Menma opened the bag.
Inside lay a collection of jet-black ninja tools, their sharp edges gleaming coldly.
There weren't too many, but every essential type was there. Seeing them, Menma's face lit up with genuine delight.
Ninja tools were incredibly expensive, but even if Menma had the money, he couldn't buy them.
In the current village climate, he was still the "wild beast" everyone feared.
If he walked into a weapons shop?
The owner would be showing remarkable restraint by simply kicking him out. Actually selling him weapons?
That was a joke.
In the original series, Naruto's status and reputation only started to improve after he graduated. In this world, ninjas held a special, elevated status. The civilians living in the hidden village understood this deeply.
They knew there was a line between ordinary people and ninja—a line of fear and respect. In the original story, Naruto crossed that line the moment he put on his headband.
But in this life, Menma was still just a little brat in the Academy.
Status?
Save that for later.
So, seeing Iruka bring him such a stash naturally made Menma very happy.
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei! I promise I'll study and train even harder!"
Menma looked at Iruka and thanked him sincerely, his face glowing with gratitude.
"Heh, as long as you work hard, that's all the thanks I need. But remember to balance work and rest. You're still young, and overtraining can do more harm than good. Understood, Menma?"
Iruka chuckled, patting Menma's head before changing his tone to a gentle warning.
"Yes, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka himself wasn't entirely sure what he felt toward Menma anymore.
Initially, like most Leaf civilians, he had found it hard to identify with the Nine-Tails' vessel. There had even been a trace of resentment.
But he wasn't an ordinary civilian.
He was a ninja—a ninja trusted by the Third Hokage.
He knew exactly what a Jinchūriki was.
Intellectually, Iruka could clearly distinguish that the Nine-Tails was the Nine-Tails, and Menma was Menma.
The resistance at the beginning had been purely emotional.
But after nearly two years of spending time together...
Iruka had genuinely come to realize that Menma was a hardworking child. And a pitiful one.
Menma's life was even more tragic than his own.
At least Iruka had once known the warmth of a family. Menma had lost his parents the moment he was born. (According to Hiruzen's vague explanation to Iruka, Menma had been found outside the village and brought back by the Third.)
Then, due to his unique bloodline, he had unwittingly become the vessel for the Nine-Tails.
Was it Menma's fault?
No.
Not at all.
In fact, by containing the beast since infancy, Menma should have been considered a hero of the Hidden Leaf.
But the world rarely followed logic.
Because of this realization, Iruka cared for Menma deeply.
Without even noticing it, he had started to treat Menma almost like his own little brother.
"New Year's is almost here, and you'll be entering your third year at the Academy soon. From now on, the curriculum will shift to focus primarily on combat training, with theory taking a secondary role. Although you have high talent and have mastered the Three Basic Techniques early, your control isn't stable yet, is it? You must guard against arrogance and rashness. You know there are other excellent students in the class. I hope you can keep this momentum and graduate with top marks in four years."
Iruka spoke seriously.
This wasn't wartime. Unless they were from a ninja clan and received private tutoring at home...
Academy learning proceeded step-by-step.
There was no need to rush graduates out to become cannon fodder on the battlefield.
Taking the time to steadily cultivate a solid base of low-to-mid-level combat power was the smarter approach.
So, the first two years were purely theory and physical conditioning, with some chakra exercises thrown in.
This was the necessary foundation phase.
Entering the third year marked the real start of combat drills.
The Three Basic Techniques, Taijutsu sparring, Genjutsu basics... before, they had just scratched the surface. Now, they were diving into the deep end.
"Yes, I understand. Don't worry, Iruka-sensei."
Menma puffed out his chest and replied loudly.
"Good. I believe in you. I have some other matters to attend to, so I'll be heading back now. It's getting late, so you should head home and rest soon too, Menma."
"Yes, sir."
---
The New Year arrived.
Another year turned the page.
Welcome to Year 56 of the Hidden Leaf.
Menma officially began his third year at the Ninja Academy.
This year, the curriculum was packed with practical combat subjects: advanced physical conditioning, shurikenjutsu, trap setting and detection, sparring matches, and formal training in the Three Basic Techniques.
While these new subjects were added, the theoretical workload was reduced, though the essentials remained.
This was the point where the gap between students truly began to widen.
Or rather, the gap had started to show in the second year, but now it became a chasm. The first year was pure theory; the second year introduced pre-combat training.
Ninja education was like most vocational training: practical application always trumped theory.
The class clearly stratified into different tiers.
Menma naturally belonged to the top tier.
Having already mastered the Three Basic Techniques, Menma's comprehensive scores were consistently at the top of the class.
Sasuke Uchiha, who was number one in the original timeline, was forced into second place in this life, trailing behind Menma.
Sakura Haruno, invincible in theory exams, could match Menma on paper. But when it came to practical combat...
She fell far behind.
She was strictly average, or lower-middle tier.
And for a ninja student, combat scores were the most critical metric.
Even if you failed every written test for six years, as long as you passed the Ninjutsu and combat exams...
You would likely still graduate.