Menma Uzumaki

Chapter 2: Friendly Encounter



The forest seemed alive, its gnarled branches reaching out like claws under the dim light of a crescent moon. Peter—no, Menma Uzumaki—moved with an ease that unsettled him, his body responding to the faintest thought as if it had been forged for battle. Every snap of a twig, every whisper of the wind, sent his senses into overdrive. He felt like a predator, but also like prey.

That feeling was confirmed when he heard a faint rustling behind him.

"They're following me," he muttered under his breath, his voice low, cold, and alien to his ears.

He didn't need Menma's memories to tell him who it was. The chakra signatures stalking him were heavy, ominous, and radiated the kind of malice that could only mean one thing—Orochimaru's agents.

He picked up the pace, slipping through the dense trees, his footsteps silent. but no matter how quietly he moved, the presence behind him grew closer.

"Fuck this," he growled, spinning around.

From the shadows emerged four figures, their silhouettes sharp against the dim light. The Sound Four.

He recognized them instantly, Orochimaru's elite bodyguards, each of them dangerous in their own right.

Jirōbō, the hulking brute whose size was matched only by his appetite for violence.

"

Kidōmaru, the six-armed tactician with a sadistic grin and a spider's cunning.

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Sakon and Ukon, the twin fighters who shared one body and a penchant for cruelty.

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Tayuya, the red-haired foulmouth whose flute could summon demons to tear her enemies apart.

The leader, Kidōmaru, stepped forward first, his six arms folding across his chest with a smirk. His eyes gleamed with malice as he surveyed the lone figure before him.

"Look at this asshole," Tayuya sneered, her voice sharp and dripping with venom. "Think you can just waltz into our territory without saying hi to the boss?"

Menma felt the whispers of dark chakra stir within him, rising in response to their hostility. His hands itched to form seals, to unleash the destructive power coiling inside him.

"Back off," he said, his voice icy and calm. "I'm not here to pick a fight."

Sakon chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "That's cute, coming from a guy who just blasted three of our men into the dirt and injured two on the way. You've got balls, I'll give you that."

"Or he's just fucking stupid," Tayuya snapped. She reached for her flute, her fingers twitching with anticipation. "How about I shove my foot so far up your—"

"Shut up," Jirōbō growled, stepping past her. "There's something about this one… He doesn't smell right."

Kidōmaru tilted his head. "Yeah, I feel it too. That aura…" He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You've got the presence of someone important, don't you? Almost like a damn kage.".

Their words didn't help his nerves. If anything, they pissed him off. His body tensed, the dark chakra flaring involuntarily as he clenched his fists. The shadows around him seemed to ripple, a subtle but undeniable show of power.

"Who the fuck are you?" he snapped, his voice a low growl.

Tayuya's smirk vanished in an instant, replaced with a sharp glare. "Watch your fucking tone, asshole."

Sakon raised a hand, silencing her. His grin widened. "Relax, princess. He's got some bite to him—let's see if he's all bark."

They began to fan out, their movements deliberate and predatory. Sakon cracked his knuckles, stepping forward with a menacing grin. "Lord Orochimaru wants to meet you, but if you make this difficult, we can always drag you there in pieces."

"Try it," he snarled, the words leaving his mouth before he could think them through.

The forest around them seemed to hold its breath. Then, faster than he thought possible, Sakon lunged.

The world slowed. Menma's instincts roared to life, his body moving on its own. He sidestepped the attack effortlessly, twisting his body with a speed that shocked even himself. Before Sakon could react, his hand shot out, grabbing the shinobi's wrist and twisting it with enough force to make him cry out in pain.

The dark chakra surged again, unbidden, crackling around his other hand as a Dark Rasengan began to form.

"Enough!" Kidōmaru's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

The two locked eyes, the smirk gone from Kidōmaru's face. For the first time, there was a flicker of hesitation, even fear, in his expression.

"Stand down," he ordered, his voice cold and firm. "We're not here to fight. Lord Orochimaru just wants to talk."

Sakon stumbled back, cradling his wrist and glaring daggers. Tayuya opened her mouth to spit another insult, but one glance at the still-active Rasengan in his hand shut her up.

He didn't move, his chest heaving as the power pulsing through him begged to be unleashed.

Finally, with a growl of frustration, he let the Rasengan dissipate.

"Fine," he said, his voice sharp and cold. "But if this is a trap, you won't fucking live to regret it."

Kidōmaru's smirk returned, but it was weaker this time. "Smart choice. Let's move."

As they led him down the path toward the village, the tension lingered. The Sound Four kept their distance, their wary gazes flicking toward him every so often. Despite their numbers, despite their reputation, they had felt his aura—the presence of a kage, as Kidōmaru put it.

For the first time, he realized just how dangerous this power could make him.

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