"Bang, bang, bang!" sounds exploded like firecrackers, and in the blink of an eye, the entire training ground was filled with the golden-haired boy.
Hundreds of Narutos pushed and shoved each other; some climbed onto tree branches, others stacked themselves up, and the scene instantly devolved into chaos.
Iruka's jaw nearly dropped to the ground, and the roll call book in his hand fell with a "thud."
"Naruto!!"
Snapping back to reality, Iruka's furious roar echoed across the training ground.
Naruto startled, and all his clones disappeared with a "poof."
He scratched the back of his head, revealing his signature bright smile: "Iruka-sensei, how was I?"
"You... did... very... well."
Iruka said, enunciating each word, his temple throbbing. This student always managed to complete his assignments in the most astonishing ways, while also sending his blood pressure through the roof.
"Next, Nara Shikamaru."
"Ugh, what a drag..."
Shikamaru shuffled forward, forming hand signs with a reluctant expression.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the crowd, Sasuke's fists were clenched white, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.
He stared intently at Naruto, an unwilling flame burning in his dark eyes.
"Damn it... the gap is actually this big..."
This realization stung his pride like a kunai.
"I must ask my brother to train with me more..."
Sasuke secretly vowed, but then he remembered Itachi's recent hurried departures, the phrase "Forgive me, Sasuke," and the touch of a light tap on his forehead, which made his heart clench.
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
Iruka's call pulled him back to reality.
"Yes!"
Sasuke snapped his head up, the gloom in his eyes instantly replaced by stubbornness.
Menma looked at Sasuke's retreating figure, a trace of deep thought flashing in his eyes.
"I need to find a way to infiltrate the Uchiha clan compound and investigate..."
Before the school bell rang, Menma quietly tugged on Naruto's sleeve.
"Big Brother?"
Naruto turned his head, his clear blue eyes full of confusion.
Menma lowered his voice: "Later, try to stall Sasuke. Don't let him go home too early. You can even invite him to our house to play."
"Why?"
Naruto blinked, completely bewildered.
"There are some things I need to confirm."
Menma's hand on Naruto's shoulder tightened slightly, and he whispered, "This is a secret Ninja mission!"
Naruto instantly straightened his back, sparks of excitement igniting in his eyes: "Understood! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"
He nodded vigorously, his heart pounding with excitement.
As soon as the class bell rang, Menma was about to leave when a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum came from behind him: "Menma-kun..."
He turned to see Hinata with her head bowed, her two index fingers nervously poking each other, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks.
"What's wrong?"
Menma stopped, asking in confusion.
"I..."
Hinata's lips trembled slightly, but her words dissolved into a flurry of panic.
Just then, Ino rushed over like a golden whirlwind, grabbing Menma's wrist.
"Menma! A super beautiful new flower just bloomed in my garden, hurry and come see it with me!"
She pulled Menma out without a word, her golden ponytail bouncing happily behind her.
Hinata stood frozen, her pale pupils trembling slightly, watching their retreating figures, a strange emotion stirring in her chest.
"She took him again..."
This thought startled her, and she quickly covered her flushed cheeks.
Turning the corner of the hallway, Menma glimpsed Naruto dragging a very reluctant Sasuke towards the school gate.
He seized the opportunity to gently pull his hand free from Ino's: "Definitely next time!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already transformed into an afterimage and disappeared down the hallway.
"Menma!"
Ino stamped her foot in anger, her small shoes making a crisp sound on the floor, "Always 'next time'!
She puffed out her cheeks, her golden hair gently fluttering in the setting sun.
As dusk approached, Menma slipped into a secluded alley.
He quickly formed hand signs, and with a puff of white smoke, he had transformed into Sasuke. Black hair, black eyes, even the hint of arrogance in his brows was perfectly mimicked.
As he entered the Uchiha clan compound, Menma deliberately slowed his pace.
The setting sun cast an orange-red glow on the stone path, and passing clan members gave him friendly glances.
"Little Sasuke, you're home so early today?"
An aunt carrying a vegetable basket greeted him with a smile.
"Mm."
Menma replied concisely, secretly surprised by the peaceful atmosphere herea stark contrast to the gloomy image of the Uchiha often described by villagers.
"It seems most of the Uchiha clan members are ordinary people."
He had visited Sasuke's house with his parents before, and he followed the route from his memory towards Sasuke's home.
Suddenly, a gentle figure appeared from around the corner.
"Sasuke..."
Uchiha Mikoto's words trailed off.
She keenly sensed that her "son" was unusually distant today; those black eyes, which always sparkled with excitement, now held a hint of wariness.
"I'm going to find my brother!"
Menma quickly said, then hurried away, hearing Mikoto's puzzled murmur behind him: "This child..."
Hiding behind a wall, Menma let out a long breath, fine beads of sweat already forming on his palms.
His Transformation Jutsu could perfectly replicate Chakra fluctuations, but family members who spent every day together could always detect subtle differencesfor example, Sasuke would always pounce into his mother's arms like a happy kitten whenever he saw her.
"Hey, Sasuke!"
The sudden greeting made Menma stiffen. Three Ninjas wearing the Uchiha clan crest walked towards him, the young man at the front frowning as he scrutinized him: "Why are you spacing out here?"
"I'm looking for my brother."
Menma quickly came up with an excuse.
A strange look flashed in the young man's eyes, and the smile on his lips seemed a little forced: "Itachi, huh..."
This subtle change in expression did not escape Menma's eyes.
"Haruki, the clan meeting is about to start!"
A companion's urging voice came.
"Coming."
The young man named Haruki gave Menma one last look, then turned and left.
Menma held his breath, concentrating, and suppressed his Chakra to the extreme.
He followed behind them like a ghost, his perception spreading out like a spider's web in the twilight.
Menma hid in the shadows of the courtyard wall, watching the brightly lit house. Sentries, both overt and covert, were interspersed throughout the courtyard, and Sharingan flickered in the darkness.
He was hesitating whether to give up when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps.
He saw an Uchiha Ninja clutching his stomach, rushing over, fine beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. A glint flashed in Menma's eyes, and his figure drifted behind the man like a phantom.
"Sasuke?"
The other person had just turned his head when his pupils suddenly constricted. Menma's single-handed hand sign speed was so fast it was just an afterimage, and the Genjutsu instantly invaded the other's consciousness.
The man's eyes became unfocused, and his body limply tilted forward.
Menma grabbed his shoulder, silently dragging the unconscious Ninja into a bush.
A moment later, "Uchiha Tetsuya" emerged from the shadows, hunched over, his right hand pressed tightly against his abdomen, his face etched with pain.
"Tetsuya? You're late."
The guard frowned, his Sharingan scanning Menma's face.
"Sorry... I ate something bad."
Menma mimicked the man's voice, a weak tremor in his tone.
The guard waved impatiently: "Hurry up and go in, the meeting started half an hour ago."
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the atmosphere of tension immediately hit him.
Candlelight flickered inside the room, where over twenty Uchiha elites sat around a table. Menma lowered his head and quickly walked to a corner, subtly observing the situation in the room.
"Quiet."
Fugaku's deep voice echoed through the room.
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