Menma was more than a little aware of the difference between him and other children. Very early on he noticed these substantial differences. From simple things like how people looked at him to how he was uncharacteristically close with the reigning Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. He didn't really mind these differences at first. The ninja regarded him with a sense of awe, mystery and even envy. To have the financial and political backing of the Hyuga clan, Uchiha clan, and the last remaining Senju was, extraordinary. To have the political support of the reigning Hokage was exemplary. It was also well known that a certain Hatake (son of the infamous White Fang of Konoha a S class Godlike ninja) also took it upon himself to guard the boy whenever it was possible, and in turn his good friends Maito Gai and Ibiki Morino had certain interest in the boy as well.
The boy was protected by international and village law by clan rights and dual citizenship clauses from becoming a breeding factory or a tool, his Jinchuriki status made it almost mandatory to persuade the child into Ninja hood. Since they couldn't outright force the boy, and the Sadaime wouldn't be having any of that shit while he still lived and breathed, slowly but surely coaxing him into the ninja path wasn't against the law.
Civilians saw the boy as an enigma or an omen. He was born on the day the Kyuubi attack to a foreign, albeit beautiful, mother who has mysterious origins. They were aware that the big clans of Konoha as well as the Hokage was heavily invested into keeping those origins safe and secret. And oh, what secrets they could be for all the political muscle behind the child! There were also rumors that the boy could possibly be Kyuubi in human form, but it seemed wholly preposterous. The Uchiha, Hyuga, the last Senju, their beloved Sadaime, THREE well known highly ranked ninja, and the other 4 noble clans wouldn't be so protective or interested in the Kyuubi reborn!? Plus, the child didn't look demonic in the least. Many of the civilians who were alive when his mother worked as a florist in the Yamanaka flower shop, openly admitted he took after his mother's clan in looks mostly. Pale alabaster skin, high cheek bones, full pink lips, silvery white hair (though his hair was wavy in big beach or S curls not straight) and just over all very exotic and… divine. He didn't get his mother's eyes, instead his eyes were a shocking ice blue, so clear they almost looked gray. The boy was bound to be a heart breaker. He was simply genetically built that way it seems. Kyuubi simply couldn't be this attractive. (AN: Menma will grow up to look like Griffith albeit more muscular and slightly manlier. So, picture Griffith as a chibi, and the character I am referencing is from the manga Berserk.) Mind you, it was a reddish orange with ruby red eyes, with 9 large tails. Bigger than the damn Hokage monument! Menma was in no way, shape or form the Kyuubi. But being born on the day of such a tragic event, and being the only babe to survive was ominous to say the least.
Menma lived a pampered lifestyle. Though he was an orphan with no official legal guardians, and thus he had to live in the Konoha orphanage, his lifestyle was vastly different than the others there. The combined financial might of the Uchiha and Hyuga made sure of it. They renovated the whole building, made sure all the workers were screened medically and psychologically every 6 months by the Yamanaka clan, and gave him full rights to the top floor of the building (it was a 6-story building). His own staff of maids, cooks, private tutors to teach him basic academics, a mass of clothes and toys, one or two competent ANBU guards at any given moment, an allowance of 1,500 Ryo, his own private ninja doctor and two on call non Chakra trained nurses, permission to visit the clan grounds of the Hyuga and Uchiha twice a month for socialization (Sarutobi also assumed they wanted the boy to eventually join one of their clans so the visits would foster familial bonds; at least that's what they hoped), as well as tutors in etiquette and politics. He was being raised like a clan heir should but without his clan and the nasty politics that surrounded him, he had to stay in the orphanage. The child didn't care nor mind, he was well taken care of and had no worries. Menma played with the other children who either worshipped him, envied him, or was straight up jealous. He sometimes got bullied because of his better lifestyle and his beautiful face and features. It wasn't much his ANBU guards could do to 4 year old's besides alerting his caregivers and the matron. Throwing sand and knocking over ice-cream wasn't exactly punishable crimes either.
One of the children at the orphanage was one Higurashi Tenten. She was one of the jealous kids. Her parents were shinobi who died the night the Kyuubi attacked. That's why she had a last name. Her mom was a Chunin and her dad a hunter ninja who specialized in traps and weaponry. To the other kids she was considered in a much better predicament because she had her parents funds to rely on when she aged out of the orphanage (which is age 8 if you are joining the Ninja Academy of Konohagakure no Sato and 12 if you are going into a civilian lifestyle) and she had a last name. She used to think she was pretty great. That was before she realized Menma. And at age 5, she wasn't aware of the range of emotions a human being could feel but being around, watching and dealing with Menma made her burn on the inside. For sure, she was jealous but she didn't know it was that. Tenten knew she just didn't like him and she never actively went out her way to hurt him mentally or physically but when it did happen she took joy. She prided herself on not being a bully, not like the girl Rurumu or the boy Han but goodness did she find her spirits much higher after seeing the twerp cry.
'Good for him. He needs to be shown he's just as down as the rest of us orphans', was a common thought that crossed her mind after seeing Rurumu knock down his delicious ice-cream or candy treats none of the other kids could afford daily like him (more like once a month for the others and twice a week for Tenten) or when Han kicked sand in his stupid pretty face in the sand box. Her jealousy stemmed from two main sources. One, he was boy but he was much prettier than ANY kid she's ever seen, boy or girl. Two, villages ninja or civilian treated him like he poohed gold bricks for seemingly nothing and it showed in his interactions. Han and Rurumu got punished harshly whenever the matron found out her precious little money pot was hurt even a little. He got discounts on everything even though he was already loaded, and as an aspiring Kunoichi to be, she constantly looked for a Sensei to teach her but he always gets visits from shinobi wanting to apprentice him and the only reason he isn't apprenticed is because he's not 5 yet and the ungrateful pain says Ninja aren't that cool! She who desired to be a great female ninja like her mom and Tsunade Senju couldn't get an interested glance but he was swarmed! It was like a big slap in the face!
That's why the day before the Kyuubi Festival, when the nice man with candy asked her what she knew about Menma she ranted and raved until the beast in her 5 year old body was content. What made it all better for Tenten was that the man listened intently only stopping her to ask a question here or there. He said his name was Daken Michiua and that he was a friend of Menma's parents. They talked for hours and he pushed her on the swings and encouraged her to be a great Kunoichi. It was almost like having a big brother! When she got back to orphanage she didn't bother to see if Menma was getting knocked around, she went straight to bed dreaming of being a super awesome ninja and the nice man Daken-Kun!
When she was later ripped from her peaceful slumber by the matron frantically asking has she seen Menma and the whole orphanage in panic at 3 in the morning her stomach dropped and she thought 'maybe Daken-san was a little too interested in Menma…'
(Council Meeting Room 3:31 am… )
The room was silent, cold and stuffy. The tension was palpable and everyone looked solemn. The Sadaime Hokage sat back in his chair, hate covering his eyes for anyone who wanted to see and tobacco smoke billowing from his statue still figure. Chouza and Tsume being the more easy going of clan heads naturally fidgeted from the intensity of the silence. The Elder council ruffled here and there with an exception of Danzo who looked more smug than anything now. The Uchiha and Hyuga leaders, Fugaku and Hiashi looked the most stony while Shikaku who was more alert than he has ever been quickly swept the room before taking a deep breath and kicking the clusterfuck that was soon to start in motion.
"Somebody took him. That much is obvious." The Nara heads voice was monotonous but sharp breaking the silence and opening a damn.
Fugaku barked "Points to the Nara for pointing out the obvious. The exceedingly dead orphanage worker meant to check on him every hour is proof enough! We don't need to hear what we already know Shikaku-San we need a plan of action!"
Inoichi not taking to Fugaku's verbal assault on one of his best friends quickly snapped to Shikaku's defense "Get over yourself Fugaku! Nara-Sama was breaking the ice, the last thing we need is for you to have tantrum when our Jinchuriki is missing!"
"I can understand why other clans aren't as alarmed as me and the Uchiha clan head is, being that clan secrets are not in danger. Completely expected from the likes of you to quell a fire that shouldn't have been started in the first place! When the honorable Hyuga and Uchiha clans petitioned this council for more ANBU protection so the child can be watched at all times you three and the dogs complained about favoritism. Now you're concerned about Menma, who happens to hold the demon at bay?" Hiashi monotonized but his words were biting and elicited mouth frothing response from the Inuzuka clan matriarch.
"EXCUSE THE FUCK ME!? WHAT DOES THE LIKES OF YOU MEAN ANY WAY YOU SHIT? Both of you pompous assholes need to get off those high horses because we all run powerful and successful clans *Fugaku snorts* despite what you two pompous assholes presume! Our village is in a state of an emergency and all clans are looking for the boy! Who the fuck do you even think you are to speak down on us, we are sitting in the same room in the same area and we all have the same position!"
Fugaku hissed his teeth and spat "Same position?! You muck blood peasants are in no way in the same position as me, Hiashi or even the blasted Senju women! Don't you ever compare yourself with the might of the Uchiha clan, the same clan that help start this village that you serve! The Hyuga are the only clan alive to even make a claim to the honor and might of the Uchiha!"
Shibi let his glasses slide down his nose a bit exposing honey colored eyes and said evenly "It's so very interesting how Otsusuki Menma has brought the Uchiha and Hyuga together. Clans who constantly battled for political and Kekkai Genkai dominance now hand in hand. I guess the only way to unite such egos is by blood."
Hiashi seemingly choked on his own spit at Shibi's jab no matter how true it was. "Excuse me Aburame-San. Some clans are much better with people than you would expect. I guess you wouldn't know because your clan has such a deep relationship with roaches." Chouza's hands slapped his chest in awe at Hiashi's clapback. Tsume growled, Shikaku sighed regretting even speaking, Inoichi rolled his eyes, Fugaku smirked and Hiashi sat as evenly as he had been all night.
Shikaku sniffed and replied "Beetles not roaches… asshole."
Sarutobi's hand came down on his table with so much force it turned to saw dust. His action quickly made all the clan leaders swallow anymore insults they had in store for each other.
"I called you all here to bounce ideas off of each other head, not rip'em off! So… SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP. Unless it's about the very important missing child."
Danzo actually gave his old rival a slightly appraising look. The monkey liked to put up a front as a grandfatherly old man and not a battle-hardened leader. Hearing him cuss was a breath of fresh air.
The clan heads were stunned to silence. Never has the Sadaime lost his cool. It was scary. Sadaime taking their silence as childlike rebellion damn near committed murder before Jiriaya burst into the chambers.
"Sensei! I found a lead on Menma!"
All eyes fell on to the Gama Sennin and they noticed a small pale skinned girl with dark brown hair that was almost black pinned into two Iron country styled buns under his arm. The poor thing was shivering in either fear or adrenalin.
"Jiriaya why do you have a child with you? Is she yours?"
Jiriaya gave his sensei a lop sided grin, the man had no faith in him, "No, sensei. She is not mine. But she lives at the same orphanage as Menma and she is our lead."
With that Jiriaya not so gracefully plopped the little girl on her bottom. Tenten stuck her tongue out at the old coot who swooped her away after eavesdropping on her conversation with matron Midoroko about Daken-San. She slowly stood up, legs still shaky from the old man's super fast running and her stomach quickly dropped to the floor at all the very important eyes, burning through her. Tenten tried to back away but Jiriaya was behind her. She stood and fidgeted wanting to cry while looking at her feet. Was she going to jail?
"Sweetheart? I hear you may know where Menma-Kun is. Can you please tell me?" The Sadaime easily put on his grandfather mode, something he had perfected in his old age and with his son, Akio, impregnating a young women recently and the possibility of them keeping it he started to become much more partial to children. Menma also helped. Tenten still a bit uneasy just quivered a little more.
Fugaku about to suggest he put the child under Genjutsu was surprised to see a piece of pocky appear in his leaders hand from his robe as he asked the child her name.
"Higurashi. Higurashi Tenten." The child happily took the pocky and stuffed the whole piece in her mouth. Hiashi grimaced and Chouza smiled warmly, he liked kids who liked to eat.
"Well Higurashi-Chan… your Kage needs help? Finding Menma. You will help me right? It would be one of the greatest duties to fulfil for your village." Tenten swelled with pride, this was her chance to prove herself! Not only to the clans but to the HOKAGE himself. She shook her head vigorously.
Sarutobi sent a look at his once student, conveying a million things. Jiriaya nodded his head in understanding. Menma was his grandson, no fooling around.
"Well Higurashi-Chan please tell me what you may know."
Tenten licked her fingers, she doesn't get treats very often so she savored every bit of that pocky. The Hokage simply waited for her to finish. Pushing kids too hard will shut them down and they will close themselves off and fall into themselves; he would know as his "star" student is now nuke nin.
"Well Matron Midoroko said that the man I spoke to earlier in the market sounded creepy and suspicthiousss."
Sarutobi letting her butchering of the word suspicious roll right off his back urged her to explain a little more "What man Ten-Chan?"
Tenten rocked on her heels and fidgeted. Sarutobi smiled endearingly at her and whispered "It's okay to whisper it. If you don't want everyone to hear." Tenten whined "He said I shouldn't go round telling everyone his name since it ain't polite, we pinky promised Hokage-dono!" Tenten felt like she was tattling. Daken was so nice to her, he bought her food and sweets!
The Hokage slightly bristled. Some fucking creep swindled a poor child who was so innocent into giving him info, and when he got his hands on him…
"Ten-Chan how about this. If you whisper it in my ear, I promise not to tell anyone else, that will be our great promise okay sweetheart?"
"You promise?"
No.
"Oh yes! I do promise!"
"Cross your heat an hope to die, stick a need yer eye!?"
Hiashi sighed deeply. Danzo groaned lightly. Jiriaya cut his eyes.
"Of course Ten-Chan, we can even pinky promise."
Tenten only wondered for a second would she breaking her pinky promise to Daken but when THE Hokage reached his pinky out, she did not once hesitate.
Menma's fate was sealed with a promise of pinkies.
Maybe a little too late…