Chapter 6: Naruto: "No!" (Dame!)

Chapter 6: Naruto: "No!" (Dame!)

*Flop flop flop!*

Watching the lively, decent-sized fish flopping on the ground, Menma couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Little Naruto's voice echoed proudly in his mind: "How about it, Menma-nii! Aren't I amazing!"

"...Yes, very amazing." Menma paused for a moment before reluctantly agreeing.

"This fish died from its own stupidity," the Nine-Tails commented from the side, watching with a mocking expression.

Should one expect anything less from the Child of Destiny?

Casually sitting down somewhere, tying a line and hook to the end of a branch, and still managing to catch fish – his luck wasn't far off from Mat Cauthon

right?

Seeing little Naruto about to cast his 'rod' again, Menma slapped his forehead in exasperation. (*Slap*)

Honestly, Naruto surviving until now was purely due to immense luck, coupled with the abnormal physique of the Uzumaki clan.

After all, even with the village subsidy, the villagers were unwilling to sell him food.

No, if he was lucky, he might buy some nearly expired milk and instant noodles at a high price.

If his meager funds ran out, he could only come here to fish or gather mushrooms and wild vegetables to fill his stomach.

He'd just toss those mushrooms and vegetables into a pot, regardless of whether they were poisonous or not; survival depended entirely on whether fate smiled upon him.

Menma interrupted: "Naruto, first find a plastic bottle."

Hearing this, little Naruto paused, his azure eyes filled with confusion.

But he obediently ran to the riverbank and picked up a plastic bottle.

"Cut an opening just below the mouth of the bottle, insert the top part upside down into the bottle, secure it with a thin string, put bait inside, and then..."

This was a simple trap mainly used for catching small fish, suitable for foraging in the wild. But for the "Child of Destiny," those fish would probably scramble over each other to get inside.

Sure enough, within a few minutes, the decent-sized bottle was already packed full of fish.

"Menma-nii, you know so much!"

Hearing little Naruto's tone of worship, Menma's eye couldn't help but twitch.

"This is just the most basic knowledge from the Ninja Academy. With my help and Kurama's, in the future, you'll even be able to move mountains and fill seas, catch stars and grasp the moon."

*Move mountains and fill seas, catch stars and grasp the moon...*

It sounded like listening to a myth.

Little Naruto nodded with partial understanding, a thought mixing aspiration and confusion popping into his head: "If I can do all that, will other people finally acknowledge me?"

"Of course. In this world, possessing power is the foundation for gaining others' acknowledgment."

Menma's words were full of temptation and guidance, but little Naruto couldn't help feeling a sense of discomfort.

"But, Menma-nii..."

This was the first time he had contradicted Menma, not even thinking it through, just instinctively feeling that this "might makes right" philosophy was wrong.

But before little Naruto could finish.

"Naruto, I do acknowledge your strength and courage, but I cannot acknowledge your naivety!"

Menma seemed to know what he wanted to say and cut him off directly: "Do you realize that if I didn't have strength, you wouldn't even be able to see me right now? How could there be any talk of acknowledgment?"

*Unable to see him...?*

Little Naruto froze at the words.

Coming back to his senses, determination filled his young face.

*Thump!*

"Menma-nii!"

Little Naruto thumped his fist against his chest, speaking solemnly as if taking an oath: "I will make you fully acknowledge Uzumaki Naruto!"

Menma's tone became profound: "I look forward to that day."

Although he said that, he understood that getting Naruto to fully comprehend the importance of power and its correct usage still required a long journey.

Little Naruto was a child who thought deeply, but the Ashura chakra within him would subtly influence his thoughts.

"Love and Bonds" – this was the will Ashura left behind even after death.

But discussing ideals detached from reality is like rootless duckweed, drifting without a destination.

Even Naruto's specialty, "Talk-no-Jutsu," would be mere empty talk if he lacked power.

Gaara, Sasuke, Nagato, Obito – did he think he could move them just by talking about ideals empty-handed?

Weren't all these people only won over after being defeated by Naruto?

What moved them wasn't Naruto's vague ideals, but his ever-increasing strength.

They believed Naruto had the power to change the world!

But the result...

Time flew by. Dusk fell, and the moon hung high.

The campfire crackled (*pilipala*), sparks dancing, illuminating little Naruto's joyful face.

Despite being busy all afternoon, looking at the fish, shrimp, and crabs piled beside him, and the fragrant grilled fish in his hands, he felt it was completely worth it.

"Time to eat!"

Little Naruto put his hands together, said the phrase, but hesitated to take a bite.

Inside the seal space, Menma sighed helplessly upon seeing this and said perfunctorily: "Time to eat!"

*Smack!*

The Nine-Tails, pretending to sleep, got whipped by a golden chain and reluctantly sat up, putting its paws together.

"...Time to eat!"

Hearing this, little Naruto grinned foolishly, then took a large bite of the fish with an "Aoww!"

"Hoo hoo hoo~ So hot, so hot!"

He blew out hot air but was unwilling to spit out the fish meat, even eating it more eagerly.

But just as he took his third bite.

An old face full of wrinkles suddenly leaned close to little Naruto.

"Wah!"

Little Naruto was so startled he nearly fell over.

"Wh-who are you?"

"Don't be afraid."

The old man showed a kind smile, comforting him gently: "I'm just an ordinary old grandpa passing by."

Meanwhile, inside the seal space, Menma narrowed his eyes, a glint of cold light flashing within.

"Finally couldn't resist anymore? Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Still, this old man was really regressing with age.

Shamelessly calling himself an ordinary old grandpa to coax food from a child.

In some ways, the Third was even worse than Danzō.

Danzō at least had the ambition to unify the ninja world, merely suffering from aspirations higher than heaven but a fate thinner than paper, only managing to seal a bridge before his death.

But the Third, once a strong and confident Shinobi Hero, had been completely eroded by time and power into a hypocritical, pretentious politician, only concerned with guarding his own small turf and keeping his seat warm.

"You..."

Naruto was about to say something when he heard a familiar sound again.

*Gurgle gurgle~*

Looking at the old man scratching his head with an embarrassed smile, little Naruto remembered his own awkward moment in front of Menma-nii and couldn't help but laugh.

And the old man...

No, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Seeing this, he also laughed awkwardly, though inwardly he was extremely pleased.

*Indeed, children are easy to coax. I closed the distance so easily.*

"Child, this..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand had just reached towards the grilled fish beside them.

The smile on little Naruto's face vanished instantly. He hugged the grilled fish protectively, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

"No"