Three orphans devised a plan in a destitute town in the land of Stone, not far from the border with the Land of Grass.
Ryunosuke's slightly distorted voice came through the old communicator clipped to Menma's collar. "Everyone ready?"
Hunkering down under a cart, Menma whispered into the communicator, "In position here." His eyes fixed on the large pile of glorious red apples stacked on the street vendor's stand, his stomach rumbling in eager anticipation.
"They won't see it coming!" Tomomi said with a snicker.
"Alright then. Let's go!" Less than a second later, the three children burst out of hiding. Menma immediately spotted one of his best friends—a small, slender girl with short, jet-black hair and a face full of freckles, and her signature overwhelming smile. She was dressed in a peculiar assortment of ragged and mismatched clothes that probably originated from a dumpster. Sprinting from her hiding place in a nearby alleyway, she hurled a large bucket straight at the vendor's stand, spilling the live rats at the vendor's feet.
Ryunosuke's slightly distorted voice came through the old communicator clipped to Menma's collar. "Everyone ready?"
"What the hell. RATS!" the store vendor shrieked as she and her customers scattered in all directions to escape the plague-bearing vermin.
"Are you ready?" asked Ryunosuke over their small radio.
"You know it!" Menma replied, bolting out from under the cart toward the now-unguarded treasure trove of food. His friend, a dark brown-haired boy with piercing green eyes, wearing old, mismatched clothes he had either found or stolen over the years, ran towards the stand from the opposite end of the street. The two boys began stuffing every last bit of food they could get their hands on into their bags.
"Get those brats! They're stealing my goods again!" the shop vendor yelled, coming to her senses. She started after the orphans with a fire burning in her eyes.
"Crap! Time's up! We gotta move!" said Ryunosuke. The two boys shot off in opposite directions—Ryunosuke into a narrow alleyway and Menma down the main road leading towards the orphanage, a mob of furious people hot on his heels.
"Get back here, brat!" shouted a member of the mob, hurling a small stone that narrowly missed the red-haired boy. Fortuitously, the orphanage was just around the corner.
"Like hell!" Menma Shouted, rounding the corner. The shouts of the angry mob faded, replaced by the familiar sights and sounds of the orphanage. He slowed to a walk, catching his breath and marveling at their success. The laughter and chatter of the younger orphans greeted him as he approached, his makeshift sack of loot heavy on his shoulder.
Growling and shielding their heads, the villagers retreated towards the village, casting malevolent glares over their shoulders.
'If only looks could kill,' Menma mused sarcastically as a group of small, malnourished children aged between three and five gathered around him.
A petite girl with blonde hair and curious blue eyes tugged at Menma's sleeve. "Big brother Menma, what did you bring?" Gazing up at him with her irresistible puppy dog eyes.
Menma smiled, kneeling to meet her gaze. "A surprise for everyone," he said, ruffling her hair. Just then, one of the older kids approached, a concerned expression on his face.
"Easy, Aimi. Menma just got back. Oh, and Tomomi and Ryunosuke passed by already. They're likely at your typical hideout." one of the older children interjected, taking hold of the toddler.
"Thanks. Can you distribute this?" Menma asked, handing over his sack brimming with food.
"We need to talk, Menma. It's about the 'fat bastard' - he's back in town." The older child remarked somberly, taking the bag.
A chill ran down Menma's spine at the mention of the man. "And your sister?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
The older boy shook his head. "No change. Whatever he did… I think it broke her. She won't leave her bed. She just lies there staring blankly into space. It's almost like she's not even in there," he said, his voice cracking at the end.
Menma's voice softened. "If you need anything, anything at all, just say the word, okay?" With that, he turned, his steps leading him towards the forest behind the orphanage.
Following a familiar path to a clearing used by the trio for planning heists and as a secret hideout. It was their secret until a few years ago when one of the kids stumbled upon it and inevitably disclosed it to everyone. Fortunately, they still respected the group's privacy, intruding only in emergencies.
"Hey, guys?" Menma called out, stepping into the clearing, only to be unexpectedly tackled to the ground.
"Got you, Menma!" Tomomi exclaimed, her freckled face beaming down at him.
" "You took forever! I was starting to think they caught you," Ryunosuke said with a mix of relief and annoyance.
"You know me, just dodging bad luck at every turn. Almost got tangled in a ladder and a black cat crossed my path," Menma replied with a wry grin.
From behind, Tomomi's voice chimed in, "Hey, Menma, close your eyes, okay?"
Puzzled, Menma complied, asking, "Why?"
"Just do it, it's a surprise!" Tomomi giggled. After a moment, she urged, "Okay, open them now!"
Menma's eyes fluttered open to see Tomomi beaming, holding a golden-brown loaf of bakery bread, a stark contrast to their usual stale fare. "Happy birthday!" she exclaimed joyously, almost bouncing up and down in pure excitement.
"Tomomi, I don't even know when my birthday is. Hell, most of us don't. You know that. But that's not important. You have got to tell me how in the world you get it? We have been trying to rob that place for ages." Menma asked curiously.
Ryunosuke smiled, punching Aren in the shoulder. "What, you're just jealous that she pulled it off first! didn't you say you would be the first to pull off that job? Ryunosuke asked jokingly as Menma stuck out his tongue at him.
"Let's just say I have my secrets," Tomomi replied with a sly smile, tapping her lips thoughtfully, infuriating the two boys. "I know we don't know when our real birthdays are, and It drives me crazy! So, this year, I just picked out a day for each of you. So, today is your birthday, and it will be Ryunosuke's in a few weeks!"
Menma and Ryunosuke didn't know what to say to that. They had never really thought about it before. Celebrating birthdays was an alien concept to them. Menma looked at the bread in his hands with a smile. It was the first birthday present he had ever gotten. He was about to take a big bite out of it when Tomomi grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"I know I didn't get any candles. I tried so many times to get some." She said, looking down embarrassed. "Could you still make a wish? I want to do this right!" Tomomi said shyly.
Menma closed his eyes, his heart making a silent wish. He savored a bite of the bread, the best he'd ever tasted.
"What'd you wish for?" Tomomi asked, curiosity lighting up her face.
"I thought I wasn't supposed to tell you. Didn't you say you wanted to do this right?" Menma Cheekily replied.
Tomomi puffed out her cheeks in irritation. "I don't care. I want to know… pppppplease?" Tomomi begged.
"Alright, alright, you win. I wished for the same thing I always do – to know who my parents were, and they left me here. Oh, and maybe to figure out this weird thing on my wrist," Menma said with a hint of playfulness.
"Meanie!" Tomomi yelled with a hurt expression on her face. "Why would you wish for that when you have a family? Ryunosuke and I are your family. Got it!? You belong here with us, like you always have, not somewhere you have never been. With you have people you have never met!"
"Yeah, I can be the dad, Tomomi's the mom, and you're our kid," Ryunosuke added, trying to lighten the mood.
"Eww, no way! You're the family dog, Ryunosuke," Tomomi declared, sticking her tongue out.
"Oh, come on, Tomomi, not the dog! Can't I be, like, your brother, then?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Nope, you're definitely the dog, and that's final!"
"And what am I?" Menma asked, his spirits lifted by their banter.
"You? Well, that's a secret," Tomomi said with a mischievous grin before running back towards the orphanage.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Menma called after her, laughter in his voice.
"No idea, dude," Ryunosuke replied, shrugging as they followed her back.
=X=
"Big bro Menma... Wake up!" Aimi's urgent voice cut through the quiet of the morning.
Groaning, Menma mumbled, "Five more minutes."
"No, you have to get up. Macao's here, and he's asking for you," Aimi insisted, her voice laced with worry.
The mention of Macao snapped Menma to alertness. He noticed Tomomi and Ryunosuke's bunks were already empty. Quickly following Aimi, a sense of foreboding filled him as they approached Macao's office.
"Stay here, Aimi," Menma instructed firmly, and she nodded, running back to safety.
Menma knocked softly on the office door. "Enter," came the gruff response. Inside, Macao's imposing figure loomed over the room. Tomomi and Ryunosuke stood rigidly, their eyes fixed on Macao, wary and alert. It was the first time they had seen him in two months. He had forgotten just how huge Macao was as the man towered over the ten-year-old orphans even sitting down. He was easily six foot five, with dark skin and a pot belly that would put a greedy king to shame.
"Oh, Good. Now that you three are here, we can get to business." Macao said calmly. The three look at each other. Ryunosuke opened his mouth to ask what he wanted from them. But before he could even get the words out. Macao's hand whipped out, striking Tomomi hard across the face. She stumbled to the ground, a sob escaping her lips. Where she started to sob, cupping her quickly swelling cheek as tears streamed down her face.
"You rotten little bitch! you had to go and rob the bakery! Do you know how much shit I got for that?" Macao yelled, grabbing a fistful of her hair forcing her back to her feet. With a yell of fury, Menma launched himself at the man, with Ryunosuke right behind, only to be swatted down like two insignificant insects.
"Wait your turn, brats, I'm almost done!" With that, Macao pulled Tomomi's hair, forcing her to look up at him with her tear-soaked face. "If you ever do this shit again, you're going to learn what alone time with me really means. Not that it wasn't going to happen in a few years anyway. Do you understand?" Macao snarled at the sobbing kid.
"Y-yes, I understand," Tomomi cried.
"Good," Macao said as he tossed the girl onto the floor. "Now, as added punishment, I have a very special job for you three. Not far from here, a squad of Iwagakure shinobi had a nasty showdown with some high-class bandits. Luckily for us, they wiped each other out. which means there is still some loot for us to take.
Menma tried to crawl over to Tomomi's side, only to be viciously kicked away. "Hey! none of that, brat! Now, as I was saying, get there and bring back what you can. Weapons, scrolls, armor, whatever. Macao said as he sat back down, pulling a beer bottle out from under his desk.
Without a word, the three children hobbled out of the room. "Wait, you will need this," Macao said, tossing Ryunosuke a map. When they got a reasonable distance from his office, Tomomi threw herself into Menma's arms, sobbing. As Ryunosuke stood by, his hands balled into fists, his expression a mix of anger and helplessness.
"Shhh, it's over. We're strong, remember? We don't give up, not ever. Right, sis?" Menma soothed quietly.
"Why not? You're the one who said we're family," Menma joked, trying to cheer her up.
"Y-yes, but I'm not your sister," Tomomi said quietly as she started to get control of herself.
"Well, it's not my fault. You never told me what my position in our little family is. About that, how come you told Ryunosuke he's the dog but keep what I am a secret? That's not very fair, you know."
Ryunosuke made a face, still not very happy with being the dog. But he stayed quiet about it, knowing Tomomi needed Menma right now. He would get his in, say later.
"But that's because he is the dog, and you're... well, not," Tomomi said, pushing away from Menma.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"Come on, if we don't go now, it will be dark by the time we arrive. I don't know about you two, but I don't feel like stripping dead bodies in the dark." Tomomi said, completely ignoring Menma's question.
Ryunosuke nodded, looking over the map. "We need to be quick. It's a long way to the battlefield."
=X=
Arriving at the battlefield as evening approached, they were greeted by a scene of desolation. Bodies of shinobi and bandits alike were strewn across the scarred land.
"I hate them," Ryunosuke muttered, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"They're shinobi. This is what they do," Tomomi said, her voice devoid of emotion.
"But what about their families? Their children?" Ryunosuke wondered aloud, his gaze lost in the distance.
Menma handed him a bag. "Let's just get this done."
Several hours later, as they packed the last of the salvageable gear, Tomomi sat nearby, sorting through the belongings of the fallen, a distant look in her eyes. Menma was about to add another kunai to the bag when Ryunosuke stopped him.
"Keep that one," Ryunosuke said solemnly. "After what we heard Macao say to Tomomi... we must be prepared."
Menma nodded, his expression set. "We won't let it come to that," he vowed.
As they finalized their escape plan, the silent observer in the trees remained motionless, watching the scene unfold with keen interest.