章 17: Graduation Ceremony

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**What a comfortable night!**

Menma had slept until dawn, a rare experience for him since arriving in this world, except when he was just a baby. In the past, he would wake before the sun had even risen. This was something new.

The events of the previous night added to this sense of novelty. As Menma stood by the window, gazing at the distant scenery, he felt a long-forgotten sense of relaxation and joy.

After tidying up and eating breakfast, Menma donned his ninja attire, tied his Konoha forehead protector securely, opened the door, and made his way to the Ninja Academy.

This time was different from before.

Menma didn't take the usual secluded paths to avoid the crowds. Instead, he walked along the main road, just like the other Academy students, basking in the morning sunlight. The streets were already bustling with people, shop fronts open wide, and the air filled with noise.

But this time, Menma didn't hear the usual whispers and muttered insults. Instead, the moment people noticed the Konoha forehead protector on his brow, they tensed up.

Ninjas held a special place in this world.

While the villagers might still dislike Menma, gossip about him, or ostracize him in private, they would never dare to openly show their hostility as they had in the past.

The gap in status between a ninja and a civilian was vast.

Now, when they looked at Menma, their expressions were filled with fear and uncertainty. No one would dare insult him to his face as they once had when he was a child.

Menma walked past them with the same calm expression he always wore. He wasn't seeking to revel in their changed attitudes but rather enjoyed the freedom of walking openly through the streets without fear of abuse.

In the past, the hostility and insults had been unbearable, so he had chosen quieter paths to avoid confrontation. But now that he was an official ninja, those concerns were a thing of the past.

As he walked through the crowd, the villagers acted as though they hadn't seen him. When Menma's figure finally faded from sight, they looked at his retreating back with bewilderment.

"I didn't expect that kid to become a ninja!"

"What was the Third Hokage thinking?"

"Why...?"

"Really..."

They all knew that from today onward, everything would be different.

Menma, who was already far away, had no idea what these people were thinking, and even if he did, he wouldn't care.

His mind was focused on the upcoming team assignments and wondering who his teammates would be. After all, while he had taken the place of Naruto Uzumaki in this timeline, he wasn't Naruto.

In this reality, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had twins. Menma Uzumaki was one of them, and his younger brother was Naruto Namikaze.

With an extra person in the mix, everything was bound to be different.

The only thing he was fairly certain of was that his sensei would still be Hatake Kakashi. After all, there was no one more suitable in Konoha to guide them than Kakashi.

"It all depends on what the old man decides," Menma thought, arriving at the Ninja Academy, which was already buzzing with activity.

As he walked into the academy, Menma noticed the excitement and anticipation on the faces of his fellow graduates. They were all eager to become ninja, ready to take on high-ranking missions, and dreaming of becoming heroes of the village.

Menma could only shake his head at their naivety.

Konoha had become too comfortable in recent years, turning its graduates into flowers cultivated in a greenhouse. These ordinary students might think they're prepared, but reality would soon prove otherwise.

Not everyone was cut out to be a ninja. Only a few would receive preferential treatment or stand out in the harsh world of shinobi.

Among the top ninjas, which one didn't have bloodstained hands? Whose reputation wasn't built on a pile of bones?

Without talent, background, or the right mentality, the future of these graduates looked bleak.

Even Menma knew that the path he had chosen was a dangerous one, where a single misstep could lead to his demise.

"This is a sign of Konoha's decline. Complacency breeds danger..." Menma thought, shaking his head slightly.

"Oh!? Isn't this our number one? You're late today, Menma! The graduation ceremony is about to start!"

"Woof woof!"

Before Menma could reach his seat, a familiar, high-pitched voice called out to him, accompanied by the barking of a small puppy.

There was no need to turn around. Menma knew who it was.

Only one student in their grade brought a dog to school—Kiba Inuzuka, from the Inuzuka clan, known for their ninja dogs.

Kiba was one of the few classmates who had approached Menma despite his reputation. Although Menma wasn't keen on socializing, he didn't go out of his way to push people away, and Kiba was persistent.

"Ah, Kiba. I trained a bit late last night, so I overslept, but I'm not late!" Menma replied with a smile.

"Tsk, you're already number one in the class, and you're still working so hard!" Kiba said in amazement.

"Woof woof woof!"

"That's why Menma's always number one, Kiba. He's different from you," said another voice.

Two more figures joined them. The larger one, munching on a bag of potato chips, was Choji Akimichi, son of the Akimichi clan head. The boy with the pineapple-shaped hair and lazy demeanor was Shikamaru Nara, the genius with an IQ through the roof.

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For the past six years, these two people had been Menma's classmates at the Ninja Academy. Though they weren't particularly close, they had shared enough experiences to be familiar with one another. Menma didn't feel a need to be distant with them, at least for now. The future, however, remained uncertain.

"It's not that exaggerated. Hard work is one thing, but sometimes you also need a bit of luck," Menma replied softly.

"Luck, huh? That's a pretty modest way of putting it, Menma!" Kiba said with a grin, casting a sidelong glance at Sasuke, who sat nearby with his usual indifferent expression.

Menma couldn't help but smile at Kiba's playful nature. There was a mischievous streak in Kiba that always seemed to surface.

"Still, Menma, becoming a ninja is just the beginning. The real challenge starts now. Akamaru and I won't lose to you!" Kiba added with a confident grin.

"Woof! Woof!" Akamaru, the little white dog perched on Kiba's head, barked energetically in agreement.

The "Konoha 12" from the original series were all distinct individuals, each with their own unique personality. Inuzuka Kiba, for instance, was fiercely competitive, something that became especially apparent during the Chunin Exams.

Kiba's initiative to talk to Menma stemmed from his respect for him, but it also fueled his desire to surpass him. After all, if young people aren't competitive, can they really be called young?

From Kiba's perspective, this was only natural.

"Well, I'll be waiting, Kiba," Menma responded. He didn't mind Kiba's straightforward personality—in fact, he found it easier to get along with.

"I don't think that's possible. When it comes to hard work, Kiba, you're not on Menma's level! You've slept through classes and skipped just as many as I have. There's no way you're catching up now!"

Before Menma could respond, Choji chimed in, munching on his bag of potato chips. His remark was delivered calmly but hit with precision, causing Kiba's face to turn from green to red.

"Choji, you jerk! Akamaru, let's show him what we're made of!"

"Woof! Woof!"

In an instant, Kiba and Akamaru were charging at Choji, starting a playful scuffle.

"Stop! Call off Akamaru, Kiba... Ahhhh!"

Menma watched the two of them bicker and wrestle, a faint smile forming in his eyes. There had been times when he had wondered whether it would have been easier to follow the original path meant for him, the path of Naruto Uzumaki.

Following that path would have eliminated many of the obstacles and resistance he faced, and he would have received plenty of support. After all, in this life, he wasn't entirely alone. With a younger brother named Naruto Namikaze, perhaps his journey could have been smoother.

But this thought lasted only a few seconds before Menma pushed it aside.

There was no reason to dwell on it.

He couldn't ignore the bitterness that festered inside him. Maybe one day, Menma could achieve his goals by taking control of Konoha. But how many years would that take? And even though Menma didn't care for the opinions of ordinary villagers, the village of Konoha itself?

He couldn't allow it to continue.

That's right—Menma's deepest ambition was to destroy the so-called "greatest ninja village" in the world. He could restrain himself, hold back the urge for reckless revenge, especially for the sake of his father. But this village... the very name "Konoha" represented everything he despised.

Those high-ranking officials in Konoha were another source of his hatred. Only by dealing with them could he truly find peace within himself.

'This village is completely rotten. The right thing to do is tear it down and start over!' Menma thought silently.

Shikamaru, standing nearby, seemed to sense a change in Menma's mood. However, he said nothing. Shikamaru was perceptive but not intrusive. Everyone had their secrets, and Shikamaru wasn't one to pry unless absolutely necessary.

The graduation ceremony began as scheduled—a day of celebration for the new graduates. Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, made time to visit the Ninja Academy. Standing on the large playground, he addressed the gathered students with a speech that left over 99% of them feeling inspired and fired up.

Hiruzen's words encouraged the graduates, making them feel as though they were on the verge of becoming heroes of the village. Their eyes sparkled with anticipation and excitement. It was clear that the Third Hokage was a master of motivation.

Menma couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Despite his current shortcomings, Hiruzen had once been the Hokage who saved Konoha from destruction. Though he was now old and out of touch, his past accomplishments could not be ignored.

During the time when the Three Legendary Sannin were still young, when Hatake Sakumo was still alive, and when Hiruzen himself was in his prime, Konoha had flourished. But as time passed, the Third Hokage decayed, becoming narrow-minded and foolish.

Menma recalled a phrase often used to describe certain emperors in ancient times: "He was a great ruler, but he lived too long."

It seemed fitting to describe Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The graduation ceremony concluded on a lively note, leaving only the most important part—the team assignments.

As the students returned to their classrooms, their eyes were fixed on their teachers, hoping to be placed in strong teams. Even the less knowledgeable among them understood that being assigned to a good team could make a significant difference.

And then, there were the jonin instructors who would lead the teams. Jonin and chunin were worlds apart, and everyone hoped their instructor would be a jonin.

When Iruka entered the classroom, he immediately captured the attention of all the students. He could easily read their thoughts, and a gentle smile spread across his face.

"First of all, I want to congratulate you all on your successful graduation. From today on, you are official ninja of Konoha. I hope you all remember the duties that come with being a ninja, and I look forward to seeing each of you grow into excellent shinobi," Iruka said, his hands resting on the podium as his gaze swept over the students.

"Yes, Iruka-sensei!" the class responded in unison.

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