I do not own 'Naruto'

Second Ripple

It was finally the day that Menma had been waiting for. His family had waited, but not the same way Menma had, not for the same reasons.

The thought they were just adding a new addition to the family. To Menma, it was a chance to actually have a family member like him. Someone who didn't-shouldn't exist.

To celebrate, Menma did the only thing he could think was good enough. He gorged himself on ramen.


"So, what do you think the baby will be?" Naruto asked. "A boy or girl?"

Menma only shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me."

"Well, you can both find out in a few more hours." Kakashi spoke.

Since he was the designated baby-sitter, he was doing his best not to read his precious. His sweet and filthy precious.

"Hours?" Menma wailed.

This earned a chuckle from all those near. Even if Menma was mature, he was still a child at heart.


The time had come, he would get his signal. Menma sat in his room, waiting for the moon to give him a signal. One that would tell him if the knew child would be like him, or Naruto.

"Hello." A second voice spoke.

Menma turned and saw the masked man that was there the night of the massacre.

"Who are you?" Menma asked.

"...That's it, you saw me kill an entire clan, and that's the best you got?" The masked man asked.

"Yes."

"...I like you." The man stated "Now, what do you know about the red moon?"

"I know that it was there the night I was born." Menma answered.

"No, it wasn't." He stated. "It was only a glimpse at your moon."

"My moon?" Menma had no idea what the man was talking about.

"Haven't you ever felt off, as if you didn't belong?" He asked again, Menma nodded. "That's because you don't."

"Then why am I here?" Menma asked.

"Because I brought you here." He answered "I created a ripple that brought you through, changing the course of this world."

"Then take me back!" Menma demanded.

"...I can't."

"What?!" Menma exclaimed. "You take me from my home, then tell me I'm stranded!"

"No, you could get home." He stated "I just can't take you."

"Then how!" It was more of a demand then a question.

"There are two ways." He explained. "I'll tell you on one condition."

"That would be?" Menma asked.

"You must take me with you." The masked stated "Take me to the world you come from."

"Why do you want to leave?"

"My reasons are my own." He answered.

Menma was skeptical about the deal. The man was asking Menma to take him to his home, a place the child knew very little about.

"What happens if I don't return home?" Menma asked.

"...The best I can tell, ripples will continue to appear through out the world." He answered "Not to worry, only those from the ripple and I can tell what's what."

"What kind of ripples?"

Before the masked man could answer, the moon turned a scarlet red.

"How about I show you?"

The masked man held out a hand for the boy. Menma knew that if he took the hand, he would be showing a degree of trust and partnership. But if he didn't, he may never get the answers to go home.

He took the hand.

Menma felt himself being pulled into the masked man, as if out of his and into another being. Just as fast as the feeling came, it vanished.

Menma found himself at the hospital.


Menma ran inside of the hospital as fast as he could.

No one tried to stop him as he ran through the hospital. He didn't know where he was going, he just ended up in front of a room.

He walked inside and saw his parents fussing over a small pink bundle.

"Why won't she stop crying?" Kushina asked worriedly.

"Don't worry." Minato spoke. "Menma was the same way."

"But he didn't stop crying until he passed out!" Kushina exclaimed.

They continued to fuss over the baby until someone finally took notice of the boy.

"Menma, what are you doing here." Minato asked.

The child didn't answer, he didn't even react. He just kept his gaze on the baby in his mother's arms.

"Want to hold her?" Kushina asked.

Quicker then the parents expected, Menma was by their side. He was already pulling the baby from Kushina before anyone realized it.

"Mind her head!" Kushina shouted "Watch out for..."

Whatever she was going to say died in her throat when she realized Menma wasn't listening to her. Still, he was holding the baby with the skill and grace one so young shouldn't posses.

Finally, much to the parent's shock, the baby stopped crying. She just gazed at Menma with a look of wonder that he returned.

"Hello Mito." He greeted. "I'm your big brother Menma."

The child began to giggle at the words Menma spoke.

"Mito, shouldn't the parent's decide the baby's name?" Minato asked cheekily.

It was obvious that Menma wasn't listening to a word Minato was saying. Kushina decided to speak up.

"I was thinking of Kushina Jr. as her name." The mother spoke.

The name only caused the baby to frown before she burst into a screaming fit.

"Mito." Menma spoke, making the baby laugh again.

"Mito it is." Minato spoke. I don't get a Minato Jr, you get no Kushina Jr.

"Only a few minutes old and she already has a favorite in the family." Kushina moped.


The months that followed had been kind for the Namikaze family.

Mito had been a great addition for Menma, the child was no longer lonely.

The two had bonded in a way that only the children of the red moon could. He had told her about it, even though she was too young to even talk, he felt she understood.

Even now, as they sat under the full moon, they were bonding like no other.

"Hello." A familiar voice greeted. "Do you have an answer?"

Menma turned to the masked man.

"Why would I wan't to leave, I have everything I want with Mito." Menma answered.

The mask man didn't seem deterred, but Menma felt the visible eye narrow.

"And what of Mito's feelings?"

"What do you think Mito?" Menma asked.

"Home." The baby said with a firmness she shouldn't be able to posses.

"Mito." He whispered. "You spoke!"

The baby said nothing else, she just giggled.

"Her first words?" The masked man asked.

Menma nodded. "I'll agree for Mito's sake."

"Good, I'll tell you how it's done." The masked man spoke "The first and easiest is to obtain the Red Moon scroll. Under the red moon, it will show you the way to your world."

"Where is it?" Menma asked, his answer was a shrug.

"Even I don't know."

"...And the second."

The masked man began to explain the method, it was borderline suicide. To collect all nine of the Tailed beast and use their power to break into the world of the Red moon. In doing so, this world will be destroyed.

"Wait, if you knew how to do it," Menma began suspiciously. "Why haven't you done it already?"

"Initially, I was." He spoke. "But that was with the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan."

Menma knew there was more. "But..."

"But that is simply one plan, I always need a backup." He stated

"Will you take us home if your plan works first?" Menma asked getting a nod. "Then I should know my allies name."

"I am Tobi." He answered.

"Partner." Mito spoke.

"Your second word!" Menma cheered.

"Well then partner." Tobi spoke "How has your training been?"

And so began the deadly alliance between Menma and Tobi.


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NEXT CHAPTER-GRADUATION!