---
Despite the unease gnawing at him from Fū's unanswered questions, Menma left Takigakure with a satisfied expression. It wasn't just the acquisition of Chōmei's chakra that pleased him—it was the sensation he felt the moment the chakra entered his body.
His cells seemed to react, almost as if the chakra had awakened something dormant within them.
Of course, it might have been his imagination.
But what if it wasn't? What if his theory was right?
"I need more opportunities to test this," Menma thought, determination flashing in his eyes as he turned his gaze toward the southern lands.
"Whoosh!"
In a blur of motion, he disappeared, speeding off toward his next destination.
---
While Menma headed southeast from Takigakure, near the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers...
"Take this! Rasengan!"
"Boom!"
A spiraling blue orb smashed into the ground, creating a massive crater in the middle of a shallow stream. Standing at the edge of the destruction was a shirtless, golden-haired boy, his skin glistening under the sun.
But the boy, Naruto Uzumaki, frowned in frustration.
"You need better chakra control, Naruto," came a casual voice from the shore. A tall, white-haired man with a smirk on his face tossed a water canteen toward the boy. "Until you master that, you won't be able to maximize the Rasengan's power."
"I know that, Ero-Sennin!" Naruto huffed, catching the canteen and taking a long gulp. He wiped his mouth and glared at the crater. "I'm working on it!"
The man was none other than Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin. Together, the pair had been traveling for months.
Naruto hadn't been the same since the fateful battle at the Valley of the End. But this timeline carried an even heavier blow. It wasn't just Sasuke's defection that haunted him—Naruto had also lost his brother, Menma.
Unlike Sasuke, who had left to gain power from Orochimaru, Menma's betrayal was far more personal. Not only had Menma turned against Konoha, but during their clash, Menma had tried to kill Naruto.
The memory of his brother's intent, the coldness in his eyes, and the finality of his actions had left Naruto reeling. For days after returning to the village, Naruto struggled to understand.
How could someone he admired, his own flesh and blood, want him dead?
It was Jiraiya who eventually pulled him from the brink. The Sannin returned from a reconnaissance mission, found Naruto spiraling, and had a heart-to-heart with the boy.
Jiraiya reminded Naruto that the path of a ninja was never straightforward, and even the strongest bonds could be tested. He told Naruto that with enough strength and understanding, he could bring both Sasuke and Menma back.
Naruto clung to that hope.
Determined to grow stronger, he left Konoha with Jiraiya, vowing to save not only Sasuke but also the brother who had turned against him.
---
Months had passed. The two traveled across the Land of Fire, training relentlessly. Today, Naruto was focused on perfecting the Rasengan near the border of the Land of Rivers.
"Haha, take a break, Naruto. If you push too hard, you'll burn yourself out before you see any real improvement," Jiraiya chuckled, pointing toward their makeshift camp where fish grilled over a small fire and rice steamed in a pot.
"Fine, fine, Ero-Sennin!" Naruto grumbled, but the sight of food instantly brightened his mood. His stomach growled loudly, and he sprinted toward the camp.
Seconds later, he was devouring his meal with enthusiasm, crumbs flying as he spoke between bites.
Jiraiya laughed, shaking his head. "For someone so determined to become Hokage, you sure act like a wild animal sometimes."
Naruto grinned, his mouth full. "Maybe, but even animals are strong when they protect their pack!"
The Sannin's smile faded slightly as he watched Naruto. Beneath the boy's energy and determination, Jiraiya could see the weight of his unresolved feelings about Sasuke and Menma.
"You've got a long road ahead, kid," Jiraiya muttered under his breath. "But I believe in you."
Naruto's insatiable hunger had always been one of his defining traits, earning him the title of "Big Stomach King" back in Konoha.
Jiraiya watched the boy devour his meal with a fond smile, sipping his sake in the shade. Unmarried and childless, Jiraiya had always considered Naruto to be the grandson he never had. The boy was Minato's legacy, after all, and Jiraiya had trained Minato himself.
Of course, that same affection extended to Menma.
At the thought of Menma, Jiraiya's face darkened. Regret settled over him like a heavy cloud. He had made mistakes—grave ones. He shouldn't have left the village when Menma needed him most. Trusting Hiruzen and the village to guide Menma had been an error in judgment, and now Jiraiya was paying the price.
One of his beloved student son had gone astray.
"If I'd stayed, could I have prevented this?" Jiraiya thought bitterly, gripping his sake cup tighter. The idea of the two brothers—Naruto and Menma—being separated, even fighting to the death, was unbearable. How had it come to this?
In some distant future, Jiraiya had imagined the two of them standing side by side, working to protect Konoha and revitalize the Uzumaki name. Now, that future felt impossibly far away.
Although he hadn't seen it firsthand, the reports from Kakashi and the others about Menma's attempt to kill Naruto haunted him. Brothers were supposed to protect each other. How could Menma have gone so far?
"It's my fault…" Jiraiya thought, his heart heavy with guilt.
"Hey, Ero-Sennin, why aren't you eating? You promised to teach me some taijutsu later!" Naruto's voice broke through his thoughts. The boy was already finished with his meal and was looking at Jiraiya with curiosity.
"Haha, let me enjoy my drink first, Naruto. No need to rush," Jiraiya replied, chuckling to mask his unease.
"You should really drink less, Ero-Sennin. Too much sake isn't good for you!" Naruto said, his tone unusually serious.
"Oh? Now you're worried about me, huh?"
"Of course! Someone has to keep you in check!" Naruto grinned, his energy as infectious as ever.
Jiraiya shook his head with a smile, but before he could respond, a sharp cry pierced the air.
"Chiu!"
Both Jiraiya and Naruto looked up as a majestic falcon descended rapidly toward them. Recognizing it as a Konoha messenger eagle, Jiraiya raised his arm, and the bird landed gracefully on his shoulder.
Jiraiya untied the small scroll from its leg, and with a loud cry, the falcon took off again. As he unrolled the message, Jiraiya's expression shifted, his usual cheer replaced by a serious intensity.
"What's wrong, Ero-Sennin? Is it from Tsunade? Did something happen with Orochimaru?" Naruto asked, his voice tinged with concern as he stepped closer.
"Yes, in a way," Jiraiya replied, scanning the scroll.
The message confirmed Tsunade's suspicions: Orochimaru was making moves in the south, targeting the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata. The rogue ninja's defection from Kirigakure had already caused ripples among the hidden villages, and now it seemed Orochimaru was after him. Worse still, Menma had been spotted in the vicinity, presumably working alongside Orochimaru.
Tsunade had dispatched an elite Anbu team to investigate, but with Orochimaru involved, she wanted Jiraiya to intervene personally.
"What did it say? Are we going after Orochimaru?" Naruto pressed, his determination evident.
For Naruto, Orochimaru was a symbol of everything that had gone wrong. He blamed the Sannin for Sasuke's defection and, to a lesser extent, for Menma's descent into darkness. In Naruto's mind, Orochimaru had poisoned them both.
"We're heading to the Land of Spring," Jiraiya said at last, tucking the scroll away.
"Spring Country? Then let's go now!" Naruto exclaimed, already on his feet.
Jiraiya raised a hand, stopping him. "Hold on, Naruto. This isn't a training mission. We're walking into dangerous territory, and you need to follow my lead. No running off on your own, understand?"
Naruto nodded, his expression serious. "Got it, Ero-Sennin. I'll stick with you."
Jiraiya gave him a long look before smiling faintly. "Good. Just remember what you said."
With that, the two packed their belongings and leaped into the trees, heading southeast toward the Land of Spring.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf's underground chambers...
"Is the intel confirmed?" Danzo Shimura asked coldly, his lone visible eye gleaming in the dim light.
The Root agent kneeling before him nodded. "Yes, Lord Danzo. The target is in the Land of Spring."
Danzo's expression was unreadable, but inwardly, his mind raced. A rogue Jinchūriki—and the Six-Tails, no less—was a rare opportunity. With the power of a tailed beast, Danzo's ambitions of becoming Hokage would be within reach.
"Prepare the squad. We leave immediately," he commanded.
The agent disappeared in a blur, leaving Danzo alone in the dark room. He stared into the shadows, his lips curling into a faint smirk.
"Power like this... must belong to Konoha."
---