I Am Uzumaki Menma

"Alright, alright, celebrate a bit and that's enough," Kakashi clapped, interrupting Naruto's ongoing cheers. "Stop jumping, Naruto. Keep jumping and you'll stomp a hole in the ground."

"Hehe!" Naruto stopped, but his face still wore that excited smile, blue eyes shining. "Kakashi-sensei! Then when do we start missions? What's our first mission? Bandit subjugation? Escorting a merchant caravan? Or—"

"Tomorrow morning, eight o'clock," Kakashi cut off his endless talk. "Meet at the mission hall in front of the Hokage Building. I'll take you to accept your first mission."

"Okay!" Naruto nodded vigorously!

Kakashi touched his chin. "Remember, don't be late tomorrow."

"I absolutely won't be late!" Naruto thumped his chest in assurance.

Kakashi looked at his swearing expression, a trace of doubt flashing in his dead-fish eye.

From his understanding of Naruto, the likelihood of this kid not being late... was probably about as low as him not reading Icha Icha.

But he didn't point it out, instead looking at Menma.

Menma now wore a faint smile, looking gently at the elated Naruto.

Kakashi walked up to Menma.

Menma looked up at him.

The two locked eyes for a few seconds.

"You, really make people uncomfortable to look at," Kakashi spoke with a complex tone in his voice.

The words were direct, but the tone held no real dislike or hostility… more a helpless sentiment that with such a smart person on the team, slacking off and fooling them would probably be difficult.

Menma tilted his head slightly, the smile on his face deepening a bit. "Then please be patient with me in the future, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi looked at his composed demeanor and suddenly understood how Minato must have felt back when teaching him.

Back then, he too was a genius, always calm, as if nothing but missions mattered.

'Minato-sensei probably often had this sentiment… both relieved at the disciple's excellence, and a bit of a headache from the 'hard to manage' aspect this excellence brought.'

"Forget it," Kakashi waved a hand, resuming that lazy stance. "Since you passed, Team 7 is officially formed. According to tradition..."

He paused, gaze sweeping over the three. "...the teacher should treat the students to a meal to celebrate."

Naruto's eyes instantly lit up.

"Really?! Kakashi-sensei, you're treating?!" He almost pounced on Kakashi, blue eyes shining with anticipation. "What are we eating? Ichiraku Ramen? Or barbecue? Or—"

"Ichiraku Ramen," Kakashi cut off Naruto's fantasies.

"Yeah!" Naruto cheered again. "Ichiraku Ramen! Kakashi-sensei's treating us to Ichiraku Ramen!"

Hinata also showed a happy smile, softly saying, "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei..."

Menma smiled. "Then Kakashi-sensei will have to spend a lot."

"Let's go then," Kakashi turned, heading out of the training ground. "If we go now, there probably won't be many people."

"Wait for me! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto immediately followed, bouncing like an excited puppy.

Hinata and Menma exchanged a glance and followed.

The four left the training ground, walking along the forest path towards Konoha Village.

Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light on the ground.

In the distance, Konoha Village looked peaceful and serene under the afternoon sun. The statues of the successive Hokage on the Hokage Rock quietly overlooked the village, like guardians, like witnesses.

On the way, Naruto kept chattering excitedly.

"Kakashi-sensei! That body flicker move earlier was so fast! I couldn't see it at all!"

"Kakashi-sensei! How strong are you among Jonin?"

"Kakashi-sensei! What's that book you're reading? It looks really interesting!"

Kakashi responded half-heartedly, mostly just 'Mhm', 'Ah', 'Oh', but showed no impatience.

Menma and Hinata walked behind, quietly listening to Naruto and Kakashi's conversation.

"Menma-kun," Hinata spoke softly, cheeks slightly flushed. "Just now... thank you."

Menma turned to look at her. "For what?"

"For always protecting Naruto and me," Hinata's voice was very soft but very sincere. "And... thank you for always staying by our side."

Menma looked into Hinata's pure white eyes, seeing that pure, unreserved trust and reliance, a soft spot in his heart touched.

He reached out, gently ruffling Hinata's hair.

"What are you saying," his voice was very gentle. "Aren't we comrades?"

Hinata's face turned redder, but she didn't pull away, just lowered her head, softly humming.

Up ahead, Naruto, who was talking to Kakashi, suddenly turned back, seeing this, and grinned widely.

"Hinata, why is your face so red?!" He said loudly, with a teasing tone in his voice.

"N-Naruto!" Hinata's face instantly turned crimson, like a ripe apple.

Menma smiled helplessly, retracting his hand.

Kakashi watched this scene, a flicker of amusement in his dead-fish eye.

'Youth really is great...'

He reflected in his heart.

Soon, the four reached the street where Ichiraku Ramen was located.

There weren't many pedestrians on the street now. Ichiraku Ramen's red curtain swayed gently in the breeze, faint noodle broth aroma wafting from inside.

"We're here," Kakashi stopped, lifting the curtain. "Go on in."

"Yeah!" Naruto was the first to charge in. "Uncle Teuchi! Ayame-nee! We're here!"

Menma and Hinata followed him in, and Kakashi entered last.

The ramen shop was quiet, only two or three customers eating.

Teuchi was busy behind the counter. Hearing Naruto's voice, he looked up, a smile on his face.

"It's Naruto," Teuchi's voice was gentle. "And Menma and Hinata... Oh, Kakashi, long time no see."

He looked at Kakashi.

"Yo, long time no see, Teuchi-san," Kakashi was clearly a regular, tone lazy. "They passed their test today. I'm treating them to celebrate."

"Oh? Congratulations! Naruto, Menma, Hinata!" Teuchi nodded with a smile.

He then started preparing, smiling. "The usual? Naruto wants miso ramen with narutomaki, Menma wants tonkotsu ramen with bamboo shoots, Hinata..."

He paused, looking at Hinata. "...Hinata, how many bowls today?"

Hinata's face turned slightly red. "Um... normal portion is fine..."

Kakashi looked at Hinata oddly.

'Normal portion?'

'Why would Teuchi ask 'how many bowls'?'

Before Kakashi could figure it out, Naruto spoke up.

"Hinata, are you sure?" Naruto's expression was serious. "Kakashi-sensei is treating! Shouldn't you eat more?"

Menma also looked at Hinata, a smile at his lips. "Yeah, Hinata. It's a celebration today. It's fine to eat your fill."

Hinata's face turned redder. She looked at Kakashi, then at Menma and Naruto, finally saying softly:

"Then... then... maybe a little more..."

"Alright then!" Teuchi nodded with a smile. "Five large bowls to start! More if needed!"

"Five? Large?" Kakashi was stunned.

He looked at Hinata.

'This slender, delicate-looking, quiet girl could eat five large bowls of ramen in one sitting?'

"Kakashi-sensei, didn't you know?" Naruto leaned close to Kakashi, lowering his voice, but the volume was still enough for everyone to hear. "Hinata can really eat! Last time the three of us came for ramen, she ate fifteen bowls!"

"Fifteen bowls?!" Kakashi was shocked.

He re-examined Hinata.

Those pure white eyes, that fair, delicate face, that shy, girlish demeanor… nothing like a big eater who could down fifteen bowls of ramen.

But both Teuchi and Naruto had 'it's true' expressions on their faces. Menma also smiled and nodded. Hinata herself hung her head, face so red it seemed about to steam.

"Um... I..." Hinata's voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "I actually... don't eat that much..."

"No, no, you eat a lot," Naruto corrected seriously. "Last time after fifteen bowls, you said you were only six-tenths full!"

Kakashi: "..."

He suddenly had a bad premonition.

"Teuchi-san," Kakashi turned to Teuchi. "Five large bowls... about how much would that be?"

Teuchi calculated. "Large bowls are 1,500 ryo each. Five is 7,500 ryo."

Kakashi pulled out his wallet, counting the money inside.

He only had about 33,000 ryo left in his carried wallet.

Five bowls of ramen: 7,500 ryo. He, Naruto, and Menma each having one bowl, totaling less than 5,000 ryo.

'Plus maybe adding more...'

'Enough,' Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief.

But he relaxed too soon.

One hour later.

Kakashi looked at the twenty-first large bowl stacked before Hinata, his hand trembling slightly as he opened his wallet again.

And Hinata had just put down the twenty-first large bowl, cheeks slightly red, softly saying, "Um... Sensei... I'm full now..."

Her voice was sincere, expression sincere, seemingly truly full.

But Kakashi looked at the twenty-one empty bowls, then at the 33,000 ryo in his wallet, a complex emotion welling up inside.

'Twenty-one large bowls of ramen.'

'1,500 ryo per bowl.'

'That was... 31,500 ryo.'

'Plus the bowls I, Naruto, and Menma each ate...'

"Teuchi-san," Kakashi's voice was somewhat dry. "Total... how much?"

Teuchi, wiping bowls behind the counter, looked up at Kakashi's words, smiling. "Let me calculate... Hinata: twenty-one large bowls, 31,500 ryo, Naruto, Menma, and you: one medium bowl each, total 36,500 ryo. Round it down: 36,000 ryo."

Kakashi took a deep breath, pulling out the remaining 33,000 ryo from his wallet, then rummaging through other pockets for some loose change, gathering it together.

He was silent for a few seconds before handing the exact amount to Ayame, Teuchi's daughter.

Ayame smiled. "Thank you for your patronage!"

Menma watched this scene, the corners of his mouth lifting uncontrollably.

"Kakashi-sensei," He spoke, a trace of amusement in his voice. "Need any help?"

Kakashi looked at him, a flash of helplessness in his dead-fish eye.

He sighed. "Just a bit surprised..."

He looked at Hinata, who clearly still had room, 'This girl could probably eat through one explosive tag's worth in a single meal.'

Hinata hung her head, face red as a tomato, hands nervously twisting together, softly saying, "I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei... I ate too much..."

Looking at her like this, Kakashi's earlier heartache over the money suddenly dissipated.

"No need to apologize, Hinata," His voice became gentle, the kind rarely heard from him. "Eating well is a good thing. Ninja need stamina and need Chakra, and these require energy. The more you eat, the better your body, the more Chakra you can store, the greater your future potential."

Kakashi paused, adding, "Besides, when a teacher treats students to a meal, if the students eat happily, the teacher is happy too. Money... doesn't matter."

He said the last part a bit strained, but the sentiment was there.

Hinata looked up at Kakashi, eyes slightly moist.

"Thank you... Kakashi-sensei..."

Naruto watched this, grinning. "See! Hinata, don't be embarrassed! Kakashi-sensei is rich! He's a Jonin!"

Menma propped his chin on his hand, elbow on the table, smiling. "Yeah, Hinata. Since Kakashi-sensei said he's treating, he won't mind that."

Hearing his two disciples' words, the corner of Kakashi's mouth twitched under his mask.

'Since when am I rich?'

He thought of his perpetually empty wallet due to frequently buying limited edition Icha Icha and various ninja tools, a faint sadness welling up inside.

'Forget it.'

'Money gone can be earned again.'

"Alright," Kakashi clapped, standing up. "Since we've finished eating, let's go. There's missions tomorrow, so go home and rest early."

"Yes!" Naruto immediately stood up, full of energy.

Hinata and Menma also got up.

The four bid farewell to Teuchi and Ayame, leaving Ichiraku Ramen.

Outside, the sky was already darkening. The sunset dyed the sky orange-red. Sparse lights were lit on Konoha's streets.

"Alright, that's it for today," Kakashi stood at the ramen shop entrance, looking at his three disciples. "Tomorrow morning, eight o'clock, mission hall at the Hokage Building. Don't be late."

"I absolutely won't be late!" Naruto promised again.

"Mhm," Kakashi nodded, then looked at Menma and Hinata. "You too."

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei," Menma and Hinata responded simultaneously.

Kakashi glanced at them once more, then turned and leaped away, disappearing between rooftops in a few bounds.

Watching Kakashi leave, Naruto stretched with a big yawn.

"Ahh… today was so fun!" His face wore a satisfied smile. "We passed the test, became Kakashi-sensei's students, and ate Ichiraku Ramen!"

He turned to Menma and Hinata, blue eyes shining. "What will our first mission be? I hope it's bandit subjugation! Then we can have real combat!"

"Could also be something like finding a lost cat," Menma burst his fantasy. "Freshly graduated Genin all start with D-rank missions."

"Finding a cat..." Naruto immediately deflated. "That's so boring..."

Hinata said softly, "Being able to... perform missions with Menma-kun... even if it's just finding a cat... I'm happy..."

Hearing Hinata's words, Naruto perked up again. "Yeah! As long as it's with Menma-nii and Hinata, any mission is fine!"

Menma looked at the two, smiling. "Alright then. Let's all go home and rest well today. Tomorrow... let's do our best together."

"Mhm!" Naruto and Hinata nodded.

After Menma and Hinata parted ways with Naruto, they headed home together.

The sunset completely faded, night falling.