"I'm sorry..."
Menma's voice pulled her back to reality; the boy hung his head, feeling somewhat guilty.
Kushina put down the mop and walked over to her son.
She knelt down, her warm palm gently caressing Menma's soft, golden hair.
"Menma doesn't need to apologize."
Her voice was as gentle as water, "Mom is very content now that she has you."
"I'm not sure if there are any other clan members still alive now,"
Kushina said seriously, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of red hair, "but I remember that when Uzushiogakure was destroyed, a few survivors scattered across the Ninja World."
Her gaze went past Menma, looking out at the blue sky through the window, as if she could see those clan members wandering abroad.
"It's just that now... I don't know where they are..."
Menma's deep blue eyes flickered slightly, like a young beast lying in wait in the forest.
His ambition would not stop at Konoha Village, but encompass the entire Ninja World; he needed more help... "Then why was Uzushiogakure destroyed?"
Menma suddenly looked up at Kushina, "Weren't they allies with Konoha?"
Kushina leaned the mop against the wall.
"That was during the Second Great Ninja War, and all the countries feared our sealing jutsu, so they came to attack Uzushiogakure."
Her voice was calm, "As for Konoha... at that time, the Second Hokage had just died on the battlefield, and the Village was struggling both internally and externally, unable to spare any help for Uzushiogakure."
Menma nodded thoughtfully. Hearing that his clan members were scattered across the Ninja World, an idea sparked in his mind: find the surviving clan members, who would be easy to identify by their distinctive red hair.
Thinking of this, he touched his own golden hair, and couldn't help but glance at his dad's photo on the wall.
He had to lament that his dad's genes were too dominant, causing the Uzumaki Clan's iconic red hair to completely disappear on him.
As he was pondering, a "thump" sound came from the entrance.
Naruto, wearing goggles and carrying a net taller than himself on his shoulder, was as dazzling as a little sun: "Big Brother, hurry up! It's getting late!"
"I know."
Menma lightly jumped off the sofa. As he walked towards the door, he didn't forget to shout back: "Mom, we're going fishing!"
"Be careful, and come back early."
Kushina stood by the window, admonishing them.
Outside the door, Shikamaru leaned lazily against the wall. Seeing them come out, he pouted: "You're too slow, Menma, Naruto."
Choji stood quietly to the side, his chubby little hands pulling out two bags of potato chips from his pocket, silently handing them to Menma and Naruto.
Menma smiled as he took the potato chips.
Anyone Choji would actively share snacks with must hold a special place in his heart.
"Let's go."
Menma stuffed the potato chips into his pocket, his golden hair gently swaying in the wind.
The warm sunlight shone on the street. Passing by Ino's family flower shop, Menma immediately saw Ino wearing a large sun hat, pacing restlessly.
She clutched a flower basket in her hand, occasionally standing on her tiptoes to peer around, her hair gently swaying with her movements.
Upon seeing Menma, Ino's previously anxious large eyes instantly lit up, and she excitedly waved her arms, shouting: "Menma! I'm here!"
After saying that, her skirt billowed as she trotted to meet him, her face full of unconcealable joy.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Menma gave her a gentle smile.
Ino's breath hitched, her cheeks flushed, and she followed beside him with her head down, though her eyes kept secretly glancing at Menma, never leaving him.
When Shikamaru saw that Ino was also coming along, he couldn't help but mutter: "Women are such a hassle."
Though his voice was soft, the sharp-eared Ino still caught it.
She sharply turned her head, her almond eyes wide, glaring at Shikamaru with an unfriendly look: "What did you say?"
Shikamaru froze under her gaze, hastily waving his hands: "No... I didn't say anything..."
The group then arrived at the Hyuga Clan's residence.
Naruto cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Neji! Come out, it's time to go fishing!"
His voice echoed through the spacious courtyard.
After a while, Neji unhurriedly walked out carrying a fishing rod, his straight back exuding a heroic spirit, while his father, Hyuga Hizashi, followed behind with a gentle smile, his eyes full of paternal love.
"Uncle Hizashi."
Menma bowed slightly, greeting him politely with a well-behaved smile.
"Ah, it's Menma."
Hyuga Hizashi smiled and nodded, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes curving into crescent moons. He looked at Neji and said gently: "You all have fun."
"Okay!"
Neji responded, deliberately putting on a stern face and an unwilling expression as he joined the group, but the smile in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
As they were about to leave, Menma inadvertently caught a glimpse of a small figure moving behind the door out of the corner of his eye.
He turned to look closely, and saw little Hinata, dressed in training clothes, timidly hiding there, clutching the hem of her clothes with both hands, her large, watery eyes secretly peeking over, full of disappointment.
"How could I forget her?"
Menma thought to himself. He turned and walked towards Hinata, extending his hand to her and gently asking: "Do you want to come along too?"
"I..."
Hinata's face instantly turned crimson, her earlobes tinged with scarlet, and she was so nervous she didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.
She frantically first looked at her uncle beside her, and seeing that he remained silent, she then secretly glanced at her father who was walking towards them. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest. She wanted to go play with her friends, but she also feared going against her father's wishes and making him angry, her eyes full of conflict.
Menma saw Hinata's conflicted expression and knew that she was naturally soft-spoken and shy.
So he took the initiative to step forward, straighten his back, and with a brilliant smile, said to Hyuga Hiashi, who was slowly approaching: "Uncle Hiashi, I'm here to invite Hinata to go fishing with us."
Hyuga Hiashi's expression was as calm as an ancient well.
He first noticed his daughter's timid, cautious gaze as she secretly looked at him, then lowered his head to look at the energetic and sincere smile on Uzumaki Menma's face.
At the moment Hinata was so nervous she almost held her breath.
Hyuga Hiashi finally showed a rare smile, and his voice softened slightly: "Go, but remember to come home early."
Hinata's wide, snow-white eyes widened, her eyelashes trembled incessantly, and her face was filled with an expression of disbelief.
She never expected that her father, who was usually strict and demanding of her, would actually agree to let her go out and play.
Just as she was still in a daze, she suddenly felt a familiar presence approach. Menma had come to her side at some point, so close that they could hear each other's breathing... Hinata felt as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest, and her cheeks were burning hot.
Her mind was blank, and she felt dizzy, as if she would collapse at any second.
"Go change your clothes first, we'll wait for you."
Menma's voice softly entered her ears.
"Huh?"
Hinata finally came to her senses. She looked down at her training clothes and instantly realized, her small face flushing. She quickly scurried back to change her clothes.
Just at the corner, she bumped into her younger sister Hanabi, who was bouncing towards her.
Hinata instinctively opened her arms and steadily caught her sister who had rushed into her embrace.
Hanabi tightly hugged her neck, whining: "Big Sister, play with me!"
Hinata looked at the sparkling expectation in her sister's eyes, her heart filled with reluctance, but then she thought of Menma-kun and her friends waiting outside.
She bit her lip, her tone tinged with apology: "Hanabi, I'll play with you next time... I have to go out, Menma-kun is waiting for me..."
------------------------------------------
Support me on patreon 🙏.
50 chapters in advance on my patreon.
Chûnin-Rank Plan: Read 20 chapters in advance + free waifu.
Jônin-Rank Plan: Read 30 chapters in advance + 10 waifu
Hokage-Rank Plan: Read 40 Chapters in advence
Patreon.com/The_Regicide