I do not own Naruto or Boruto; those manga's rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Ukyo Kodachi. Nor do I own or claim ownership of the world map created by Michael-Madlock. This story is just for fun and isn't part of the original properties. Please, enjoy.
Chapter 1: Yin and Yang
Minato felt his feet drag across the dirt, pieces of gravel lodging under his toenails as he was jerked forward. Blood flew from his mouth and blended in with Kushina's red hair. The two of them stood impaled by one of the Nail-Tails' claws.
The two of them gasped and choked on blood as they fought to stay conscious. Minato looked over his wife's shoulder and smiled at seeing their unharmed children. Their blood stained the claw of the Tailed Beast, droplets falling between the heads of the screaming boys.
This was supposed to be a magical night. The birth of their son. Sons, he thought to himself. Their lives had been altered forever in the span of an hour.
Smiling, Minato reflected on the birth of his children.
"GAH! It hurts, y'know?!" Kushina cried.
"I've never seen Kushina in so much pain before that she's cried out like this," Minato said in a panic.
"Most men would have dropped dead from such pain a long time ago, but women are much stronger!" Biwako Sarutobi declared.
They were in a secluded chamber outside the Hidden Leaf, with ANBU guarding the perimeter. Kushina laid in a bed clutching Minato's hand as she gave birth to their child. Biwako and her protege, Taji, worked tirelessly to deliver the baby safely.
Minato looked at his wife, "She's so…."
"You're the Fourth Hokage; start acting like it!" Biwako barked.
Minato focused on keeping the Nine-Tails sealed within Kushina as she screamed and pushed. Focus, Minato!
"I can see hair, Kushina. You're almost there," Biwako said, and Kushina screamed louder than she ever had.
Minato heard the cries as Biwako pulled a black-haired child out of Kushina and cut its umbilical cord. Taji cleaned the boy and wrapped him in a blanket before handing him to Minato. Black hair?
The baby in his arms cried, and Kushina began screaming again. "There's another!"
Another?! Minato looked at the child in his arms and then at his wife.
Kushina screamed and pushed, and a few minutes later, Biwako pulled a blond-haired boy out of Kushina, and they cleaned him up before setting him beside her. The two boys cried together as their parents stared at them.
"There's two of them, Minato," Kushina smiled as tears flooded her face.
"We only picked one name," Minato laughed.
"You… You're Naruto," Kushina smiled at the blond baby.
"And this one?" Minato asked, gently rocking the black-haired boy.
"How about, Menma?"
"I like it," Minato smiled. "Hi there, Menma. I'm your daddy."
"Let me see him," Biwako said, "we've got to seal the Nine-Tails all the way."
"Right," Minato nodded and handed Menma to Biwako.
Pressing his hands on Kushina's seal, he began closing it and smiling at her. Screams filled the air. Minato spun around to see a masked figure standing over the corpses of Biwako and Taji. The figure held Menma in his hand, a kunai pressed against his neck.
"Who are you?!"
"Step away from the Jinchuriki, or this child dies," The Masked Man demanded.
"I have to do it," Minato said.
"Please, don't! We could put the Nine-Tails back inside of me and let it die," Kushina pleaded.
Minato shook his head, "The Nine-Tails is too great an asset for the Leaf. And, I've thought of something…."
"What?"
"Our sons. They're children of Yin and Yang," He smiled.
Kushina chuckled weakly, "What are you saying?"
"I'll seal the Yin half of the Nine-Tails into Menma and the Yang half into Naruto," He explained.
"Minato…"
"We can seal our chakra into their seals. We'll be able to see them again in the future," Minato smiled.
"I have some things to say to our sons before we go…." Kushina coughed blood.
Minato prepared the sealing jutsu as Kushina left her sons with words of wisdom and hope.
Six Years Later
Menma and Naruto sat in their small, cozy apartment, eating instant ramen. The twins slurped down the noodles in contented silence, sighing happily as they finished breakfast.
Naruto stood up from the small kitchen table and threw away their trash before darting to his room. He returned with a worn-out comic book and sat down at the table. Naruto had spiky blond hair and brilliant blue eyes; he wore an orange T-shirt and black shorts.
Standing up from the table, Menma grabbed a can of juice from the kitchen counter and drank it. He burped loudly, causing the brothers to erupt into laughter.
"Nice one!" Naruto cheered.
Menma smiled at his brother. His hair was spiky like Naruto's but was jet black, and his eyes were a dark violet. He wore a black T-shirt with light green shorts.
"What are we gonna do today, Menma?" Naruto asked excitedly.
Menma shrugged, "We're almost out of money for this month…."
"Yeah, but we bought enough food to last us, right?"
"Yes, but we need to be better about rationing our supplies," Menma sighed.
"Why should we have to ration our stuff?" Naruto questioned.
"Because we're always running out of food," Menma said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, I know…." Naruto groaned, "I'm just always hungry."
"I know, Naruto… But you don't live alone, okay? Just try and leave me some stuff," Menma rubbed the back of his head and laughed nervously.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No, you idiot," Menma smiled.
"Don't call me idiot, stupid!" Naruto stuck his tongue out.
The brothers laughed.
"Wanna go on a walk around the village?" Naruto asked.
Menma nodded, "Sounds like a plan!"
The two brothers swiftly donned their sandals and exited the apartment, with Menma diligently locking the door behind them. Racing down the stairwell, they soon merged into the vibrant streets of Konoha, their footsteps punctuated by the elongated shadows cast by the sun. Engulfed in the tapestry of sounds, including villagers' chatter, occasional merchants' calls, and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, the brothers momentarily shed the weight of their worries. As they navigated through the bustling streets, the boys effortlessly blended into the fabric of the Hidden Leaf Village, momentarily forgetting their orphaned status.
Dashing down a busy street, their laughter reverberating, the brothers turned into an alley. However, as they rounded the corner, their cheerful demeanor quickly waned. Three older boys, notorious troublemakers, emerged, obstructing their path.
"Well, well, look who we have here," snickered a sandy-blond-haired boy.
"It's the little demon babies," added a brunette, joining in the derisive laughter.
"What are you two doing out here?" inquired the ringleader, a tall boy with flowing black hair.
"We're taking a walk. What's it to ya?" Menma responded, taking a step forward.
"We don't want your kind roaming around here," the brunette interjected, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Yeah, you two are nothing but a burden to the village!" the sandy-blond-haired boy added, intensifying the animosity.
"Yeah, you're just demons," sneered the ringleader, his smirk belying his malicious intent.
"Leave us alone!" Naruto's defiant cry resounded, only to be met with a punch to his face from the ringleader.
Menma reacted swiftly by delivering a forceful blow to the ringleader's vulnerable area. The assailant crumpled, clutching his inflicted pain, as his cohorts lunged forward. Overwhelmed, the twins were shoved into one another, their bodies crashing to the ground. The bullies seized the opportunity, relentlessly subjecting the twins to a barrage of kicks, their actions fueled by cruelty and a sense of superiority.
As the ringleader regained his composure, he joined his friends in their assault. Minutes stretched into an agonizing ordeal until a sudden impact disrupted the torment. A rock struck the ringleader's head, prompting him to stagger backward, clutching his wounded forehead. The three bullies hastily retreated, startled by the unexpected turn of events, vanishing into the distance.
Naruto's gaze shifted from his unconscious brother to the approaching figure that had intervened. The bullies' retreat coincided with the arrival of a man donning the distinctive attire of the ANBU. His countenance was concealed by a dog mask adorned with red marks around the eyes and cheeks. His silver-gray hair spiked lazily; he extended a hand towards Naruto, inquiring, "Are you alright?"
Naruto, shaking his head, silently conveyed his distress.
"Come now, let's get you and your brother home," the man spoke with calm reassurance, scooping Menma over his shoulder. The man assisted Naruto to his feet and guided them back to their apartment.
Discomfort radiated through Naruto's body as they traversed the streets, his grip tightening around the man's hand. People cast disapproving glances in their direction, waves of sorrow and anger crashing over Naruto's vulnerable spirit.
Upon reaching their apartment, the man deftly extracted the key from Menma's pocket, skillfully unlocking the door. He gently deposited Menma on the couch before proceeding to the bathroom in search of medical supplies.
Naruto knelt beside his battered brother, wiping away tears that streamed down his face. "Please be alright, Menma... Please..."
"He will be fine," the man assured Naruto as he returned, armed with rubbing alcohol, ointments, cotton swabs, and bandages. He cradled Menma's bruised form with practiced precision, exuding a comforting presence amidst the pain. His voice resonated with empathy and determination as he addressed the brothers, "You have demonstrated remarkable resilience. I'm sorry I was late in helping you."
Skillfully attending to their injuries, the man skillfully cleansed their wounds and applied soothing ointments, evoking a wince from Naruto at the sting. Yet, the gentle touch of the man's hands emanated a reassuring warmth, a testament to the fact that they were not alone in their struggles.
Naruto's gaze oscillated between his brother and the man, his eyes shimmering with agony and hope. "Why do they treat us like this? What did we do wrong?"
"Sometimes, people fear what they don't understand. Both of you possess an inner strength, a potential surpassing even the Fourth Hokage. Certain individuals resort to lashing out, attempting to suppress that power. However, remember that your true strength lies within your spirits, your ability to endure, and your unwavering belief in yourselves."
Naruto absorbed the words, succumbing to contemplative silence interspersed with the soothing sound of the man's ministrations. Concluding his attentive care, the man prepared to depart the apartment.
"Wait!" Naruto called after him, his voice laced with curiosity. "Who are you?"
The man turned, his right eye fixing upon Naruto. "I am your protector."
"A protector?"
The man nodded, his silver-gray hair glinting in the sunlight as he prepared to leave. "Remember, you are not alone. I shall be watching over you whenever I can."
Naruto's grateful smile graced as he responded, "Thanks, mister."
"Don't mention it," the man said before exiting the apartment, his swift departure leaving the impression of his silver-gray hair gleaming in the sunlight.
Naruto secured the door and prepared instant ramen for himself and Menma. Selecting spicy chicken for himself and beef for Menma, he attentively observed his brother. Boiling water and pouring it into the ramen cups, Naruto deftly positioned the lids using chopsticks, allowing the noodles to cook for three minutes.
Regaining consciousness just as the ramen reached its readiness, Menma sat up slowly, his eyes fixed on his bowl. "What happened?"
"Our protector came and saved us!" Naruto beamed, dividing his chopsticks.
Perplexed, Menma split his chopsticks and stared at his ramen, awaiting further elaboration.
"This ANBU guy with a dog mask chased those bullies away and took care of us," Naruto explained enthusiastically.
"I see," Menma responded, fixing his gaze on the ramen before him.
"He said that we're strong, and some people fear our strength. But we should believe in ourselves," Naruto shared, his smile unwavering as he slurped his noodles.
Menma scoffed, seemingly unimpressed. "Sounds like something that old man Hokage would say."
"So what?" Naruto retorted, undeterred. "Maybe he was just doing his job... But we are not alone."
Menma remained silent, tears streaming down his face.
Naruto set his ramen aside and embraced Menma, tears falling down his face as well.
"Don't cry, you idiot..." Menma muttered.
"Then stop crying, you dummy," Naruto giggled.
Exhaling audibly, Menma extricated himself from his brother's embrace, a faint smile emerging on his face. "So we have a protector, huh?"
"Yeah! He had this weird dog mask, but he was really nice," Naruto remarked, wiping away his tears.
"All ANBU masks are weird," Menma chuckled.
Reclaiming their ramen cups, the two brothers resumed their meal, finding solace in the familiarity of the act.
As they ate, the apartment filled with a sense of comfort and resilience. The scars from their encounter with the bullies would heal, but the memory would linger as a reminder of the harsh realities they faced as orphans in the village. Yet, the presence of their protector gave them a glimmer of hope, a belief that they were not alone in their struggles.
As they finished their meal, Naruto and Menma decided to spend the rest of the day exploring the village. They ventured into the streets once again, their steps infused with a renewed sense of determination and unity.
Walking hand in hand, the brothers soaked in Konoha's vibrant sights and sounds. They strolled past bustling shops and cheerful villagers, their eyes alight with curiosity. The village seemed alive, brimming with energy and purpose.
As they turned a corner, their attention was captivated by the sounds of laughter and joyful chatter. They approached a local park, where children of various ages played together, their laughter echoing in the air. Naruto and Menma exchanged excited glances, their hearts warmed by the sight.
They joined the other children without hesitation, seamlessly integrating themselves into the group. They swung on the swings, raced each other on the playground, and played tag under the shade of the trees. In those moments, Naruto and Menma felt a sense of belonging, a connection forged through shared experiences and the simple joy of being children.
As the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue over the village, Naruto and Menma found themselves sitting on a bench, catching their breath. Their laughter had subsided, but their spirits remained high.
"Hey, Menma," Naruto began, breaking the comfortable silence between them. "Even though things are tough, we still have each other, right?"
Menma looked at his brother, a soft smile gracing his lips. "Yeah, Naruto. We're brothers and'll always be there for each other."
Naruto nodded, his determination shining in his eyes. "And one day, we'll prove to everyone that we're not just 'demon babies.' We'll show them our strength and protect the village, just like our protector."
Menma's smile widened, a flicker of determination mirrored in his violet eyes. "Yeah, we'll become strong shinobi and protect the ones we care about."
Naruto and Menma rose from the bench with newfound resolve, their bond fortified by their shared dreams and unwavering support. Hand in hand, they continued their walk through the village, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.
As the day transitioned into dusk, the sky adorned with vibrant hues of orange and pink, Naruto and Menma carried a spark of hope within them. Together, they would navigate the path before them, embracing the legacy of their parents and the strength that resided within their hearts. And as they walked side by side, their footsteps resonated with a shared purpose, a testament to the unbreakable bond between two brothers destined for greatness.
To Be Continued