Chapter 22

Menma was restrained by a straight jacket and put in a prison cell underground. The prison cell was carved into the very ground itself with only torches lighting the area. He sits in silence in the middle of the cell not moving a muscle. He has his head bowed down staring at the ground with tears in his eyes.

"You seem full of hate" said a demonic voice suddenly.

Menma looks up and around.

"Who said that?" said Menma.

"I did"

Menma finds himself suddenly in a large room with a giant caged gate behind him. He turns around and looks at the gate. Two giant piercing red eyes with red slit pupils appear in the dark of the cage.

"Who are you" said Menma

The voice chuckles. "Why ask a question when you're smart enough to answer it?" said the voice.

Menma looks into the eyes then realizes who the voice is. "You're the nine tailed fox."

"Exactly, I'm the demonic fox that is sealed inside of you."

"Sealed? The fourth Hokage was said to have defeated the fox but instead he sealed you inside of me?"

"You and Naruto."

"Both of us?" Menma looks on in confusion.

Nine tails laughs. "Makes you uncomfortable doesn't it?"

Menma pauses for a second. "Wait so if you're in both of us…do you know what happened to Naruto?"

A big smile is seen in the darkness of the cage. "Relax he's fine. I can sense my other self inside him."

Menma sighs. "That's a relief."

"Yes but the situation should have never even escalated to that degree. Those boys deserve death."

"No I don't want to kill fellow leaf ninja."

"Oh really, what would have happened if that jonin didn't stop you? Do you realize you would have killed him?

Menma stays silent.

"And what will happen to Naruto the next time? Do you think this kind of harassment will stop?" said nine tails. "You and Naruto have me inside you. The village hates you for that. That hate will go to the kids and the kids will attack Naruto in many different ways. Now that you made it apparent that you're prone to violence how will they react to you? How will the parents react? What future do you or Naruto have? You have none. You will no longer be accepted by the leaf village."

"You're wrong."

"Am I? Look where you are now, a prison just like me. You're restrained and caged like an animal. This is where they keep unruly animals who don't show their masters any respect. Do you really think you can be someone important? Do you think you can make friends? You saw how Sasuke turned on you. Everyone else you get close to will do the same."

"I…I have to believe."

"Think logically, what can you do to be accepted? Everyone sees you as me. Those eyes of hate are proof. And do you think you can do anything about it? No. Instead, what you need to do is make sure no one can do anything horrible to you or your brother ever again." Menma turns to the cage. "In order to do that you must embrace me and accept me. You can take care of everyone like this. No more pain and suffering for either of you. Kill them kill all of them make them see the real demon inside of you. Make them fear you. Make this village your blood bath."

"Menma" said Naruto's voice. "Menma finds himself face to face with Naruto who's on the other side of the prison bars. "I heard what happened are you okay?"

Menma sighs. "I'm fine Naruto. What happened to you?"

Naruto looks down at the ground. "I wanted to make friends like you did with Sasuke. When I saw you and Sasuke mingling with each other outside I saw how happy you were. I wanted that kind of friendship so I asked around to see if anyone wanted to be friends with me."

"And you ran into those three."

"They said if I went into the forest and retrieve a rare plant for them they will be friends with me."

"They tricked you" said Menma.

"I know" said Naruto. "While I was looking a couple of ANBU stopped me and told me no such plant exists in the leaf village sending me back. Then when I got back I heard you were arrested. To think you went from being friends with Sasuke to this."

Menma scoffs. "Sasuke and I aren't friends, not anymore."

"Oh…I'm sorry"

"Don't be. And don't think for a second that you are responsible."

"But you guys seemed close. If I hadn't said anything, you would have never left the house to chase him and—"

"None of that matters. You and I are family. I'm sorry that I neglected to be with you and support you when you were struggling so much. I should have been there more for you. And I realize that now. As long as you are here, I'm fine."

Naruto and Menma smile at each other and start to laugh.

Naruto grows silent looking down at the ground. "I kind of wish people would stop looking at us like this. They always have those same eyes no matter where I go" said Naruto.

Menma stares intensely at Naruto. "Maybe we should do something about it" said Menma.

"Yeah and I know just how. I'm going to become Hokage."

"…HUH!?" said Menma in confusion.

"With me as Hokage, everyone will look up to me treating me like a somebody. I'll gain the respect of everyone in the village and they'll see me as an inspiration. And with you being my brother, they'll do the same for you."

"That dream isn't an easy thing to –"

"I know it's not easy and I know I'm far from being skilled enough, but it's a dream that I decided on. I want to accomplish this."

Menma stares at Naruto's smiling face and slowly smiles himself. "Then let's make a promise, you make an attempt to become Hokage and I'll make sure to make the path for it much easier for you."

Naruto smile widens. "Yeah that's a promise." Naruto gets up getting ready to leave. "The third Hokage said he will settle things in the morning so you can return to the academy."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

Naruto leaves.

Menma suddenly finds himself back in the room with the giant cage.

"What a foolish dream" said nine tails. "And impossible to achieve, he can't hope to become Hokage let alone respected by the leaf."

"It's not a foolish dream" said Menma. "It's an honorable one. The path to Hokage will be hard but not impossible."

"It is impossible."

Menma glares at the eyes of nine tails. "Only to those who don't try. He now has a goal to strive to achieve. As his brother, I will support him. We are family."

"Family?! Family is pointless. Nothing good ever comes with getting attached to family."

"Then you truly don't know the value of what family is."

"You are a fool."

"If being my family's support makes me a fool than yes I am. But I don't think for a second that that's a bad thing."

"The village will turn on you. You and Naruto will never be Hokage. You will never be a ninja you will fall and die as nothing more than a tool for the leaf."

"And that's where you're wrong. The fourth sealed you in us for a reason. He must feel we have potential to use your power to protect the village. Naruto will become Hokage to do just that. I believe in him and I will do everything to support him. You got a problem with that than just stay in this cage, shut up and don't bother me ever again."

Nine tails eyes stared intensely at Menma. "Cocky son of a bitch. You dare speak to me in such a manner? And what can you possibly do? You're a criminal now. Nothing you do will change that."

"Maybe I wasn't being blunt enough. Unless you intend to help me support Naruto's dream, then don't bother showing yourself to me or even talking to me."

Nine tails eyes then close and he grunts in frustration. "Do whatever the hell you want. But don't expect the leaf to welcome you in open arms."

"Hmph, it's too late for me to be redeemed anyway. If I'm going to support Naruto, it can't be out in the open. I will support him from the shadows of the leaf. Naruto will be the light everyone looks up to, and I'll be the dark everyone fears."

Nine tails smile. "Well at least you won't let people walk over you. I guess I can give you a small gift to help for the consequences that will happen when you return to the academy tomorrow." Red chakra leaks out of the cage and surrounds Menma. Menma is then engulfed with red chakra leaking from the cage. As the chakra rushes up his body, Menma just smiles. He wakes up back in the prison cell and smiles widely.

"As long as Naruto has a future I don't care what happens to me" said Menma.

The next day Menma is at school freed from his prison he proceeds inside and notices everyone staring at him guys and girls with the same dark look. He can't help but smile. Suddenly a student looking similar to the one he beat up stands in front of him.

"Hey brat" said the student. "My little brother is in a coma right now thanks to you."

"Perhaps you should have been watching over him a little more" said Menma.

"What was that?!"

"Hard of hearing or something?"

The student clenches his fist and tries to punch Menma. He catches it.

"Don't worry" said Menma. "You'll be joining him soon." Menma's eyes then change into the red eyes of the nine tails as he gives the kid a devilish smile.