Menma pursed his lips, suppressing the urge to smile, and put on a serious face, feigning strictness: "You three couldn't even beat two?"
The three little ones immediately wilted like frost-bitten eggplants, their heads drooping even lower.
It was understandable—Hyuga Neji was a year older and could take on two at once.
"What was the fight about this time?"
Menma asked, hands crossed over his chest, mimicking his mother's scolding posture.
Naruto stared intently at his toes, his small fists clenched tight. Shikamaru and Choji, with unspoken understanding, took half a step back, highlighting the 'culprit'.
"Shikamaru, you tell me."
Menma called his name.
"What a drag..."
Shikamaru scratched the back of his head, reluctantly beginning: "When we were playing hide-and-seek, Naruto and Sasuke started arguing."
"Sasuke said his brother graduated at seven, activated his Sharingan at eight, and was a once-in-a-century genius of the Uchiha."
Shikamaru stole a glance at Menma's reaction, "Naruto retorted that... you mastered three Chakra nature transformations at three, and could even use Shadow Clone and Rasengan..."
At this point, even Shikamaru's eyes showed a hint of admiration.
Choji nodded repeatedly, potato chip crumbs falling from his puffed-out cheeks.
Menma sighed, rubbing his forehead, then turned to his younger brother, who, despite his bruised face, was still grinning foolishly: "What about Neji?"
"He cheated!"
Naruto suddenly jumped up excitedly, "He used his Byakugan during hide-and-seek!"
Menma was a little surprised. He hadn't expected the Hyuga Clan's genius to be able to use the basic abilities of the Byakugan at such a young age.
Over the past year, he had diligently studied the scrolls in his father's study, gaining some knowledge of the Ninja World's secrets. The more he learned about Konoha's history, the more he realized the terrifying nature of these Bloodline Limits.
"It's just kids messing around..."
He shook his head inwardly. Losing so badly, three against two, there was really nothing more to say.
"Naruto,"
Menma suddenly changed the subject, "Have you finished your Ninjutsu theory homework?"
"Ah! Goodbye, Big Brother!"
Naruto sprang up like a startled rabbit, darting out the door. Shikamaru and Choji exchanged glances and seized the opportunity to make their escape as well.
"These kids..."
Menma chuckled helplessly, completely forgetting that he was only born a few minutes before Naruto.
Naruto's energetic shouts came from outside the window, and Menma gazed blankly at the bouncing golden figure. His brother's bright smile was a world away from the 'fox demon' scorned by the villagers in his memories.
His eyes suddenly felt warm. In this life, his brother would never be alone again.
"Menma? Why are you home alone?"
Kushina pushed the door open, her red hair gleaming warmly in the sunlight. She saw her eldest son sitting alone on the sofa, his youthful face bearing a pensive expression unsuited for his age.
She gently knelt down, tenderly stroking Menma's cheek, "Why aren't you out playing?"
"I want to read for a bit..."
Menma's voice was muffled; he really wasn't in the mood to play house with a bunch of little kids.
Kushina's brow furrowed slightly, like she was looking at a sapling that refused to face the sun.
"Children should act like children."
She took Menma's small hand, the warmth from her palm reassuring him, "Go play with Naruto and the others. Mama hopes you'll grow up happily."
As he was pushed to the door, Menma looked back to see his mother leaning against the doorframe.
"Remember to keep an eye on Naruto,"
Her admonition was laced with a smile, "Don't let him get into trouble again."
"I know..."
Menma sighed, ultimately unable to resist his mother's gentle persistence. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, and he squinted as he walked down the street.
"Young Master Menma!"
The vendors along the way enthusiastically greeted him.
Menma responded to each with a polite smile, his every gesture devoid of childish naivete.
"Look at Young Master Menma, so composed."
"He's nothing like his brother, Young Master Naruto, who's always causing trouble."
"I heard he can even recite the Ninja Academy textbooks backward..."
"Even that Uchiha genius bows down to Young Master Menma?"
Whispers followed him like a shadow, something Menma had long grown accustomed to.
Turning the street corner, a floral scent wafted towards him.
"Menma!"
A clear child's voice suddenly rang out.
Little Ino darted out of the flower shop, her golden ponytail bouncing happily behind her head. She looked up, her emerald-like eyes sparkling.
"Didn't go picking flowers today?"
Menma stopped.
"I'm waiting for Sakura."
Ino crossed her arms over her chest, occasionally gazing down the street, "We said we'd go together..."
Her gaze returned to Menma, "Are you going to the training ground to practice?"
"No."
Menma shook his head, waving goodbye to her, "I'm leaving now."
"Hmm... Goodbye."
Ino stood still, watching his receding figure. His dazzling golden hair seemed to glow, gradually disappearing from sight around the corner.
Menma aimlessly walked to a secluded park and suddenly heard harsh laughter coming from ahead.
Three boys, half a head taller, were surrounding a small girl.
"Since you're the Hyuga Clan's young lady, why don't you use your Byakugan and let us see it!"
The leading boy said in a mocking tone.
"Staring with those dead fish eyes all the time, it's disgusting!"
Another child exaggeratedly made a vomiting motion.
"Byakugan monster..."
The scrawniest one stammered in agreement, yet laughed the most wildly.
Hinata, surrounded in the middle, clutched the hem of her kimono, pearl-like tears welling up in her eyes.
Her pristine white kimono was stained with mud, like a gardenia knocked down by a heavy rain.
"Why is Hinata here?"
Menma frowned. He knew these boys all too well; last year, when they bullied Naruto, he had taught them a harsh lesson with his newly learned Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Are you itching for another beating?"
Menma's voice instantly froze the three boys. They mechanically turned around, and upon seeing his dazzling golden hair, their faces immediately turned pale.
"It's... it's Uzumaki Menma!"
The leading boy's voice changed pitch.
The three scattered and fled like mice seeing a cat, one of them even tripping over his own pants leg, tumbling and scrambling away into the bushes.
Menma walked over to Hinata and knelt down, finding her wiping away tears with her sleeve, her fair little face flushed red.
"It's alright now."
He said softly, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket.
"Th-thank you..."
Hinata's fingertips trembled slightly as she took the handkerchief. Her usually piercing Byakugan were now moist.
"You're too soft-hearted."
Menma took her cold little hand, "I'll walk you home."
Hinata followed closely, her gaze fixed on their clasped hands. The sunlight filtered through Menma's golden hair, shattering into specks of gold in her eyes.
"Naruto used to be bullied by them too."
Menma slowed his pace, "But now, they go out of their way to avoid Naruto."
"Is... is it because of Menma-kun?"
Hinata's voice was as soft as a feather falling. She remembered Neji-kun mentioning this golden-haired boy at the last clan meeting.
Menma shook his head, a smile playing on his lips: "Later, Naruto, Sasuke, and a few others cornered them by the river and beat them until they cried for their mamas."
Saying this, he turned to look at little Hinata, "You need to learn to be tougher, then no one will dare to bully you."
"Mm..."
Hinata lowered her head, the tips of her ears tinged with a faint blush.
At this moment, Menma did not yet know what ripples these unintentional words would create in the future. Whenever he thought of this incident, he would deeply regret what he had said to her today.