Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 310 Minato: Happy New Year, Naruto
On New Year's Eve of Konoha Year 59, fine snowflakes fell silently, enveloping the entire village in a tranquil, silvery-white blanket.

Warm light shone from the windows of every household, and the air was filled with the aroma of New Year's Eve dinner and the faint sounds of laughter.

Across from Naruto's somewhat lonely little apartment, on the snow-covered roof of a house, two figures stood quietly.

Yamato, the ANBU squad leader wearing an animal mask, and Sasuke Uchiha, who was also wearing a mask but looked much younger, were on a surveillance... or rather, protection mission.

With a whooshing sound, Kakashi landed on the rooftop, still in that lazy posture.

"Yo, shifts have changed." Kakashi said to Yamato with a hint of laziness in his voice.

Yamato visibly relaxed upon seeing Kakashi, her tone tinged with a hint of complaint but also revealing her exhaustion: "Captain Kakashi, you've finally arrived. During the New Year holidays, our team hasn't even had a hot meal. Now we can finally hand over the shift and go back for a good rest."

Sasuke, standing to the side, straightened his posture, his voice coming through the mask: "I'm staying."

Yamato and Kakashi exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.

They understood the boy's obsession with everything he had lost and his loneliness with nowhere to go.

Yamato shook his head, offering no further advice, and simply patted Kakashi on the shoulder: "Then I'll leave this place to you, Captain."

After saying that, he vanished into the vast snowy night in a flash, to rejoin his team members and enjoy this rare brief respite.

Only Kakashi and Sasuke remained on the rooftop.

Kakashi took out two still-warm bento boxes from his ninja tool bag and handed one to Sasuke: "Here, it's the New Year, I don't have much to offer. This is a New Year's limited edition bento box from my favorite barbecue restaurant, it tastes pretty good, let's eat together."

Sasuke paused for a moment, looked at the bento box being handed to him through his mask, hesitated for a second, then reached out and took it, saying softly, "...Thank you."

On the cold rooftop, the two found a sheltered corner with a clear view of Naruto's apartment, lifted the lower half of their masks, and silently began to eat their belated "New Year's Eve dinner."

The aroma of grilled meat in the bento box was especially tempting in the cold air.

As Sasuke ate, his gaze involuntarily drifted through the falling snowflakes to the window across the street, which was lit but seemed rather deserted.

He could see Naruto walking alone in the room.

He tried to suppress his doubts, but couldn't. He whispered to Kakashi beside him, "Captain Kakashi, I... I still don't understand. Why use so many Anbu members to... monitor Naruto? Is there something special about him?"

Kakashi paused slightly as he chewed under his mask, swallowed the food in his mouth, and then slowly corrected him, "First of all, Sasuke, remember, our mission is not 'surveillance,' but 'protection.'"

He turned his head, his exposed right eye glancing at the boy beside him, his tone becoming somewhat meaningful: "As for Naruto... he is indeed a very special child. So special that... his safety is closely related to the stability of the entire Hidden Leaf Village."

He paused, looking at Sasuke's eyes, which had suddenly become sharp and even more confused, and continued, "However, with your current strength and level of authority, you are not qualified to know the details. If you want to know the answer..."

Kakashi's voice carried a hint of encouragement, but also a hint of warning: "Just work hard to get stronger. After all, who knows, maybe one day, that 'loser' you mentioned will suddenly catch up with you."

"Tch!" Sasuke immediately let out a disdainful snort, his youthful pride making him blurt it out.

"That idiot who can't even control his chakra? He'll never catch up to me in his entire life!"

Just as the two were talking, they saw Naruto in the apartment across the street, who seemed to have dressed up carefully, wearing a relatively new-looking coat, then picking up a wrapped red gift box tied with a simple ribbon, excitedly opening the door and stepping into the snowy night.

"Let's move." Kakashi immediately put down his half-eaten bento and pulled up his mask.

Sasuke quickly closed the lunchbox and put it away, then put his mask back on.

Like shadows blending into the night, the two leaped lightly and silently between the rooftops covered with thick snow, always keeping a distance from the small, golden figure below, silently following.

Wandering through the streets of Konoha, the warm light shining from the windows of every house, along with the faint sounds of laughter and the aroma of food, pierced Sasuke's heart like invisible needles.

If it weren't for that night of bloodshed, if it weren't for that man...

He should be sitting in his warm home now, smelling the aroma of his mother's carefully prepared New Year's Eve dinner, and perhaps even listening impatiently to his father's stern lecture.

A sharp, agonizing pain struck him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. He could only clench his fists tightly and prick his palms with his nails to stay calm.

In a daze, Kakashi and Sasuke had already followed Naruto to the neighborhood outside the Hyuga clan's territory.

Sasuke saw Naruto run familiarly to a detached courtyard opposite the clan's main gate, his face filled with excitement and anticipation, and he knocked hard on the door.

"That house is...?" Sasuke couldn't help but ask Kakashi in a low voice.

The courtyard doesn't look luxurious, but it exudes a sense of cleanliness and warmth.

Kakashi's gaze also fell on the door, and he replied calmly, "Ah, it's Menma's house."

Sasuke suddenly realized what was happening, and then he saw the courtyard gate open, and Menma, dressed in comfortable home clothes, appeared at the door.

Naruto immediately held up the red gift box in his hand and handed it over, his voice loud and joyful: "Menma-nii! Happy New Year!"

Menma, who was standing at the door, had already sensed the two hidden figures on the rooftop in the distance, Kakashi and Sasuke Uchiha, when Naruto approached, thanks to his 'Kagura Mind's Eye'.

I just didn't expect that Sasuke is already training with Kakashi.

Menma paused for a moment when his gaze fell on the rather plain gift box Naruto handed him, then a genuine and warm smile appeared on his face as he took it: "Thank you, Happy New Year. Come in, it's cold outside."

He stepped aside to let Naruto into the house, then glanced almost imperceptibly in the direction where Kakashi and Sasuke were hiding before gently closing the door.

The two entered the warm and bright living room.

Menma handed Naruto a beautifully packaged little box that he had prepared beforehand, and said with a smile again, "Happy New Year, Naruto. This is a gift for you."

"Thank you, Brother Menma!" Naruto's eyes lit up instantly, and he eagerly took the box, quickly unpacking it.

Inside is a simple necklace with a cool metallic sheen, and the pendant is an abstract spiral pattern.

Naruto didn't know the specific purpose of the necklace, but in his eyes, any gift from Menma was the best treasure in the world.

Overjoyed, he immediately put the necklace on. The cool metal against his skin sent a shiver down his spine, but warmed his heart.

"Brother Menma! Hurry up and open the gift I sent you!" Naruto put on the necklace and urged eagerly, his blue eyes filled with anticipation, eager to see if the other person liked the gift he had prepared.

Menma couldn't help but chuckle at Naruto's anxious and nervous appearance, and was also very curious about what the kid had prepared for him.

He carefully untied the ribbon and opened the red cardboard box.

When he saw the neatly folded dark red scarf lying quietly inside, Mianma paused, his eyes instantly becoming somewhat complicated and profound.

He recognized the scarf.

In my memory, it was Xin Nai who, during her pregnancy, knitted the scarf for her unborn child with love and anticipation, stitch by stitch.

The color of the line in front of him was a bit darker than the image in his memory.

He immediately remembered that Naruto had once casually mentioned that there were two scarves left by his mother at home, one bright red and one dark red.

Clearly, Naruto gave the crimson one to himself.

Menma was silent for a moment, then carefully picked up the scarf and gently and solemnly wrapped it around her neck.

The soft touch of wool enveloped my neck, carrying the unique scent of old fabrics, yet seemingly containing a warmth that transcends time.

"How is it, Menma-san? Is it suitable?" Naruto asked nervously.

Menma suppressed the turmoil in his heart, gave Naruto an incredibly gentle smile, and nodded: "Yes, it's very suitable, and very warm. Thank you, Naruto, this gift... I like it very much."

He gently stroked the scarf and said, "Go wash your hands, it's time to eat. Aunt Mina and the others prepared lots of delicious food before they left today, including your favorite limited-edition super-sized bowl of ramen!"

"Really?! That's amazing!" Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately forgot his earlier nervousness, cheered, and dashed towards the bathroom like a little rocket.

Menma watched his retreating figure with gentle eyes.

The two washed their hands together in the kitchen, and then brought out the sumptuous dishes that had been prepared on the table one by one.

Steamed fish, stewed vegetables, fried tempura, an exquisite sushi platter, and a steaming deluxe ramen served in a special large bowl in front of Naruto.

The small dining table was instantly filled with all kinds of delicious food, creating a festive atmosphere.

Naruto and Menma sat facing each other, hands clasped together, and shouted, "Let's eat!"

Then, without waiting, he picked up his chopsticks and launched an "attack" on the ramen he had been longing for, eating with gusto and a happy expression on his face.

Outside the courtyard, the snow continued to fall heavily.

Kakashi and Sasuke hid in the shadows, looking through the window at the warm scene inside the house where the two of them sat facing each other, enjoying their New Year's Eve dinner.

Looking at Naruto's carefree and contented smile, and at Menma's constant serving of food and conversation with him, Sasuke felt a pang of bitter jealousy rising uncontrollably from the depths of his heart.

Once upon a time, he and Itachi Uchiha were like this too...

But then, the bloodshed of that night and the tragic state of his loved ones instantly overwhelmed this brief moment of tenderness. His deep-seated hatred for Itachi Uchiha once again consumed his heart, making his eyes cold and resolute once more.

After the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, Menma told Naruto to go to the living room to watch TV and relax, while he began to clear the table and wash the dishes.

Naruto, rubbing his round belly, ran excitedly to the living room, turned on the TV, tuned to his favorite movie channel, and nestled comfortably into the sofa.

However, he was completely unaware that the metal necklace around his neck was emitting an extremely faint, almost imperceptible, glow.

A subtle, relaxing, and peaceful energy quietly spread out.

As Naruto watched, he felt an overwhelming drowsiness wash over him. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, his head bobbed up and down, and finally he slumped against the soft sofa cushions, breathing evenly and deeply, and fell into a deep sleep.

When Menma came out of the kitchen after cleaning up, she saw Naruto curled up on the sofa, sleeping soundly.

A knowing smile, tinged with a hint of smugness, appeared on his face.

He walked over, gently picked up a blanket he had prepared beforehand, and carefully covered Naruto, wrapping him up. Then, he himself sat down on the single sofa next to him, picked up the remote, turned down the TV volume, and quietly watched the program.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in the capital of the Star Kingdom, Star City.

In the basement of the Uzumaki family mansion, a Flying Thunder God kunai hangs, the space slightly distorted, and Menma's true form quietly appears.

He stepped onto the stairs and walked into the living room, where a different kind of lively and warm scene unfolded.

Kushina Uzumaki, wearing an apron, was bringing out the last plate of desserts from the kitchen, while Minato Namikaze sat on the sofa, smiling as he watched his wife busy at work.

Uchiha Hikaru sat on the other side. Although his expression was still cold, his eyes were much gentler than usual.

The hydrangea sat obediently on the carpet next to the light.

On that large sofa, a crudely made puppet with short blond hair leaned against the sofa, motionless.

"I'm back," Menma said, her voice filled with the relief of returning home.

When Kushina saw him, a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face: "Welcome home, Menma! Perfect timing, the sweets are all ready."

Menma glanced around the living room and asked, "By the way, where are Mikoto and Gaara? Haven't they come over yet?"

Minato gently explained, "Mikoto just contacted us via communicator. She said she's bringing Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro to her place for the New Year. She said it would be nice for the kids to have some fun together, so they wouldn't feel lonely spending their first New Year away from home."

Upon hearing this, Menma's eyes flashed with admiration: "Aunt Mikoto is so thoughtful."

He paused for a moment and then said, "If she is willing, it would be a good choice to entrust Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara to her care and education in the future."

He believed that with Mikoto Uchiha's gentleness and resilience, she could guide these children well.

Just then, the short-haired, golden-haired puppet on the sofa, which had been motionless, twitched its fingers almost imperceptibly.

………………

[PS: Mecha Naruto]

Naruto felt as if he were floating on warm clouds. In his dazed state, he could only hear a faint, noisy murmur, like many people talking in hushed tones.

He subconsciously rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the sleepiness.

When he struggled to open his heavy eyelids, what came into view was not the familiar living room ceiling of Brother Mianma's house, but a completely different, warm and bright unfamiliar living room.

He blinked in confusion, his vision still a little blurry, as if through a thin layer of mist.

He found himself sitting on a soft sofa, surrounded by a warm and clean environment, with the aroma of food filling the air.

Just then, a figure approached with a fragrant breeze, and then he was gently pulled into a warm embrace by a gentle yet strong arm.

That embrace carried a sense of security he had never experienced before, yet it seemed to be something he had longed for countless times deep in his soul.

A woman's voice, choked with sobs and filled with boundless tenderness, rang in his ear, softly calling out:

"Naruto... my little Naruto..."

Naruto was completely stunned, his mind went blank, as if he was still wavering between dream and reality.

He looked up, his vision gradually clearing, and saw that the person embracing him was a beautiful woman with dazzling red hair like flames. Her face was filled with an excited smile, but her gray eyes were brimming with tears as she stared at him greedily without blinking.

Immediately afterwards, he saw a handsome man with similarly gentle gray eyes and short blond hair stand up from the side and walk over slowly.

To his surprise, he also saw Brother Mianma and two older girls standing not far away, smiling and watching them.

"This...this is..." Naruto muttered to himself, feeling dizzy, as if everything was shrouded in a beautiful but unreal veil.

Standing next to Minato, Menma explained softly to his father, "The initial test of this mental link puppet was quite successful. Using that special necklace and the light 'Tsukuyomi' as a one-time medium, a portion of Naruto's consciousness was temporarily guided and projected over."

"However, for safety reasons, the connection is very weak and will not last long. In addition, a technique to blur the memory has been set up. When he 'wakes up,' he will only feel that he had a particularly warm dream, but the details are vague, and he will not have any doubts."

Minato looked at his youngest son, who was being held tightly in his wife's arms and appeared in a puppet form. His face, as delicate as broken porcelain, showed an incredibly complex and tender expression. He said softly to Menma, "To have done this much... is enough. Really... thank you so much, Menma."

He stepped forward and pulled Kushina and Naruto, who were tightly embracing each other, into his arms.

This is an embrace that transcends life and death, made possible only by forbidden arts and technology.

Holding Naruto tightly in his parents' arms, feeling the warmth emanating from the puppet, a deep-seated emotion stirred within him, causing him to murmur involuntarily:
"Dad...? Mom...?"

He couldn't shed tears; a puppet's body didn't have that function.

But his spirit was trembling violently.

Reason told him that this might just be an overly realistic dream, a vision conjured from his deepest desires.

However, if it's a dream... he'd rather remain trapped in that dream forever and never wake up.

"Alright, alright, the New Year's Eve dinner is getting cold, everyone come and sit down!" Mianma spoke up at the right moment, breaking the overly heavy yet warm atmosphere and inviting everyone to take their seats.

When Naruto heard Menma's familiar voice and saw his family gathered in his "dream," his lively nature seemed to be ignited.

Despite being a puppet, his spirits soared instantly, as if he wanted to make up for all the family warmth he had missed over the years.

Hydrangea obediently sat down in the seat next to Uchiha Hikari. She looked at the blond "puppet boy" who had suddenly become lively, and couldn't help but lean closer to Hikari and whisper, "Hikari-neechan, is he... is he the younger brother that Menma-nii always talks about?"

Not long after joining the family, Hydrangea went from being somewhat intimidated by the powerful Uchiha Hikaru to becoming a complete fan of Hikaru after witnessing his strength and receiving occasional guidance from him.

Hikaru looked gently at Naruto, who was making a ruckus at the dining table, and nodded slightly. His voice was still cold, but with a hint of pity: "Yes, that's right. He's also a... poor little guy."

She had infiltrated Konoha, met Naruto once, and knew about the tragic past of Menma's family.

On the night of her delivery, Aunt Kushina was attacked by a mysterious person and died along with Uncle Minato, leaving her newborn sons Menma and Naruto as orphans.

However, due to certain reasons, the two brothers, though living in the same village and attending the same school, could not recognize each other.

Therefore, she felt deep sympathy for Naruto, a child who had never experienced fatherly or motherly love.

Furthermore, since she had already decided on Menma, she naturally regarded Naruto as a younger brother who needed protection as well.

The atmosphere at the dining table was lively.

Naruto looked at the table full of delicious-looking dishes and was about to cheer when he found that his mother, Kushina, had filled his bowl with all kinds of green vegetables, while the meat dishes he wanted were a bit far away.

He immediately pouted, pointed at his bowl, and shouted, "Why is there only vegetables in front of me? I want meat! I want ramen!"

Before he could finish speaking, a loving "iron fist" landed precisely on his puppet's head, making a soft "thud".

"Don't be picky about food, Naruto!" Kushina stood with her hands on her hips, her bright red hair seemingly swaying slightly with excitement. She glared at Naruto, her tone leaving no room for argument: "Vegetables are the most nutritious! You need to eat more so you can grow as tall as your dad and brother! Hurry up and eat all of these!"

When Menma and his son Minato saw this scene, they both lowered their heads in perfect unison and buried themselves in their food, not daring to say a word, as if they had returned to the time when they were dominated by "Red Pepper" many years ago.

Uchiha Hikaru and Ayaka immediately followed suit, focusing intently on the food in their bowls and trying to minimize their presence.

In this household, Kushina's authority remained unquestionable, both during her lifetime and after her death.

Naruto held his head, which had been hit. Although his puppet body couldn't feel real pain, the feeling of being disciplined by his mother was transmitted to his mind with unmistakable realism.

He yelped twice, but under Kushina's "loving" gaze, he obediently picked up his chopsticks and mumbled softly, "Okay, Mom... I'll eat..."

Although he was "taught a lesson," a strange, unprecedented warmth welled up in his heart.

For him, the feeling of being controlled and nagged was a luxurious warmth.

The lively New Year's Eve dinner finally came to an end in a warm atmosphere, mixed with a little "pressure" for Naruto.

Uchiha Hikaru and Ayakawa got up and helped Kushina clear the table.

Minato had just stood up to help when Kushina gently pushed him away.

"Go keep Naruto company," Kushina smiled gently at Minato, then glanced at Naruto who was looking over curiously. "And Menma too, take Naruto to play. We can handle things here."

Minato and Menma exchanged a smile and nodded.

Minato walked up to Naruto and said gently, "Naruto, come on, Dad and your brother will take you to set off fireworks."

"Fireworks?! Really?" Naruto's eyes lit up instantly.

In Konoha, apart from Menma's Gato Department Store, Naruto usually has difficulty even buying everyday items, let alone fireworks.

The father and his two sons came into the courtyard.

Several boxes of various fireworks were already neatly arranged under the eaves.

The water gate, mahjong tiles, and fireworks were moved to a specially cleared open space in the center of the courtyard.

Naruto excitedly picked up a stick of incense and, under Minato's guidance, carefully lit it.

laugh--

The fuse burned out.

The next moment, a bright flame shot into the sky, piercing the quiet snowy night. Against the star-studded black sky, it burst into a dazzling display with a "bang," transforming into a huge, colorful flower of light that instantly illuminated the entire courtyard and the upturned faces of the three people under the tree.

Gazing at the fleeting yet exquisitely beautiful spectacle in the sky, Minato Namikaze lowered his head, looking at Naruto beside him, whose small face was upturned and whose eyes reflected the fireworks' brilliance. A gentle and contented smile appeared on his resurrected face as he softly said:

Happy New Year, Naruto.

(End of this chapter)