The summer night in Konoha was warm and calm.
As a quiet stillness blanketed Konoha's training grounds, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the village settling into sleep. The moon hung high above full, bright, casting silver light across the open field.
In the center of a open field Menma sat crossed-legged alone. His breathing slow, controlled as he was in deep meditation.
However his body, was a different story.
He was taller and older then before, as lean muscle started to show through the visible parts of his tattered clothes.
His clothes were torn in multiple places, edges frayed and darkened with dirt. His skin, once clean and fair, was smeared with dried sweat, dust, and faint bruising. His arms bore light scratches, his knuckles slightly swollen.
Signs of relentless training.
His eyes were closed as remained focused. His chakra flowed steadily beneath his skin in a controlled flow.
But his mind…was somewhere else entirely.
As the world began shifting. Water stretched endlessly beneath his feet. The sky above was vast and cloudy.
And before him a massive presence loomed.
Kurama. The Nine-Tails Fox stood tall, his enormous form dominating the entire landscape. And Menma's view.
The battlefield resembled the Final Valley, or at least what remained of it. The towering statues of the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha were destroyed. And reduced to rubble scattered across the water.
Menma knelt on the surface of the water, his breathing heavy.
Across from him, Kurama's massive tails swayed slowly. He looked unbothered in the slightest.
Kurama looked around still amazed at what Menma was capable of. The suffocating dark prison that once held Kurama was gone.
It was replaced by the boy in front of him. The one that claimed to be from another world with memories of a future that hasn't happened yet.
He's so young and so dangerous. If I don't guide him properly the hate in his heart will consume him, and this world that you fought hard to protect Hagoromo. Kurama thought.
"Well?" Kurama's deep voice rumbled. "You still want to continue with another round Menma?"
Menma didn't answer. He stood up and disappeared Instantly.
Then Poof.
Kurama looked above as hundreds of shadow clones burst into existence. They fell from above spreading across the battlefield and Kurama's large form in perfect synchronization.
Some vanished in flickers of motion using the body flicker technique. While others disappeared completely. Only to reappear across the field in bursts of red light. Using the Flying Raijin to attack Kurama with a flurry of Rasengans and blade strikes.
The battlefield erupted as clones darted in from every direction. Hundreds of blades flashed. Feet skimmed the water as angles overlapped.
Menma and his clones calculated everyone of their precise movements. Timing staggered as several seconds passed but hundreds of attacks landed across Kurama's large body.
But Kurama didn't move, he simply watched.
Then a fast brutal claw swiped destroyed several clones instantly. Then another claw swipe followed by sweeping tails sweep.
More and more clones were destroyed.
But they kept coming.
From above and below. From behind and angles that would overwhelm most opponents.
But Kurama only narrowed his eyes.
"…Hmph."
His voice was almost amused. "It's like being attacked by a colony of ants."
Then Kurama moved.
The massive fox crouched down and then leapt high. The sheer force shattered the water beneath him.
And then the air above shift and twisted as charka gathered. Positive black chakra and negative white chakra began compressing, until a dense sphere of chakra formed in his mouth.
Menma's eyes widened. "…Damnit not again?"
Kurama locked in on the real Menma. And Kurama launches his Bijuu Bomb from above in the sky.
The sphere launched downward with great speed and force, and in that instant the entire area was consumed.
Earth. Water and Menma's clones all vanished. The light consumed everything, even sound disappeared.
And Menma was gone.
Then outside. In the real world, Menma's body remained still. But for a brief moment, a flicker of red chakra leaked from his form. Then it vanished just as quickly, as if it had never been there.
In the distant shadows of the trees, two figures watched Menma. In the silence of the night.
The world inside Menma shifted again. The battlefield was gone now replaced with a peaceful scenery
A shrine now stood as autumn leaves drifted gently through the air, their colors warm and vibrant against the soft glow of the sky.
The ground was solid as the air was calm.
Menma lay flat on his back on the ground staring upward. He was exhausted, not physically but mentally.
Beside him Kurama laid.
Now smaller, roughly the size of a large dog. His tails swayed lazily behind him as he lay on the elevated temple's wooden floor.
He was relaxed but his eyes were still sharp, and always watching Menma.
Menma exhaled slowly. Damn fox, always does that and end's the fight to soon, I'm lucky if I can fight him for a few minutes, let alone a few seconds.
"…Kurama-sensei… that's not fair. You spam that technique to much."
Kurama didn't look at him. He just stared out at the peaceful cloudy sky. "You're the one who insisted on these battles. If I remember correctly you told me not to hold back, and I'm not."
Menma turned his head slightly. "I know I said that but still, you always end things with that damn Bijuu Bomb. What's the point of fighting if I die to quick to actually learn anything?"
Kurama's lips curled into a sly grin. "In the past five years, if you still haven't learned how to survive then your not ready to take full control of my power. You will forever be a borrower, not wielder. "
Menma clicked his tongue softly. "…Tch."
Kurama's eyes flickered toward him. "I'm the strongest of all the Tailed Beasts. If you could subdue me at eleven years old, then you would be considered a bigger monster then me, or better then Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju …"
Menma grin widened slightly.
"No, those two were the Prodigies of their era, just like Hagoromo and Hamura. There will only ever be one them ever. They are once in a lifetime prodigies. Even Tobirama Senju is one."
"That's fair to say but since were on the subject since you know alot about the future who are strong individuals you would consider these once in a life time prodigies?"
Menma paused for a moment consider what he remembered from the Naruto data books and the lore.
"Well in my opinion the leaf village has the most diverse and powerful group of ninja in the whole world. As generational prodigies it would: Shisui-sensei. Orochimaru. Kakashi Hatake. Fugaku Uchiha. The Third Hokage."
Menma continued. " But the once in a lifetimes. They are a whole different class: Itachi, Uchiha, The Forth Hokage. And Sakumo Hatake. There are a few more in each list but these are the main ones of note. If the leaf village didn't suffer from in fighter and backdoor politics, even without me being nine tails Jinchuriki, they would be a unstoppable force. "
"Aren't you giving the Konoha to much credit? Sure they have some strong individuals, but nothing compared to the legends of old."
Menma sat up slowly. " No at all. Half the people I listed could capture you without the right conditions being met, one has under the worst conditions. And at least three of them could possibly kill you."
Kurama glared at Menma frustration beginning to build in his temperament. " Who?"
Menma didn't hesitate." Fugaku could control you and me with his Mangekyō Sharingan just like Madara did. Itachi and Shisui could do both. Itachi genjutsu is extremely potent. I don't know if he possesses a certain weapon because this world is different. But if he does, his Susanoo, could possesses the Totsuka Blade, a sealing weapon that can seal you in a world of drunken dreams. Plus his Amaterasu black flames could possibly kill you if not severely injure you."
"Shisui sensei possesses a Mangekyo Sharingan and with powerful genjutsu Kotoamatsukami, which allows him to manipulate targets without them knowing. In my opinion he is the Fugaku Uchiha of my generation. "
Kurama grunted in annoyance. "Damn Uchiha with that blasted Sharingan. But that was only two who is the third person?"
Menma paused as he looked back. " My mother."
Kurama sighed and closed his eyes.
"Whatever. You damn Uzumaki and those chains."
Menma smirked. "Even still it feels like a waste. That I haven' improved that much after all this time."
Kurama stretched slightly.
"That's not true."
Menma glanced at him.
"Your were able to get strong at a young age dew to a lot of factors on your side. Compared to the rest of your class I would say you are still stronger. You been outworking them it just helps they you a genetically blessed with high chakra and me. But you getting overwhelmed teaches you more than winning ever will."
A pause.
"Either Learn to dodge or outmaneuver me. I know Sun has been teaching you a thing or two. Plus you already have the tools you need, your just not using them correctly."
Kurama continued.
"So keep losing until you can adapt."
Menma leaned back slightly, resting his hands behind him.
"… I will have to, in a year and a half I will have to fight Shukaku."
Kurama snorted. "That annoying tanuki?"
His tails flicked once.
"If you think you can go ahead. That might be good for you to try an opponent at a lower level."
Menma let out a small breath. That's easier said ten done, no tailed beast is easy to deal with unless you have the right tools.
"Yeah…I'll have to face him eventually If I want to save him."
Kurama's eyes opened slightly wider. "… You mean the Jinchuriki Gaara."
Menma nodded."…Yeah. I want to save him from being alone and isolated like me."
Then the silence settled between the two, the wind moved softly through the shrine.
Then Kurama spoke again. "You know have me."
Menma didn't respond immediately.
"And you have Sun." A faint pause, just don't forget…" Kurama's voice lowered slightly. "…you can't do everything alone."
Menma's gaze lifted toward the sky.
"Hagoromo needed help from his brother against his mother."
A brief silence and Menma exhaled slowly. "…I know sensei."
Kurama studied him for a moment. "…Then tell him."
Menma blinked. "… Tell who?"
Kurama's gaze sharpened. "…Naruto."
But silence as Menma stared at the sky. Then he spoke.
"…There's no point in telling him. What would it change?"
Kurama didn't speak.
Menma continued his voice was calm and measured. "…We were separated as birth, and are life's chosen for us. He was chosen to be loved by the Village as a child of the Hokage who sacrificed himself to save the village. While I chosen to be it's best weapon and the target of everyone's hate."
There was no anger or bitterness in Menma's voice just facts.
"I'm genuinely happy for Naruto. I really am. I grew up watching a kid who had nothing and nobody be hated for something he didn't do. But here, he has his godfather Jiraiya. A big brother in Kakashi. The village acknowledges and loves him."
Menma pause. "…He doesn't need me. The path I'm walking is to dangerous, and I want my brother to love a good happy our parents can be proud of."
Kurama's gaze softened slightly.
"…And you?"
Menma smiled faintly.
"I'm not completely alone, like you said I have you Kurama-sensei. I also have Mikoto and Shisui-sensei. I even think of Anko like an older sister after these past few years. "
Kurama didn't react outwardly and for a moment neither of them spoke.
Menma you do have some people but that didn't stop the anger and resentment from forming in your heart. If you don't do something you will go down a path you can't come back from.
Then before Kurama could say anything, him and Shisu at the same time sensed two presences.
Their eyes widened as the both of them looked up at the sky.
Kurama's eyes narrowed slightly. "… Looks like you have guests."
Menma sighed. "…Yeah I do.' Menma stood up " I'll see you later sensei, next time I'm here lets make you a lake behind the shrine.' Menma said as he left his inner world.
He retuned to the real world and as Menma's eyes opened. The moonlight reflected off his lavender irises.
His mind remained calm, but he focused he chakra sense and expanded his sense. As Menma did this, he became aware of two individuals hidden in the treeline.
His eyes focused on their location, and from the treeline the two figures launched forward in a fast, lethal stride.
In that same instant Menma vanished. In a red flash he reappeared between them.
A tantō sword in his hand.
Steel clashed as one blade met another, Shisui one of the figures brought out his longer blade. And at the same time, Menma's leg shot out.
A precise kick that went for the second figure, who Menma realized was Anko. She blocked it with her forearm, but the force pushed her back slightly.
In the same instance the three separated instantly, landing in a triangular formation.
Menma's body flickered retreating several meters.
Shisui then activated Sharingan as three tomoe's spun slowly.
Anko rolled her shoulders, as she pulled out kunai already in hand. "Well Menma, let's see how much you've grown." Shisui said calmly.
Anko grinned. " And don't think those shadow clones will save you this time."
Menma raised his blade and readied himself into a lowered stance. His gaze was cold, and his senses were sharp and focused.
"Well here I thought I was done training for the day, but oh well…Bring it on, sensei's."
Then he lauched himself forward. The tantō left his hand flew through the air toward Anko.
She dodged easily.
But in a instant Menma vanished and reappeared behind her.
His tanto blade already in hand, as he readies himself to strike.
Anko's eyes widened just slightly.
She knew she didn't have enough time to fully react, but her instincts kicked in. Her body twisted, barely avoiding a clean hit as steel sliced past her shoulder.
Shisui moved instantly.
Appearing at Menma's in a flicker, with a kick aimed at his ribs.
Menma blocked, but the force sent him sliding across the ground.
He managed to regain footing quickly. He kept his breathing steady, but his eyes remained locked on the two.
Both of them are fast. Even faster then before, what have then been up to the last six months? Menma tightened his grip on the blade.
I know I can't win against them either way.
His stance shifted slightly.
But I don't need to.
A faint smile then formed on Menma's face.
Just like Kurama said, I need to adapt. So I will push myself like my life is on the line.
Then Menma raised one hand in a hand sign as his chakra surged.
Then in another moment, shadow clones began to form.
And under the moonlight the real fight was about to begin.