"Danzo."
With a clatter, Minato's elbow knocked over the ink bottle on the desk, and he nearly fell out of his chair.
He stood up abruptly, ink spreading in a dark stain on the documents.
"Menma!"
He lowered his voice, his tone unprecedentedly stern, "Do you know what you're saying?"
Menma calmly righted the ink bottle and took a rag from the drawer to wipe the desk. His movements were unhurried, a stark contrast to his father's shocked expression.
"Dad, if I were to use your name," he said, wiping the desk, "to establish an organization even more secretive than Anbu, and eliminate dissenters and seek personal gain in the name of 'for the Village,' what would you do?"
Minato's pupils contracted slightly.
He slowly sat back in his chair, his gaze complex as he scrutinized this son who had suddenly become somewhat unfamiliar.
Menma's profile had shed its childishness, revealing a composure unsuited for his age.
"How did you know..."
Minato's voice was a little dry.
He, of course, knew about Danzo's unsavory dealings, but out of respect for the Third Hokage and considering his own shallow roots, he had always chosen to tolerate it.
Minato slowly crouched down until his eyes were level with his six-year-old son.
He took a deep breath, his hands gently resting on Menma's small shoulders.
"Everything you've said... Dad understands."
Minato's voice was soft, tinged with fatigue, "But reality is often far more complex than imagined..."
"It's you, Dad, who's overthinking it."
Menma shook his head, his childish voice saying, "Sometimes, solving problems is simpleif you want to protect your family, guard the Village, and achieve your ideals, you must make a decision."
He held out his small hand, gesturing, "Whether it's Root or Uchiha, they should all serve the Village and work for the Hokage!"
Minato's pupils constricted, and he looked in shock at the child, who only reached his waist.
In the halo of the desk lamp, Menma's golden hair glowed softly, but the sharpness in his blue eyes was startling.
"Rotten roots must be dug out," Menma made a pulling motion, "otherwise the entire tree will wither."
He paused, then showed a pure, innocent smile: "And Grandpa Third Hokage's Will of Fire won't be any worse than yours, Dad."
"Menma..."
Minato's voice trembled slightly.
He suddenly realized that he might have never truly understood his son.
The short conversation of a few minutes had brought him more shock than the sum of the past thirty years.
"How did you... think of all this?"
Minato asked softly.
Menma tilted his head, showing the innocent smile a six-year-old should have: "By reading, of course!"
Minato ruffled his son's golden hair, forcing a smile: "Let me think about it first... You go rest, you have school tomorrow."
"Okay!"
Menma nodded obediently, a slight smile playing on his lips as he turned away.
He knew his father had been persuadedhow could someone who became the Fourth Hokage truly be as gentle and harmless as he appeared on the surface?
The title of Yellow Flash was earned through bloodshed!
The study door gently closed, and Minato gazed at the lamp's shadow on the desk, his eyes gradually deepening.
Outside the window, Konoha's lights still glowed warmly and brightly, but who could have imagined that beneath this peaceful and harmonious facade, a storm was brewing, one capable of changing the Village's entire structure?
And the one who stirred up this storm was a six-year-old child... The sun shone into the classroom of Konoha Ninja Academy. Menma lay on his desk, poking eraser shavings with his pencil.
He envied Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi for graduating early, but the thought of his mom getting angry made him not dare to apply for a skip.
"Menma."
Ino's voice reached him.
He didn't lift his head, asking in a muffled voice, "What is it?"
Ino leaned closer, her blonde hair falling before his eyes: "After class, can you teach me the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Menma sat up straight, looking at her in confusion: "Didn't you already learn it?"
He had taught her at the training ground three days ago, and at that time, Ino's three Shadow Clones were quite realistic.
Ino tugged his sleeve and shook it: "I'm still not proficient enough, can you teach me again, please?"
Menma nodded helplessly: "I'll teach you when I have time."
"Really?!"
Ino's eyes lit up, her ponytail swaying with her movement.
"Yes."
Menma suddenly smiled, "If my mom asks later, just tell her I went to your house to look at flowers."
"Why?"
Ino tilted her head and asked.
"Just do as I say."
Menma stared at her and said.
Ino's ears turned red, and she lowered her head: "Okay..."
The class bell rang, and Menma immediately lay back on his desk.
Hinata, nearby, watched the two of them. She wished she could be as bold as Ino, speaking to Menma freely, instead of only secretly observing him as she was now.
During recess, Naruto burst into the classroom like a whirlwind, leaning in mysteriously to Menma's ear and whispering, "Big Brother, do you want me to stall Sasuke for you again today?"
Recalling the scene yesterday when he and Shikamaru dragged Sasuke into the small woods, he felt a thrill.
"No need."
Menma waved his hand, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the front row.
Sasuke had been sulking since morning, looking as if he'd been tormented a hundred times over.
"What did you guys do to him yesterday?"
"We didn't do anything."
Naruto scratched the back of his head with a silly grin, his golden hair tips trembling with the movement.
Menma narrowed his eyes suspiciously: "Then why isn't he talking to any of you all day?"
He had clearly seen Sasuke's disgusted expression this morning; even Naruto's initiative attempt to talk to him was ignored. This was definitely a problem.
"We really didn't do anything!"
Naruto raised his hands, his eyes guiltily drifting towards the window, "We just... helped him with some training..."
"Training?"
Menma raised an eyebrow, "Be more specific."
He was also curious what kind of training could make someone like this.
Naruto tried to squeeze between Menma and Ino, but Ino's glare pinned him in place, so he had to slink around to the other side.
He pulled out a fluorescent green piece of fabric from his Ninja tool pouch: "Yesterday, we met Brother Kakashi and Brother Guy at the training ground, and Brother Guy gave us each a set of special training clothes."
The unfolded bodysuit was blindingly green in the sunlight, "Sasuke absolutely refused to wear it, so we... helped him put it on..."
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Sasuke in the front row, who was emanating a low-pressure aura. Naruto still looked utterly bewildered: "I think it looks pretty good, though? It's really convenient for training."
"Naruto!"
Menma stared at the bodysuit that seemed to glow on its own, and his scalp instantly tingled.
The image of Might Guy's iconic dazzling smile flashed in his mind, and then imagining Naruto and the others standing in a row striking a "youth" pose, he shivered.
"Don't let me see you wearing that again," he pressed Naruto's shoulder, "and especially don't let Mom see it!"
"Why not?"
Naruto pouted and shook the clothes in his hand, "It's really comfortable to wear..."
"No why!"
Menma interrupted him decisively, "It's just not allowed!"
"Okay..."
Naruto pouted and stuffed the clothes back into his bag, walking back dejectedly. As he passed Sasuke's seat, he tried to speak, but was scared into shrinking his neck by the other's murderous glare.
As soon as the dismissal bell rang, the school gate was crowded with parents picking up their children.
His mom had picked him up a few times at the beginning of the school year but hadn't come since, and there was no hope for his dad, the Hokage.
As Menma stepped out of the school gate, he glimpsed Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi peeking around the corner.
Just as he was about to go over, Sasuke had already rushed out ahead of him, the gloom on his face completely gone, shouting "Brother!" and pouncing towards Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi extended his hand and tapped Sasuke's forehead, stopping his momentum, and said with a smile, "Forgive me, Sasuke, I have something to do; we'll talk next time."
After speaking, he ignored Sasuke's disappointed expression and walked towards Menma with Shisui.
------------------------------------------
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