"Hey, hey, Menma-niichan... don't you feel lonely living in such a huge house all by yourself?" On the engawa, Naruto was wrapped in a bright red scarf, his breath forming white mist that dissipated into the winter night.
He looked around the unfamiliar estate. The vast porch, the quiet tatami rooms—it had looked so silent from the outside. Naruto had known Menma for nearly half a year now, but this was his first time coming over to play.
When he used to loiter around the street corners, he'd often hear the neighbors gossiping: the owner of this courtyard was supposedly a wealthy merchant who traveled year-round, leaving only his adopted son to live there.
Looking at the room behind Menma, Naruto noticed it wasn't just much larger than his own apartment—it was emptier. He could even hear a faint echo.
"Lonely?" Menma sat on the edge of the porch, leaning back on his hands and looking up at the fireworks blooming in the sky.
"Actually, it's fine." Having lived through two—or rather, three—lifetimes, Menma's mindset was incredibly mature. He had long since grown accustomed to spending New Year's alone.
During his years at the orphanage, it had been noisy and chaotic, but admittedly lively. Yakushi Nonou would always prepare New Year's gifts for the children. As for the fifteen years in the 'Limited Tsukuyomi' world, Menma always felt that was a fabrication—a genjutsu Obito used to keep him quiet. His own existence there was an enigma he couldn't quite explain.
"What about you, Naruto?" Menma remained leaned back, tilting his head to look at Naruto's sunny, open face. "How have you been doing on your own?"
"Me?" Hearing the question, Naruto felt a wave of warmth. He scratched the back of his head and grinned. "I'm okay! Even though I don't have parents and I've always lived alone, I'm used to spending holidays by myself."
Children in the ninja world matured early; hearing such words from a four-year-old Naruto wasn't surprising, though it carried a certain weight.
Grumble—
A loud stomach growl erupted from Naruto's midsection, making the boy's face turn beet red.
"Come on," Menma stood up and slid open the door. "I haven't had dinner yet either. We might as well eat together."
Naruto followed him inside. When he saw the various dishes covered by a food hood on the table, his eyes sparkled.
"Take a seat. I'll go heat these up." Menma lifted the cover and felt the plates; the food had gone cold.
The meals had been prepared earlier today by two local women Menma employed. Since they had their own families to return to for the holiday, Menma had given them both red envelopes and sent them home early. They had felt a bit guilty leaving him alone on New Year's, so they had prepared an especially elaborate feast.
Menma had originally worried about the waste, since he couldn't finish it all by himself. Now, with Naruto here, it was perfect.
Naruto carefully removed his shoes and stepped into the dining area, his eyes wide with wonder. This house was so big—it even had a dedicated dining room and kitchen.
A few minutes later, Menma finished heating the dishes in the microwave and brought out two sets of bowls and chopsticks. Naruto watched him work with an expression of pure admiration.
Setting a bowl of hot ozoni (New Year's mochi soup) in front of Naruto, Menma returned to his seat. The two four-year-olds were quite small compared to the furniture; Naruto actually had to stand on his chair to reach properly.
"Do you remember what to say before we eat?" Menma asked.
"Yeah!" Naruto beamed and pressed his hands together. His voice was louder than the fireworks outside. "Itadakimasu!"
Menma mirrored the gesture. "Itadakimasu."
The ritual finished, they began to eat. Naruto, who usually lived on instant ramen or convenience store food, had rarely tasted something so fresh and warm. He scrambled to try a bit of everything.
Seeing Naruto focus almost entirely on the meat, Menma pushed a plate of greens toward him. "Don't be a picky eater. You need to eat your vegetables."
Naruto froze, a piece of beef halfway to his mouth. That simple act of concern made the tip of his nose turn red.
"Mmh! Thanks, Menma-niichan!" Naruto choked back a bit of emotion and shoveled the vegetables into his mouth. "It's super good!"
He used to hate vegetables, but in this moment, the feeling of someone looking out for him made them taste like the best thing in the world.
The Sarutobi Estate.
Having finished his own dinner, Hiruzen Sarutobi packed his pipe, lit it, and headed toward his study amidst a cloud of smoke. Behind him, his eldest daughter-in-law was busy clearing the table while his eldest son read the newspaper on the sofa.
Since his wife, Biwako, had perished in the Nine-Tails' incident, and his younger son had left home following their growing disagreements, the house always felt a bit empty to him.
Entering his study, Hiruzen placed a crystal ball on his desk and performed the Telescope Jutsu.
"Let's see what little Naruto is up to. I hope he isn't too lonely tonight." The image in the crystal ball gradually cleared, revealing Naruto's figure.
"Hmm? This room... doesn't look like Naruto's apartment." Hiruzen adjusted the view, pulling back to see a small figure sitting across from Naruto.
"Did he go to play with Menma? Ah, right. Little Menma is an orphan too." Hiruzen recalled that the merchant who adopted Menma was always away on business.
Seeing the two children together in the large house, Hiruzen felt a pang of sympathy. But when he saw the table laden with food—more lavish than his own New Year's spread—the old man's face broke into a smile.
It seems allowing Menma and Naruto to interact was a good choice. Hiruzen stroked his pipe. He was well aware of the rumors circulating in the village regarding Naruto, and he knew exactly who was spreading the "Demon Fox" lies.
But he couldn't reveal Naruto's parentage. Minato had made many enemies during the war, and Naruto being the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki made him a target. Hiruzen believed that while this childhood would be difficult, Naruto would grow up strong.
"In two years, Naruto will be six. Time for the Academy." Hiruzen mused. All the clan heirs were roughly the same age; it would be the perfect time to foster friendships and instill the Will of Fire.
"Menma..." Hiruzen's gaze fixed on the other child. He remembered the report from Yamanaka Santa regarding the adoption. The boy had shown a natural affinity for Fire Style during chakra testing, meaning he had the talent to be a shinobi.
Suddenly, the Menma in the crystal ball tilted his head back, looking directly toward the ceiling, before going back to his meal.
"His sensory perception isn't bad either," Hiruzen murmured. He took a puff of his pipe and laughed softly, his eyes deep with thought.