On the outskirts of Konoha Village, downstream on the Naka River, was Training Ground Seven.
This place was far from the hustle and bustle of the village center, with only the sound of babbling water, the rustle of wind through the trees, and a strange, humming vibration.
"Haah—!"
Naruto let out a great shout, his azure blue eyes filled with an unprecedented level of focus.
His right palm extended forward, fingers slightly spread. Above his palm, a faint blue Chakra, visible to the naked eye, as if pulled by an invisible force field, frantically gathered, spun, and compressed!
The air was stirred, letting out a howl. Tiny grains of sand and gravel on the ground were kicked up, dancing around his hand.
At first, the rotation of the Chakra was somewhat chaotic, its form sometimes gathering, sometimes dispersing.
But Naruto gritted his teeth, veins faintly bulging on his forehead, pouring all his spirit into the ball of rampaging energy in his palm.
He could feel the Chakra inside his body following a certain principle, layering and progressing, condensing inward.
Gradually, the chaotic Chakra Flow was tamed. The speed of rotation grew faster and faster, the trajectory more and more stable, yet the range grew smaller and smaller.
Finally, a blue Chakra Sphere about the size of a fist, extremely solid, with clear spiral patterns inside and its edges spinning at high speed, stirring up tiny air currents, steadily took shape above his palm!
The Rasengan!
"I... I did it! I really did it! Without needing shadow clones for help, I can use it with one hand!" Naruto stared at the blue Chakra Sphere on his palm, emitting a blue glow and spinning steadily. His face first showed disbelief, then burst into wild joy!
He waved his arms and legs excitedly, almost losing control of the Rasengan.
"Pervy Sage! Did you see that?! I did it! I really am a genius! Hahaha!"
In the shade of a tree not far away, Boruto lay with his hands behind his head, leaning against a large tree. Watching his father's smug, carried-away appearance, he couldn't help but curl his lip and mutter softly: "Hmph... what's the big deal, I could do that ages ago..."
But deep in his eyes hid a trace of admiration and faint disappointment.
He had originally wanted to show off in front of his father from this Space-Time for a few more days.
Jiraiya, sitting on a fallen log, laughed heartily, slapping his thigh vigorously, his eyes full of relief: "Well done, Naruto! Even faster than I expected! It seems your special training over this period has really paid off. Your understanding of Chakra Shape Transformation has also deepened!"
He jumped down from the log, walked to Naruto's side, carefully examined the Rasengan, and nodded: "Mm, the Chakra Cohesion is good, the rotation is very stable. You've basically mastered it."
"But remember, the power of the Rasengan lies not only in its form but also in the amount of Chakra you pour into it and your control. Different Chakra output powers, different ways of accelerating the rotation, even incorporating different Chakra Nature Transformations, can produce completely different effects. This is only the beginning."
Naruto nodded excitedly, carefully maintaining the Rasengan as if holding a treasure, trying to let it float and move gently, feeling the surging power contained within.
He thought back to a few days ago when he saw Boruto casually whipping up a Rasengan right in front of him with that smug look, and felt a secret thrill of satisfaction.
And with the upcoming Chunin Exams, Naruto couldn't wait to show Menma and the others the fruits of his hard training!
'During tomorrow's exam, I'll definitely use this move to surprise Menma-nii!'
"Alright, let's call it a day for now." Jiraiya stretched lazily and glanced at the sky. "You've been training hard for days, your concentration has been intense, and the strain on you has been considerable. Go home and get some good rest, Naruto. Build up your energy."
"Tomorrow's exam won't just be a contest of Ninjutsu... it's a comprehensive test of stamina, willpower, and adaptability. Don't be late and embarrass me, your teacher."
"Don't worry, Pervy Sage!" Naruto dispersed the Rasengan, wiped the sweat from his brow, a confident smile shining on his face. "I will definitely pass the exam and become a Chunin! And then..." He looked towards Konoha Village, his gaze firm. "And then, I'm going to become Hokage! A Hokage stronger than any who came before!"
Boruto watched Naruto's energetic profile, listened to that familiar yet somewhat different dream declaration, and his gaze was complex.
He turned his head away, looking at the babbling water of the Naka River, his thoughts unclear.
Jiraiya's large hand pressed down on Boruto's golden hedgehog head, rubbing it vigorously, and he laughed: "You've worked hard too, kid. You've been training with him these days. This idiot's been pestering you with questions non-stop, hasn't he?"
Boruto broke free from Jiraiya's hand, tidying his messed-up hair, refusing to admit it, muttering: "Not at all! He's just too slow, a slow learner!"
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the Naka River, causing a shimmering golden light.
On the training ground, the boy's clear laughter, the senior's approving gaze, Boruto's muttering, interwoven with the sounds of the water and the wind, formed a warm scene.
…
The next day.
When the first rays of daylight pierced the thin morning mist of Konoha, passing through the gap in the not-quite-closed curtains and casting a narrow, bright streak with a halo of dust motes onto the bed—
Menma was woken by a continuous, faint rustling sound.
He groggily opened his eyes, his vision gradually sharpening from blurry.
What met his eyes was the familiar ceiling, and... two figures busy in the room.
The slightly taller one was Hinata.
She was wearing a light purple tracksuit, a few strands of silky hair hanging by her fair neck.
At that moment, with her back to the bed, slightly bent at the waist, she was extremely seriously and carefully placing a neatly folded black shirt into an open suitcase by the bed.
Her movements were gentle and meticulous, as if handling something fragile and precious. After putting the shirt in, she picked up a pair of shorts next to it. Before arranging them, Hinata suddenly seemed lost in thought, tugging at the shorts.
Across from her, a much shorter figure was also busy.
That was Hanabi. She was wearing a cute orange kimono today, and mimicking her sister's actions, she held a pair of clean black socks in both hands, trying to put them into the suitcase as well.
But because she was still very small, her movements appeared clumsy and adorable.
The room was very quiet, only the faint sounds of clothes rustling, and Hanabi's occasional childish 'Unh-unh' sounds.
The morning light coated the two sisters' figures with a soft golden edge, and the air was filled with a quiet, warm atmosphere.
Menma's soft, just-woken lazy grunt, and the faint sound of his body shifting under the thin blanket, immediately caught the sisters' attention.
Hinata's body stiffened, then she quickly turned around.
When she saw Menma half-propping himself up, his eyes still a little hazy as he looked at her, her fair cheeks suddenly flushed with two distinct red blotches, like ripe apples.
She instinctively tried to hide the shorts in her hand behind her back, but stopped halfway, looking somewhat at a loss. She could only murmur softly: "M-Menma-kun... you're awake? D-did we wake you?"
Little Hanabi, however, was much more direct.
She immediately abandoned the socks, trotted over on her short legs like a little cannonball, cheered, and pounced on the bed, then climbed up using her hands and feet, burying her head in Menma's embrace.
"Menma-nii! You're awake! Good morning!" Hanabi tilted her little face up and said in a babyish voice. Her pure white eyes sparkled with innocent joy as she reached out her little hand to grab the front of Menma's pajamas.
The little one carried the freshness of morning washing and a faint milky scent.
Menma sat up in response, leaning back against the headboard, pulling the soft, warm little Hanabi into his embrace and gently stroking her soft hair. His voice still carried the languor of just waking up, but held a smile: "Mm, good morning, Hanabi. You two are up very early."
Then, he raised his head and looked at Hinata, who was still blushing and standing somewhat awkwardly by the suitcase, his gaze gentle: "You really didn't need to go to all this trouble, Hinata. I have clothes prepared over there, enough to wear."
What he referred to as 'over there' was, of course, the Land of Stars.
Regarding Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan, his own impending departure from Konoha for the Land of Stars, and some longer-term strategies, he had long since privately informed Big Sis Hinata, who trusted and depended on him completely. Little Sister Hinata naturally knew this as well.
Big Sis Hinata had said nothing, knowing he was not someone who could settle down. Little Sister Hinata, on the other hand, felt a faint unease about Menma's departure.
Menma understood Hinata's unease and appreciated her silent support.
But he had also clearly told her that this time, he would not take her with him.
Not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't, for now.
Menma needed to borrow Hinata's identity as the head of the Hyuga main family, and the extensive connections and influence of the Hyuga main family in Konoha Village, to do certain things, to plant certain seeds in the ruins of the Konoha Crush.
Imagine this: Orochimaru in this timeline was even more powerful than in the original work. Once Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage, and Tsunade was far away in the Land of Stars unwilling to return, while Jiraiya was in Konoha but his mind wasn't on the Hokage seat at all.
Then who would the few old geezers on the Konoha Council support as the next Hokage?
If they let that stinking rat rise to power, what would the other Ninja Clans of Konoha think?
Hearing Menma's words, Hinata's blush deepened.
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the cuff of her sleeve, her voice as soft as a mosquito's: "Th-that won't do... There are quite a few things at home... that Big Sis and I specially bought for you..."
The Big Sis she mentioned referred to the strong-willed, fiery-tempered Big Sis Hinata.
Although their personalities were completely different, when it came to caring for Menma, the two personalities were remarkably consistent.
And there was another reason, one she was too shy to say out loud.
She didn't want to leave any bad impression on Menma's family in the Land of Stars, especially his mother, whom she had only heard of but never met.
She wanted Menma to look presentable and comfortable, to be able to carry her concern with him to faraway places.
This was perhaps the most clumsy yet most gentle expression a young girl could make before a powerless departure.
Hanabi squirmed restlessly in Menma's arms, tilted her little face up, and suddenly her pure white eyes became veiled with moisture. She pouted and asked with a sobbing tone: "Menma-nii... are you going on a long trip? Will you be gone for a very, very long time? Can... can you take Hanabi with you? Hanabi will be good!"
A child's heart is the most sensitive.
Even though Menma and Hinata hadn't said it outright, that faint aura of parting lingering in the air had still been caught by little Hanabi.
Menma's heart softened. Looking down at the tearful little one in his arms, he gently stroked her hair, his voice gentle: "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."
"And when I come back, I'll bring you special candy from the Land of Stars, okay?"
"Really?" Hanabi sniffled, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Mm, really. Pinky promise." Menma extended his little finger.
Hanabi's tears turned into a smile. She extended her chubby little finger and clumsily linked it with Menma's: "Pinky promise, a hundred years, no backing out!"
After soothing little Hanabi, Menma got up and washed up with Hinata's help.
The warm water washed away the last traces of sleep. In the mirror, the boy's eyes had returned to their usual clarity and calm.
He changed into the black tracksuit that Hinata had carefully packed, put on his Konoha's forehead protector, looked at the familiar self in the mirror, at the spiral pattern on the forehead protector, and a complex feeling passed through his heart.
This might be the last day in this little house where he had lived for so many years.
Sealing the suitcase, which Hinata had filled to the brim, into a storage scroll seemed to quietly put away a segment of peaceful daily life.
The three of them had a simple yet warm breakfast together in the kitchen.
Milk, fried eggs, grilled fish, and rice.
Hinata's cooking was as good as ever, but the atmosphere was much quieter than usual, with only Hanabi chattering away with childish words.
After breakfast, Menma and Hinata walked Hanabi back to the gate of the Hyuga Clan's Compound across the way.
As the largest noble clan in Konoha, the gate of the Hyuga Clan's Compound looked solemn and dignified in the morning light.
"Onee-chan, Menma-nii, good luck in the match!" Hanabi stood before the tall gate, waving her little hand vigorously, a smile blooming on her face again. But deep in those pure white eyes, a trace of reluctance and worry still lingered.
She watched the backs of Menma and her sister as they walked side by side down the street. In her little heart, a feeling arose for no reason.
This time when Menma left, it seemed like he was going very, very far away, unlike when he went on missions before.
Just then, the gate of the Hyuga Clan's Compound was slowly pulled open from inside.
A tall, stern-faced man in a dark green traditional long robe, Hyuga Hiashi, walked out.
His authoritative gaze first swept over his youngest daughter at the gate, then passed over her head, looking towards the end of the street, at the two young figures walking side by side, gradually receding into the distance.
His gaze lingered on Menma's back for a moment, but he said nothing. He simply withdrew his gaze, looked down at his youngest daughter, Hanabi, who was looking up at him, and his voice regained the steadiness of a father:
"Alright, Hanabi, it's time for us to go too."
"Remember to watch your sister's performance in the arena and learn from her combat experience."
"Yes, Father!" Hanabi immediately straightened her small back, bowed respectfully, and suppressed the sadness of parting deep in her heart.