Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 417 The Last Breakfast

The seventh training ground is located on the outskirts of Konoha Village, downstream of the Naka River.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the village center, there are only the sounds of flowing water, the rustling of the wind through the trees, and a series of peculiar buzzing sounds.

"Drink it—!"

Naruto shouted, his azure eyes filled with unprecedented focus.

He stretched out his right palm, his five fingers slightly spread, and above his palm, the visible light blue chakra seemed to be drawn together, swirling and compressing wildly as if by an invisible force field!

The air was stirred up, whistling, and fine sand and gravel from the ground were swirled up and flew around his palm.

At first, the rotation of chakra was somewhat disordered, and its form sometimes gathered and sometimes dispersed.

But Naruto gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and poured all his energy into the raging energy in his palm.

He could feel that the chakra within his body was following a certain principle, progressing layer by layer and condensing inward.

Gradually, the chaotic chakra flow was tamed, the speed of rotation increased, the trajectory became more and more stable, but the range became smaller and smaller.

Finally, a solid blue chakra sphere, about the size of a fist, with clear spiral patterns inside and a fine airflow generated by its high-speed rotation at the edges, took shape steadily in his palm!

Rasengan!

"It's...it's a success! It really is a success! I don't need the Shadow Clones to help me; I can use it with just one hand!" Naruto looked at the energy ball in his palm, which was emitting a bright blue light and spinning steadily. His face was first filled with disbelief, and then he burst into ecstasy!

He danced with excitement, almost losing control of the Rasengan.

"You lecherous immortal! Did you see that?! I did it! I really am a genius! Hahaha!"

Under the shade of a tree not far away, Boruto leaned against a large tree with his hands behind his head, watching his father's smug expression. He couldn't help but purse his lips and mutter to himself, "Tch... what's so great about that? I already knew that..."

But deep within those eyes lay a hint of amazement and a touch of disappointment.

He originally wanted to show off to his father in this timeline for a few more days.

Jiraiya, sitting on a fallen tree, laughed heartily, slapping his thigh vigorously, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Well done! Naruto! Even faster than I expected! It seems your special training these past few days has been very fruitful, and your understanding of chakra transformations has deepened!"

He jumped down from the tree, walked to Naruto's side, examined the Rasengan carefully, and nodded: "Hmm, the chakra concentration is good, and the rotation is very stable. You've mastered it to a basic level."

"However, you must remember that the power of the Rasengan lies not only in its form, but also in your control and infusion of chakra. Different chakra output power, different methods of rotational acceleration, and even the incorporation of different chakra nature transformations can produce drastically different effects. And this is just the beginning."

Naruto nodded excitedly, holding the Rasengan as if it were a precious treasure, carefully maintaining it, trying to make it float and move gently, feeling the surging power contained within.

He recalled the smug look on Boruto's face when he easily conjured the Rasengan a few days ago, and felt a surge of secret pleasure.

With the Chunin Exams just around the corner, Naruto couldn't wait to show Menma and the others the results of his hard work!

"I'm definitely going to use this trick to give Brother Mianma a huge surprise during tomorrow's exam!"

"Alright, that's enough for today." Jiraiya stretched and looked at the sky.

"You've been training continuously for several days, and your mind has been highly focused. It must have taken a toll on you. Go back and get some rest, Naruto, and recharge your energy."

"Tomorrow's exam isn't just a contest of ninjutsu; it's a comprehensive test of physical strength, willpower, and adaptability. Don't be late and embarrass your teacher."

"Don't worry, perverted sage!" Naruto dispelled the Rasengan, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and beamed with a confident smile.

"I will definitely pass the exam and become a Chunin! And then..." He looked in the direction of Konoha Village, his eyes resolute.

"Then, I will become Hokage! A Hokage stronger than all previous Hokage!"

Boruto looked at Naruto's energetic profile and listened to that familiar yet somewhat different declaration of his dream, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He turned his head to look at the murmuring waters of the Nanga River, lost in thought.

Jiraiya placed his large hand on Boruto's golden, spiky head, giving it a good ruffle, and chuckled, "Kid, you've had a tough time too. These past few days as my sparring partner, you must have been bombarded with questions by this idiot, right?"

Boruto pulled his hand away from Jiraiya's, tidied his disheveled hair, and muttered defiantly, "No way! He's just too slow and learns too slowly!"

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the Namga River, creating a shimmering golden glow.

In the training field, the boy's hearty laughter, the senior's gratified gaze, and Boruto's mutterings mingled with the sounds of flowing water and wind, creating a heartwarming scene.

the next day.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the thin morning mist of the leaves, casting a narrow, shimmering streak of light on the bed through the gap in the slightly open curtains, a halo of dust-like light lingered.

Mianma was awakened by a continuous, slight rustling sound.

He opened his eyes groggily, his vision gradually clearing from blurry.

What came into view was the familiar ceiling, and two figures busy in the room.

The one who is slightly taller is Hinata.

She was wearing a light purple tracksuit, with a few strands of soft hair hanging down her fair neck.

At this moment, she was facing away from the bed, slightly bent over, and very carefully placing a neatly folded black top into an open suitcase next to the bed.

Her movements were gentle and careful, as if she were handling some fragile treasure. After putting down the top, she picked up a pair of shorts next to her. Before stacking them up, Hinata suddenly tugged at the shorts in a daze.

Opposite her, a much shorter figure was also busy at work.

That's Hanabi. Today she's wearing a cute orange kimono and is imitating her older sister, holding a pair of clean black socks in both hands, trying to put them into her suitcase as well.

But because they are still too young, their movements are clumsy yet adorable.

The room was quiet, with only the soft rustling of clothes and the occasional soft "mmm" sounds from Hanabi.

The morning light cast a soft golden glow on the sisters' figures, and a tranquil and warm atmosphere filled the air.

Menma's soft hum, tinged with the languor of someone just waking up, and the subtle sounds of her body shifting under the thin blanket, immediately caught the attention of the two sisters.

Hinata's body stiffened for a moment, then she quickly turned around.

When she saw Mianma half-sitting up, looking at her with somewhat dazed eyes, her fair cheeks flushed bright red, like ripe apples.

She instinctively tried to hide the shorts behind her back, but stopped halfway through, looking somewhat flustered. She could only stammer softly, "Menma-kun...you're awake? Did...did we disturb you?"

Little Fireworks, on the other hand, is much more direct.

She immediately abandoned the socks, and with her short legs, like a small cannonball launched from the ground, cheered as she pounced on the bedside. Then, she climbed onto the bed on all fours and buried her head in Mianma's arms.

"Brother Menma! You're awake! Good morning!" Hanabi looked up and said in a childish voice, her big white eyes sparkling with innocent joy, as she reached out and grabbed Menma's pajamas.

The little guy smelled fresh and had a faint milky scent after washing up in the morning.

Menma sat up naturally, leaning against the headboard. He reached out and pulled the soft little Hanabi into his arms, ruffling her soft hair. His voice still carried the languor of someone who had just woken up, but with a smile: "Good morning, Hanabi. You guys are up early."

Then, he looked up at Hinata, who was still blushing and standing somewhat awkwardly beside her suitcase, and said gently, "Actually, it doesn't have to be so complicated, Hinata. I have enough clothes prepared over there."

The other side he was referring to was naturally the Land of Stars.

Orochimaru had already privately informed Hinata, his trusted and relied-upon older sister, about Orochimaru's "Konoha Crush Plan," his upcoming departure from Konoha for the Land of Stars, and some longer-term plans. Hinata naturally knew all of this as well.

Hinata, the eldest sister, didn't say anything, knowing that he was never a peaceful person, while the younger Hinata felt a little uneasy about Masa's departure.

Menma understands Hinata's anxiety and is grateful for her silent support.

But he also made it clear to her that this time, he would not take her with him.

It's not that I'm unwilling, but that I can't for the time being.

Menma needs to use Hinata's status as the head of the Hyuga main clan, as well as the Hyuga main clan's vast network and influence in Konoha, to do something, to plant some seeds on the ruins of the "Konoha Collapse".

Imagine that Orochimaru in this timeline is even more powerful than in the original story. Once Orochimaru kills the Third Hokage, Tsunade is far away in the Land of Stars and unwilling to return, and Jiraiya, although in Konoha, has no interest in the position of Hokage.

So, who will those old guys from Konoha's advisors support as the next Hokage?

If that stinking rat were to take over, what would the other ninja clans of Konoha think?

Hinata blushed even more deeply upon hearing Menma's words.

She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the cuffs of her clothes, her voice barely audible: "No, no, that won't do... There are so many things at home, things that 'sister' and I bought especially for you..."

The "older sister" she was referring to was Hinata, the "big sister" with a strong and fiery personality.

Although the two have very different personalities, they are surprisingly consistent in their concern for Menma.

And there was another reason she was ashamed to mention, which she did not say aloud.

She didn't want to leave any bad impression on Menma's family in the Star Country, especially her mother, whom she had only heard of but never met.

She hoped that Mianma would dress decently and comfortably, and that he could carry her longing with him to a distant place.

This was perhaps the most clumsy yet tender expression a young girl could make before a helpless farewell.

Hanabi squirmed restlessly in Menma's arms, tilted her little face up, and her pure white eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She pouted and asked in a tearful voice, "Menma-nii... are you going on a long trip? Will you be gone for a very long time? Can... can you take Hanabi with you? Hanabi will be very good!"

Children's hearts are the most sensitive.

Although Menma and Hinata's conversation didn't explicitly state it, Hanabi still caught the faint sense of separation lingering in the air.

Menma's heart softened. She looked down at the tearful little one in her arms, gently patted her hair, and said softly, "I'm just leaving for a while to take care of some things. Don't worry, Hanabi, we'll see each other again soon, I promise."

"I'll bring you some special candies from the Star Kingdom, okay?"

"Really?" Xiaohua sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yes, really, pinky promise." Menma extended her little finger.

Little Firework stopped crying and started laughing. She stretched out her chubby little finger and clumsily hooked it with Mianma's: "Pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years!"

After calming Hanabi down, Menma got up and washed up with Hinata's help.

The warm water washed away the last trace of sleepiness, and the boy in the mirror regained his usual clarity and tranquility.

He changed into the black tracksuit that Hinata had carefully arranged, put on the Konoha headband, looked at his familiar self in the mirror, and at the swirling pattern on the Konoha headband on his forehead, a complex emotion swept through his heart.

This might be the last day in this little house where I've lived for so many years.

Sealing the suitcase that Hinata had stuffed to the brim into a storage roll was like quietly putting away a peaceful, everyday moment.

The three of them shared a simple yet heartwarming breakfast in the kitchen.

Milk, fried eggs, grilled fish, and rice.

Hinata's cooking skills were as good as ever, but the atmosphere was much quieter than usual, with only Hanabi chattering away in her childish words.

After breakfast, Menma and Hinata took Hanabi back to the gate of the Hyuga clan's territory across the street.

As the largest clan in Konoha, the gates of the Hyuga clan's territory appeared solemn and majestic in the morning light.

"Sister, Menma-nii, good luck in the competition!" Xiaohuabi stood in front of the tall door, waving her little hand vigorously, a smile blooming on her face again, but a trace of reluctance and worry still remained in her pure white eyes.

As she watched Menma and her sister walk towards the street, a feeling inexplicably arose in her young heart.

It seems that this time, Brother Mianma is leaving to go to a very, very far place, unlike his previous missions.

Just then, the gate to the Hyuga clan's territory was slowly opened from the inside.

A tall, serious-looking man named Hyuga Hiashi, dressed in a dark green traditional robe, stepped forward.

His dignified gaze first swept over his youngest daughter by the door, then over her head, and looked toward the end of the street, at the two young figures walking side by side, gradually disappearing into the distance.

His gaze lingered on Menma's retreating figure for a moment, but he said nothing. He simply looked away, turned to his youngest daughter, Hanabi, who was gazing up at him, and his voice regained its fatherly composure:

"Alright, Hanabi, it's time for us to get going."

"Remember to watch your sister's performance on the field later and learn from her experience."

"Yes, Father!" Little Flower immediately straightened her little body, bowed respectfully, and suppressed the sorrow of parting in her heart.

[PS: It's almost the end of the month. I'm a little sorry that I haven't been able to update as many words this month because of the Chinese New Year holiday, but I still want to remind everyone that if you have any unused monthly tickets, remember to vote for your favorite works, or you can vote for me too!]