Encounter

A few days prior to the Chunin Exams, Menma woke up an hour earlier than his usual routine. He stared at the ceiling for a brief moment before sighing and getting out of bed to take a shower. Once he finished, he woke up Naruto and urged him to get ready. After several attempts, Naruto finally got up, stretching and yawning.

Menma instructed Naruto to take a shower, and he obliged, taking his time and enjoying a long shower before returning with a satisfied expression. After breakfast, with no pressing matters at hand, they decided to take a leisurely stroll around the village.

While strolling through the village, Naruto and Menma engaged in conversation regarding their upcoming Chunin exams. Naruto was brimming with excitement and confidence in his abilities, whereas Menma remained calm and collected, claiming that he would simply try his best.

As they passed by the Hokage's office, Naruto remembered something and suggested that they visit the Memorial Stone dedicated to fallen shinobi. Menma agreed, and they proceeded towards the monument.

Upon arriving, Naruto stood in front of the stone and paid his respects to all the fallen shinobi who had sacrificed their lives for the village. Menma stood beside him, offering his own silent prayers in respect.

While departing from the memorial, Naruto spotted a familiar face approaching them. It was Hinata, who had also come to pay her respects at the monument.

Excitedly, Naruto called out to her, waving in her direction. Hinata returned the gesture with a shy smile and walked over to them, greeting them warmly without any hint of stuttering.

The trio engaged in a conversation, with Naruto and Hinata catching up on recent events while Menma listened attentively. After a while, they bid each other farewell and went their separate ways, leaving Naruto and Menma to resume their stroll around the village.

After a while, Naruto mentioned that he would like to visit Shikamaru and Choji at Yakiniku Q, so they parted ways. Later in the afternoon, while Menma was wandering around, he noticed a group of people in a nearby alley. Sakura and Konohamaru's friends were present, along with two unfamiliar individuals.

Intrigued, Menma decided to investigate further and climbed a nearby tree, observing them from above.

As he watched, he noticed a boy dressed in black with a Suna headband trying to hit Konohamaru. However, he stopped short when a rock hit his hand, causing him to loosen his grip on the other boy. To his surprise, Menma saw Sasuke standing on a nearby tree, smirking down at them.

"Ah, another guy who managed to piss me off." The boy from Suna says clearly irritated.

"What are you bastards doing in our village. Get lost." He says sitting on a branch fiddling with another stone then Sakura started fangirling.

Kankuro's statement of being irritated caught Menma's attention. He recognized Kankuro as one of the participants in the upcoming Chunin exams and watched him closely as he sat on a branch fiddling with another stone.

Meanwhile, Sakura's sudden change in behavior to fangirling didn't escape Menma's notice, and he couldn't help but roll his eyes at her.

As Sasuke and Kankuro continued their heated conversation, Menma cautiously descended from the tree and approached them. He stood a few feet away, ready to defend himself if necessary.

Upon noticing Menma's presence, Sakura was surprised and asked him why he was there. Menma replied that he was just passing by, but his gaze remained fixed on Kankuro.

As Kankuro glared at Menma, he demanded to know, "What's your problem?"

Menma remained calm and responded, though his grip on his kunai tightened, "No problem. I'm just wondering why a foreign ninja is causing trouble in our village."

The Suna boy snorted and replied, "I have my reasons. It's none of your business."

Menma stood his ground and countered, "It is my business. I'm a ninja of Konoha, and it's my duty to protect this village from any threats, whether foreign or domestic."

Kankuro sneered. "Fine. You want a fight, I'll give you one."

Menma nodded, clutching his kunai. "Gladly."

"Kankuro, Stop it. You are an embarrassment to our village." A hoarse and deep voice said.

Menma turned his attention to the source of the voice and saw a tall boy with messy red hair and green tattoos on his face. He recognized him as Gaara, of the sand.

Kankuro hesitated at the sound of the voice and turned to face his brother. Gaara's arrival seemed to have deflated the tension, and Menma relaxed his grip on his kunai.

"What are you doing here, Gaara?" Kankuro asked, his tone defensive.

"I came to make sure you didn't cause any trouble," Gaara replied, his eyes fixed on Menma.

"He started it," Kankuro grumbled, gesturing towards Menma.

Gaara turned his gaze towards Menma, studying him for a moment. "I see," he said finally. "You're one of the Konoha ninja participating in the Chunin exams."

Menma nodded in confirmation.

Sasuke and the rest of the group remained vigilant, ready for any sudden movements. Menma held his kunai at the ready, keeping a close eye on their every move. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about these visitors from Sunagakure.

"Hey, you. What's your name?" Menma asked, his gaze fixed on Kankuro.

Kankuro narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed. "Why do you want to know?" he snapped.

Menma remained calm and collected. "Just making conversation. No need to get defensive," he replied smoothly.

Kankuro hesitated for a moment before begrudgingly answering, "Kankuro. My name is Kankuro."

Menma nodded. "Thanks, Kankuro. I'll remember that."

Kankuro sneered at Menma. "Why do you want to know?"

"Just curious," Menma replied, his tone still calm. "We don't get many visitors from Sunagakure, so I was wondering who you guys are."

Kankuro chuckled. "We're just passing through, kid. Nothing to worry about."

Menma's eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't convinced, but he decided not to push the issue for now. "Alright, suit yourself," he said, sheathing his kunai. "Just dont cause any trouble in our village, got it?"

Kankuro shrugged. "No promises, but we'll see."

Menma raised an eyebrow but decided not to engage further. "Well, if you do cause trouble, I'll be ready," he said before turning to walk away with Sasuke and the others.

As they walked, Sasuke turned to Menma. "You were pretty calm back there. What made you think they were trouble?"

Menma shrugged. "Just a gut feeling. They're not from around here, and Kankuro seemed like he was itching for a fight."

Sasuke nodded in agreement, and they continued on their way, keeping a lookout for any other potential threats.

Menma's mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the visitors from Sunagakure as he made his way back to his apartment. He knew that he couldn't let this matter go, and he needed to investigate further. As he pondered his next move, he came to the decision that he should seek permission from the Hokage to conduct an investigation.

When he arrived at the Hokage's office, he found that Hiruzen was busy with a meeting. He hesitated for a moment, but then decided to wait outside until the meeting was over.

After about an hour, Hiruzen's assistant came out and asked Menma what he wanted. He explained that he had encountered some visitors from Sunagakure who he felt were suspicious, and he wanted permission to do some investigation.

The assistant looked at him skeptically. "And what makes you think they're suspicious?"

Menma recounted his encounter with the Suna trio, and how he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about them. The assistant listened carefully and then nodded.

"I see your point," he said. "I'll relay your request to the Hokage. In the meantime, you should gather any information you can about them without being too obvious. We don't want to cause a diplomatic incident if there's nothing to worry about."

Menma nodded, grateful for the assistant's understanding. He left the Hokage's office and headed back to his apartment, thinking about how he could gather information without raising suspicion.

He decided to start by asking around the village about any recent activity involving Sunagakure. He went to the training grounds and asked some of the other genin if they had seen or heard anything unusual. They hadn't, but they promised to keep an eye out.

Next, Menma went to the library to do some research on Sunagakure. He wanted to learn more about their history, their leaders, and any recent conflicts they had been involved in. He spent several hours poring over books and scrolls, taking notes and making mental connections.

As the day wore on, Menma began to feel more and more like he was onto something. The more he learned about Sunagakure, the more he felt like Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara were up to something. He didn't know what it was yet, but he was determined to find out.

He spent the rest of the day gathering information, and then went back to his apartment to review his notes. He was so engrossed in his research that he didn't even notice when Naruto came home.

"Hey, Menma, what are you doing?" Naruto asked, peering over his shoulder.

Menma jumped, startled out of his thoughts. "Oh, hey Naruto. I'm just doing some research on Sunagakure."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why? What's going on?"

Menma hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell Naruto about his encounter with Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara. He recounted the conversation he had with the Hokage's assistant, and how he had spent the day gathering information.

Naruto listened carefully, his expression serious. "Do you think they're up to something?"

Menma nodded. "I don't know what it is yet, but I have a feeling that they're not here just for the Chunin exams. There's something else going on, and I'm determined to find out what it is."

Naruto grinned. "Alright, I'm in. Let's do this together."

Menma smiled, feeling grateful for his brither's support. "Thanks, Naruto."

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After Gaara and his siblings left they went to their apartment and were greeted by a man with an orange spiral mask covering his face who greeted them and asked.

"Did something happen?" The man asked

"Yes, Baki-san, we ran into some genin in an alley way and met Uchiha Sasuke and another named Uzumaki Menma." Kankurō said to baki.

'Uzumaki Menma? Could it be...' He thought.

"Does Menma have blond hair and blue eyes?" He asked and Temari answered."He didn't have blond hair but he did have blue eyes."

'I see that confirms it then.'

"Ok, tell what happened in the alley." Kankurō and Temari briefed him about what had happened in the alley.

Baki nodded thoughtfully. "I see..."

Baki thought for a while then decided.

"Temari tomorrow you will follow Menma and gather information on him then report back at the end of the day." She nodded barely containing the excitement in her expression.

Kankurō raised an eyebrow. "Why are we bothering with some random kid from Konoha?"

Baki turned to him, his eyes glinting behind his mask. "Because I have a feeling he may be more than just a random kid."

Kankurō shrugged. "Alright, suit yourself."

Temari couldn't help but feel a bit nervous about the mission, but she knew better than to question Baki's orders. She nodded in agreement and they continued their conversation, discussing their plans for the upcoming chunin exams.

-The next day-

After getting up and washing herself, Temari donned her clothes and fastened her fan to her back before embarking on her quest to find Menma. She surveyed the village, scouring various areas in search of any trace of him. When she failed to locate him, she opted to check the training grounds, hoping he might be there.

Upon arrival, she sighted Naruto and Sasuke sparring and reminded herself to remain cautious not to draw attention to herself, since she didn't want to jeopardize her mission. Scanning the vicinity, she eventually spotted Menma honing his taijutsu techniques on a training dummy.

Temari concealed herself behind a tree, keenly observing Menma's every move. She couldn't help but notice his deftness and accuracy, as well as his adept management of his chakra. Additionally, she observed that he sported an unusual emblem on his necklace.

After studying him covertly for some time, she eventually resolved to approach him. Attempting to maintain a nonchalant demeanor, she emerged from behind the tree and walked toward him.

"Hey there, mind if I join you?" she asked, hoping to strike up a conversation with him.

Menma, who had been aware of her presence, advanced towards her and extended his hand in a gesture of greeting. Tentatively, she took his hand, and he drew her closer until they were only inches apart.

He subtly threatens her by saying, "You seem to be quite interested in me. Just make sure you don't get in my way during the final round of the chunin exams, or else you might regret it." His words carried a hidden warning, making Temari feel uneasy.

After Temari regained her composure, she praised Menma for his impressive training abilities that she had observed him executing on the training dummy. Menma returned the compliment, acknowledging her own skills.

As they continued their conversation, Menma closely scrutinized Temari before stating, "I have a feeling that we could work well together. I think I will come to like you," looking at her with a certain degree of interest.

Temari arched an eyebrow, slightly caught off guard by his bold declaration. "Is that right?" she responded, her tone somewhat cautious.

Menma acknowledged Temari's response with a nod, respecting her cautious nature. "Of course, take all the time you need. I'll be around if you change your mind," he said with a smile.

Temari gave him a small nod in return before turning on her heel and walking away, her thoughts consumed by the encounter. She couldn't help but wonder what Menma's true intentions were and if she should trust him or not. But for now, her mission was to gather information and prepare for the upcoming chunin exams.

Menma observed Temari as she walked away, a small smirk gracing his lips. He was aware that he had piqued her interest and he anticipated the next move in their interaction.

After watching her disappear from view, Menma turned his attention back to his training. He was determined to be fully prepared for the upcoming chunin exams.

As he resumed his training, his thoughts drifted back to Temari and their brief encounter. He pondered if she could be a potential ally or a hindrance to his plans.

Menma realized that he needed to stay vigilant and cautious around her.

Menma dedicated the remaining hours of the day to training and gathering intel around the village, fully aware of the fast-approaching Chunin exams. He had a lot to accomplish, and he had to be at his best to succeed.

As he strolled through the village, he couldn't shake the sense of tension in the air. Menma could feel that something significant was about to happen, and he had to be prepared for whatever was coming.

As the night crept in, Menma retired to his apartment to rest. He knew that he needed to be well-rested for the long day ahead of him.

Lying in bed, Menma's thoughts drifted towards Temari. He couldn't ignore the feeling that there was more to her than what she had let on. He knew he had to be cautious around her, but he was also attracted to her. Her enigmatic nature piqued his interest, and he was determined to unravel her secrets.

With that, Menma closed his eyes, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him in the coming days.

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Upon her return home, Baki asked Temari about her encounter with Menma, with Kankurō and Gaara also present.

"Report," Baki said.

Temari took a deep breath before beginning her report. "I met Menma earlier today and he seemed like a skilled fighter. He also seems to be well-respected among the other ninja. However, I couldn't help but feel like there was more to him than meets the eye."

She paused for a moment before continuing. "I did some investigating and discovered that he and Naruto are twins and both jinchuriki of the nine-tails. They have very different personalities though."

"Menma is more reserved and calculating, while Naruto is more hot-headed and impulsive. It's possible that Menma could be either a potential ally or a threat, depending on his motives."

Kankurō raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. It seems like we should keep a close eye on him."

Gaara concurred by nodding, "Before making any decisions, we must gather more information on him."

Tobi, posing as Baki, reclined on his chair, lost in contemplation. "Temari, your report was valuable. We must monitor Menma closely during the Chunin exams and observe his actions."

After acknowledging Tobi's suggestion, Temari departed to get ready for the exams. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone was aware that the Chunin exams would be a vital moment for the village and its allies, as they were strategizing for an impending invasion.