"Sure enough, you were the first to arrive." Menma stood at the entrance of the central tower, watching the first team to appear — Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
First to arrive? Was that sarcasm? When Temari and Kankuro heard this, their expressions turned sour.
"You're the first one," Temari shot back.
Menma raised his index finger and waved it lightly in the air. "That's different. It's kind of unfair for you guys to be part of this Chunin Exam, so—"
"I never counted myself in."
Temari: (╬)
Kankuro: (╬) He's even cockier than Gaara...
At that moment, Gaara opened his gourd, and sand began to flow out.
Oh? Getting serious already? Menma's lips curved slightly, amused by Gaara's reaction.
"Sand binding coffin!" Gaara shouted, sending the sand surging toward Menma.
Sand: (・・? ) Where'd he go?
The sand rushed forward — but Menma had vanished.
"Where did he go?" Temari scanned the surroundings in confusion.
Even Gaara's calm eyes flickered in surprise.
"Behind you," Menma's voice came from behind. The trio spun around and saw him standing three meters away, wearing a relaxed smile.
That smile, however, looked downright insulting to them.
Could this be tolerated?
"Sand binds the coffin!" Gaara attacked again, while Temari swung her fan.
"Wind Style: Kamaitachi!" she cried, unleashing a violent gust toward Menma.
Menma sighed softly. Can't we just talk things out? Must it always end in violence?
With a soft whoosh, he disappeared again, effortlessly evading both attacks.
"He dodged again!" Kankuro exclaimed in disbelief.
Then came Menma's voice from behind them — again.
"Don't move, or I won't be polite."
Gaara's face twitched with irritation. He was about to move when Kankuro grabbed his arm. Temari caught the other, silently telling him to stop.
Gaara, of course, didn't care to listen. He tensed, ready to continue.
Menma raised an eyebrow. "If you really want to fight, there'll be a chance in the next Chunin Exam. Who knows — maybe you'll face me then."
He bent down, picked up a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll from the ground, and walked calmly into the tower.
Inside, Menma noticed a line written on the wall:
"If there is no heaven, then know wisdom to prepare for opportunities; it is the ultimate mystery."
Menma: "..."
Doesn't this just mean open both scrolls? Why the riddle?
He opened both scrolls simultaneously, curious to see who would appear.
A puff of smoke filled the room, and a shadow emerged within it.
Menma smiled. "Haha, is that you, Kakashi-sensei?"
But when the smoke cleared, Menma froze.
Long black hair, deep eyes framed by long lashes, the Uchiha clan crest on his uniform — it was Uchiha Itachi, the clan's patriarch.
Menma's best friend.
Menma: (￣ω￣;)
Itachi chuckled softly. "It's rare to see you so surprised, Menma."
"Itachi! Why you?" Menma blinked. He had expected either Kakashi or Jiraiya — not this.
"Lord Hokage asked me to help out, so I agreed," Itachi replied.
"Haha, perfect timing! I needed to see you anyway," Menma said, pulling him aside.
"Wait," Itachi said quickly. "There's something I need to do first."
"Huh?" Menma tilted his head.
Itachi announced formally, "Congratulations, Menma. You've passed the second exam."
Menma: "..." That's it?
Without a word, he grabbed Itachi by the arm and pulled him aside to explain the secret alliance between Sand Village and Orochimaru to attack Konoha.
Itachi: (￣□￣!)
"Menma, how do you know this? Does Lord Hokage know?" he asked.
"Of course, I have my own ways. Hokage-sama doesn't know yet — for now, it's just between us," Menma replied.
Itachi paused, then said, "What do you need me to do?" He knew Menma never spoke without a reason.
"I need your help to stop the Sand's invasion outside Konoha," Menma said.
"Just the two of us?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not. Bring your father, Fugaku, and Shisui. Add me, and we'll make short work of them. Three Susanoo users plus my... extra abilities — clearing the outer forces will be a breeze."
Menma then shared the rest of his plan, and after some discussion, they split up — Itachi returning to his clan, and Menma heading to see Tsunade.
At Tsunade's Office
"Menma, aren't you supposed to be taking your exam? Why are you here?" Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Lady Tsunade, I've already passed the second stage. I'm here because I've obtained critical information."
He then explained everything about the joint plan between Sand Village and Orochimaru.
Tsunade's expression darkened instantly. She slammed her hand onto the table with a thunderous crack.
The table split apart.
(Table: What did I ever do to deserve this...)
Shizune sighed softly. Another one gone. Lady Tsunade, please — just a little restraint?
"Sand Village. Orochimaru. You're courting death," Tsunade muttered.
Menma then detailed his full plan. Tsunade nodded firmly.
"I'll handle Orochimaru myself," she declared. "You and the Uchiha clan handle the rest. This time, he won't escape."
"One more thing, Lady Tsunade," Menma added. "After the war, I'll need to discuss compensation with the Sand Village."
"Compensation?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "What could they possibly have that interests you?"
"A new ninjutsu has been developed," Menma said with a small smirk. Technically, he could have stopped the invasion before it began — but he let it play out for one reason: postwar compensation.
If Sand refused... well, that would be their problem later.
"So that's what you meant earlier?" Tsunade realized, her eyes lighting up.
"Of course," Menma said. "I've been planning this from the start."
"Alright then," Tsunade grinned. "No problem!"
She was already looking forward to that day.
(End of Chapter)
Gimme Powerstones :)))
Also Check out my Patreon at [Patreon.com/GGFanfiction]