Naruto nodded seriously, as if he fully understood. Then, as though a new idea suddenly hit him, he turned sharply toward Jiraiya—who had just finished paying the bill and stepped outside—and shouted:
"Grandpa Jiraiya! Menma should train with us too, right?"
"Haha! Of course I don't mind. Guiding the two of you? No problem at all."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow and laughed without hesitation.
Menma was Minato and Kushina's child as well. For twelve long years, he had failed to take care of him. If there was ever a time to step up, it was now.
Menma deserved to know who his parents were.
What Jiraiya didn't realize was that Menma already knew.
When Menma heard Naruto speak, he froze slightly. Memories of their relationship in the original story surfaced—the warmth between Jiraiya and the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki.
When he watched the series in his previous life, Jiraiya's death had brought real sadness to him. He had cried for Naruto, feeling the weight of losing a mentor.
But that was when he was still just a boy watching from behind a screen.
Now he was Menma Uzumaki.
And Menma felt no affection toward Jiraiya.
Twelve years of absence and twelve years of abandoned responsibility could not be erased with a few friendly words or belated attempts at guidance.
A nail pulled from a wall still leaves a hole.
He was Menma Uzumaki—not Naruto Uzumaki.
He could not forgive years of unfair treatment, nor could he accept late kindness as if nothing had happened.
So Menma smiled politely and shook his head.
"Then I won't trouble you, Lord Jiraiya. I'm focusing on basic training right now."
"Basic training?"
Naruto tilted his head in confusion.
"Yes. Kunai practice, taijutsu drills. A shinobi needs strong fundamentals. A stable foundation makes future growth much easier."
Menma said it gently, and he wasn't lying.
Basic training was the core of all shinobi development.
Look no further than Might Guy.
The man built an entire legend from fundamentals alone.
"Huh? Really?"
Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement. As long as it meant getting stronger, he was always eager.
"What Menma said is correct," Jiraiya added with a nod. "A ninja doesn't become strong by learning every jutsu in sight. You need ninjutsu that suits you—and you must never abandon the basics. That's the true path of training."
Jiraiya smiled warmly.
"Since you already have your own plan, follow it. The Chūnin Exam is in a month. Both you and Naruto should give it your all."
As he looked at Menma—who not only resembled Minato but displayed the same calmness and clarity of thought—relief flashed across Jiraiya's eyes.
"Yes, Lord Jiraiya. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave. See you later, Naruto."
Menma glanced at the sky, now fully dark, and bowed respectfully.
"Oh! See you, Menma!"
"Yeah!"
After Jiraiya returned the smile, Menma stepped back, turned around, and walked away.
Jiraiya watched him go and nodded gently.
"Naruto, Menma is a talented shinobi. You should stick close to him."
"Don't worry, Grandpa Jiraiya! Menma and I get along great!"
Naruto declared proudly, patting his chest.
Jiraiya's smile deepened.
"Good. Let's head back. Rest well tonight. Training continues tomorrow."
"Roger that! Ohhhh!"
Jiraiya felt genuinely happy. The boys were brothers—nothing would make him happier than seeing their bond grow stronger.
But what Jiraiya didn't realize was—
This was nothing but his own wishful thinking.
They had no shared upbringing.
No shared suffering.
Different treatment.
Different childhoods.
To Menma, brotherhood had become a luxury—something childish, something unnecessary.
His heart now belonged only to himself.
Meeting Jiraiya by coincidence had stirred no emotion in him. If anything, it only pushed him to refine his plans for the upcoming Chūnin Exam.
Because Jiraiya's strength… Menma knew exactly where it stood.
In normal conditions, Jiraiya was already one of the strongest among all Kage.
With Sage Mode—even if imperfect—he could overwhelm nearly any Kage-level opponent.
If Jiraiya got involved in the Exams and targeted him, Menma would have no choice but to unleash more of the Nine-Tails' chakra—an absolute worst-case scenario.
And if things deviated from his calculations—
He wouldn't fight.
He would retreat.
Now was not the time to challenge the entire Hidden Leaf.
Not even with Orochimaru and the Hidden Sand acting.
Emotion was one thing.
Survival was another.
Opportunities would come again. Recklessness was not an option.
As for Orochimaru, their relationship was purely transactional—a partnership of mutual benefit. Menma knew that clearly. He had told Kabuto from the beginning: as long as he continued offering useful results, Orochimaru didn't need to act. Their cooperation was merely a test of value.
Does Orochimaru even know Jiraiya is back?
Menma thought as he arrived home.
Better warn him. Getting caught unprepared could be troublesome…
Even ignoring the villains who fell off in later arcs—
Jiraiya was genuine top-tier power.
His battle with the Six Paths of Pain was considered by many fans as the most "Naruto-like" fight of the entire series.
Later battles lost that grounded style.
Menma didn't care who won or lost during Konoha Crush.
He only cared about two things:
Could he escape the village successfully?
And would Orochimaru survive?
If Orochimaru died, Menma's long-term plans would collapse.
That was unacceptable.
I need to be more cautious… far more cautious.
Through his window, Menma looked at the nearly completed Chūnin Exam arena in the distance.
His fists tightened.