Chapter 3: First meeting and loss

And just as Menma dried himself with the towel he brought, changed into a set of underwear he brought with him, and then put on the clothes he took off before going into the water, he was about to carry the basket and leave the mountains to return home.

The vague sense of surveillance that he could sense before also completely dissipated at this moment.

‘Is it time today? ’

Menma did not show any expression on the surface, but he was subconsciously muttering in his heart.

This seemed to come from the surveillance in the void.

Menma had discovered it in an unexpected ‘awakening’ two or three years ago. Combined with his own red-haired bloodline, this is very likely inherited from his mother, that is, the bloodline talent ability of the Uzumaki clan - Kagura's Heart Eye.

Even though Menma cannot use chakra now.

But this innate ability can still allow Menma to reversely detect many things that ordinary people cannot know, such as the several Anbu people who have always been closely monitoring and protecting him, and the "telescope technique" that the Third Hokage often uses with that special crystal.

With Menma's current ability, of course, it is impossible to accurately obtain these surveillances, but there will still be some induction, at the moment when the technique starts and ends, and the Anbu who follow closely around him.

Menma cannot completely lock the exact location, but some vague breath can still be sensed, and it is foreseeable that with the improvement of Menma's own strength and the improvement of his mastery of blood limit ability, his Kagura mind eye may reach the level of Karin or even higher in the future.

It is precisely because he has this ability.

Menma will feel a little sense of security, at least he is not ignorant of everything, and when he wants to do something, he can also clearly know what time he should choose.

Especially when the Third Hokage is monitoring him personally, there really can't be any problems.

Of course, the Third Hokage doesn't have time to observe Menma every day. He basically comes every three or five days, and the time for each observation will not exceed three hours at most. He is the shadow of a village, and there are too many things to deal with in a day.

Anyway, Menma is followed by his direct Anbu who only obeys his orders, and he is still within the scope of Konohagakure Village, so Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally doesn't need to worry too much.

The mountain range that walks lightly down.

Now it is also noon. Unlike the time when he goes out in the early morning, on the way back, Menma carefully chooses a remote path. Because of Kagura's heart, Menma can sense the malice from ordinary people more clearly than Naruto in the original work.

The reason why Menma chooses to avoid these people as much as possible is not because of other things, but because he feels that his capacity and mentality are not in place, for fear that he will perceive too much malice and accidentally show an angry expression!

This is Menma's biggest taboo at this stage.

He can no longer do what Naruto in the original work does, just showing reluctance and loneliness, and acting like he wants to be recognized by others. Now it is even more impossible to add fuel to the fire.

It is of utmost importance to smoothly pass through the most dangerous childhood stage.

In the past five years.

Menma has always adhered to this principle.

He almost never runs into anyone when he goes out.

Once he senses something, he will avoid it in advance.

However, there was an exception today.

When Menma deliberately took a long detour outside and chose a road where almost no one usually came, he still encountered several figures on an open space near his home.

In the past, Menma would have taken a detour directly.

But today, he stopped, one because the figures not far away were as young as him.

The other was the little girl surrounded at the center point, with her soft black hair, crystal clear white eyes, and a familiar face that was tender and weak.

‘Hyuga Hinata...’

Menma also subconsciously whispered the name of the little girl in his heart.

The eldest daughter of the main family of the Hyuga clan.

She is also one of the most popular female characters in the original work.

She was also Menma’s favorite character when he read the original work in his previous life.

Menma always felt that Naruto in the original time and space was really lucky. When he fell in love with Hinata, Hinata still loved him.

And as the most determined Naruto-Hina party in the previous life.

The most important memories of the two in their childhood.

Menma is very clear.

And the most important communication between the two was the scene in front of them. When Hinata was bullied by other boys, Naruto stood up and left an indelible mark in Hinata's heart, even if it was a failed heroic rescue.

And the scene that perfectly overlaps with this moment.

Menma's heart was lifted, and that was the step to take directly.

However, it was only at that moment.

"Stop, what are you doing!? A few boys bullying a girl, are you still men?"

A sunny, cheerful and slightly angry childish voice sounded.

The next second.

A golden figure was one step ahead of Menma.

It rushed straight to the near point.

The open arms protected the little girl's short figure behind her.

It was also when he saw the familiar blond hair and blue eyes, and the figure that had the slightest resemblance to his own facial contours.

Menma's face couldn't help but be startled.

The boys who had been surrounding the little girl were also in a state of silence.

One of them wanted to directly curse Moment.

The obviously slightly older boy in the middle also immediately recognized the identity of the blond boy.

With quick eyes and quick hands, he pulled the simple-minded companion.

"Master Naruto, we were wrong, we are leaving now, we are leaving now."

He quickly bowed and his direct words also made the few little boys beside him who were still a little confused suddenly become excited.

He immediately understood the identity of the blond boy opposite him.

The person in front of me is the son of the Fourth Hokage who died in Konoha fighting for the village - Master Namikaze Naruto.

The moment.

Several people also quickly bowed in greeting.

The status gap between them and Naruto was very big. If their parents knew that they dared to provoke Master Naruto, they would have their butts opened up.

Naruto was also stunned when he saw the frightened looks of several people.

But just a second later, Naruto's rough character attributes came into play. He smiled and waved his hands and said, "Just admit your mistake!! Men shouldn't bully girls!"

"Yes, yes, then, Master Naruto, we will be rude first."

"Um!"