Capítulo 2: First meeting
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**Time flies, and five years have passed quickly.**
In the 53rd year of Konoha, on the upper floor of a slightly dilapidated apartment building on the west side of the village, a short red-haired boy sat on a high platform, facing the rising sun. The first rays of morning light illuminated the earth, reflecting off his determined face as he gazed at the Hokage Rock in the distance. Despite his seemingly calm demeanor, a hint of sarcasm lingered in his eyes.
*"Has it really been five years since I came to this world? Uzumaki Menma... What a name. Different from what I expected, but still the same in the end."*
Namikaze Minato. Uzumaki Kushina.
These were the names of his parents in this life. But this red-haired boy was not originally from this world. He came from another, a world where he was once an ordinary college student on Earth. One day, he took a nap in class, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a scene straight out of a nightmare—Minato and Kushina, his parents in this new life, dying before his very eyes.
That moment had a profound impact on him. At first, he thought he was Naruto, but soon realized that wasn't the case.
Or was it?
He had the surname Uzumaki, and the Nine-Tails was sealed within him, but he wasn't the blonde, blue-eyed boy known as Naruto. No, he was Uzumaki Menma, a boy with red hair and gray eyes, who looked a lot like his father, Minato.
And Naruto? He carried the surname Namikaze, living in their parents' home, treated as the village's beloved orphan, the son of the Fourth Hokage.
And what about Menma?
He was just an ordinary orphan, adopted by the village, known as the container for the Nine-Tails—a monster in the eyes of the villagers, living in a rundown apartment building.
Even though he constantly reminded himself that it wasn't Naruto's fault, that the villagers were deceived by the higher-ups, and that they were just angry and grieving over the loss of their loved ones, it was hard for Menma to suppress the loneliness, resentment, jealousy, and pain he felt.
*"We have the same parents..."*
Menma clenched his fists as he gazed at the Hokage Rock, his small hands tightening with frustration. Despite living two lives, he was still just an ordinary person—one who experienced joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness like anyone else.
But he knew that he had to hide these feelings deep inside. He could be upset, unwilling, and in pain, but he couldn't afford to show even a hint of jealousy or anger. This was his only way to survive and maintain his limited freedom.
After five years of living under the watchful eye of the Third Hokage, Menma had come to understand the man more deeply. Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't as dark or evil as some fans speculated in his previous life, but he wasn't as righteous or kind as the original story portrayed him either.
Hiruzen was an ordinary leader—a man who cared about justice for the village but also had his own personal interests. In his youth, Hiruzen had done commendable things, leading Konoha to its peak. But as he grew older, his strengths diminished, and his weaknesses became more pronounced.
Now, Hiruzen still held onto some sense of justice and fairness, but it was waning. His main concern was maintaining power while keeping the village's overall interests in mind. Everything else was secondary.
If Hiruzen ever sensed that Menma harbored malice or hatred towards Konoha, how would he react? Even if he couldn't bring himself to execute Menma out of respect for Minato and Kushina, he could still imprison him forever or forcibly extract the Nine-Tails and leave him to fend for himself.
So, until he gained the power to protect himself, Menma knew he couldn't act recklessly.
*"One step at a time. It's time to go out today."*
Menma jumped down from the platform, returning to the balcony before heading downstairs. He planned to go out in the early morning when fewer people were around, reducing the chances of encountering any villagers.
His destination was a mountain range about a kilometer from his apartment—a place within Konoha's territory. For the past two years, it had been Menma's refuge, a place where he could train, relax, and gather extra food.
Of course, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't let him starve. Menma received the same allowance as other orphans, so he wasn't at risk of going hungry. The ANBU members assigned to watch over him were loyal to Hiruzen, so there was little chance of anything too sinister happening.
But that was where the assistance ended. Whenever Menma went to the market, no shop would sell to him, and the villagers' glares were filled with disgust and hostility.
He had started training his body when he was three years old. Even though he hadn't yet learned to control chakra, he believed that physical training was essential. After all, this wasn't Earth—this was a world where children like Kakashi Hatake graduated from the Academy at five years old.
As Menma walked towards the mountain, he reminded himself that in this world, early training was the norm. He was just following in the footsteps of others before him. And with training came the need for more energy.
Since he had no other means of obtaining food, he relied on himself.
The fish in the stream, the fruits, and wild vegetables in the forests—they were all his to take.
After finishing his morning training, Menma arrived at the edge of a familiar river. Without hesitation, he jumped into the cold water, the chill biting at his skin.
Winter had arrived, and snow had recently fallen, making the stream's water icy cold. Despite the freezing temperature, Menma swam effortlessly, gathering fish with the skill of someone well-versed in survival.
*"Winter swimming... definitely a thrill,"* he muttered to himself.
Despite the cold, Menma felt a sense of satisfaction as he looked at the basket filled with fresh fish.
It was a small victory in a world that had given him so few.
---
As Menma dried himself off with the towel he brought, he changed into a set of fresh underwear and then put on the clothes he had taken off before going into the water. He was about to pick up the basket and leave the mountains to head home when the vague sense of being watched, which he had sensed earlier, completely dissipated.
*"Is it time today?"* Menma thought to himself, his expression unreadable.
This surveillance seemed to originate from the void. Menma had become aware of it during an unexpected "awakening" two or three years ago. Considering his red-haired lineage, it was likely an inherited ability from his mother—a bloodline talent of the Uzumaki clan known as **Kagura's Mind's Eye**.
Even though Menma couldn't use chakra yet, this innate ability allowed him to sense things that ordinary people couldn't, such as the presence of several ANBU operatives who constantly monitored and protected him, and the "Telescope Technique" that the Third Hokage frequently used with his special crystal ball.
With his current abilities, Menma couldn't precisely detect these surveillances, but he could sense them when the technique was activated and ended, as well as the presence of the ANBU around him. While he couldn't completely pinpoint their exact locations, he could still sense vague traces of their presence. It was foreseeable that as Menma's strength grew and his mastery over his bloodline abilities improved, his Kagura Mind's Eye could reach the level of Karin's—or even higher.
It was precisely because of this ability that Menma felt a small sense of security. At least he wasn't entirely in the dark, and when he wanted to take action, he could choose the right time to do so. Especially when the Third Hokage himself was watching, there was no room for mistakes.
Of course, the Third Hokage didn't have time to observe Menma every day. He would only check in every three to five days, and each observation would last no more than three hours. After all, as the village's Hokage, there were countless matters demanding his attention. With Menma constantly under the watchful eye of his personal ANBU, who only answered to him, and still within the confines of Konohagakure, Sarutobi Hiruzen had little reason to worry too much.
As Menma descended the mountain path, the sun was high in the sky. Unlike the early morning when he had set out, he now carefully chose a remote route to avoid people. Thanks to Kagura's Mind's Eye, Menma could sense the malice from ordinary people more clearly than Naruto in the original story.
Menma avoided people not for any other reason but because he wasn't yet confident in his capacity to remain calm. He feared that sensing too much malice might cause him to inadvertently display his anger—something he was determined to avoid at this stage.
He knew he couldn't afford to behave like Naruto from the original timeline, showing reluctance and loneliness while seeking others' recognition. It was even more crucial now to avoid adding fuel to the fire. Navigating through the most dangerous stage of childhood without incident was of utmost importance.
For the past five years, Menma had adhered strictly to this principle. He avoided running into anyone when going out. The moment he sensed something, he would preemptively steer clear.
But today was different.
Even after taking a long detour and choosing a path where few people ever passed, Menma encountered several figures in a clearing near his home.
Normally, Menma would have taken a detour without hesitation.
But today, he stopped for two reasons. First, the figures not far away were children around his own age. Second, at the center of the group was a little girl with soft black hair, crystal-clear white eyes, and a tender, familiar face.
*"Hyūga Hinata..."* Menma whispered the name of the little girl in his heart.
The eldest daughter of the Hyūga clan's main family and one of the most beloved female characters in the original story—she had also been Menma's favorite character in his previous life.
Menma often thought that Naruto was truly lucky in the original timeline. When he fell in love with Hinata, she still loved him back.
As someone who had been a staunch supporter of the Naruto-Hinata pairing in his previous life, Menma knew this scene well. It was one of the most important memories of their childhood—the moment when Naruto stood up for Hinata as she was being bullied by other boys, leaving an indelible mark in her heart, even if it was a failed heroic rescue.
And now, the scene unfolding before him perfectly mirrored that moment from the original story. Menma's heart raced, and he felt the urge to step in.
But just as he was about to move, a sunny, cheerful, and slightly angry voice rang out.
"Hey! What are you doing!? A bunch of boys bullying a girl—what's wrong with you!?"
In the next instant, a golden figure dashed forward, reaching the group before Menma could.
The figure spread his arms wide, shielding the small girl behind him.
Upon seeing the familiar blond hair, blue eyes, and facial features that bore a slight resemblance to his own, Menma's expression shifted in surprise.
The boys surrounding the little girl fell silent. One of them looked like he was about to retort, but the older boy in the middle quickly recognized the blond boy's identity. With quick reflexes, he grabbed his impulsive companion.
" Naruto-Sama, we're sorry! We were wrong! We'll leave right now, I swear!"
His quick bow and hurried words made the other boys, who had been confused, snap to attention. They, too, realized who the blond boy was.
This was the son of the Fourth Hokage, who had died protecting Konoha— Namikaze Naruto.
In an instant, the boys bowed in unison.
There was a huge gap between their status and Naruto's. If their parents found out they had provoked the Hokage's son, they would surely be punished.
Naruto, surprised by their sudden change in behavior, blinked in confusion. But his rough personality quickly took over, and he smiled, waving his hand.
"It's fine as long as you know what you did was wrong! Men shouldn't bully girls!"
"Yes, Naruto-Sama! We'll be going now!"
"Alright, be good!"
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