บท 9: The third year of arrival

---

It had been nearly two years since Iruka's view of Menma began to shift. To be more precise, Umino Iruka was indeed a kind and gentle person. He understood the difference between a Jinchūriki and a Tailed Beast, a distinction that many in the village failed to grasp. Unlike the general public, who often viewed Jinchūriki with the same fear, rejection, and disgust they had for Tailed Beasts, Iruka could differentiate between the two.

Over time, as they spent more time together, Menma noticed the gradual change in Iruka's attitude. This left him with mixed feelings. Until now, apart from the special bond he shared with Naruto, his blood brother, and the slight affection he felt for Hinata—carried over from his previous life—Menma harbored no positive feelings toward anyone in the Hidden Leaf Village.

But now, Iruka's changing attitude made Menma feel somewhat "restrained." He suspected this might be part of Sarutobi Hiruzen's strategy, similar to other plans he had experienced. However, what complicated Menma's feelings the most was that, unlike with Hiruzen, where he could sense the old man's utilitarianism, with Iruka, Menma could feel sincerity. Iruka simply regarded him as a student—a student in a difficult situation who needed care.

All the signs pointed to the fact that Iruka empathized with Menma. After all, they were both orphans. This left Menma unsure of how to approach Iruka, especially in the future. Despite his troubled past, Menma wasn't entirely cold-hearted; he couldn't ignore the kindness shown to him. For now, he'd just have to take things one step at a time.

Iruka's willingness to pay more attention to Menma was also beneficial in other ways. Menma found himself frequently visiting Iruka's home, where the Chūnin would often cook for him. Despite being "just" a Chūnin, it was important to remember that anyone who reached the rank of Chūnin in the ninja world had considerable talent. Moreover, Iruka's position as a teacher at the Academy meant he had a solid grasp of theoretical knowledge.

Iruka's ability to guide many next-generation geniuses, including Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke, spoke volumes about his competence. In fact, the very fact that Iruka was assigned to Menma's class, out of all the teachers in Konoha, was telling.

Because of this, Menma trusted Iruka with his basic training. Iruka, seeing Menma's dedication and potential, often provided him with extra guidance outside of class. For example, the Academy's curriculum dictated that students would learn the three basic jutsu—the Transformation Jutsu, the Substitution Jutsu, and the Clone Jutsu—later in their studies. However, Iruka allowed Menma to learn them ahead of schedule.

Menma quickly demonstrated what it meant to be a prodigy, especially when not hampered by the Nine-Tails' chakra. Within a week, Menma had already mastered the three fundamental jutsu. Though "mastered" here referred to an initial proficiency, it was enough to astonish Iruka.

The three basic jutsu required precise chakra control, something that wasn't easy for beginners. Iruka recalled his own struggles when he was learning these techniques; it had taken him more than a week just to master one, and the Clone Jutsu was particularly challenging. Seeing Menma achieve proficiency in all three within a week left Iruka amazed.

Menma, however, wasn't completely satisfied. There was still room for improvement.

"Bang!"

With a puff of smoke, a small log appeared in Menma's place before falling to the ground.

Menma frowned slightly as he looked at the log. The Substitution Jutsu, while the easiest of the three to learn, was also the hardest to execute perfectly due to the need for precise timing. Contrary to popular belief, the Substitution Jutsu wasn't a space-time technique. If it were, it wouldn't be one of the basic jutsu taught at the Academy.

The Substitution Jutsu was essentially a sleight of hand, and while it could be useful in high-level battles, it was difficult to use effectively. Similarly, the Transformation Jutsu and Clone Jutsu had their uses but depended on the skill of the user. More advanced versions, like the Water Clone, Earth Clone, and Shadow Clone Jutsu, were significantly more powerful.

The Substitution Jutsu, however, remained just that—a simple substitution. If the timing wasn't right, the technique would fail, rendering it useless. Menma didn't aim to perfect the Substitution Jutsu, but he wanted to use it as a way to further refine his chakra control. It was a way to kill two birds with one stone.

The same went for the Transformation Jutsu. Striving for perfection in these basic techniques required time and repeated practice. It wasn't something that could be achieved overnight.

'It will take time,' Menma thought to himself, 'or maybe using these techniques in actual combat would yield better results.'

Self-practice could only go so far. True improvement came from real combat, especially in life-or-death situations where a ninja could truly push themselves to their limits.

'Perhaps I could ask Iruka-sensei to spar with me later,' Menma mused. 'That might not be a bad idea.'

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Menma!"

Looking up, Menma saw Iruka approaching from a distance.

"Sensei? What are you doing here?" Menma asked as he quickly walked over to greet him.

"I went to your place to look for you, but you weren't there. I figured you'd be here," Iruka replied with a smile. "You mentioned your ninja tools were worn out, so I got you a new set. You don't have to keep using the old ones."

Iruka pulled out a sealing scroll from his pouch, performed a few hand signs, and with a puff of smoke, a slightly heavy bag of ninja tools appeared in front of Menma.

---

The cold, dark sheen of the ninja tools was unmistakable. There weren't many, but all the essentials were there. When Menma saw them, a flicker of happiness crossed his face.

In the world of shinobi, the price of ninja tools was high. Even with money, Menma knew he wouldn't be able to buy these tools easily. After all, he was still considered an outcast, a "wild beast" feared by everyone in the ninja world.

He walked towards the ninja tool shop, hoping to buy some of the tools. The fact that the owner didn't immediately kick him out was a miracle in itself. The mere idea of buying anything seemed like a joke.

In the original timeline, Naruto's status and reputation in Konoha changed after graduation. Ninjas held a special place in this world, and the people of the village understood this deeply. They knew that ordinary people couldn't be compared to shinobi, and thus they gave them the respect they deserved. Naruto's standing in the village improved significantly after he graduated.

But in this life, Menma was still just a student at the Academy.

Status? That would have to wait.

So when Iruka-sensei presented him with the ninja tools, Menma couldn't hide his joy.

"Thank you, Iruka-sensei! I promise I'll work even harder!" Menma's gratitude was genuine as he looked at Iruka.

"Haha, it's good that you're motivated, but remember to balance work and rest. You're still young, Menma. Overtraining can be harmful. Do you understand?" Iruka chuckled, placing a hand on Menma's head and offering a gentle warning.

"Yes, Iruka-sensei," Menma replied earnestly.

Iruka couldn't quite place how he felt about Menma now. Initially, like most people in Konoha, he had been wary of Menma, seeing him as nothing more than the container of the Nine-Tails. There was even a hint of resentment.

But Iruka was no ordinary citizen. He was a ninja, trusted by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. He knew what being a Jinchūriki meant. Intellectually, Iruka could separate the Nine-Tails from Menma. But emotionally, there had been resistance.

After nearly two years of teaching him, Iruka realized that Menma was not only a hard-working child but also a very lonely one. His life was even more tragic than Iruka's own had been. At least Iruka had once known the warmth of a family. Menma, on the other hand, had been alone from birth. He had been found outside the village by the Third Hokage, who had brought him back (Sarutobi Hiruzen had been vague about Menma's origins when he explained them to Iruka).

And because of his unique heritage, Menma had unknowingly become the container for the Nine-Tails.

Was Menma to blame for any of this?

Not at all.

In fact, as the host of the Nine-Tails since infancy, Menma was already a hero of Konohagakure, even if the villagers didn't see it that way.

The world was never straightforward.

This was why Iruka felt a special concern for Menma. Unconsciously, he had even started to see Menma as a little brother.

"The New Year is coming soon, and with it, the start of your third year at the Academy. Next year, practical training will become the focus, with less emphasis on theory. Menma, you've already mastered the basic Three Basic Techniques ahead of schedule, but remember, it's not about being the best right now. There are still other talented students in your class. Stay humble and cautious. I hope you keep this momentum and graduate with top marks in four years," Iruka said seriously.

This wasn't a time of war. Students from ninja clans received extra guidance and training at home, but the Academy's curriculum was designed to build a strong foundation for all students. There was no rush to send graduates to the battlefield as cannon fodder. The first two years focused purely on theoretical knowledge and chakra training. In the third year, practical training would take center stage, covering taijutsu, ninjutsu, and even basic genjutsu.

"I understand, Iruka-sensei. I won't let you down," Menma said, standing up straight.

"Good. I believe in you, Menma. I have some other matters to attend to, so I'll be heading back now. It's getting late. You should finish up and rest soon," Iruka said with a warm smile.

"Yes, Sensei."

As the New Year approached, so did the 56th year of the Konoha calendar. Menma would officially begin his third year at the Academy. This year, the Academy's curriculum was packed with practical training subjects: basic physical conditioning, ninja tool throwing, trap setting, reconnaissance, sparring, and advanced practice of the Three Basic Techniques.

The addition of these practical courses meant that while there was less emphasis on theory, it still played a crucial role. From this point on, the gap between students would become more evident.

In fact, this gap had already begun in the second year, with practical training increasing and theoretical studies being a stepping stone.

Menma naturally found himself at the top tier of his class. After mastering the Three Basic Techniques early on, his overall scores had consistently placed him at the top.

Sasuke Uchiha, who held the top spot in the original timeline, was now second to Menma.

Sakura Haruno, whose theoretical knowledge was unparalleled, struggled to match Menma's practical skills and ranked in the lower-middle of the class.

In the world of shinobi, practical skills outweighed theoretical knowledge. The most critical measure of a student's progress at the Academy was their performance in actual combat. Even if a student struggled with theory, as long as they excelled in practical and ninjutsu tests, they stood a good chance of graduating.

---