The wendigo is a demonic half-beast creature common in ancient folklore. It is said that the gods themselves created them to be the living embodiments of human gluttony, greed, and excess. Humans have sinned exorbitantly so there is just too much for a single wendigo to embody, often causing two separate spirits inside one form to balance out all of mankind's wrongdoing.

People who have encountered them associate them with the winter, the north, and coldness, as well as with famine and starvation. Legends tell that a wendigo will only feed off of human flesh and blood; desiring nothing else.

If a man ever resorts to a life of cannibalism he will soon be hunted by a wendigo and eaten alive; possibly becoming one himself.

Though, these are just simple stories passed on from elder to young; the truth being stretched over too many generations to count.

Well, that is what the ignorant youth would say; too caught up in current beliefs and technology over spiritual folklore and wise elders.

But just because no one believes anymore, does not mean it will go away.

"Sakura, eh? That's a beautiful name."

"R-really?" She hiccupped, rubbing her mittens against her plump, baby fattened cheeks.

"Of course! You better believe it, Sakura-chan!"

She sniffled, on the verge of tears again.

"Eh, what's wrong, Sakura-chan? I don't like seeing you cry so much."

She sniffled again, hiding her face in her palms. "The big kids make fun of my name and my hair. They say it's pretty but they don't mean it." The little girl mumbled.

"You take this to heart, Sakura-chan,"He said kindly, poking the part of her chest above her heart. "They are full of hate and hate is bad. Don't ever let that hate get to you, ok?" The tiny, pink haired girl looked up at him. Her light green eyes were glossed over with tears but he just smiled. "So don't listen to them… for me?"

The four year old nodded, soon smiling up at him as if he were Santa presenting her with a sack full of presents. She was such a cute, young kid; so untainted from the world. He wished she could stay like this forever; that everyone could stay like this forever.

"Do you want to play with me, Sakura-chan? I won't be mean to you and I bet I am more fun than all of those Konoha kids anyway!"

"Yeah!" She giggled. Her tears were history as she grabbed the man's hand to try and pull him away. "Let's make a snow fort! No one has ever made one with me."

He allowed her to tug him towards the closest snow bank before she plopped down on her knees and started packing snow.

"The kids at school say that you need a fort before you can have a snowball fight. I've never built a nice fort before because no one wants to be on my team, but now you're on my team and we can have our own fight!"

Sakura chattered on as he picked up snow, forced it into something that resembled a brick, and built up the foundation of their soon-to-be fort. She talked about school and her parents and how her fifth birthday is coming up in March. She was happy and bright and everything that he wished he could resemble.

Their fort was just over a foot tall and nowhere near being closed to finished when Sakura's name was being called.

"Oh!" Sakura dropped the snow and stood up. "That's my mom." Sakura turned to look at him, her greens eyes sparkling as an idea formed in her mind. "Come meet my mom!"

"Uh, Sakura-chan,"

"You can come over and look at all of my toys and drink hot chocolate. My mom makes the best hot chocolate."

"Sakura, I don't—"

"She puts marshmallows and whip cream on top and sometimes she puts a candy cane in and it is so yum—"

He grabbed her hand roughly, forcing her to stop talking and look at him. "No, Sakura. I can't meet your mom, ok?"

Her smile fell. "W-why?"

"I have to stay out here for a bit, ok?" He mumbled. "I live out here and the sun is setting. It wouldn't be safe for me to walk back home in the dark, right?" He could tell she wanted to argue but she nodded solemnly anyway. "Now turn that frown back into that super pretty smile of yours!" He said, grinning as he poked her frosty cheeks.

Sakura giggled and smiled brightly, poking his cheeks back. "Ok! We can play again, right?"

"Of course, but you can't tell anyone about me, ok? We wouldn't want anyone getting jealous, right? I'll be your little secret. Promise?"

"Promise!" She squealed, obviously excited to have a friend when all she had before were school bullies.

"Sakura?! Are you coming home?" The woman's voice yelled again. Closer this time.

"Bye bye… uhm…?"

"Right now my name is Naruto." He grinned cheekily.

"Right now?" She asked, but she didn't dwell on it. "Bye Naruto-kun!" Sakura said. She turned around and ran along the snow covered path back into town.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto said. "I'm your little secret; remember that!"

The pink haired girl stopped and turned to face him with a bright smile. "Yeah!"

"You're my little secret."

Whew, done with the prologue. I plan to write many more chapters but I would love to hear some input on this. I've seen very little MenSaku fics around…. Or Menma fics in general, I guess… Maybe if this takes off successfully I'll start a trend! C:

Don't worry, I plan on explaining much more about Wendigo's and how Naruto/Menma will tie into that while also forming a relationship with Sakura. Just keep an open mind!

Thanks for reading and please review!

You know you want to.

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