Three and half years later...
Menma's woke up from his sleep. He was dreaming of when he first came to this world again. "The same damn dream again." His tiny voice said.
He sat up off his bed to see his dark apartment bedroom. His first thoughts were to clean himself up and do his morning routine before leaving out. He hopped out of bed his tiny legs reaching the floor easily. He made his bed neatly before dropping to the floor. He then proceeded to do push ups. His tiny arms shook but he pushed through the pain.
After a few minutes sweat dripped from his face as he finished his last rep. "Okay 200 push ups done. Now time for squats."
Then through the heavy breathing Menma got into a body squat position, began to drop down in a body squat position. After a few minutes sweat ran dripped from his face and legs, he was breathing heavy as his legs shook.
"Okay 350 body squats done."
Then Menma went to a piece of paper by a night stand and proceeded to check off another day of his daily warm ups that were written down.
Three and a half years have past since Jasen came to this world and was reborn as Menma Uzumaki. He was now staying in the same apartment Naruto had lived in, from the original series. Menma thought it was ironic. In the version of Naruto he knew Naruto lived here, but now that he is the Jinchuriki he lives here.
Menma then went to wash up even though he was going to go outside and get dirty again, he just didn't want to stink. The village already didn't like him which he didn't care about, but Menma in his old life was a grown man. So he wouldn't let certain habit's slip just because he was in this world.
Menma then proceeded to wash up. He made sure to take a cold shower to wake himself up. When he was done he looked in the mirror while brushing his teeth.
No matter how many times he saw it, his new face always made him feel uneasy. The red spiky hair and purple eyes. Not to mention the fair skin and looking just like Naruto. Menma was a black American man in his past life so not looking like his usual self felt weird. Every time he looked in the mirror he always paused thinking to himself, who is this?
Then he proceed to clean up the already clean apartment. Menma wasn't a clean freak in his past life, but considering he doesn't have the same luxuries as the 21st century. He found keeping things clean and orderly brought him peace, which was rare considering he was to be a future child soldier in training.
When Menma was done he grabbed and picked up a floor board under his bed. It revealed a hidden space. Inside revealed two items. A small metal box, when Menma opened it money and a tiny notebook appeared. It was every ryō he had found and saved since the third Hokage put him here. Every month the third gave him a monthly stipend. It covered necessities like rent, food, and clothing when needed. But the amount wasn't nearly enough for a child to live off of.
Menma already knowing this early on made him decide to forage for food. It was hard at first since he didn't know how to properly hunt or skin animals, let alone what plants were edible. But after a month of constant trial and error. Menma managed to be adequate enough to be able to hunt and forage for the most part.
After counting the ryō and making marks in his financial ledger. he had 4,500 ryō. To adult this was nothing but to a orphan like him it was his life line. Menma new the struggle of money from his past life, and how to be financially literate. So in this new life he told himself he will never go through that struggling again. Plus with his knowledge from his past life making money shouldn't be as as hard. Write some books, steal from thugs like Gatō and the money will flow endlessly.
Not to mention the bingo book is a good place to find marks. Well that last part was easier said then done he thought. After putting the account book away he then check his journal. It was a regular notebook he spent days writing in. He put all of his past world knowledge of Naruto in it so he wouldn't forget anything important.
Then Menma put the items back and place the floor boards back where there were. He then grabbed some make shift foraging gear he made and found. A fish net. A small and big burlap sack. A old used hunting knife, and gardening gloves.
As he stood in the doorway leading to the outside he looked back. "...I'm heading out." He said to no one. He knew no one would be here to see him off and to welcome him back. He made peace with that long ago, but even he wanted to pretend he wasn't so alone.
"So this is how Naruto felt all the time growing up. Well at least his life is a little better this time from what I've seen."
Menma then closes the door and ran through the village in a quick pace. The morning sun had barely broke though the horizon, and barely anyone was awake. Menma new this was the best time for him to forage.
The people of the leaf village true to their anime counterparts were the worst. They openly showed him disdain and hate. Menma new why but still didn't care for their reasonings.
The nine-tails killed a lot of people so people hated it and by extension me. I understand that, but I'm a child that hasn't done anything to you. And if I have a walk disaster in my body, why would you want make me angry? I swear the people of this world can't think logically. I blame the ignorance and the lack empathy.
But more importantly I blame the Hokages and other leaders of these nations. I don't know why third chose to separate me from Naruto, and hide the fact that were brothers? He even went and changed Naruto's last name and told the village openly he was the fourth Hokages son.
That made everyone treat Naruto basically like Konohamaru. But from what I can tell Naruto is still a good kid at heart.
...Speaking of which let me check on him.
As Menma dashed through the village he jumped from a trashcan. Then to a fence and climbed up a pipe to get to a roof top. Menma then jump from roof top to roof top, a action he has gotten use to doing over the past few months. After sometime of doing this he found his target.
It was Naruto's home. Menma looked through the open window at the sleeping three year old protagonist. Naruto slept soundly without a care in the world, and this brought a smile to Menma.
Menma had made it a point to check in on Naruto to make sure he was good. I wasn't necessary at all. Naruto was taken care of in this life. Menma noticed Kakashi, Iwashi Tatami, Genma Shiranui, would look after Naruto together. Occasionally Jiraiya stopped by in the village every few weeks to check on Naruto or send a toad to check in on him.
But no one did that for Menma. Once a month a package would appear on his front door. It would have fresh produce and meats. Sometimes the occasional clothes and money. Around 300 to 500 ryo in a little cloth. Menma didn't know if it was Jiraiya, which he doubted, but it was nice to know someone was looking out for him.
Menma then reached the forest area near the Uchiha compound. A spot he found to be a good place to forage for food and train.
Menma had a innate sense, he didn't know if it was his Uzumaki blood, or some cheat skill he received when coming to this world. He figered the former, because abilities like his were rare but still a thing in this world already.
Menma could sense charka. To be exact he could sense chakra signatures around him very well. He didn't know how, but one day he had a feeling, and after mediating deeply on it. He noticed he can sense chakra around his neighborhood at night. But when he went to check no one was there. So he figured it might have been the Anbu watching him.
From what he felt their were at least four of them.
...Well look all you watch ladies and gentleman I got nothing to hide yet.
He stopped right at the tree line out of breath. "Huff...huff...huff" Menma wiped his sweat from face. "...Will I ever get used to this little body?"
Menma said missing his adult body he spent countless years building. This body is tiny and weak, but I am still Jasen on the inside... or I guess Menma now. That is still gonna take a lot of time to get use to.
This morning, Menma gathered the thick yak mushrooms he had found near the stream. Almost enough for a decent meal, he thought. Tucking them into the burlap sack.
He then went to go check the bamboo fish trap he set the previous night. I took him a whole month to make a successful trap. Normally he catches one to three fishes, so Menma didn't expect much, but protein was protein for his growing body.
Then as Menma knelt next to the bottom of the river were he placed his traps at. His eyes widen with surprise when he noticed what he caught. Not one. Not two or three... But seven fish, and not small ones either. All seven where decently sized fished ranging from 5 to 7 inches with the biggest one looking around 15 .
Menma cracked a smile a the feast he caught. " This is great. I can cut these up and put them in the freezer. Good now I have my dinner and emergency supply of food."
Menma was even more surprised to find a small family of eels in a second trap he set up further up the river. "...Looks like things are turning up my way."
Menma then sat near the flowing river, and began to meditate. Menma had been in the world for three and half years, and couldn't do much. Besides training his mind and body in the simple methods from his past life. He still didn't know how to properly use chakra.
His innate sense is something he has naturally, but even he doesn't know how it truly works. If he wanted to know then he would have to wait until he went to the academy. With his knowledge he thought he could have gotten a head start, but seeing and knowing is completely different then doing. Children from clans are so lucky. Clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga teach their kids at a early ages how to use chakra.
It sucks that I don't have someone like Kakashi or Jiraiya to help instruct me.... Honestly fuck those two after how they're ignoring the fact that I exist. But they will dote on and help Naruto for almost anything.
I use to grow up liking those guys. They were the cool badass mentor's with rich backstories. But now that I'm living Naruto's life with my knowledge, I can't stand them. This whole village is rotten, and let's not forget this will of fire nonsense. It's just patriotic bullshit they spout to get children and adults to throw away their lives with stronger convictions.
This whole system is broken, and I refuse to be a cog in it's machine. I don't know how yet but I will fix this world, only so I can live a life I want to live. But in order to do that I need to get stronger, and get ready to get my hands bloody... I might even have to make deals with devils. But if it helps me be free of these chains, then it will be worth it.
That's when he sensed movement through the tree's. I reached out and felt two strong chakra signatures.
I was curious to see who was coming. That's when I spotted a woman in simple clothing's accompanied by a young man with black hair. The woman's gentle face and kind eyes were familiar.
But where have I seen that face before?.... I remember she's Mikoto Uchiha. She is Itachi and Sasuke's mother. So that means the boy with her was her eldest son, Itachi. His calm yet soft stoic face became recognizable now, he must be at least thirteen now.
Looks like they're coming back from shopping from the bags in Itachi's hands. Menma looked around his surrounding to see the sun was starting to set. He had lost complete track of time and didn't realize how late it was getting.
both Itachi and Mikoto stopped. Looking at Menma
"Hello," Mikoto called softly, concern flickering in her eyes. "We didn't expect to see somewhat out here this late."
Menma placed his arms by his side and bowed slightly, greeting them courteously. "Good afternoon, Lady Uchiha, I was just foraging for food. I did not mean to trespass."
Itachi observed Menma with curiosity. "Are you by yourself?" he asked, eye's looking to the tree's where the Anbu hid.
Menma noticed his gaze. He should be a captain right now. I wonder if Shisui is still alive? I knew I could finger out how far along the events are until the massacre by that.
"...I am here by myself." I answered honestly. "My name is Menma Uzumaki. I…I had some fish and eels if you want some." He gestured to the fish traps in the river.
Mikoto smiled gently at the boy. "Menma Uzumaki. It's nice to meet you. I'm surprised you knew who I was, but considering who my husband is it's not that surprising. This is my oldest son, Itachi."
She noticed the resemblance of his hair and eyes so close to her old friend Kushina. "You look like you have quite the feast there." Mikoto said softly, stepping closer. "Are you going to leave now and prepare it?"
Menma's stomach started to growl. He hadn't eaten all day. He was so caught up in trying to use chakra. He didn't expect to run into Mikoto, who he knew was a close friend and former teammate to Kushina. He hesitated, thinking of the possibilities that could come from meeting the Uchiha's before things got bad. So he made up his mind to use this opportunity, not knowing if he will have a shot like this again.
"I was about to leave, but I don't know my way back since it's about to get dark. I don't have anyone waiting for me when I return so I will have to figure it out."
Mikoto knelt and reached out a gently hand, and touched Menma's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Menma. Tonight…why don't you to come to our home for dinner? My husband and younger son, would be very pleased to meet you." Her offer was kind, and warm. A feeling I started to forget once coming to this world. I know because of her friendship with Kushina I can trust her.
Menma's internal reaction was a mixture of gratitude and caution. Dinner at the Uchiha's. If this goes right I can stop needless bloodshed. If I fail Fugaku could use his Mangekyo Sharingan on me. I looked at Itachi, who was watching me silently. "Thank you," Menma managed. "I would be honored."