"Round four — Menma Uzumaki vs. Gaara!"
As soon as Shiranui Genma finished speaking, Menma and Gaara stepped onto the field simultaneously.
Both had red hair, gleaming vividly under the sunlight.
"Brother, go get him! Come on, Brother, you're the best!" Naruto jumped up and down, cheering loudly.
But then he frowned. Not loud enough!
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Hundreds of Narutos appeared in an instant, creating a thunderous chant.
"Come on, Brother! Sasuke, hurry up and cheer too!"
Sasuke: "...You're an idiot!"
"Brother, go, go, go!" Hundreds of Narutos shouted together, instantly capturing the audience's attention.
"Hahaha, this is hilarious!"
"Wait, the blond Uzumaki from before and this red-haired one are both called Uzumaki? They look exactly the same!"
"Don't you know? They're the famous twin brothers of Konoha."
"Oh, the fox twins."
"Hey, don't say 'demon fox!' Hokage-sama has said many times — the Uzumaki brothers aren't demons. Their parents sacrificed themselves to protect the village."
"I'll shut up, I'll shut up!"
Since Tsunade became Hokage, she repeatedly clarified to the villagers that Menma and Naruto were not demon foxes. She said their parents gave their lives defending Konoha. Over time, that stigma disappeared.
Tsunade once asked Menma if he wanted their true heritage revealed, but he had simply shaken his head. "There's no need. One day, everyone will know we're the Fourth Hokage's sons."
Menma chuckled, glancing toward the stands — Naruto's clones were all waving banners and cheering for him. This brat… he should've worn a short skirt while he was at it.
"Remember your promise," Gaara suddenly said.
Menma turned back with a grin. "Now I'm adding a new condition — if you lose, you have to call me big brother. Got it, Gaara?"
Gaara froze for a second, then smirked. "I won't lose."
Temari, watching from the sidelines, was stunned. Is the sun rising in the west? Her little brother's expression had shifted several times in mere moments. She felt unexpectedly moved.
Shiranui Genma cleared his throat. "Both sides, remember — fight until the point of no further resistance. Begin!"
Cut it out already. Menma rolled his eyes and waved dismissively. "Step back, examiner. I'd hate to hurt you by accident."
Hurt me by accident? Genma felt a dagger pierce his pride. He suddenly had the urge to join Gaara in flattening this cocky kid.
Taking a deep breath, Genma retreated to the edge of the field — only to freeze again a moment later.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three clones appeared beside Menma.
Gaara's smirk returned. Same trick again? It won't work on me.
But then — to everyone's shock — Menma's main body sat down, rested his chin on his hand, and yawned.
He looked completely relaxed. Maybe I'll nap.
Menma admitted Gaara was strong, but compared to him? Insignificant. He tilted his head toward the forest beyond Konoha's walls.
At that same moment, outside the village, a fierce battle raged.
"Itachi, let's end this quickly," said a red-haired boy holding a bloodstained kunai — though the blood wasn't his.
He looked identical to the Menma in the arena — it was one of his shadow clones.
Itachi nodded.
"Father, Brother Shisui — finish it!" he called. As his black eyes spun into crimson, blade-like patterns appeared within them.
Nearby, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui activated their Sharingan as well.
"Susanoo!" "Susanoo!" "Susanoo!"
Three massive spectral warriors materialized — towering samurai wielding blades. The tallest was dark blue, flanked by a green and a purple one.
"Let's move in and clean up!" Menma's clone ordered, leading a squad of Uchiha behind the Susanoo giants.
The battle ended swiftly. Within minutes, the forest was littered with fallen Sand ninja. Konoha's side suffered no deaths, though a few were injured.
"Everyone, Uchiha — great work! As a reward, I'll have some Kyuubi Ale delivered to your compound, and the Akimichi Barbecue House is on me tonight!"
The Uchiha cheered loudly. Cold as they normally were, none dared oppose the red-haired "devil" Menma — especially when free food was involved.
"Menma… could we pick something besides barbecue next time?" Itachi said dryly. He preferred sweets — like dango.
"I've already arranged some sweets for you," Menma replied.
"Good."
"Then I'm heading back to report." Menma's clone vanished with a poof.
The remaining Uchiha blinked.
"Wait… that was just a shadow clone?"
"What?!"
"That's terrifying. I'm never provoking that guy!"
Menma had simply shown off, yet unknowingly deepened his myth among the Uchiha.
"Itachi," Fugaku asked, "how high are your chances of winning against Menma?"
Itachi gave a small, wry smile. "None. With his Flying Thunder God technique and nearly limitless chakra, I wouldn't stand a chance."
As Menma matured, the gap between them only grew wider.
One Menma alone was equal to an entire army.
Back in the stadium, Menma received his clone's memories. His lips curled slightly — everything had gone exactly as planned. The combined force of the three Susanoo and the Uchiha had obliterated the enemy.
Then Menma glanced toward Tsunade.
At that moment, an Anbu approached her and whispered, "Lady Tsunade, the little mice around the village have been cleared."
A smile tugged at Tsunade's lips. Well done.
(End of Chapter)
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