Kakashi graduated from the Ninja Academy at five years old.
By twelve, he was already a Jōnin. If not for the personal tragedies that broke him, he likely would have followed in Minato's footsteps and become another Kage-level shinobi before the age of twenty.
Menma wasn't greedy. He didn't expect to match Kakashi's meteoric rise or reach Jōnin level in the next six years. That was impossible. Kakashi's growth was a mix of prodigious talent and the crucible of war—constant life-or-death battles forged him.
Menma knew he didn't have those conditions.
All he could do was solidify his foundation.
If he couldn't hit Jōnin level, he should at least aim for solid Chūnin strength.
In this critical phase of laying the groundwork, even a small step forward could lead to a qualitative leap in the future.
From the beginning of January to the start of the school term in April, Menma threw himself entirely into chakra molding and control training.
When you're deeply focused, time has a way of slipping by unnoticed. Three months might seem long, but they passed in a flash. Before he knew it, the fresh scent of early spring had arrived at the end of March.
Strictly speaking of chakra usage, Menma could already call himself a quasi-ninja.
After all, he could move at speeds impossible for a civilian and leap to ridiculous heights with a single jump.
This was the result of three months of grueling, meticulous work.
And his chakra wasn't just a trickle. It was a fountain.
Thanks to his talent, even though he could currently only access less than one percent of his total potential, his reserves already surpassed more than half the ninja in the world.
This was Menma's biggest trump card.
In the original series, Kakashi mentioned that Naruto had to constantly use his own chakra to suppress the Nine-Tails. Even with that handicap, Naruto had four times Kakashi's reserves. Without the suppression, Naruto would have had one hundred times Kakashi's chakra.
Whether Menma was exactly the same as the original Naruto remained to be seen.
But as an Uzumaki, his chakra capacity could definitely be measured in "Kakashis."
One percent of his limit was already a terrifying number.
That should be enough for today. Tomorrow is the first day of the Academy. I should head back early, rest up, and get ready.
Menma wrapped up his training for the day.
He stood up, stretched his limbs, and glanced at the setting sun. After estimating the time, he packed up and headed home.
Even though he felt the pressure of time, he was disciplined enough not to overdo it.
The physical durability of humans in this world was far superior to his previous life, but he was still a child. There had to be limits.
He stuck to the basics. He avoided anything too complex or dangerous. After all, he had only started molding chakra this year.
Even the standard chakra control exercises—like tree climbing and water walking—were put on the back burner. He wasn't ready for that level of precision yet.
You have to eat one bite at a time. You have to walk one step at a time.
Arriving home a bit earlier than usual, Menma showered, ate dinner, did some light meditation, and went to bed early.
He wanted a full night's sleep to tackle his first day at the Ninja Academy with peak energy.
However, the night didn't go as smoothly as he had hoped.
Darkness fell completely. The new moon rose slowly.
In the quiet, peaceful atmosphere, Menma's breathing steadied as he drifted into sleep.
It should have been a restful night, gone in the blink of an eye.
But then.
Drip.
The crisp, clear sound of a water droplet echoed from nowhere.
His consciousness snapped awake.
"What is this?"
Menma opened his eyes, staring blankly at the dark, murky space around him.
A second later, a different set of memories flooded his mind.
A shiver ran down his spine.
The scene was all too familiar.
He instantly realized where he was.
"Is this... inside me?"
Empty. Cold. Dim.
And from somewhere in the distance, a sinister, overwhelmingly dangerous aura radiated toward him.
There was no doubt.
He was in the seal.
He was inside the mental landscape that held the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Well, isn't this a double blessing? Menma muttered to himself.
It was much earlier than he had anticipated, but meeting the strongest Tailed Beast ahead of schedule? He was all for it.
Sure, the Nine-Tails might have looked like a glorified pet in the hands of Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, but for anyone else? The Fox would school you in a heartbeat.
This beast was going to be the pillar of his strength in the future.
Menma started walking, following the source of that heavy, malevolent chakra.
A long, dark corridor.
His footsteps echoed off the damp walls.
He walked straight, turned a corner, and stopped.
Before him stood a massive, golden gate. Even from this distance, he could see the thick, red chakra leaking out like a slow-moving fog.
Menma's small body trembled instinctively.
He took a deep breath.
Then, he stepped forward, walking straight into the main chamber.
As he entered, the view opened up.
The light was slightly brighter here.
And there it was—the colossal metal cage towering over him.
It looked exactly like a giant prison cell.
Rumble...
His arrival seemed to stir the inmate.
A flash of red light.
A wave of terrifying chakra surged out, kicking up a storm of water from the floor!
The powerful gale hit Menma in the face, making him tense up.
"Heh heh... Come here, little brat. Come a little closer."
A deep, seductive voice whispered in his ear.
Menma's expression went blank. His mind felt hazy.
subconsciously, he took a step forward, slowly walking toward the cage.
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