Night wrapped the training grounds as the moon shined down on the area. There was only silence, until broken by the sound of Menma's breath's and the soft rustle of leaves.
He stood alone in a clearing of tree's, a little taller now than he'd been years ago, his shoulders were slightly broader, tiny muscles a little lean and honed. Sweat covered his face, and soaked through his clothes, dirt streaked across his face, arms and legs. Kunai's rested loosely between his fingers.
The trees around him were scarred with marks—deep gouges, shallow nicks covered the bark, at precise pinpoints—evidence of his countless repetitions. Wooden target posts lined the tree's and continued down a narrow forest path of marked target's with similar cut's and gouges.
As Menma calmed himself and prepared for the next try. Inside his mind, Kurama began to talk.
Well, Menma, Kurama rumbled lazily through their link, this makes your five-hundredth attempt in the last two years. You should be sleeping right now. You start the Academy tomorrow.
Menma exhaled sharply, chest rising and falling. "I know," he said aloud, voice rough. "But… I think I can do it this time, Kurama-sensei. I just need to get the timing right."
There was a pause.
It would be easier if you were an Uchiha with the Sharigan, Kurama replied dryly. But go on. You been improving greatly.
Menma tightened his grip on the kunai's. "I don't need a Sharingan," he said calmly. "I can do this."
He stepped into the center of the clearing, feet planting firmly into the dirt. The night air felt cold against his skin. Menma closed his eyes.
The world sharpened.
His breathing slowed. His chakra spread outward—not wildly, not explosively, but controlled, and measured. He pictured how Itachi and Shisui did it. Then flow exactly as he'd practiced thousands of times mentally. It was about precision, controlling the angles, and timing.
Then his tiny body moved.
Menma leapt into the air, twisting mid-spin. As kunai slipped from between his fingers like sparks from a flint. One, two, three—then more—each thrown at slightly different angles, each rotation calculated down to fractions of a second.
The kunai's struck the target's.
Metal met wood with sharp thunks. Some blades ricocheted off each other in midair, changing direction with impossible accuracy. One buried itself in a target behind him. Another curved around a tree he hadn't been facing. A third struck a blind spot that would've been fatal in real combat.
Every target was hit.
Before the last echo faded, Menma expanded his chakra sense further, his eyes still closed. He felt the area around him and sensed everything in it—every tree, every shift of air, every faint disturbance from the animals to insects.
He turned and hurled a single, specially sealed marked kunai down the narrow forest path.
Then—Space shifted and folded. In a blink, Menma vanished.
He reappeared farther down the path with the kunai, his momentum already carrying him in the air for a few seconds. He spun again, striking target after target in rapid succession, his kunai flashing through the darkness. As more sharp thunks could be heard as Kunai struck their targets.
On cue, something massive hurtled toward him. A giant log burst from the shadows, hurling straight toward his face.
Menma's eyes snapped open. For a fraction of a second, time seemed to slow. Menma focused sharpened as his adrenaline spiked. He grabbed the kunai with the special seal, and with a quick flick of his wrist threw it.
Then space folded again.
Menma vanished just as the log tore through the space he'd occupied. Menma reappeared beyond it, feet planting lightly as he landed beside the marked kunai embedded in the ground. The log swung harmlessly past him.
Menma bent forward, hands on his knees, breathing hard. "How... was... that…?" he asked between heavy breaths. "Kurama-sensei?"
Kurama was silent for a long moment.
…Not bad, kid, you really made some progress, Kurama said lightly. But don't get cocky. If you think you're anywhere near the Fourth Hokage's level, you're delusional. You finally got a successful flying Raijin seal to work, I just don't know why you made it hard on yourself by having to combine it with your Shurikenjutsu training.
Menma chuckled weakly. "I know. I'm not close. But… I'm glad I made progress. And that's without the rest of the notes from Lord Fugaku's, but I will need them later. Plus I did it this way to get use to using the Flying Raijin in high stress situations. I like to go by the saying"
Menma continued. "Train as you fight, fight as you train."
That is true, Kurama admitted. But your Flying Raijin still has limits. You know that.
Menma nodded, retrieving his scattered kunai. "Yeah until I can naturally create the seals like the fourth, or improve my reaction time, I will still only be a beginner, so far I can only handle two jumps before vertigo hits me. But this is where I needed to be by the time I started the Academy, by the time I take my genin exams I should have a good foundation in it, along with my other jutsu's."
Menma then glanced at the sky through the trees. The moon hung low. 'Alright I'll call it a night here.
Menma headed back toward the village and his apartment.
As Menma walked in he noticed the clock on the wall. It read 9:45 PM. "Good," Menma muttered. "Enough time to shower and eat."
He washed the grime from his body, as steam filled the bathroom, then cooked a simple meal of pepper steak and fried rice, seasoned just enough to his liking. He ate quietly, looking around the apartment.
It's been two years since Fugaku became hokage. So far a lot of things changed in the village and a few things didn't. Beside Menma getting taller and a head start on his ninja arts. Nothing had changed much for his apartment.
The furniture was of decent quality compared to what he first had when he moved here. The space always remained clean with minimal decoration, and just enough space for visitors, though he rarely had any.
On the bookshelf sat his work. Four books. Two stories, each in two volumes. Surprisingly his books did really well with both the male and female demographic. He would continue to use clones to help right his books as well as training.
He was even thinking about writing Tokyo ghoul, but having it take place in the current times. He felt like that story would sell well. Yuna and Tidus check in on him from time to time asking about how the next volumes are coming along. But he gave them enough to meet the dead lines and even gave them small side stories to keep people interested.
They had sold far better than he'd expected. Combined with the stipend Lord Fugaku provided—and the occasional consulting work he did for the village—Menma lived comfortably. He paid his bills, saved aggressively in secret, and stayed independent.
Too independent, some of the the village elders thought.
After the message he gave Lord Hiashi's, his wife lived past childbirth, apparently Shizune was their to help and Tsunade came back under a special payment. But she didn't stay long. More clans in the village began to ask him if he had any prophetic dreams about their situations. From children being born, mission success, even marriages.
Menma couldn't answer them all and other stuff was him just giving obvious answers based on logic. It made certain people in the village look at him in a different light. The glares and hate didn't stop, they just weren't as loud.
Menma didn't like how they used him, but he was used to it since he got something from it. He knew the situations of certain clans and a few political events of the village and others.
Before going to bed, he stood in front of the massive stone egg that dominated one corner of his bedroom
"Tomorrow," Menma said softly, placing his hand against the stone, "… I'll give you more chakra, Sun."
The stone remained silent. Menma turned and went to sleep.
Morning came quickly. Menma ate, dressed, and as he stepped outside— Only to freeze. Before him was Shisui who wore his Konoha military uniform.
"Shisui-sensei?" Menma blinked.
Shisui stood outside his door, relaxed as ever, hands tucked casually into his pockets. He was taller then before, he was 5'11 and now stood at 6 foot now.
"I thought you'd be busy," Menma said. "You just took over as head of the Konoha Military Police."
Shisui smiled and ruffled his hair. "What kind of sensei would I be if I didn't see my student off on his first day to the academy?" He handed Menma a neatly wrapped lunch box. " It's from Lady Mikoto."
Menma accepted it, bowing. "Thank you."
"Come on," Shisui said, gesturing down the street. "Let's go."
They walked together. Shisui asked about his training, and Menma told him about the previous night.
"That's impressive," Shisui said honestly. "And your other studies?"
"I refined my chakra control more," Menma replied. "And my sealing techniques have improved well enough, my Shurikenjutsu is decent as well."
"Good. You will have to show me sometime. Sorry I haven't been around as much."
"It's okay sensei, I know you been busy, I will come by some time after the academy." Menma then noticed the glares at him from the villagers. Some even pulled their children to the side away from as they were walking, but the two kept walking like nothing happened.
The Academy came into view. Parents crowded the entrance. Excited children clung to their hands.
Shinobi bowed respectfully as Lord Fugaku arrived with Sasuke.
Menma spotted familiar faces.
Sasuke waved.
Naruto waved even harder.
"HEY MENMA OVER HERE!" Naruto shouted.
That made everyone look to his direction. Some people looked with the same glares and other looked with analytical eyes. Then Fugaku approached them wearing his Hokage robe.
Shisui bowed to Fugaku. 'Lord Hokage"
Then Kakashi approached and bowed as well.
"Congratulations on the promotion Shisui, when we get a chance we should celebrate together and catch up" Kakashi said.
"Thank you, senior Hatake, I would like that" Shisui replied.
Fugaku looked at Sasuke. "It's fine to keep that rivalry with Menma. But don't forget about Naruto either."
Sasuke grinned. "Yes Father."
Fugaku turned to Menma. "Keep doing as you have before Menma."
"Yes, sir," Menma replied.
Kakashi ruffled Naruto's hair. "Okay Naruto behave."
Naruto laughed. " Big brother Kakashi it's me were talking about!"
Kakashi sighed. " That's what I'm worried about. Especially with your pranks, I fear you taken to much after Lord Jiraiya."
That's funny consider he read's smut basically in front of children for years. Menma thought.
Soon, the students were ushered inside by the academy teachers. After that we were broken up into groups, as are names were called to stand in line behind a ninja teacher. Just like in canon the future Konoha twelve were called in front of Iruka.
After Iruka led us into the class room we took our seats. Iruka-sensei stood at the front of the classroom, smiling warmly. "Good morning everyone I am your homeroom teach Iruka Umino. I will be your teacher for the next few years."
He began to tell us what we would be learning at the academy for the first few years.
As I sat down. I saw so many familiar faces. It felt almost unreal as I saw the same people I grew up watching behind a screen. To my left was Naruto and to my right was Sasuke. But in the front row right in front of me was Hinata.
She kept glancing back, but I couldn't tell if she was looking at me or Naruto. I mean over the past two years I did run into her for a once in a while. Nothing special happened, I think we only had a handful of conversations.
I sighed. I know I'm a clone but to be here learning this stuff was gonna be boring. But the real me wants to build these relationships early.
Back at Menma's apartment
I sat cross-legged, both palms pressed against Sun Wukong's stone egg, steadily feeding it chakra.
Are you sure you want to miss your first day? Kurama asked.
"It's fine," Menma replied. "I don't need the basics, plus that's why I sent a shadow clone. I just need to form relationships and bonds with the children now so I have more allies later."
I guess there's nothing wrong with that. But won't Fugaku and Shisui not like this, Kurama said.
I sighed. "I'm more upset they couldn't tell that, that version of me was a clone. But I guess that goes to show how good my chakra control has come the past two years." I smiled.
Kurama sighed. I don't know why your smiling. Your chakra control is barely passable. You been using it alot over the years to increase the pace, of you learning of different techniques and Jutsu's. But compared to how you were back then you barely improve. I would say your probably at least at the genin level. Which isn't bad for a six year old.
"Seriously sensei. I can't tell if your complimenting me or just critiquing me."
Both. By the average standards you are talented. But the bar you set for yourself is very high for someone like them.
"I know that your right, trying to be on the same level as Itachi, Minato, Shisui , or even surpass them and Hagoromo is a extremely high bar to set. But that doesn't mean I need to do things the way they did them. The only advantage I have is my adult mind, and my road map of the future which is already changed dramatically."
I know Kurama is right but I still want to do it. I want to change this world, and break free from the chains of this system, even if I have to stand on a pile of bodies of those who created it and maintain this hellish world.
That's when the stone egg began to pulse like a beating heart.
Menma's eyes widened. "What's happening…?"
You've must have reached the minimum chakra threshold, Kurama said slowly. Sun has enough chakra to manifest physically again.
Cracks spread across the stone. One by one, then smoke began pouring outward of the cracks.
And where the massive egg once stood— Nothing.
I stood up clearing the smoke from the area. "Huh? Where is he?
Then I when I looked to my bed I some him. A small, naked, gray-furred monkey. The monkey stretched, yawned, then looked at Menma and smirked.
Menma stared." Your Sun Wukong?"
The tiny monkey no bigger then my head, just puffed out his chest. "The one and only," the monkey said proudly, pointing at himself. " I'm Sun Wukong."
Menma stared unimpressed. "…I thought you'd be… bigger."
While just Kurama busted into laughter inside Menma's mind.
Menma could only stare, utterly speechless.