of refining Chakra on the podium, but his mind was actually wandering far away.
Refining chakra?
To him, it was as natural and bone-deep as breathing.
The key points of Ninjutsu and the Chakra System that Iruka was explaining had long been honed into instinct through the cruel slaughter of the [Limited Tsukuyomi World].
Right now, the vast, ocean-like Chakra within him was flowing and circulating in an extremely subtle, almost undetectable way.
Most of the time, it was just a shadow clone that appeared at the Ninja Academy.
His main body had long since used the Flying Thunder God Technique to shuttle between the political affairs of the Land of Stars, the construction of new Hoshigakure, or certain more covert operations.
Only occasionally, when Naruto particularly looked forward to going to school together, or when some unforeseen situation arose that a shadow clone couldn't handle, would Menma's main body briefly appear in this classroom filled with childish noise.
For example, today, the one sitting next to Naruto was the real Menma.
He could clearly feel the thick, real texture of the Chakra within his body, not the subtle, energy-constructed illusory feeling of a shadow clone.
He listened as Iruka explained the so-called [Will of Fire]…protecting the village, protecting comrades, creating a peaceful future for the next generation.
To Menma, who was currently personally overturning the old order, these words sounded almost ironically hollow and hypocritical.
He slightly lowered his eyelids, concealing the flash of coldness and detachment in his eyes, quietly playing the role of a 'quiet, moderately capable war orphan'.
And Naruto, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, thoroughly stirred up the class atmosphere.
He seemed to have endless energy, unable to sit still during class, always looking around or whispering to Menma, though Menma mostly just nodded or gave short replies.
After class was his main stage, as he ran and laughed in the classrooms and hallways like an energetic puppy.
Surprisingly, his unconcealed enthusiasm and somewhat silly sincerity actually attracted some companions.
Choji quickly discovered that Naruto shared his pure love for snacks, and the two often shared potato chips, quickly forming a 'potato chip friendship'.
Kiba appreciated Naruto's fearless, impulsive drive. Although the two often bickered, arguing over who ran faster or who was stronger, this lively clash instead made them quickly become familiar with each other.
Shikamaru, though always complaining it was 'troublesome' and that Naruto was too noisy, watching Naruto's various exaggerated actions to get everyone's attention, watching him and Kiba roughhouse like two little animals, watching Choji become happy just because Naruto shared half a bag of chips with him...
Even Sasuke, who was surrounded by girls like the moon by stars, and who often quarreled with Naruto, didn't despise Naruto like other villagers did. The two were more like a pair of adversaries.
Unknowingly, Naruto gradually integrated among his classmates.
The school bell rang like heavenly music.
Naruto was almost the first one to rush out of the classroom.
"Menma-nii! Hinata! Hurry up!" He stood at the end of the hallway, hands cupped around his mouth shouting loudly, drawing good-natured laughter from other students.
Menma unhurriedly packed his books and slung his simple cloth bag over his shoulder.
Hinata followed quickly with small steps beside him, her fair little face slightly flushed, her dark blue hair swaying gently with her movement.
She wore the plain training clothes of the Hyuga Clan, with a light white hooded jacket over them.
Hearing Naruto's call, she instinctively moved closer to Menma, her fingers lightly pinching the hem of his dark blue old jacket, then letting go as if burned, her head drooping even lower, the tips of her ears turning red.
Ever since the unexpected declaration by Big Sis Hinata on the first day of school, Hinata, back to her normal self, had become even shyer around Menma.
But that cautious liking and dependence was clearly conveyed through these small actions.
"Naruto-kun… we're coming-" Hinata responded in a thin, soft voice, almost drowned out by the noise in the hallway.
The three met up and walked out of the school gates with the after-school crowd.
The golden glow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long.
Shikamaru walked slowly on his way home, hands in his pockets, the setting sun casting a long shadow behind him.
He was later than usual because he had spent some time watching the clouds roll by under the shade of a tree by the training grounds, pondering the possibility of simplifying the [Shadow Imitation Technique].
Of course, the conclusion was 'too troublesome, maybe later'.
Pushing open the gate to the Nara Clan's compound, the air was filled with the faint mixed scent of medicinal herbs and ink.
His father, Nara Shikaku, was sitting cross-legged on the engawa, a half-finished game of shogi spread out before him, a piece held in his hand as if deep in thought.
Hearing the door open, Shikaku didn't look up, asking casually, "You're back late today, Shikamaru. Had a good time playing with your new classmates at school?"
Shikamaru walked over and flopped down unceremoniously opposite his father, letting out a long, weary sigh: "Ha…so tired. What 'good time'? Nothing but a bunch of trouble."
He ruffled his own messy spiky hair.
"Oh?" Shikaku finally looked up at his son, a knowing smile in his eyes: "Like what? That energetic Uzumaki Naruto? Or that genius kid from the Uchiha Clan?"
"Tch." Shikamaru pursed his lips, looking thoroughly bothered.
"Those two are just natural enemies. That Naruto guy bristles the moment he sees Sasuke, and Sasuke acts like he's eaten gunpowder too. They can't go three sentences without arguing, always challenging each other to fights. Iruka-sensei is practically a full-time referee for them now. So noisy."
He imitated Naruto's indignant hopping and Sasuke's cold expression, remarkably lifelike.
"Hahaha!" Shikaku couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this, his laughter hearty.
"Young people, having energy is a good thing. That kid Naruto … hmm, quite interesting. Shikamaru, you should get along well with them." His tone carried an elder's tolerance and a trace of imperceptible depth.
Shikamaru keenly caught that slight anomaly in his father's tone.
He put away his lazy expression, sat up a bit straighter, and looked at his father with his black eyes, "Dad, that Naruto... is there something special about him? I always feel like some people in the village look at him strangely."
Shikamaru's observational skills were always sharp. He wasn't completely unaware of the 'isolated rejection' surrounding Naruto or the subtle looks of disgust from some villagers.
He'd even overheard some parents picking up their kids after school muttering things like, "Why is that kid here?" "Hokage-sama actually allows that kid to attend school?" "This is too dangerous..." "What if he hurts the children?"…unconcealed malice and gossip.
And yet, Naruto seemed to have long grown accustomed to it. Though occasionally downcast, he was cheerful most of the time.
Shikamaru found it hard to imagine how Naruto, an orphan, had lived facing such blatant malice from the villagers before enrolling in school.
Shikaku's smile faded slightly as he pondered for a moment.
He put down the piece in his hand, his gaze turning somewhat complex as he looked toward the deer park in the garden, which appeared deep and serene in the twilight. A few deer raised by the Nara Clan were strolling leisurely inside.
"Naruto's background-" He paused, his voice lowering a bit, "is rather complicated. Some things aren't for you to know right now. In time... you'll understand naturally."
'Another vague, evasive answer.'
Shikamaru grumbled inwardly, but seeing his father's expression, he knew he wouldn't get anything more by asking.
He switched to mentioning another person who had caught his attention: "Then… there's also someone in class named Menma. He often plays with Naruto, always together. He talks very little, doesn't seem to pay much attention in class, but his test scores are always pretty good."
Shikamaru frowned, as if struggling to find the right words. "I always feel he's a bit different. But I can't pinpoint how. It's like... he's too quiet? Or too laid-back? Sometimes I even feel he finds things more troublesome than I do, completely unlike someone our age."
Shikamaru's intuition told him there was a preternatural calmness about Menma, even a... sense of detachment.
"Menma?" Upon hearing this name, Shikaku's fingers, holding the shogi piece, paused almost imperceptibly.
He looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping over his son's puzzled face. Fragments of reports submitted by the intelligence division two years ago flashed rapidly through his mind.
'This war orphan was adopted by the Land of Fire's merchant Gato. His background seemed simple and clean, but Gato himself did business across various countries, seemingly adopting orphans in every nation.'
'His attitude towards these orphans was mostly laissez-faire… he was constantly away on business, only returning to Konoha a few times a year.'
A flicker of contemplation passed deep within Shikaku's eyes.
However, he quickly suppressed this trace of strangeness, his face returning to its usual somewhat lazy, casual expression. He shook his head and said in an offhand tone, "Oh, him. Just an ordinary war orphan, adopted by a merchant. Lucky, I guess. Probably went through some things, it's normal for his personality to be introverted. Don't overthink it, Shikamaru. Focus on your own things."
He turned his attention back to the shogi board, as if the previous topic had been nothing more than insignificant small talk.
Shikamaru watched his father refocus on the game. Although the doubts in his heart weren't completely dispelled, he knew he wouldn't get anything more.
He shrugged, deciding to temporarily set aside this 'troublesome' thought as well.
The next afternoon, a rare weekend.
Warm sunlight bathed Konoha's bustling commercial street, the air filled with the aroma of various snacks.
Shikamaru was 'escorted' out for a stroll by Ino on his left and Choji on his right.
As the next-generation heirs of the [Ino-Shika-Cho] trio, they had played together since childhood to build rapport and tacit understanding. Even if Shikamaru found it troublesome and wanted to refuse, he couldn't.
He could only follow the two, watching Ino browse flower shops with great interest, watching Choji cast longing glances at every shop emitting the scent of food.
"Hey, hey, I say, let's find a place to sit down? What's the point of walking around like this?" Shikamaru dragged his feet, complaining for the hundred and first time.
"Ah, Shikamaru, don't be such a killjoy! Look over there!" Ino suddenly pointed at a newly opened shop not far ahead, her eyes lighting up.
"So many people are lining up! A new dessert shop? Let's go check it out!"
Shikamaru lazily lifted his eyes to look in the direction Ino was pointing.
In front of a shop with a rather novel decor style, there was indeed a fairly long line, mostly comprised of young ninja and villagers with children.
The shop's sign was simple and elegant, carved into dark brown wood with a few characters, [Manzo Sweet Drinks].
Below the sign hung a string of small, uniquely shaped wind chimes. The chime's pendant seemed to be a star-shaped pattern he hadn't seen before.
And next to the line at the shop entrance stood three familiar figures.
Naruto was standing on his tiptoes, craning his neck to peer into the shop, impatience written all over his face, muttering incessantly: "Red bean paste! Matcha! Strawberry daifuku! Which one is good? Menma-nii, which one do you recommend?"
Standing next to Naruto, Menma appeared calm as he watched these villagers.
He wore simple red and black clothes, his posture upright, his gaze calmly scanning the shop's sign and menu as if appraising something.
"I'll have a red bean paste milk tea." He occasionally replied to Naruto, his voice not loud.
"Right away, Menma-sama!" The manager of Manzo Sweet Drinks bowed to Menma and personally began preparing the dessert.
On Menma's other side, Hinata kept her head slightly lowered, her fair little face tinged with a faint pink under the sunlight.
She wore an elegant light purple casual outfit, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, yet her eyes would occasionally, swiftly, dart glances at Menma beside her.
When Naruto loudly debated what to eat, she added in a thin, soft voice, "I... I also think red bean paste... should be good..."
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.
Shikamaru looked at the trio, especially Menma, who stood out with his unusual calmness amidst the crowd. Remembering his father's light 'just an ordinary war orphan' from yesterday, a subtle sense of incongruity rose in his heart again.
He looked at the new shop named [Manzo Sweet Drinks], its sign reflecting the sunlight, that small star-shaped wind chime pendant making an almost inaudible light sound in the breeze.