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

Chapter 52: Three Generations of Old Deng!

Outside the village of Moye, the wide Namga River meanders past the edge of the village, through dense forests, and finally flows into the distant sea.

In this forest, a few trickling streams dot the landscape, adding a touch of vibrancy to the greenery.

Menma, Naruto, and Hinata ran all the way and stopped by a small river.

"This is my secret base!" Naruto excitedly introduced to Menma and Hinata.

Mianma looked around. The open space, about the size of a basketball court, was surrounded by lush forests and overgrown weeds, with a long-extinguished fire in the center.

Hollow logs hung from the tree trunks around the area, and small stones the size of a little finger were scattered on the ground.

It seems Naruto practices here often.

Naruto rummaged through a hollow tree and found three simple fishing rods.

This is a small hook that Naruto made himself by tying fishing line and nails to a tree branch.

"Menma-kun, Hinata, you can pick one." Naruto enthusiastically handed over three simple fishing rods.

"Then I'll choose this one." Menma casually picked up the one closest to her.

Hinata did the same; she just randomly chose one.

Instead of going fishing, the three of them began searching for earthworms under the dead tree.

"Byakugan!" Hinata shouted softly, veins bulging around her eyes, her gaze piercing through the soil, accurately pointing out the earthworm's location.

Menma and Naruto followed her directions, turned over a piece of dead wood, and sure enough, they found several small holes. They then started digging with branches.

"Wow! So many earthworms!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise.

He used to search for earthworms alone for ages and couldn't find more than a few. It took him a long time to figure out that earthworms prefer soft soil under dead wood.

Menma also gave Hinata a thumbs up.

The three arrived at the riverbank. One of them chose a spot to sit down and began to hang earthworms on hooks made of small iron nails, then cast his line.

Under the shade of the trees, the clear river water flows gently, and three children fish and chat.

Menma deliberately told Naruto and Hinata the fairy tales they had learned in their previous life, captivating them so much that they almost didn't notice when a fish bit their fishing rod.

Naruto frantically pulled up his fishing rod, only to find that it was just a fish the size of his palm. Somewhat disappointed, he put it in a small pond built up by the river, then baited the hook with an earthworm, cast the line, and continued listening to Menma's story.

"In the past, during a time of war and chaos, there was a country with a law that if anyone could redeem a citizen who had been enslaved abroad, the country would provide compensation. One day, a man named Zigong redeemed a citizen but refused to provide compensation. When Confucius, as a teacher, learned of this, he criticized him instead." Menma told Naruto the story of Zigong redeeming a citizen.

"Why?" Naruto asked, a puzzled look on his face.

The people were redeemed, and Zigong did not ask for compensation, saving the country money. Wasn't that a win-win situation?

Mianma patiently explained: "Because Zigong's behavior was a matter of personal morality, his refusal to accept compensation fulfilled his small act of righteousness, but it inadvertently raised the cost and standard of doing good. If Zigong did not accept compensation from the state, and others later redeemed their citizens and then asked the state for compensation, they would be criticized by others for 'not being selfless enough.' This is called moral blackmail."

Menma explained to Naruto step by step: "You can't demand that others do the same things as you based on your own standards. That will only raise the bar so high that only a few people can afford to do it, thus dampening the enthusiasm of ordinary people for doing good."

"In this way, doing good deeds becomes a burden, and who among ordinary people would be willing to do it?"

"Morality is meant to restrain oneself, not to coerce others," Menma concluded. "If acts of kindness become a burden, it will only lead to fewer and fewer people being willing to do good."

Naruto nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Seeing this, Mianma didn't press him, but only hoped that he could remember the story.

Then, Menma told Naruto some other fables.

Time passed quietly, and the three of them caught several fish in succession, and began to make a fire to grill them.

Naruto volunteered to treat Menma and Hinata to a grilled fish feast he had personally cooked, but a fish's tail slapped him across the face, making Menma and Hinata burst into laughter.

Naruto wasn't annoyed; he scratched his head and chuckled along.

Naruto cherished these leisurely times spent playing with his peers.

On a large tree not far away, Hinata Takashi was secretly protecting Hinata. Seeing the three of them start eating grilled fish, he also took out the dry food he carried with him from his pocket and began to chew it.

Suddenly, there was a slight noise next to Hyuga Takashi.

He turned his head and found that, without him noticing, there was a small old man on his right, dressed in casual clothes, with slightly pointed hair and a goatee.

Hyuga Takashi immediately put down the rice ball, his whole body tensing up.

"Relax." Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Takashi Hyuga a kind smile, just like an ordinary old neighbor.

"Third Hokage!" Hyuga Takashi recognized the Third Hokage, who also served as the principal of the Ninja Academy, and remained respectful despite his surprise.

I just don't understand why the Third Hokage would be here.

"I'm going to check on the children. You should rest too." With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped down from the tree trunk.

"Yes, Third Hokage!" Hyuga Takashi bowed slightly, but dared not relax in the slightest.

Standing quietly on the tree trunk, I watched Hiruzen Sarutobi walk towards the three children.

Hinata, the leader, keenly sensed the movement and looked up at the old man approaching.

Menma had actually noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrival long ago, but he pretended not to know and continued eating his grilled fish until Hinata looked up, at which point he followed her gaze.

Naruto, who was engrossed in eating fish, also noticed something amiss and looked in the direction Hinata was looking.

"Eh? Grandpa, who are you?" Naruto had never met anyone else in this secret base before.

"Ah, I'm just an old man passing by." The Third Hokage walked over slowly with a smile, slightly surprised by Hinata Hyuga's wariness and keenness.

The boy named Menma was a little slower to react than Hinata, but he was still a promising talent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately didn't wear the Hokage robes and hat today, wanting to approach the three children as an ordinary old man.

But he clearly didn't know Hinata.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up to the fire in front of the three children, he was just about to try to get closer to them when...

Hinata curled her lip and said something surprising: "Isn't that the Third Hokage, Old Man Deng?"

puff--

Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Wait a minute, I remember this girl from the Hyuga family is a rather introverted child." Hiruzen Sarutobi was confused.

Hyuga Takashi, perched on a tree, sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Let me introduce you to our village's Third Hokage," Hinata said, waving the grilled fish in her hand as she introduced Naruto and Masahiro to her.

"Naruto!!!" Naruto's eyes lit up instantly, filled with longing and admiration.

In his mind, the Hokage is the strongest person!

Mianma slowly ate his grilled fish, then casually picked up a twig skewered with the fish and handed it over: "Grandpa, would you like some?"

Looking into the children's sincere eyes and at the grilled fish they offered, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly found these three little guys extremely interesting.

He laughed heartily, took the grilled fish, and sat down by the fire.