However, what Naruto didn't notice was that as he turned his attention back to Iruka and the other students, Menma, sitting in the back, cast a deep, complex look at his retreating figure.
Envy? Jealousy? Maybe even a hint of resentment?
Perhaps all of the above.
But just as Naruto had felt a fleeting sense of kinship with Menma, Menma—who knew with 100% certainty that they were biological brothers—felt something even more unique toward Naruto.
His suffering had nothing to do with Naruto. Naruto couldn't be like him; Naruto hadn't been born into this world with a fully formed consciousness.
Naruto was just an innocent kid being half-conned by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Menma truly envied Naruto's current living situation. At times, he couldn't help but resent the unfairness of it all.
Why were they treated so differently when they were born from the same parents?
But in the end, blood was thicker than water. That bond suppressed the darker side of Menma's emotions. He could hate everyone else in this village, but he couldn't bring himself to hate Naruto.
This was his little brother.
Even if Naruto was born just moments after him, Menma was the older brother, and Naruto was the younger one. That was an indisputable fact.
Another significant reason was that Menma had a younger brother in his previous life, too. That brother had been just as carefree and optimistic. Unconsciously, Menma superimposed that image onto Naruto, making his feelings even more complicated.
Naruto, I hope your future doesn't lead you down a path completely opposite to mine.
Menma stared at Naruto's back for a long moment, silently thinking to himself.
"Excellent. Now that we have a basic understanding of each other, remember this: from the moment you stepped into this Academy, you are considered quasi-ninja. How high you fly in the future depends partly on talent, but also on hard work. If you have a lazy mindset, forget about becoming an excellent ninja—you might not even graduate. I doubt any of you want to watch your friends graduate one by one while you're held back indefinitely, right? That depends entirely on your own effort! If the foundation is weak, the earth shakes and the mountains crumble. I hope you take these words to heart!"
Iruka looked sternly at the dozens of children below him, his voice grave.
Whether they listened or fully understood didn't matter right now. What mattered was setting the tone.
As a homeroom teacher, Iruka didn't want any of his students to fall too far behind in the next six years. That was his duty as an educator.
"Yes, Iruka-sensei!"
The children, at least outwardly, cooperated with their teacher, responding in unison.
"Good! Very good. Now, let's start with the first lesson: What is a ninja? And what is the essence of a ninja..."
---
The first day at the Ninja Academy passed peacefully and steadily.
Although Menma's enrollment caused ripples within certain circles, it didn't lead to any major disturbances. In the current Hidden Leaf, Hiruzen Sarutobi still held absolute authority and prestige.
The only problem was that as the old man aged, he became increasingly indecisive.
Otherwise, forget anyone else—even Danzō Shimura wouldn't be able to stir up trouble if Hiruzen truly put his foot down.
Ultimately, half of Danzō's mischief was his own doing, but the other half was the result of Hiruzen's indulgence.
Therefore, as long as Hiruzen remained firm, Menma's daily life and education wouldn't face major hurdles.
In fact, on his first day at the Academy, Menma encountered many strange looks from "ordinary people," but no one dared to question his presence openly. It was a "Hokage's Order."
They could whisper in private. They could look at him with naked hostility when no one was watching. But they absolutely could not show it in public.
Of course, this didn't change the underlying reality.
But Menma was satisfied. A few stares wouldn't make him lose a chunk of flesh. Why care?
The sun set in the west. Twilight arrived.
The first day of the Academy ended.
Menma was the last to leave. Standing at the main gate, he looked back at the school building bathed in the afterglow of the sunset.
He watched the other children leaving in different directions, bathed in the golden light.
Menma's expression was cold. This place wasn't where he belonged.
It was a cage that bound him.
One day, he would shatter this cage with his own hands and seize true freedom.
This is just the first real step. No one can shackle my future.
Menma took a deep breath, turned, and walked down a separate path. He moved further and further away, his figure gradually blending into the shadows.
---
The Academy life began.
In the days that followed, Menma's life became far more structured than the previous five years. It was a rigorous routine: Academy, home, forest training ground.
While constantly strengthening his physical constitution, he also steadily improved his chakra control.
A few months after enrollment, Menma officially put advanced chakra control on his agenda.
Tree climbing and water walking—the two foundational exercises—were added to his training plan.
Since he couldn't learn Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or Taijutsu techniques yet, these fundamental exercises became the core of his training.
As Menma threw himself into his regimen, time flew by. In the blink of an eye, more than a year passed.
It was now June, Year 55 of the Hidden Leaf.
One morning, after finishing his usual (morning workout) and heading toward the Academy, Menma noticed something strange.
Along the way, he encountered several ninja rushing past, looking grim and urgent.
On the main roads, the civilians he passed all wore expressions of shock, fear, or disbelief.
Hmm? What the hell is going on?
Unless you were blind or brain-dead, it was obvious something major had happened in the village.
But Menma couldn't tell exactly what it was.
However, the mystery only lasted until he reached the classroom.
Class had already started, but one specific student was missing.
Menma instantly understood.
So, it's the Uchiha Clan Massacre arc.
Staring at Sasuke Uchiha's empty seat, Menma immediately recalled one of the most critical plot points from the original series.