Chapter 42

Jumping away, Naruto avoided the extended hue of an orange claw that completely uprooted the tree he was hiding behind. Rolling forward, he laid out flat, avoiding the next strike. Quickly, he jumped up before the claw crushed the ground beneath him. While in the air, there was nothing keeping him from harm's way. Menma's fist of chakra punched him full force, throwing him through the heavy foliage, breaking more than just trees on the way.

When he finally stopped, he picked his head up meeting the top of Menma's foot. His body was sent flying again. Only stopping when his back impacted the boulder behind him. Before his body even began falling, he was pressed into the wall of stone when Menma came flying in at incredible speeds. He grabbed the front of Naruto's shirt and yanked him from the rock, ripping it before he threw him towards the ground. Naruto was still sent tumbling across the muddied floor for a few feet, coating his now bare chest in filth.

With a groan of apparent pain, he made it back to his feet. Spitting out the blood, he got into a fighting stance. Menma was crouched down a few feet away from him, ready to pounce. With a burst that kicked up the mud behind him, he ran on all fours, striking Naruto with a wild slash. Naruto leaned out the way and punched him in his side. Menma ignored the hit and brought the same arm back, trying to catch him with an elbow.

Naruto leaned out the way of the strike and gave him two quick jabs to his abdomen. Menma took the hits and went to slash at him again. Before he did, Naruto spun around and kicked him in the throat, silencing the roar. Ignoring the attack once again, Menma followed through and hit Naruto across the face. Naruto fell to the ground but quickly found his feet. Dodging Menma's next few slashes, he kicked off of the tree next to him and clotheslined the Kage until they both hit the ground.

Menma seemed to anger at the maneuver and righted himself as quickly as he could. Naruto did as well and rushed forward. Menma rushed as well and tackled him back down to the ground, pinning him down. Raising his clawed hand, he brought it down, driving straight through his chest. Naruto dispersed in a cloud of smoke before the real one popped out of the ground and kicked Menma forward.

Menma rolled until he was back on his feet. Turning to the redhead, he roared before he sunk deeper into his crouch. Naruto watched casually from a distance as Menma's skin began peel off, revealing some sort of dark red chakra construct beneath his skin. When it was all gone, there was just a figure of deep red chakra with white eyes that just seemed to squint at him. Four tails waved behind him.

Naruto did not seem deterred. He sunk into his stance once again and rushed forward when the beast did. To his surprise he couldn't track him. He was just too fast now. On pure instinct, he slid down, causing Menma to fly over the top of him, slamming into a tree. Now within close proximity, he rushed forward before he recovered. Throwing a punch, his fist burned against the skinless creature.

Shaking it out, he back pedaled and went through hand signs. Filling his lungs, he shot out small fireballs towards the beast that just continuously dodged with relative ease. Jumping up, he used the branches to propel himself higher and higher. At the top branch, he kicked back and away from it, dodging the black ball that was heading his way. In his descent, he stared up, mesmerized by the explosion that lit the sky and momentarily stopped the rain.

Finished with his amazement at the power of the Kyubi, he flipped back around so that he would land right, but he saw Menma get right underneath him. Thinking quickly, he made another shadow clone and had it throw him back towards the tree. He stuck to it with his chakra and watched as Menma clung to it as well and began running up its side.

Cutting his chakra, he began falling towards the figure he couldn't identify properly as his brother. Opening his palm, he formed a Rasengan that quickly developed a small white blade of wind, with it a screeching sound. Menma was too far gone to even recognize what attacks were dangerous or not. He was acting out of pure rage. Naruto drove his arm forward when Menma was in range.

The wind augmented Rasengan plunged into Menma's chest, inciting a roar of pain from the monster. He was thrown to the ground painfully but got to his feet almost immediately. Naruto righted himself after the attack and clung to the side of the tree. He stared down at the beast that was already running back up. Going through hand signs, he held his palm out. As the most useful attack all day due to the conditions, a water dragon formed from the surrounding water and rushed forward.

Menma roared and slashed his claw at the head of the beast. It did disperse it, but the influx of water crashing down on him caused him to momentarily take his eyes off of his opponent. Naruto came down and planted both feet into the face of the beast, shooting them both towards the ground. Menma righted himself quickly and grabbed onto Naruto's foot before he could recover. He spun around violently before releasing the redhead, flinging him through multiple trees.

Grimacing, he stood back to his feet and dodged the lunging Menma. Figuring he could not just remain on the defensive, he rushed forward creating a hoard of regular shadow clones that lunged at the chakra shrouded Kage. The beast slashed and clawed at them, not knowing which once was real. They all dispersed in clouds of white, blinding his vision before the next attack came.

The real Naruto mingled among the group, holding back and wondering where that other clone was. Seeing Menma mowing down clone after clone, he looked around, trying to think up some kind of plan. With nothing around to use, he resigned to the inevitability of having to deal with this head on. With a shrug and a chuckle at the situation, he rushed forward along with the clones. The group threw everything they could at the chakra construct until there was eventually only five clones remaining along with Naruto himself.

They all stood around the bestial creature in their stances. Menma was crouched down with his claws dug into the mud in anticipation. With a roar, he rushed forward, slashing at one that dispersed in a cloud. Spinning around, he met the ball of flames head on, only shielding his eyes before roaring towards the one who attacked. He rushed forward and destroyed that one as well.

The ground beneath him, while mud itself, became much more liquefied and he began sinking in, clawing at the sides and roaring out in anger on his way down. Just before his head was completely submerged, he filled his lungs and let out a completely deafening scream that pushed the mud back around him, allowing him to jump out.

When he did, he located the very first Naruto he saw and ran towards him. That one dispersed just as easily before he was assaulted by a dragon made purely of mud that shot towards him and threw him back. With a roar, he got back to his crouching position and quickly disposed of two more clones before locking his eyes on another. Rushing forward, he hit this one in the stomach throwing it back. Seeing that it didn't disperse, the beast knew it was the real one. Rushing forward, it hit the tree out of the way before continuing the chase.

Naruto jumped from tree to tree, avoiding the red chakra hue as best he could. When the branch he was about to land on broke, he dropped down to the ground and slammed his hands on the floor. Instantly, a mud wall shot up. Menma was undeterred as he ran forward and smashed through it. When he did, he lost sight of the target. Naruto made his presence known when he hopped down and gave him a brutal axe kick to the back of his head.

True to its animalistic ways, the beast shook the hit off and grabbed at Naruto's leg and flung him through the remaining bits of the wall. Before he could get to his feet, he was grabbed again and thrown further through the woods. Naruto landed on his back and stared straight up into the sky. His head was in a daze and he found himself thinking about what time it must be. It was definitely nearing sundown…

Finally gaining his senses, he stood back up to see Menma stocking towards him. His entire body was in pain, but he got into his stance nonetheless. Menma roared again and ran forward. Naruto rolled back and kicked the beast over his head. Menma smacked into a tree but quickly got back up. He rushed Naruto again. Naruto gently leaned out of the way of the strike, sending the rage filled creature stumbling passed him.

When Menma turned around, there was some kind of look of animosity within those eyes of white that bubbled uncontrollably. Naruto was unaffected, he just remained in his stance. Menma roared and crouched down. Opening his mouth, Naruto could see chakra visibly pooling in front of him. He realized this was the technique from earlier. Getting ready to try and end the technique early, he sighed in relief seeing movement behind the beast.

Menma was seconds away from swallowing the ball of condensed chakra before the red chakra around him completely dispersed and the ball disappeared along with it. Menma's very injured body fell flat into the mud. His eyes and mouth wide opened in a shocked expression. Naruto sat back on his butt looking across at the clone behind him. He nodded to him and the clone dispersed, shooting its memories back to him. The seal he slapped on his back would block all contact with the beast for the next twenty-four hours. The reason it took so long was because he had to create it to where the seal would seep into Menma's skin.

Regardless, the clone got it done. Naruto stood to his feet very painfully. He dropped to his knees next to Menma and rolled him onto his back. His hands glowed green and he placed them over his chest. His breathing was very heavy as he spoke. "Oh no Hokage… we're not done yet." He said continuing on.

Slowly but surely, the red color of Menma's skin began to retreat. His face settled into a grimace at the pain he was feeling. When Naruto had finally healed him enough, he stepped back, letting the rain wake him up. Menma's eyes opened briefly before he shut them and put his forearm over them to protect from the onslaught of water droplets. Rolling over, he got to his butt and looked around.

Finally remembering what happened before he had lost it, he looked over to see Naruto leaning against a tree, trying to heal himself. With a painful groan, he tried to stand before ultimately failing. "… Why didn't you kill me?" he asked him with his voice straining in obvious pain.

Naruto just stared at the blonde with uninterested eyes. "… Had that been my goal, I would have." He said casually in that cryptic tone that Menma despised.

Shaking his head in anger and disbelief, he stared right back at him. "Then what the fuck is your goal?" he asked with a sharp edge to his voice. "Huh? Because, it doesn't seem to be making any god damned sense from over here!"

Naruto spit out the blood resting in his mouth. "My goal is to get you to understand."

"Oh, don't give me that shit!" Menma quickly replied. "What the fuck is this all for? To prove that you're better than me!? Huh? Is that it!?"

Naruto just stared at him, giving him a confused look as if he had said something strange.

"You want to show everyone how far you could get on your own, so you do all this!? Killing a Kage!? Attacking villages!? Killing your own fa-… Killing my father?"

Still, Naruto remained quiet. Staring at him as if he were a piece of art that he simply couldn't understand. As if he had a philosophical brain teaser plastered on his forehead that he just couldn't figure out.

"Do you even know what you've done? Or are you too fucking psychotic to even understand that?" Receiving no answer yet again, Menma's anger was boiling over. "Do you even fucking care!?"

Naruto turned and put his back to the tree. He stared at the ground in front of him. For a second, Menma thought he was actually feeling a bit of remorse. But, only for a second. Slowly, a smile began to creep its way onto his face. With a chuckle, his mouth opened. "Heh-.. Heh-heh!" he chuckled more. "Heh-heh-hahaha!" he began laughing. "Ha-Ha-Ha!" he bellowed out in uncontrollable laughter, lifting his head up and laughing into the sky.

Menma watched him with an angry scowl on his face. For the first time ever, he had absolutely no doubt in his mind that Naruto had lost it. He had completely and utterly lost it. He couldn't even get a word in until Naruto's laughter finally died out. "What the hell is so funny about all of this?"

Naruto's chuckles were still present, finding whatever he was laughing at just a bit too funny. When he finally contained his laughter to a degree, he answered him. "Heh-heh. I was just thinking. This would make for a great book." He said in a completely serious tone.

Menma shook his head at him. "You're a diseased maniac. Completely insane."

Naruto smiled at him. "Oh, but I'm not." He said stepping away from the tree, somewhat painfully. "No, I'm actually, if you'd believe me, completely sane… In fact, I'm much more sane than most."

Menma chuckled at that, jokingly of course. "Ha! That's the dumbest thing you've said all day. And believe me, there's a list."

Smiling at the witty statement, Naruto continued. "No, really." He said. "I am… In fact, I'd dare venture into saying that… you're the crazy one."

Menma shook his head with a grin. This was a new level of deranged he had never seen. "Oh really?" he asked with a condescending tone. "I'm the one who's quite possibly plunged the world into its fourth great war for absolutely no reason?"

Naruto tilted his head from right to left. "Well, no. But on the same note, neither have I." he said pissing him off even more. "When you say, 'for absolutely no reason', that is a personal viewpoint. Simply because your naïve little mind can't comprehend the reasoning, doesn't mean there is none."

"And you just think you're so fucking brilliant huh?" he asked in a childish way that made Naruto grin.

"Brilliant when in regards to the situation, sure. That was not meant to demean your intelligence Menma. Your naivety has become your greatest weakness which is why you refused to believe my warning."

"Because your warning is misguided…" he replied immediately, showing how sure he was in what he was saying. "The people of Konoha are good people… showing distrust to someone is what drives a wedge through the bond we all share and I know your game plans." He said as if he were right on the money. Naruto just looked at him, waiting for him to elaborate. "Knowing you, it's probably some kind of scheme to make us drive ourselves apart… and I won't fall for it."

Naruto shrugged. "In time you will know. In fact, it may be sooner than you think with the coming war about to spring to life." He said.

"Those wars have nothing to do with Konoha… we will not attack unless we are attacked and I will let the other villages know that we are remaining neutral." He stated. "If I try, I'm sure I could get through to the Kazekage before he does something reckless…" he said lowly to himself.

Naruto just shook his head. "You're foolish Menma.. and your people will pay for it." He said in disappointment. "When I began this venture… I was so sure that you were but a bystander in this cycle they created… a mere ignorant pawn that was unaware of his actions, but now I understand that you are the worst of them all."

"The worst of who?" he asked, not being on the same page as him.

"The worst of these peace keepers… you're so much more than naïve and ignorant… No, you're a true believer in this theory of order you possess. One that they created… You believe you rule the people with compassion.. and cooperation, when really.. you rule them with fear and tyranny." He explained.

"I rule the village with only compassion!" he tried to defend himself.

Naruto sighed. "Not those people Menma." He said rubbing at his head. "I mean the rest of them. The other villages… the criminals outside of your walls… the individuals who would much rather see the village fall. Whether you've noticed or not, they all bend to your will. The will of the Hokage. You rule those people through fear of power that isn't even yours alone. They fear the prowess of the people under your command, but god… if they only knew how divided they truly are."

"I do not rule those people… I… I defend the village from them.. by any means necessary…"

"Wrong again." Naruto chided. "No, you only believe you do. The problems resides in the fact that there are four more individuals who believe they do the same.. Well… three others." He said with a grin. "This world has become nothing more than a constant struggle of power. There is no life in a world such as this. Life no longer exists. There is only existence itself and its being wasted on people who would rather kill each other over the things they don't have instead of enjoying the things they do."

"For someone who hates the world, you seem to love life so much." Menma chided.

Naruto chuckled. "No-no-no. I would much rather die than remain in a world such as this. Believe that if nothing else." He said.

Menma stared at him, judging the weight of his words. "Why would you rather die than see this vision of yours come to life?" he asked him, truly confused by his brothers motives.

"It's simple Menma… this world is not for me." He said running a hand through his hair. "I don't mean that in a spiteful way, I mean it in a literal sense… I…" he looked around, unable to find the words. "I'm a night with no day… a ah… an antagonist with no true opponent…"

Menma was completely confused now. He had no idea what he meant.

"Bored, Menma." Naruto said, seeing the confusion play out on his face. "I have become bored with this dull existence… excitement ended for me many years ago… Had I the chance, I would have ended myself a long time ago. Sadly for you, I was prevented from doing so and instead had time to think over the direction this world is taking. I decided to intervene on the cusp that this world may someday become complete again. I don't have to see it for it to do so."

"So you're content with not even living to see it?" Menma asked incredulously. "What if it doesn't happen?" he asked him.

Naruto smirked. "Regardless if it does or not… I have started something… something new… something much more lasting." He said as he picked up the remaining half of his shattered mask that was conveniently nearby. "This mask here Menma… this means something… There is a reason I never named it, for it will have many names in the years to come." He said with a smile. "This served a greater purpose than simply covering my face. No… this mask is something greater… it is nothing more than an idea that order is deadly. The next wearer may have a different agenda, but their purpose will always remain the same… upset the established order"*wink*

Menma, finally found the strength to get to his feet. His legs were wobbly beneath him, but looking across the way, Naruto wasn't all there either. "Just like I'm here to stop you… someone else will do the same… because regardless of what you believe, there are good people and there will always.. be good people." He said getting into a stance.

With his breathing still slightly faster than usual, Naruto stepped forward. "Believe what you will Menma. Or believe the truth." he said rushing forward as fast as he could. Menma rushed as well and ducked beneath Naruto's wild haymaker. He tried to counter with a right hook, but Naruto caught his fist and used his arm to flip him over. Menma landed on his feet and ducked beneath the kick aimed for his head. Backing up, he avoided the follow up that slid passed him. Acting quickly, he flew in and threw a punch to Naruto's unprotected face that actually landed.

He tried to follow up, but his next punch was dodged and he was kicked in the knee, dropping him down. Before he could recover, Naruto spun around and kicked him directly in the face, sending him flying back. Menma got back up before Naruto reached him. In a moment of desperation, he tried to tackle him, but as soon as he came within range, Naruto kneed him in the face. His head snapped back painfully and he clinched his eyes shut.

Naruto let him recover, standing back and watching him. Menma took the opportunity and shook the dizziness from his head. Blinking a few times, he groaned and rushed again. Naruto dodged his two brawler style punches and jabbed him twice in the stomach. Menma hunched over and used his forearms to block the knee that came up. He recovered and feigned a right hook expertly, setting up for the back kick he landed.

Naruto was thrown to the ground and before he could get up, Menma mounted him and began beating him repeatedly. Naruto seemed to let it happen as he just put his hands out to the side. The hits grew harder and harder as Menma tried to finish the fight right now. Before the next hit could land, Naruto swung forward, hitting Menma at the bottom of his clenched fist, hurting his fingers. Menma's lapse in focus allowed Naruto to hit him in the throat before delivering a head butt.

Menma fell back and off of the redhead. Naruto got to his feet and kicked Menma back down before he could get up. He walked around to the front of him and grabbed his hair. He yanked him up to his feet and delivered a volley of punches into his mid-section. Menma once again hunched over in pain. With his head down, Naruto summersaulted and brought the back of his foot down to the back of Menma's head, slamming him into the floor.

They both laid there in the mud. Naruto looking up to the still raining sky, and Menma with his face in the brown slush below. Naruto took a few breathes before he rolled over painfully. Surprisingly, Menma made it to his feet just as he did. Naruto groaned and hit him in the gut. Menma took the hit and socked him across the jaw. Naruto came back and returned the favor. Menma roared in anger and swung two hits at him that both missed. He felt Naruto sink down and poke his legs, but he didn't feel it until he tried to step forward.

Both of his legs gave out and he hit his knees in confusion. While on his knees, he tried for a desperate swing, but Naruto dodged it and quickly jabbed at two specific points on his arm. The appendage fell limp to his side. He groaned and hesitantly lifted the other fist. With absolutely no confidence to speak of, he threw it forward lazily. Naruto grabbed his wrist and kneed the back of his elbow breaking the appendage.

"All I ever wanted was for you to understand…" he said staring at his downed form. Menma just stared at the ground in front of him, accepting defeat. "… That's what this was about… pulling you from the ignorance you were living in…"

Menma rolled his head back. "Maybe I preferred it that way…" he muttered out.

Naruto chuckled. "Heh… of course you did… but, change was coming regardless... They would have waited for Tou-san and perhaps Kakashi to die off before they made their move…" He said, still speaking about this so called revolution.

"You don't get it…" Menma said, almost laughing at the irony. "heh… heh… As smart as you are.. and you can't figure it out…" Naruto just waited, wondering what it was he was talking about. "Konoha… is a nation built on trust… we are built on family.. companionship… We are not built on this.. s-struggle for power like you say we are… The Uchiha clan? They've always been close friends to our family… The words of a traitor will not change the way I view them… especially given his track record…"

Naruto shook his head. "Menma… I could not get you to understand… You're too strong willed for such a thing… for a long time… I had thought I shared the likeness to that character.. in Jiraiya's book… just because we shared the same name… I thought the book was describing me… In truth, it's you…" he muttered out between his pain stricken breathes. "You have faith in your people… I am telling you now Menma… that faith is misplaced and if you're not careful… those.. civilized people of yours… they'll eat each other."*wink*