Chapter 8

Rage named Menma

"People speak of justice, love and mercy. And yet they have no intention of showing it. Why then care to show them any?"- Hitashi Hyuga

The air felt worse and worse with each passing second. It was beginning to get impossible to breath. She had no idea as to how could she still be conscious. She looked around with her now teary, emerald eyes to find the others present here were facing the same problem. Not even Kabuto was taking this well. Sakura looked at the source of this, who was radiating with such malice her body seemed to resist her will. There she saw her blond teammate. He was engulfed in flames- no, red chakra which was also forming two tails. His stripes, which were now glowing red, shifted. And were now also on his left arm and shoulder. His signature foxy grin was not however present on his face. No, instead there was a grin of a hardcore psychopath, taking joy seeing them struggling for normal, cool air to breathe with. No, he would not take their lives just yet. He wants them to suffer first.

"Well, what's the matter, little boy?" the blond addressed Kabuto, dispelling the rasengan. "Can't handle this little pressure? Or is it that your brain can't process or name?"

"M-M-mm-Men…ma?" Kabuto managed somehow to say the word, before giving him his smile. "Interes-ting name… you chose. But… y-you're still… just a…a-a loo-oose-r."

"Us? A loser?" Menma asked in amusement. Then he snickered. Kabuto felt disturbed. Very disturbed. "We are Menma! We are power. Power! POWER OF THE IMMORTAL RACE! Our wounds heal before they can bleed. Our senses are as sharp as if we were the world itself. Our presence- a volcano. The stomp of our feet- an earthquake. And our power…" he paused creating a small orb in the palm of his hand. "DEATH!" he shot it towards the cliff side. A few seconds past before hitting the target. A huge explosion took place. The shockwave was so strong it was a miracle the bridge was only swinging back and forth. "Well, where is your superiority now, Fraud?" Menma asked, not really caring whether he would get an answer or not.

Sakura stared at this 'Menma'. He was terrifying. What she saw was nothing like the blond she knew all these past years. This was an even much darker version of Sasuke in his curse-seal form. No, even darker. It was pure hatred incarnated. She recalled what Lady Chiyo told her about the jinchuriki. Now that she was in a presence of one using the tailed beast's power, she could tell why they were hated. There was no way for anyone to control such power.

He eyed the blond before them. It was just like Lord Jiraiya explained. Yamato wanted to suppress this power now before that chakra started to do harm to Naruto. But, with Kabuto here it was dangerous. Not to mention what Jiraiya explained about the evil personality of the boy. He needed a plan. But the more he thought about it the more difficult it seemed. Then his train of thoughts stopped. He and the others looked to find Orochimaru approach the bridge. Menma merely turned to find the serpent-like ninja in the corner of his eye.

"Now I sssee why she ssssend you with him." Orochimaru said. Then he raised his head, revealing that his face was a mask. Underneath it there was a face of a young, pale skinned man with a tattoo just above his eyebrow. "Thisss may prove interessssting."

"Took you long enough, Serpent." Menma commented with calm, yet insulting tone. "We thought you'd show up earlier."

"My, what an interessting brat you are. *hiss*" he reached for his face and corrected his mask, which fixed itself, appearing as Orochimaru's original face. "Now I really would like to know whiccchhh one of you iss ssstronger. You or my Sssassuke?" He said with a wide smile.

Menma narrowed his eyes hard, glaring at the fallen of the Three. Then he turned fully to face him. "Tell us, oh fallen one." He started, getting Orochimaru drop his smile a little. "Why should we consider the spoiled Uchiha filth of any true threat, when his master can be so easily sucker punched?" he smiled sinisterly.

"Because you know how badly Sasuke wants to kill his brother." Kabuto began explaining. "Therefore, it is only natural for student to become stronger than the master."

"Hencccce forth, you have merely been lucky to run into me rather than my Sssassuke."

"And it came to benefit him, boy. Not that you'd understand. After all, you see us only for the bad guys. You don't want to see that Sasuke came on his own free will. You're just a child with no understanding for this world."

"SHUT UP!" Sakura shouted. "Don't you dare insult Naruto! You don't know how he feels, you four-eyed freak! So don…"

"You are right, Fraud." Menma caught everybody's attention. "We don't understand the situation. But do tell us- what's the point of understanding things that don't really matter?" Kabuto started sweating cold. Somehow he didn't like what the blond said. Maybe it was foolish to provoke him. "He came to Orochimaru because he's a spoiled brat who wasn't satisfied no matter how much the fools in the Leaf spoiled him. By the way, how can you expect him to be stronger than us, when we crippled him so badly?" Menma's look turned again to that of a psychopath, as his chakra started to spike again. "Now THIS IS POWER!" he said. And his cloak formed a third tail. In a matter of seconds, there was an even stronger wind blowing, originating from the jinchuriki.

Sakura curled, trying to ignore this new sensation. Before it felt like a sandstorm, but now it felt as if it was flames that were hitting her. She looked around when she heard a hiss. The whole bridge was steaming? It wasn't just the bridge as looked more. Even her clothes. As she felt their warmth she knew what it was. Naruto/ Menma was generating heat.

Kabuto kept eying the jinchuriki. As the blond seemed to relax and focus his full attention on Orochimaru, it was his chance. The silver haired man charged some chakra into his hand and dashed towards his pray intending to finish this. He moved in a blur, so silent not even Team 7 could register he moved. But as was about to deliver the blow, he got caught by the throat. To the surprise of everyone, Menma didn't even turn around. His eyes were still focused on Orochimaru. Kabuto intended to strike his arm instead, but it was caught just inches from his skin. And before anyone could gasp, the jinchuriki crushed his wrist, causing Kabuto to scream in pain.

"How pathetic." Menma commented. "Did you really think an insect like you could defeat us? Be gone…" he widened hiss eyes. And Kabuto felt this strange sensation… of repulsion.

Everything around Menma was pushed aside. He tensed his muscles so much, he cause a powerful shockwave, sending Orochimaru's right-hand man flying. Sakura got hit in the head by the flying man, while Yamato and Sai fought to maintain balance. Menma turned towards Orochimaru, who jumped of the falling bridge, giving the jinchuriki his signature smile.

"Where do you think you're going?" Menma asked, reaching his chakra arm for him. He didn't catch the man, but he caught the tree. So he pulled himself back up and at the former Leaf ninja, laughing insanely.

Kabuto was healing his wounds. It wasn't easy though. He was aching all over. Blood was rushing from nearly every wound. Probably half the bones in his body were broken. And he could tell he was suffering a concussion. He looked towards the bridge. When Menma send him flying, the silver haired man crashed through a number of trees. He smirked to himself. 'Such power.' He thought. 'No wonder they want it. Still, given what I just experienced, it's going to be hard no matter what kind of preparations they'll make.'

Yamato finally managed to find his footing. Seeing as Naruto… fix that, Menma was going after Orochimaru on the other side, he was about to fallow, when he felt the remains of the bridge would collapse. He performed a few hand seals and some wooden pillars came out of the cliff side, supporting the structure. Then he noticed Sakura, who was slowly sliding off. He cursed under his breath. This was the worst possible moment for her to be out cold. Before he managed to support the part where the pink haired woman was lying on, she fell. He panicked… Until he noticed Sai standing on the edge. "Sai! Save Sakura!" he ordered, as the pale-skin brunette jumped off, painting something on his scroll.

"Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll Animation!" he called. The bird he painted came to life, separating itself for paper and growing in size. Sai landed on its back and flew upward towards Sakura.

He flew pass her.

"Damn it…!" Yamato cursed. He focused his chakra into one of the pillars, making it grow a wine that chased after the young medic ninja. It wrapped itself around the girl's legs just in time before she fell out of reach. The captain sighed in relief. Then turned his gaze at the one who left her to fall.

Sai flew pretty high and was now searching for his target. But couldn't see Orochimaru or Naruto. And he wouldn't have found them if it wasn't for an explosion a bit further. He made his bird fly in that direction. But as soon as it listened to his order, he felt disturbed.

He felt somehow things would take the turn for the worst.

Orochimaru jumped onto the nearest branch. Bleeding heavily from where his arm once was. Numerous claw marks covered his body, tearing his outfit. His skin was burned. All that from one well played combo. He looked down, to find his opponent. The blond was still in his three-tailed state. But unlike in his two-tails form, not only the brat was nearly entirely red. He appeared to be formed of flames himself, rather than covered with it. The member of the Three smirked however. He found himself curious. He opened his mouth, as if a sudden pain hit reached him. But instead of a cry, there was a hand. In a manner of few seconds, the leader of the Sound ninja came out unharmed, giving his smile to the blond, who merely looked at him. 'So, he can regenerate. Interesting.' Menma thought.

"This iss quiet amusssing, boy." Orochimaru stated. "Sstill, if this iss the full exxxtend of your power… then you won't beat Ssssasuke."

Menma hardened his glare before he looked down, tightening his fists. He seemed ready to explode with rage. But all Orochimaru got was…

A laugh.

A laugh of a madman. Menma was now whole heartily please to hear him. His psychotic laugh echoed through the area, making the serpentine man look at the young man with suspicion. "So I'm still of no challenge? Are you not entertained yet?! EXCELLENT! THIS IS JUST THE EXCUSE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!" Menma shouted. "Well then… let me show you how a real IMMORTAL FIGHTS, INSECT!"

And the flames vanished. The blond seemed to return to normal. An expression of exhaustion and shock was on his face while his body collapsed. First, he fell onto his knees, then onto his chest. Orochimaru looked at the brat with a disappointed look. The boy failed him. Apparently this was as far as he could go.

The mindscape

Naruto could finally feel something. It was not however relief he felt. No, far from it. He opened his eyes to find himself in chains, kneeling on the floor. His legs beneath the water along with chain attached to his collar. He looked before himself, wondering how he grew this weak. How could he loose himself to his darker side?

"It's your entire fault!" he heard someone yell. A child's voice. He looked around to find his younger self. The Genin Naruto was glaring hard at him, with tears in his eyes. "It was because of you that we're in this mess!"

"No…" Naruto whispered. Then he gathered his strength. "It's not my fault."

"It is! You should've been stronger!" Genin Naruto blamed him. "Maybe then Sasuke wouldn't look down at us! If you were stronger you'd be able to bring him back!"

"You don't know that!"

"But you'd still be able to prevent it." Another voice caught his attention. When the blond turned, he saw himself back from when he made chunin, also glaring at him, covered in blood. "Granny would have told us about our family then. The council would shut their traps and let us know about our family! AT LEAST WE'D BE ABLE TO SAVE HER!" Teen Naruto barked, making the blond remember how his sister died. That day always haunted him. The death of Tokoyo was for him the only real moment in his life when he doubted in anything- the Will of Fire, the loyalty of the village, Granny protecting him from the council when they demanded harsh treatment, everything.

He remembered his fight with Sasuke and how he said that the village is weak, having nothing to offer. Was he right? Could he have foreseen this? Then there were the words of Hitashi, the man who raised his sister: "As long as you stay in this village you will never be allowed to taste happiness." It pained the blond.

Could it be that even after all these years of travelling the world he was just delusional to have gained any strength?

His head dropped as if in defeat. Behind him, a pair of huge, blazing eyes stared at him, as the blond seemed to be sliding towards him. Another chain came out of the water, attached to the collar. It was held by Menma, who was smiling as sinisterly as ever.

"Do it." He said. When Naruto was within the cage, the Nine-tails grabbed him, channeling his chakra into him. Then that chakra channeled down the chain towards Menma, whose smile was growing even wider.

The real world

(* Ghost Rider soundtrack- The West Was Build On Legends* aka transformation theme)

The blonde's eyes widened, as his body started to smoke. He got up on his legs with some trouble, trembling, showing signs of pain. Orochimaru eyed the boy, wondering what he hoped to accomplish in such poor state. He saw the blond grabbing himself, as if an unbearable pain was rushing through his body. The young man was struggling to walk forward. And it was then that Orochimaru noticed the plants around him starting to burn. What was going on here? He looked at the blond more, who was trembling even more, growling and grunting, as his skin seemed to be burning off.

Then did Orochimaru feel it- this outburst of chakra as Naruto cried. The flames reappeared, forming four tails. The black smoke was surrounding him, as the blond was crying in pain. after a few seconds though, it turned to laughter. The jinchuriki showed his face again. This time with the most psychotic smile Orochimaru had ever seen. And it disturbed him. The man noticed as his nails were now real, razor sharp claws. He stabbed them into his left arm and made deep cuts, even more serious then a kunai would. Some muscles seemed to fully regenerate, while in some spots there was blood-red chakra. The bones were growing out from his elbows and back, looking like spikes. Orochimaru was getting nervous.

Yamato sensed a disturbing chakra signature. It had to be Naruto. Then he felt Sakura getting up, rubbing her head in pain. "Huh? C-captain Yamato? What… happened?"

"It's Naruto… um, Menma's doing." He explained shortly.

"Menma?" she asked confused. But then she remembered. "Where is he?" she cried.

"Don't worry. I'll see to them. Wood Style: Wood Clone Jutsu!" Yamato called, as branches started to grow out of his body, wrapping around each other until they form a humanoid form. In a matter of seconds, it gained on details, becoming Yamato. Clone Yamato looked at the original. "You know what to do."

"Right!" the clone answered and jumped to the other side of the destroyed bridge, using the wood style to make it. But as he landed, another explosion took place. And this one was massive in power. "Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall!" the clone called just in time and created a dome-like structure around 'him'. The clone looked behind, to find the original doing the same.

Sai was met with a powerful shockwave that eradicated his ink bird. The man was falling, but was always prepared for this. He managed to land between the trees.

After a few seconds, Clone Yamato could tell there was nothing more incoming. Though he was frightened a bit. Some stone and wood managed to pierce his dome. He canceled the jutsu and, ignoring the devastation around him, leaped forward, landing on the highest tree.

What he saw shocked him.

He did not trouble with the wreckage earlier. But the one he saw now was on the whole different level. A huge crater, covered in dust cloud and flames. The earth was scorching, turned to glass in places.

Orochimaru barely lifted himself, burned a bit. He smiled at the destruction around him. "Thissss boy… He amusesss me to no end…." He whispered to himself.

Then he felt another chakra spike. He looked towards the centre of the crater, as the dust was blown away. There stood a monstrous humanoid. It seemed composed of red black flames entirely, with a fox back and four tails. It seemed to be well adept to walking as a human as well as an animal. At places it seemed to have something akin to a human skin, wearing it like poor clothing. There were even some on its face, like a mask that was about to fall. The serpentine ninja had no delusions about the situation. Now he was battling a real demon.

The jinchuriki before him entered a Four-tails form.

To be continued…

A.N.: I honestly hope you are enjoying yourselves. Well, the next update will be as soon as I'm done. In the mean time, you may also enjoy my doujin on my deviantart site. Please review.

My cast:

Menma- Clancy Brown (Lex Luthor in various DC animations.)

Kabuto Yakushi- Will Friedle (Terrance 'Terry' McGinnis in 'Batman Beyond')