"Of course, no problem."
Menma was already prepared. When Naruto turned toward him, eyes full of excitement, he simply nodded in quiet acknowledgment.
For Menma, this was just another formality — something he could take or leave. Still, he couldn't afford to appear too withdrawn or indifferent. He couldn't let the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, think he was unstable or uncontrollable. That kind of impression would only invite unwanted scrutiny.
"Hmph."
Sasuke gave a faint snort. Though he didn't nod or refuse, that sound alone signaled his silent agreement.
"Yosh! Then let's go! We're having a big meal today!"
Naruto's grin widened as he threw a fist into the air, his energy infectious.
Team 7 was finally official.
Though certain details differed from the original timeline, everything still moved stubbornly along the same core path. But in this new life — with Menma's existence, and his distinct will — fate itself would inevitably change.
How things would unfold now depended entirely on the choices of those involved.
The first day after their official graduation passed in excitement for Naruto and Sakura.
For Menma, however, it was just another ordinary day.
After their celebration, Menma returned home and quietly reflected on their battle with Kakashi. In every respect — skill, experience, and pure strength — Kakashi Hatake had completely overwhelmed them.
It made Menma recognize, more clearly than ever, his current limits.
The sense of urgency within him deepened.
This was a world ruled by power.
Which mattered more — justice or strength? That was no question at all. You could speak of ideals all you wanted, but without the strength to protect them, words were meaningless.
Did Asura defeat Indra through mere talk? Did Hashirama Senju convince Madara Uchiha with philosophy alone? Did Naruto Uzumaki change Sasuke Uchiha's heart with kind words alone?
Of course not.
All of those so-called "truths" were carved into reality through fists — through overwhelming power.
Even Jiraiya, who was hailed as one of Konoha's greatest men and known for his gentle ideals, had chosen to fight when he discovered Nagato and Konan leading the Akatsuki in Amegakure. His compassion had not stopped his battle — it had only fueled his resolve.
That was the nature of the shinobi world.
A world where strength defined everything.
Perhaps to some, Jiraiya was a "good man." But even "good men" needed strength to survive. Without it, kindness became a joke.
Menma had no illusions about justice, peace, or understanding.
Those were dreams for the naive.
To him, there was only one truth:
Protect yourself. Defeat your enemies. Live freely.
That had always been his unshakable goal.
He wasn't the idealist Naruto Uzumaki of the original story — he was the realist, the egoist Uzumaki Menma.
Weakness and innocence were the greatest enemies of a shinobi.
⸻
After Team 7 was formally established, Kakashi began leading Menma, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura on official missions starting the very next day.
Naturally, their assignments were no different from the ones in the original timeline.
Even though Kakashi acknowledged their potential, he couldn't simply send them on high-ranking missions right away. That wasn't about fear or danger — it was about procedure.
As an elite jōnin, Kakashi could easily handle anything below an A-rank, so safety wasn't the concern. What mattered was the proper pace of their growth.
And there was another factor — Menma's identity.
Because he was a Jinchūriki, things were more complicated. While Jinchūriki could leave the village for missions, they were still considered valuable strategic assets. The Hokage's office would only permit such travel when their control over their tailed beast was deemed fully stable.
As the leader of Team 7, Kakashi had to be cautious.
Whether the team could take higher-ranking missions outside the village depended entirely on Sarutobi Hiruzen's authorization.
So, during their first month as a team, Kakashi had them completing only D-rank assignments — small, tedious tasks like searching for lost pets, helping villagers carry goods, or cleaning up the market streets.
Sometimes, they even had to chase runaway livestock — which, for an ordinary person, might've been risky. But for shinobi, it was hardly worth calling a mission at all.
Menma knew this was inevitable. He remained patient and didn't show any dissatisfaction. He understood that progression in Konoha's mission system was deliberate — and slow.
Besides, he knew someone else would lose their patience long before he did.
And he was right.
⸻
One morning, over a month later, after they'd finished yet another mundane pet search mission…
"Ugh! Kakashi-sensei! Are we really done with this already? These are all D-rank missions! One day we're pulling weeds, the next we're looking for lost cats — there's no challenge at all! Can't we do something harder!?"
Naruto clutched a squirming pet in his arms as they walked toward the Hokage's office to report completion. His face was twisted in frustration.
After more than a month of repetitive D-rank work — now well into double digits — even Naruto's famously boundless energy had reached its limit. What once felt fun now just felt dull.
He wanted a real challenge.
A real mission.
Even Sasuke, standing beside him, nodded slightly. Though he said nothing, his expression clearly mirrored Naruto's sentiment.
For someone with his pride, these trivial errands did nothing to sharpen his skills.
"No," Kakashi replied flatly, eyes buried in his ever-present orange book. "You've just graduated. High-level missions are far beyond your current standing. Every genin starts with D-rank missions — it's a necessary step."
His voice was lazy but firm.
"How long's that supposed to take, Kakashi-sensei!? It's already been a month!"
Naruto groaned loudly, glaring at him.
"It's only been a month," Kakashi said evenly, not looking up. "Work hard. Don't rush."
"Ehhh~~ fine…"
Naruto sighed, stretching out the sound in defeat.
There wasn't much he could do.
The captain decided which missions they took, and if Kakashi refused to take them on anything higher, arguing was pointless.
Menma, watching quietly from behind, hid a small smile. He knew exactly what was coming next.
Naruto's restlessness was about to set something new into motion
the moment their path finally diverged from mere errands… and toward destiny.
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