Let's continue with Chapter 2, now focusing on their daily life, Menma's "big brother" behavior, and his cold disdain for the villagers.
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Chapter 2 – The Shadow Beside the Sun
"Naruto! If I come back and the dishes aren't done, I'm going to hang you upside-down from the ceiling again."
Menma's voice rang through the orphanage like a whip crack.
Inside, an orange blur zipped around in panic. "Wait, wait! I was gonna do them! I swear!"
From the hallway, Menma walked in with a wooden spoon in one hand and a towel draped over his shoulder like a housewife. His red hair fell in front of his intense, sharp eyes, and his expression was as flat as a cutting board.
"You said that yesterday."
Naruto laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.
WHACK!
Menma brought the spoon down on Naruto's forehead with pinpoint precision.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"For being stupid," Menma said, completely deadpan.
Naruto scowled. "You're not my boss!"
"I'm your older brother by thirty seconds," Menma said coolly, "and that means I get thirty seconds more patience dealing with your crap. Use it wisely."
---
A Clash of Styles
Later that day, Menma stood in front of Naruto, holding up an orange jumpsuit with a look of pure loathing.
"You are not wearing this."
"But it looks cool!"
"You look like a traffic cone dipped in radioactive soup."
Naruto pouted. "But I like orange!"
Menma folded the jumpsuit neatly, then calmly set it on fire with a low-level fire release jutsu.
"…Hey! That was mine!!"
Menma raised an eyebrow. "You'll thank me when no one sees you from across the damn continent."
Naruto sulked for ten minutes.
---
Walking through the streets of Konoha, Menma ignored the whispers. The stares. The sneers.
"Filthy brats."
"Demons."
"Should've never been born…"
Naruto lowered his head. "Why do they hate us so much…?"
Menma didn't flinch. "Because they're weak. They're broken, Naruto. Not even the Nine-Tails could fix them — and I say 'fix' because honestly, if that fox had flattened a few more of them, I wouldn't have to see their rotten faces every day."
Naruto looked up, startled. "You… you don't mean that."
Menma stopped walking and looked him dead in the eyes. "I absolutely mean it. Anyone who hates children for something they didn't choose deserves to disappear. I don't want their approval. I don't need it. And neither do you."
Naruto swallowed hard. Menma's presence was always steady, always cold — like water over a blade.
"People can change though, right?" Naruto asked, more to himself than anyone.
Menma smiled faintly. "Let me know when they do. Until then, keep your head up — not for them, but for yourself."
---
Training Ground 3 – Secret Lessons
That night, Naruto found Menma drawing a sealing formula on the ground with powdered chalk. The symbols were intricate, perfectly spaced. Menma's hands glowed with faint chakra.
"Woah… what is that?"
Menma didn't look up. "Storage seal. Entry level. I'm modifying the chakra pathing."
"Can I learn it too?"
Menma paused. "You can't even draw a straight line."
"I'll get better!"
Menma stood up, brushed off his knees, and pointed to a log. "Fine. First, do 100 punches. Each one has to make a sound loud enough to echo."
Naruto groaned. "Why??"
WHACK!
The spoon again.
"Because you're weak. And you can't protect anything if you stay that way."
Naruto rubbed his head but didn't argue. He went to the log and started punching.
Menma sat back down and continued drawing, muttering to himself, "He's an idiot… but he's my idiot."
---
Nighttime Thoughts
Back at the orphanage, after Naruto had passed out snoring with drool on his pillow, Menma sat by the window, staring at the moon.
"This world is broken," he thought. "And it keeps trying to break him too."
He thought of the Akatsuki, of Orochimaru, of Danzo, of Obito — all the threads of the story still to come. He could feel the weight of the future pressing against him.
But Menma didn't flinch.
"I'll carry both our burdens if I have to. No one's going to break him while I'm still breathing."
He looked back at Naruto .
"He may be an idiot but he's my idiot and my responsibility" he muttered in exasperation.
---
The Academy gates stood tall and clean, freshly painted for the new batch of bright-eyed, hopeful children.
Naruto grinned wide. "We're finally gonna become ninja!"
Menma, adjusting the plain black tunic he'd chosen in quiet protest of anything orange, didn't even look up. "You might. I already am."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Don't act so cool, you barely passed the entrance test!"
Menma reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper. "Highest written score in the district. Try again."
Naruto tried to snatch it. Menma held it out of reach.
Their bickering drew attention — one red-haired, serious-eyed boy and one sunny blond blur yelling at each other in front of the school.
Iruka Umino watched from a distance, arms crossed, curious.
"They're twins?" he asked beside another teacher.
"Yeah," said the chunin with a laugh. "Same age, different vibes. That red-haired one… Menma, was it? He's got the eyes of a grown man."
---
Day One Rivalries
Inside, the room buzzed with introductions. Sasuke Uchiha sat in the second row, arms folded, expression cold. The room swirled with whispers about his clan, about the prodigy.
Then Menma walked in.
Sharp-eyed, quiet, confident.
The girls looked, whispered. The boys paused. Even Sasuke's gaze flicked toward him.
Menma scanned the room. Spotted Sasuke. Their eyes met.
And held.
No smirk. No challenge. Just mutual calculation.
Menma sat in the row behind him, placing his notebook neatly on the desk.
"Let's not waste time," he muttered. "I already know I'm better."
Sasuke didn't turn. But the corner of his mouth twitched — not in irritation, but interest.
---
The Hokage's Watch
In the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the monthly reports. One stood out — a file stamped with a red mark.
Name: Menma Uzumaki.
Age: 7.
Academy Entry: Approved.
Assessment: Abnormally advanced in chakra control and theory. Emotional detachment noted. Displays signs of compartmentalization and strategic foresight uncharacteristic of his age.
Hiruzen lit his pipe slowly.
"A shadow beside the sun…" he murmured. "But is he walking with it, or ahead of it?"
From the darkness, a second presence entered.
Danzo Shimura.
"You've seen the reports then," he said without asking.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "He's not for you."
Danzo chuckled. "I merely observe. But talent like that — we can't afford to leave it unshaped."
"He's Naruto's brother. And a child. Let him grow without your interference."
Danzo turned toward the door. "Children become weapons in times of war. It's better to forge the blade before someone else does."
---
After Class
Naruto was covered in chalk dust and bruises from falling over during taijutsu practice.
"Ughhh… I'm dying…"
Menma walked beside him, completely spotless.
"You fell into a bucket of erasers and cried when a girl hit you. No one's going to mourn."
Naruto frowned. "I still landed one hit on Sasuke!"
"By tripping and elbowing him in the face," Menma corrected. "Effective. Stupid. On brand."
They turned the corner and nearly walked into Sakura and Ino. Both flushed as they noticed Menma.
"Um… hi Menma-kun!" Sakura said.
He didn't stop walking.
Naruto waved awkwardly. "Hey!"
"Shut up, you're ruining it," Menma said.
---
The Night Watch
That night, Menma sat alone at the top of the Hokage Monument, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, a sealing scroll in his lap.
He'd noticed the subtle shifts: the extra eyes in the crowd, the longer looks from teachers. Something was beginning.
And he didn't like it.
"Hiruzen will hesitate. Danzo won't. I have to stay ahead. I have to keep Naruto safe."
He pulled out a second scroll — the one he'd stolen from the old archives.
Sealing Arts: Intermediate Level
Menma smirked.
Let them watch. I'll burn anyone who tries to touch him.
---