I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 410 - 410 Jiraiya Returns to The Village

Year 62 of Konoha, Autumn.

The afternoon sun was no longer so harsh, carrying a hint of early autumn coolness as it fell upon Konoha Village.

Cicada cries were gradually thinning. Wind rustled through trees. The air held the familiar scent of grass, trees, and cooking smoke.

Jiraiya stood atop the high walls at the village outskirts, arms crossed over his chest, taking a deep breath.

He had been away from Konoha for exactly two years.

Back then, he left on mission given by Hiruzen, first going to Amegakure to investigate Akatsuki, battling Pain, witnessing that earth-shattering fight.

Entering Land of Stars, he traveled its length and breadth, witnessing the rise and transformation of that emerging nation.

Star City's skyscrapers, Wind County's desert control projects, bustling commerce in port cities, commoners living and working in peace, beggars and drifters gathered for training, given jobs or land to settle…

And Aomori City's chaotic mix of old and new—

Those scenes were still vivid.

But standing here now, looking at the familiar village… those traditional buildings, the winding river through the village, the faint shouts of youths from training grounds, the distant statues of past Hokage on the Hokage Rock…

"Ha ha!" Jiraiya suddenly laughed, a hearty, free laugh. "Even if it can't compare to Star City's dozens of floors of skyscrapers… this is still the place I know best!"

Jiraiya's eyes grew warm.

This was his roots.

He grew up here, learned Ninjutsu here, made lifelong friends here, experienced war here, wrote his first novel here…

Every inch of Konoha Village was imprinted with his memories.

A wanderer returning home, overwhelmed with emotion.

Jiraiya's gaze swept across the village, finally settling on the distant Hokage Rock.

The statues of past Hokage solemnly overlooked the village.

The broad benevolence of First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. The stern severity of Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. The fatherly kindness of Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. The heroic vigor of Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.

Sunlight reflected off the rock surface with a gentle sheen.

But amidst this solemnity, Jiraiya keenly noticed—

On the Hokage Rock, something seemed to be moving?

He narrowed his eyes, shading them with a hand against the glaring sun, looking carefully.

On the forehead of Minato's statue, a tiny golden figure was squirming.

The person had tied themselves with rope mid-air, one hand holding several colorful paint buckets, the other a brush, happily painting Minato's hair… bright pink?

The corner of Jiraiya's mouth twitched.

Next, he saw Minato's cheeks painted with exaggerated blush, his mouth painted into a comical sausage shape, even the forehead protector painted rainbow-colored.

And the statues of the First, Second, and Third Hokage hadn't been spared either.

Hashirama's long hair was painted pink. Tobirama's spiky hair turned fluorescent yellow. Hiruzen's beard was painted with spiral patterns.

The entire Hokage Rock had become a giant, mischief-filled graffiti wall.

Jiraiya was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

He already guessed who it was.

Besides Naruto, who in all of Konoha would dare pull such a prank on the Hokage Rock and not get punished?

Jiraiya's figure instantly vanished from the wall.

Soon, he appeared on the roof of the Hokage Building.

Looking up at the Hokage Rock from here gave a clearer view.

Sure enough, Naruto was dangling from a rope, humming an off-tune melody. His brush was covered in bright blue paint, about to paint exaggerated eyelashes on Minato's statue's eyes.

And on the observation deck atop the Hokage Rock, there were two more figures.

One was a black-haired boy in black casual clothes, a piece of grass in his mouth, hands in pockets, leaning lazily against the railing.

The other was a Byakugan girl from the Hyuga Clan, nervously gripping the railing, leaning out to look down, constantly whispering, "Na-Naruto… be careful…"

Jiraiya's gaze first fell on the Hyuga girl.

"The Hyuga Clan's young lady… no, should be clan head now."

He had some impression of this girl… shy, introverted, good talent, the Hyuga Clan's eldest daughter. He heard that after Hizashi led some branch family's members in rebellion last time, this young lady stood up, abolished the Hyuga Clan's main and branch family system, decreeing no child would bear the Caged Bird Seal from now on, dedicated to solving the Caged Bird issue in this generation, truly unifying Konoha's Hyuga main and branch families.

It's hard to imagine such boldness coming from a twelve-year-old girl.

Jiraiya's gaze shifted to the black-haired boy.

The boy looked about twelve, slender, delicate features, short black hair fluttering slightly in the wind.

He wore a simple black jacket, his whole demeanor carrying a steadiness and lazy air beyond his years.

And…

Jiraiya frowned.

'Why…'

'Did this boy seem somewhat familiar?'

'It's as if I'd seen him somewhere before?'

But thinking carefully, he had no impression at all.

Just then, the black-haired boy seemed to sense Jiraiya's gaze, slowly turning his head. Their eyes met in the air.

For an instant, Jiraiya felt an inexplicable sense of dissonance.

That gaze was too calm. Too calm for a twelve-year-old.

And that gaze seemed to hide something… some indescribable familiarity.

But before Jiraiya could ponder further, an infuriated roar erupted from below.

"Na—ru—to—!! What are you doing again—!!"

The voice was full of anger, helplessness, and deep exhaustion.

Umino Iruka, wearing Konoha's forehead protector, with the scar on his face, was charging towards the Hokage Rock at astonishing speed.

His face was flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead, clearly at the brink of explosion.

Hearing this, Naruto jumped in fright, his hand shaking. The brush slipped, tracing a blue arc through the air.

He scrambled to grab the rope, but only managed to tangle himself up like a dumpling, dangling mid-air like a golden spider caught in a net.

"Ayayaya… Iruka-sensei I'm sorry—!"

"You know you're sorry now?! Too late!"

Iruka reached the base of the Hokage Rock, feet stepping rapidly on the rock face, leaping up in a few bounds to reach Naruto.

He grabbed the back of Naruto's collar with one hand, lifting the blonde boy like a kitten, then executed a graceful flip, landing steadily on the observation deck atop the Hokage Rock.

The whole process was fluid, clearly not the first time he'd done this.

Jiraiya watched with interest, smiling slightly. He also leaped, landing lightly on the observation deck, standing some distance away to watch the scene.

Iruka set Naruto down, hands on hips, glaring down at his troublesome student.

"Naruto!" His voice trembled with agitation. "This is the third time this month! The third time!! Last time you painted the First Hokage's statue as a frog! The time before that you painted the Second's as a zebra! This time you actually… actually put lipstick on the Fourth?!"

Iruka pointed at the colorful graffiti below, his finger shaking. "Do you know how much it costs to clean this?! How many Ninja it takes?! And this shows disrespect to the past Hokage! Disrespect!!"

Naruto hung his head, wringing his hands, muttering softly, "But… I think it looks better this way… The Fourth Hokage would look really cool if he smiled…"

"You dare talk back?!" Iruka nearly choked on his anger.

He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, then turned his gaze to the black-haired boy beside them.

"Menma!" Iruka's voice was still stern, but slightly gentler. "You too! Every time Naruto does this, you never stop him! Instead you watch on the sidelines!"

Menma shrugged, looking innocent. "I think it has artistic merit. And Hinata said it's cute."

Behind him, Hinata blushed at these words, lowering her head whispering, "I-I just thought Menma was right…"

Iruka looked at these three problem students, feeling his temples throb.

Naruto was the repeat offender. Menma was the 'accomplice'. Hinata…

Hinata, though usually well-behaved, lost all principles when it came to Menma.

Iruka sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Hurry up, clean all this up. Before the Patrol Ninja find it, restore the Hokage Rock to normal. Otherwise… your homework for this week doubles!"

"Oh! Leave it to me, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto immediately perked up, grinning a brilliant smile, the paint on his face making it even more comical.

Menma also lazily stood up, brushing dust off his clothes. "Fine, fine, work time."

He turned to Hinata. "Hinata, use your Byakugan to help us spot any missed spots."

"Mhm, mhm!" Hinata nodded emphatically, hands forming seals.

"Byakugan!"

Veins bulged around her eyes. Pure white pupils appeared, her gaze sweeping over the entire Hokage Rock, quickly pinpointing each graffiti spot.

The three got busy.

Naruto lowered himself on the rope again, using wet cloths and special cleaner to wipe off paint.

Menma used Chakra Adhesion to walk on the rock face, cleaning different areas separately.

Hinata stood on the observation deck, directing precisely with her Byakugan. "Left side, about two meters on the rock, blue paint residue… behind the First Hokage's hair, pink not wiped clean…"

Watching the three, though misbehaving but working in harmonious coordination, Iruka shook his head helplessly.

He was worried Naruto would corrupt Menma and Hinata.

Though Menma wasn't exactly a model student to begin with.

This boy usually seemed steady and calm, but once together with Naruto, all sorts of surprising ideas would emerge.

And his strength far surpassed his peers in the Academy. He was the undisputed top student. Iruka even suspected if Menma got serious, he might be stronger than himself, a Chunin.

As Iruka was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed a tall white-haired man standing on the other side of the observation deck.

The man wore a red haori over wooden sandals, long white hair tied in a ponytail at the back.

He was leaning on the railing, smiling as he watched the three young teens busy below, his face nostalgic and amused.

Iruka looked carefully for a few seconds, his eyes gradually widening.

'This attire… this demeanor…'

"You… you are…" Iruka's voice was uncertain. "Jiraiya-sama?"

Jiraiya turned, giving Iruka a bright smile. "Yo, Iruka. Long time no see. You've grown so much. Last time I left, you were still a snot-nosed brat."

Iruka's face flushed red instantly, a mix of excitement at being recognized and embarrassment at the black history.

"It-It's really you, Jiraiya-sama! You've returned!"

"Ah, I've returned." Jiraiya's gaze returned to those below. "I've wandered outside a few years, so it's time to come back and see."

His eyes rested on Naruto, softening.

"That's Minato and Kushina's son, Naruto, right?" Jiraiya remembered when Minato asked him to name his unborn child, adopting the name 'Naruto' from his novel's protagonist.

"Yes, it's Naruto," Iruka answered respectfully. "Though a bit mischievous, but… he's a good kid."

"I can tell." Jiraiya smiled, then looked at Menma. "And that black-haired boy? What's his name?"

Iruka answered, "He's Menma. An orphanage child in Konoha… a few years ago, he was adopted by the merchant Gato, and seems to be nurtured as a potential heir candidate. He's very close with Naruto."

"Menma…" Jiraiya repeated the name, brow slightly furrowing.

An unclear suspicion arose in Jiraiya's heart.

He watched the black-haired boy's adept back cleaning graffiti below. That inexplicable familiarity grew stronger.

But he truly couldn't recall where he'd seen this child.

"Jiraiya-sama?" Iruka spoke carefully. "This time you're back, staying long or…"

"I haven't decided." Jiraiya withdrew his gaze, stretching. "I came to check the situation first. By the way, is the old man in the Hokage Building?"

"Yes. Just now the Hokage-sama notified me Naruto was up to mischief again—"

"Good, then I'll go say hello first."

Jiraiya turned to leave, but after two steps stopped again, looking back towards the Hokage Rock.

Naruto, Menma, Hinata were still busy, sunlight outlining their silhouettes.

The corner of Jiraiya's mouth curved into a slight smile.

"Konoha's new generation… looks like it'll be interesting."

He leaped down from the observation deck, disappearing between leaps towards the Hokage Building.

On the observation deck, Iruka watched Jiraiya's departing back, then looked at the three kids below, giving a light sigh.