The atmosphere in the room was quite awkward. Menma leaned quietly by the window, while Misaki's hands were tightly clasped. Although the Adamantine Sealing Chains Menma displayed indeed proved his Uzumaki Clan identity, the unease in her eyes had not completely dissipated. Her body remained in a posture ready to stand up at any moment.
Karin, on the other hand, sat obediently beside her mother, occasionally stealing glances at Menma, her eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
Menma fully understood their silence and unease. This woman had joined the Grass Hidden Village to seek refuge for her daughter, only to be nearly bitten to death by so-called "comrades"—such an experience would make anyone instinctively wary of the word "refuge."
Actually, besides this, there was another reason: stereotypes…
Standing before them now was the leader of [燼], who was feared throughout the Ninja World. The terrifying rumors diligently spread by the Hidden Cloud Village had long molded "Menma" into a bloodthirsty demon. When a legendary mass murderer suddenly says he wants to protect you, anyone would suspect it's a new trap.
It needs time…
Menma sighed softly in his heart. Trust, once built through long accumulation, can be destroyed in an instant.
Finally, the paper door was pulled open urgently.
A middle-aged man wearing a hard hat stood hastily at the doorway, having clearly rushed over after receiving the message. He wore ordinary work clothes, looking like a construction worker common in the Land of Hot Springs.
"Tanuma"—a merchant without a surname registered in the Land of Hot Springs, now stood awkwardly outside the door. Upon entering the room, as he removed his hard hat, the white smoke of the Transformation Technique slowly rose.
Hyuga Hizashi's true appearance gradually emerged. His signature Byakugan declared his identity.
"Lord Menma! I apologize for making you wait!"
Hizashi's voice carried an apology. His sleeves were still stained with some cement dust; Hizashi had come directly from a construction site. Since receiving the task of establishing the main stronghold, the younger brother of the Hyuga Clan Head had dedicated all his energy to business management and construction.
Menma then briefly assigned the task to Hizashi.
When Hizashi heard that this mother and daughter were of the Uzumaki Clan bloodline, he was clearly surprised. But soon, he composed himself and bowed, responding, "I understand."
He did not ask where Menma had found them, nor did he question why they should be taken in. But without any conditions, under absolute loyalty, Hizashi's modus operandi was simple: he only needed to execute orders, without asking for reasons.
The task itself was quite simple: provide them with a safe haven and ensure their lives were worry-free. The only restriction was that, for safety, they must maintain their Transformation Technique disguise when active outside.
Misaki listened quietly to Menma's arrangements, her unease gradually dissipating.
Really… just like this? No cruel experiments, no harsh conditions, not even a demand for them to pay any price.
And… this person… Her gaze fell on Hizashi. Those pure white eyes undoubtedly belonged to the Hyuga Clan.
Wait… the Hyuga clansmen rumored to have been captured by [燼], weren't they tortured to death? Why is he still alive? And he seems… to be doing quite well?
After Menma finished giving instructions, he did not linger.
"Then, the rest is up to you."
As his words fell, his figure vanished from the spot with the faint glow of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Next… Naruto returned to Konoha, a slight smile playing on his lips. As long as they have a period of stable life…
Bond points will naturally come.
— — — — — —
Thus, the [燼] organization, which struck fear throughout the Ninja World, once again showed its fangs to the world.
In the following weeks, the obscure Grass Hidden Village suddenly became the focus of the Five Great Nations. ANBU from Konoha, tracking teams from Kumogakure, reconnaissance ninja from Iwagakure… elite spies from various villages, like sharks smelling blood, infiltrated this border village, attempting to uncover any clues about [燼].
However, no matter how they investigated, the intelligence they ultimately gathered was surprisingly consistent: Menma's appearance this time was solely to take away the Uzumaki clansmen harbored by the Grass Hidden Village.
But it was this simple piece of information that made the Kage of the Five Great Nations uneasy.
Is [燼] collecting Kekkei Genkai?
Besides using military deterrence to prevent war, what other purpose does this organization hide?
All sorts of terrifying speculations swirled in the minds of the various "Kage." Unfortunately, in the face of space-time Ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God, any tracking method was useless. [燼]'s whereabouts once again vanished like mist into the shadows of the Ninja World.
As for Naruto… he had long since returned to his "ordinary" daily life.
In the morning, he expended his youth with Might Guy on the streets of Konoha, and in the afternoon, he sparred with the Uchiha heiress at the training grounds… living a fulfilling life under such circumstances.
But Naruto's actions were causing a series of butterfly effects.
In the Hyuga Main Family dojo, Hyuga Hiashi gazed at Neji, who was sparring with Hinata, his brows unconsciously furrowing. According to his expectations, this child, who had lost his father, should have been filled with resentment towards the Main Family.
Although Hizashi's suicide note clearly explained the truth of his sacrifice, Hiashi had even mentally prepared himself to be hated by his nephew, intending to tell him the full truth himself when Neji matured further.
However…
"Please guide me, Lady Hinata."
Neji bowed respectfully, without the slightest hint of gloom in his eyes. His movements were crisp and precise, stopping just short of a full blow, completely lacking the imagined resentment and harshness. What puzzled Hiashi even more was that the child's gaze towards him held genuine respect.
This isn't right…
Logically, the tragic death of his father should have dealt a huge blow to this precocious child. But the Neji before him was not only not depressed but instead trained with full vigor every day, his eyes burning with astonishing obsession and conviction.
Neji didn't think so much; in his mind, there was only one thought.
Become stronger…
He must become stronger…
Neji had only one pure goal in his heart. His father's "death" did not bring him hatred, but a strange sense of relief. Because the man in the fox mask made him understand—
As long as one becomes stronger than anyone else, any shackles and fate can be broken.
So he wants to become stronger, so he can respond to that person's expectations, become that person's helper, and in the future, stand by that person's side to offer his strength.
Neji didn't even realize the astonishing obsession in his heart; it could be said that Neji's attitude towards Menma was no different from Kimimaro's attitude towards Orochimaru in the original work.
Time flowed by silently like water.
The appearance of the [燼] organization was like a brief storm—fierce in its arrival, yet vanishing without a trace in an instant. The intelligence departments of the Five Great Nations were still frantically searching for any clues about this mysterious organization, but they consistently found nothing.
And just as the entire Ninja World was on edge, anticipating [燼]'s next appearance…
In Konoha year 54.
The man hailed as the "Darkest of the Ninja World," the "Destroyer of the World," and the "Public Enemy of All Humanity"—faced a major life event.
Naruto was about to enroll in the Ninja Academy, becoming a glorious elementary school student.