Avengers of the Whirlpool Family.

Chapter 3: First Encounter and Loss

Just as Menma dried his body with the towel he brought with him, changed into a set of underwear he had brought with him, and then put on the clothes he had taken off before going into the water, he was about to carry the basket and leave the mountains to return home.

The very vague feeling of surveillance that I could sense before also completely dissipated at this moment.

'Is it time today?'

Although Menma showed no expression on the surface, he was muttering to himself subconsciously in his heart.

This seems to be a surveillance from the void.

Menma had discovered this during an unexpected 'awakening' two or three years ago. Combined with his own red-haired bloodline, this was most likely the bloodline talent ability inherited from his mother, that is, the Uzumaki clan - the Kagura Heart's Eye.

Even though Menma can't use chakra now.

However, this innate ability still allows Menma to reversely detect many things that ordinary people cannot know, such as the several Anbu people who have always been closely monitoring and protecting him, and the "telescope technique" that the Third Hokage often uses with that special crystal.

With Menma's current abilities, it is impossible for him to obtain accurate information about these surveillances, but he can still sense them to some extent, when the technique is started and ended, as well as the Anbu who are following closely around him.

Menma is completely unable to lock onto the exact location, but he can still sense some vague auras. Moreover, it is foreseeable that as Menma's own strength increases and his mastery of his bloodline limit abilities improves, his Kagura Mind's Eye may reach Karin's, or even a higher level, in the future.

It is precisely because I have this ability.

Menma would then feel a slight sense of security. At least he was not ignorant of everything. When he wanted to do something, he could also clearly know what time period he should choose.

Especially when the Third Hokage is personally monitoring him, there really can't be any problems.

Of course, the Third Hokage does not have time every day to observe Menma in person. He basically comes every few days, and each observation time does not exceed three hours at most. He is the Kage of a village, and there are too many things to deal with in a day.

Anyway, since Jinma is accompanied by his direct Anbu who only obeys his orders, and they are still within the territory of the Hidden Leaf Village, Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally does not need to worry too much.

Walking lightly down the mountains.

It was now noon, and unlike going out in the early morning, Menma carefully chose a secluded path on his way back. Because of Kagura's mind, Menma could sense the malice from ordinary people more clearly than Naruto in the original work.

The reason why Menma chose to avoid these people as much as possible was not because of anything else, but because he felt that his capacity and mentality were not up to par yet. He was afraid that he would perceive too much malice and accidentally reveal an angry expression!

This is a big taboo for Menma at this stage.

He could no longer act like Naruto in the original novel, who merely showed reluctance and loneliness and acted as if he was determined to gain recognition from others. Now it was even more impossible for him to add fuel to the fire.

It is of utmost importance to smoothly pass through the most dangerous period of childhood.

Over the past five years.

Menma has always adhered to this principle.

You hardly run into anyone when you go out.

Once they sense something, they will avoid it in advance.

However, there was an exception today.

When Menma deliberately took a long detour and chose a road where usually there were hardly any people coming, he still encountered several figures in an open space near his home.

If it were a normal situation in the past, Mian Ma would have definitely taken a detour.

But today, he stopped, partly because the figures not far away were as young as him.

The second is the little girl surrounded at the center, with her soft black hair, crystal clear white eyes, and that familiar, tender and fragile face.

'Hyuga Hinata...'

Menma also subconsciously murmured the name of the little girl in his heart.

The eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan's main family.

She is also one of the most popular female characters in the original novel. She was also Menma's favorite character when he read the original novel in his previous life.

Menma always felt that Naruto in the original time and space was really lucky. When he fell in love with Hinata, Hinata still loved him.

And in his previous life, he was the most staunch supporter of Naruto-Hina.

Some of the most important memories of the two from their childhood.

Menma is very clear about this.

The most important interaction between the two was the scene before them. When Hinata was bullied by other boys, Naruto stood up for her, leaving an indelible mark in Hinata's heart, even though it was a failed attempt to save the beauty.

A scene that perfectly coincides with this moment.

Menma's heart skipped a beat, and he was about to take a step forward.

However, it was only at that moment.

"Stop it, what are you doing!? A few boys are bullying a girl, and that's it, are you still considered men!?"

A childish voice sounded, bright and cheerful, with a hint of anger.

next second.

A golden figure was the one that took the lead.

Rushed straight to the near point position.

With his arms outstretched, he protected the little girl's small figure behind him.

It was also when he saw the familiar blonde hair and blue eyes, and the figure whose facial features were slightly similar to his own.

Menma's face was stunned.

The boys who had surrounded the little girl were also stunned.

One of them wanted to openly curse at the moment.

The boy in the middle who was obviously slightly older also recognized the identity of the blond boy at the first moment.

He quickly pulled that simple-minded companion away.

"Master Naruto, we are wrong. We will leave now. We will leave now."

He quickly bowed, and his direct words startled the ignorant little boys beside him.

I immediately understood the identity of the blond boy opposite me.

The person in front of you is the son of the Fourth Hokage of Konoha who died fighting for the village - Master Namikaze Naruto.

At this moment.

Several people also bowed hurriedly to greet him.

The gap in status between them and Naruto is huge. If their parents knew that they dared to provoke Master Naruto, they would be beaten to a pulp.

Naruto was also stunned when he saw the fearful looks on their faces.

But only a second later, Naruto's rough personality came into play. He smiled and waved his hand and said, "It's okay as long as you know you're wrong! A man shouldn't bully a girl!"

"Yes, yes, then, Master Naruto, we will be polite first."

"Ok!"

(End of this chapter)