I Am Uzumaki Menma Chapter 245 - 245 Naruto's Childhood Wasn't Lonely

In Konoha Village, the afternoon sun carried a hint of laziness, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom in certain corners.

Naruto, clutching a large cardboard box almost half his height, struggled a bit as he walked ho. The box was filled with instant noodles of various flavors, the most noticeable being several beautifully packaged [Limited Edition Flavor Cup Noodles].

This was his newly purchased 'strategic food reserve' from the [Gato Departnt Store] in the village center.

The Gato Departnt Store was a large shopping mall that had opened in Konoha Village in recent years. Its wide variety of reasonably priced goods quickly made it the villagers' preferred shopping destination.

For Naruto, however, this place held a special significance. It was one of the few places that didn't look at him strangely, didn't shoo him away, and definitely didn't deliberately sell him expired or poor-quality food.

He even occasionally received small snacks secretly slipped to him by the staff or discounts on near-expiry items.

All because the store's mysterious owner was the esteed Mr. Gato, and village rumors said Mr. Gato greatly admired a boy nad 'nma', had taken him as a foster son, and nma was Naruto's best friend.

Although Naruto didn't fully understand the complex story behind this relationship, he clearly felt the store's kindness towards him.

However, the store's kindness couldn't isolate him from the entire village's indifference.

Walking down the street carrying the box, the familiar, nagging whispers and cold stares once again crept in from all sides.

"Look… it's that child again-"

"Tch, buying so many instant noodles-"

"Stay away from him, he's bad luck-"

"I don't know what the Third Hokage was thinking-"

The voices were hushed, but they pierced Naruto's ears like needles. He straightened his small back as much as he could, pretending not to hear, and quickened his pace, wanting only to return to that 'ho' which, though empty, could at least block out those stares.

Finally, he reached the familiar apartnt building. Naruto took a deep breath, pushed open the stairwell door with his shoulder, and clattered up the stairs.

Standing in front of his door, he silently pulled out his key and unlocked it.

Creeeak-

The door opened, releasing a stuffy air mixed with the sll of instant noodle seasoning packets and a hint of mold.

Naruto habitually took a deep breath, then shouted in the loudest, most energetic voice he could muster:

"I'm ho!"

His voice echoed in the empty hallway. Beyond that, there was no response.

The hopeful light in his bright blue eyes quickly dimd.

The lights inside were off, making it rather dark. Naruto fumbled for the switch on the wall.

Click.

A dim yellow light flickered on, illuminating the scene inside. It was a ss.

Dirty clothes were casually thrown on the sofa, chairs, and even the floor, crumpled into balls.

In the kitchen sink, a mountain of dirty dishes seed to have been sitting for a long ti, giving off a faint, unpleasant odor.

The small table in the living room was covered with empty instant noodle cups, so even containing unconsud broth.

It was less a 'ho' and more a temporary stopover, an untended, lifeless dorm room.

Naruto seed long accustod to this. He laboriously moved the new box of noodles to a corner in the kitchen, where several similar boxes were already stacked. He glanced at the sink, his small face scrunching up, and finally decided... to wash them tomorrow.

He walked to the sofa, pushed a few dirty clothes onto the floor to make a small space for himself, and then collapsed backwards into the cushions as if his bones had been removed.

His body sank into the sowhat worn-out sofa cushions. He tilted his head back, staring blankly at the dusty light fixture on the ceiling, his eyes empty.

Silence.

Deathly silence.

Only the occasional sounds of laughter or clattering dishes from other families outside the window could be faintly heard, emphasizing the cold desolation inside.

"...It's so quiet..." Naruto murmured to himself, his voice almost inaudible.

He buried his head in his knees. After a mont, he suddenly lifted his head again, as if to dispel the suffocating loneliness, and leaped up from the sofa!

He ran to the center of the room, cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, put on a stern face, and said in what he thought was a mature, gruff voice: "Cough! Naruto! Did you listen to Iruka-sensei properly at school today? No causing trouble! You must work hard to beco an excellent Ninja!"

He was playing the role of an imaginary 'Father'.

Then, he quickly ran to another spot, put his hands on his hips, deliberately raised his pitch, and imitated the tone of gentle mothers he occasionally overheard: "Naruto-chan~ Are you hungry? Mommy made sothing delicious for you~ Did you make any new friends today?"

He was playing the role of an imaginary 'Mother'.

In this empty room, he perford a one-man show, sotis the strict father, sotis the gentle mother, sotis switching back to himself, answering the 'parents'' questions.

"I was really good today!"

"Ran! I want Ichiraku Ran!"

"nma, and Choji, and Kiba are all my friends!"

But his performance gradually slowed, his voice growing quieter and quieter. Finally, he stopped, standing bewildered in the middle of the room.

Because he suddenly realized he didn't even know his own parents' nas or what they looked like.

'Grandpa Third never told , and the villagers were tight-lipped about it.'

"Dad... Mom..." Naruto lowered his head, looking at his dirty shoes, a barely detectable sob in his voice, "I wish you were still alive..."

Lunch was, as usual, a bowl of instant noodles made with hot water.

After eating, Naruto felt even more bored.

He longed for school to start. At school, there was at least Iruka, and friends like nma, Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba. They could attend class together, pull pranks together, even if they often got scolded for it, and train to be ninjas together. The liveliness could dilute the loneliness.

But it was vacation now.

Vacation ant everyone had their own families, their own things to do.

Shikamaru had to play shogi with his father or was forced to train in his clan's secret techniques.

Choji went to family gatherings or underwent Akimichi Clan's physical training.

Kiba practiced tracking.

Even his best friend, nma, seed to only co out to play with him regularly on Saturdays and Sundays.

Most of the ti, Naruto was alone.

The afternoon sun grew milder. Unable to stand the stifling atmosphere inside any longer, Naruto decided to go out for a walk.

He wandered aimlessly and, without realizing it, found himself back at the Naka River at the edge of the village. This was a place he frequented. The sound of the flowing river could give him a mont of peace.

He found a flat rock to sit on, picked up small stones nearby, and threw them into the river one by one, watching the ripples spread in circles before disappearing.

He sat there daydreaming like this, watching the sunset gradually dye the sky and the river surface orange-red.

Just then, footsteps sounded on the path above the riverbank.

Naruto instinctively turned to look.

Sasuke was walking along the riverbank, hands in his pockets, his face set in a cool, aloof expression, looking straight ahead. He seed to be heading ho after training.

Their eyes t in mid-air.

Instantly, invisible sparks seed to crackle.

Naruto imdiately turned his head away, letting out a clear 'Hmph!' from his nose.

Sasuke also snorted coldly, lifting his chin even higher.

Just as the atmosphere between the two was both awkward and filled with childish rivalry, another voice, carrying a sowhat lazy tone, ca from further down the river.

"Hey, you two, what are you doing here? Posing?"

Naruto turned his head in delight and saw nma walking slowly up from downstream, hands behind his head, his face wearing his usual, slightly teasing smile.

"nma!" Naruto called out happily.

Seeing nma only added fuel to Sasuke's already irritated mood. Standing on the riverbank, looking down, he pointed at nma and shouted loudly, "nma! Just you wait! In the practical combat class after the next sester starts, I will definitely defeat you and take back the top spot in the grade!"

Being easily defeated by nma in the last practical combat class was a great humiliation he couldn't swallow, and he had been training frantically with his brother, Itachi, ever since.

nma picked his ear, wearing a 'here we go again' expression, and drawled lazily, "Ahhh… Got it, got it. We'll talk about next sester when it cos... Sasuke, you're so naggy."

With that, he ignored Sasuke, who was practically puffing up with anger on the riverbank, and turned to Naruto with a smile, "Let's go, Naruto. I'm hungry. How about so Ichiraku Ran? My treat."

"Really? Aweso!" Naruto instantly forgot his earlier gloom, cheered, leaped up from the rock, and ran over to nma's side, overjoyed.

The two walked off shoulder-to-shoulder, chatting and laughing, heading towards the village center.

They left Sasuke alone on the riverbank, watching their retreating backs. He stamped his foot in frustration, could only puff out his cheeks, and run off sullenly towards the Uchiha Clan's compound.

anwhile, in the dense forest on the opposite bank of the Naka River, three figures stood quietly on a thick tree branch, watching everything happening on the far riverbank through the layered leaves.

It was nma's true body, along with his parents, Minato and Kushina.

Watching the cheerful backs of Naruto and nma's shadow clone bickering and gradually disappearing into the distance, a complex yet relieved smile appeared on Minato's face.

He sighed softly, reached out, and patted the shoulder of the nma beside him. His voice was gentle and full of gratitude, "You've worked hard, nma. Always... taking care of Naruto like this, silently."

He could imagine how dark and withdrawn Naruto's childhood would have been without nma's frequent companionship and guidance.

nma's gaze also followed the bouncing blond figure. He shook his head, his tone flat but carrying a trace of imperceptible warmth, "It's nothing. After all... he's my little brother too."

"And besides , Naruto has many friends. That show-off kid, despite bickering with Naruto, actually cares about him too. And there's Iruka-sensei at school, classmates like Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba... Naruto's childhood isn't lonely."

Kushina, standing to the side, was frowning slightly, as if trying hard to recall sothing.

She pointed in the direction where Sasuke had long since disappeared from the riverbank and spoke sowhat uncertainly, "By the way, that black-haired, arrogant little brat just now... he's from the Uchiha Clan, right? I keep feeling he looks sowhat familiar..."

nma nodded and explained, "Yeah, his na is Uchiha Sasuke. He's the youngest son of the current Uchiha Clan's head, Fugaku."

"Fugaku and Mikoto's youngest son?" Kushina's face lit up with understanding, a nostalgic look appearing, "No wonder he looks familiar! Mikoto was my best friend! When I was pregnant with you and Naruto, I often went shopping with her! She was holding little Sasuke, who had just been born... Ti flies. In the blink of an eye, that child is already so big, and he's even classmates with Naruto and the others-"

Her tone held a sense of wonder at the strangeness of fate, and also a bit of longing for her old friend. It was just that now, she was in an Impure World Reincarnated body, while her friend was still in Konoha Village, living a life that seed peaceful but was actually fraught with undercurrents. They were already in two completely different worlds.

Minato reached out and gently took Kushina's hand, offering silent comfort.

In the distance, the faint, happy sounds of Naruto and 'nma' arguing about what toppings to add brought a touch of warm vitality to the quiet dusk.

The three figures gradually blended into the twilight of Konoha's forest.

"Co on, nma! I'm starving!" Naruto yelled, running ahead and looking back to urge his companion, who was following at a leisurely pace.

The spring air still held a chill from the end of winter. The setting sun was warm and lazy, casting its light on the streets of Konoha Village.

Naruto, like an unleashed puppy, was full of energy, his spiky blond hair particularly striking in the sunlight.

A faint, lazy smile played on nma's lips. His hands were in his pockets, his steps unhurried, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Are you a starving ghost or sothing?"

The two arrived at the Ichiraku Ran stand, its enticing aroma wafting through the air.

Lifting the curtain, the familiar, rich scent of the broth greeted them.

At this hour, the shop wasn't very crowded. Teuchi was busy behind the counter preparing soup stock, while his daughter, Aya, deftly wiped down a table that had just been vacated.

"Yo! Naruto, nma!" Aya looked up, saw the two familiar small figures, and imdiately broke into a warm smile, especially towards Naruto.

She had a soft spot for this always energetic yet sohow heartbreaking child.

"Aya-neechan!" Naruto greeted loudly, skillfully sliding onto a stool at the counter, his eyes fixed eagerly on the bubbling pot of soup and the various toppings laid out beside it.

Aya finished wiping the last table, walked over smiling, and habitually ruffled Naruto's ssy blond hair first before turning her gaze to nma beside him. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes, "Huh? nma-kun, you ca alone today? Didn't bring that pretty young lady from the Hyuga Clan with you? Did you two have a fight?"

nma sighed helplessly, long accustod to this topic. Ever since Big Sis Hinata made her 'territorial declaration' during the school introductions, his relationship with Hinata had beco a frequent subject of teasing, especially among those who knew them.

"Aya-nee, please stop teasing ," nma sighed, pulling up a stool to sit down, "Hinata has clan training today. She couldn't co."

"Ohhh~ So the strictly-raised young lady has to practice," Aya deliberately drew out her words, continuing to tease him, "I suppose soone feels like sothing's missing, and even eating ran doesn't taste as good?"

nma rolled his eyes, deciding not to take the bait, and turned directly to call out to Teuchi, "Teuchi-san! The usual! Two bowls of the signature Tonkotsu Ran!"

Teuchi's booming voice ca from the kitchen area: "Alright! Naruto's with double narutomaki, nma's with extra nma, right? Coming right up!"

He had long morized these two kids' preferences.

"Yep! Thanks, Teuchi-ojiisan!" Naruto cheered, brandishing his chopsticks, already poised and waiting for the ran to arrive.

Just then, the curtain was pushed aside again.

A seemingly ordinary man and woman walked in. The man was tall, wearing common dark blue casual clothes, with brilliant blond hair, though the ends seed slightly duller, and a gentle yet sowhat distant smile.

The woman had vibrant red hair tied into a neat ponytail, her face full of curiosity and excitent as she looked around this place that felt both intensely familiar and strangely unfamiliar in her mory.

They were, of course, Minato and Kushina, using Transformation Techniques.

In the Ninja World, blond and red hair weren't particularly special colors… many clans had mbers with such hair. But the combination still felt vaguely familiar to Teuchi.

Minato's eyes quickly scanned the small shop, then naturally fell upon Naruto and nma sitting side-by-side.

A complex, indescribable emotion flashed in his gray eyes… guilt, relief, and deep love. He struggled to maintain a calm expression.

Kushina, however, could barely control her emotions, especially when she saw Naruto's small back. Her eyes grew slightly hot.

She quickly took a deep breath, forced herself to look away, and pretended to be very interested in the nu on the wall.

"Welco!" Aya imdiately went to greet them, "Please, sit over here."

Minato nodded politely, his voice deliberately altered to sound slightly deeper, "Thank you. One Tonkotsu Ran for , please. Extra nma and narutomaki."

The flavor he ordered unintentionally matched the combination of nma and Naruto's orders exactly.

Kushina also leaned in, looked at the nu, and said in as normal a tone as she could manage, "Then I'll have the... um... the [Family Delight] Ran! One with all the toppings!"

Aya smiled and acknowledged the order, gesturing, "Sure thing! Please wait a mont. You two can sit over there-"

Before she could finish, Minato and Kushina very 'naturally' walked towards the counter and, quite 'coincidentally', chose the two empty stools right next to Naruto and nma.

Minato sat on the other side of Naruto, while Kushina sat on the other side of nma, effectively sandwiching the two children between them.

Naruto, who had been intently watching Teuchi kneading the ran dough, felt soone sit down beside him and instinctively glanced over.

Seeing the blond man next to him, he blinked his bright blue eyes, tilted his head, and a look of pure confusion appeared on his face.

"Huh?" Naruto muttered quietly, "I feel... sothing strange..."

But his straightforward mind was quickly captured by more important matters. Teuchi was placing two steaming, generously topped bowls of ran in front of him and nma.