Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Young Master Menma's Daily Life
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"From now on, address him as Young Master Menma. When I'm away, everything here is under Young Master Menma's command!"
In the courtyard, following "that lord's" instructions, Gato had kept only two servants behind. He now stood on the engawa with Menma, lecturing the pair.
"Yes! Lord Gato, Young Master Menma!"
The two servants, both middle-aged women, bowed respectfully to Gato and Menma on the engawa.
They were ordinary villagers from the Hidden Leaf, with no ninja talent to speak of. They usually scraped by as hired help.
Gato paid them double the going rate precisely because they were locals, and they treasured the job for it.
Finally out of the orphanage and free from White Zetsu's watchful eyes, Menma was in high spirits. He lounged on the engawa, savoring the breath of freedom.
Sunlight filtered through the cherry tree branches, casting dappled patterns across the engawa and onto Menma.
Gato soon had the Konoha branch up and running. After appointing a manager, he set off again, peddling wares across the shinobi nations to fund the organization and gather intelligence.
With Kakuzu—arranged by Menma—guarding him, even elite jonin posed little threat to Gato. Hell, Kakuzu could even help him stir up trouble in rival territories.
Gato had the cash to spare, and Kakuzu was all too happy to pocket it.
Meanwhile, Menma settled into young master life in the Hidden Leaf.
Mornings were for chakra control training, afternoons for experimenting with nature chakra combinations, evenings for crafting the Nine-Faced Fox and developing the Nine-Faced Divine Art. In his downtime, he'd wander the village to get his bearings or pick up sweets for Little Nine-Tails.
Days slipped by like this.
The weather was turning chilly. Winter was on its way.
"Hey, Menma."
Little Nine-Tails poked her head out from Menma's fluffy scarf, nibbling a treat he'd handed her.
Gato had left behind a hefty sum, and the branch's revenues were Menma's to spend. His standard of living had shot up; he'd even splurged on new clothes.
"Let's open a dessert shop ourselves."
The palm-sized Little Nine-Tails chomped down on a bite bigger than her own head.
Her fluffy tail tickled Menma's neck as she spoke.
"Sounds like you just want more sweets."
Menma saw right through Little Nine-Tails' little scheme.
He added,
"Too many sweets, and you'll get fat."
"I'm a tailed beast! I don't get fat!"
Little Nine-Tails shot back, then suddenly perked up her fox ears.
"Menma, Boss Lady Hinata's in trouble."
She peered into the distance.
Menma spotted it too.
In the bleak autumn wind of the park, a little girl was cornered by three boys.
As he drew closer, Menma could make out their taunting jeers.
"Ha! Check it out—her eyes are white!"
"Whoa, a Byakugan freak!"
"So gross!"
They say kids speak without malice, but the truth was, they had no idea how cutting their words could be.
The young Hinata had never heard such venom before. Tears brimmed in her pale Byakugan eyes as she squatted on the ground, sobbing.
Seeing the Hyuga girl break down only made the three boys laugh harder, without a care.
They never noticed the shadow creeping up behind them.
Strange—I remember this scene happening during a snowstorm.
Menma sidled up silently behind the trio. He raised his right hand, hooked his index finger over his middle finger, and delivered a sharp forehead flick to each one.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three crisp thwacks cut their laughter short.
"Ow!"
"That hurts!"
"Ah! Who was that?!"
Menma had held back, but it still left their heads spinning. They staggered back several steps.