Menma Uzumaki

The adrenaline from the fight had faded, leaving Menma with aching muscles and a stomach that growled loud. He stood in the ravaged training grounds. The rush of battle was replaced by a gnawing emptiness that demanded to be filled.

He had to admit, Kimimaro was strong. Stronger than Menma had anticipated. And the way he had fought, with such calm precision even while his body was breaking down… it was unsettling.

Menma glanced at the blood staining the ground where Kimimaro had stood. It was a stark reminder of the other man's mortality, a vulnerability that seemed at odds with his almost supernatural abilities.

He glanced at the exit, then back at the cratered floor where Kimimaro had fallen. "Not exactly an appetizing victory," he muttered to himself, adjusting his mask.

Spotting the Sound Four, who were still recovering from their earlier beating, he advance toward them, his steps echoing in the sudden silence.

"Yo," Menma said, approaching them casually,

"Which one of you geniuses knows the way out of this maze?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of annoyance and hunger. "I'm starving, and I refuse to eat another plate of prison gruel."

Sakon scoffed, clutching his injured arm. "As if we're your personal servants. Get lost."

Tayuya, still seething from their previous encounter, glared daggers at him. "After that stunt in the shower? I'd rather shove my flute up your-"

"Tayuya," Kidomaru interrupted, his voice calm but firm. He gave her a pointed look, and she shut her mouth with a scowl.

Jirobo, wincing as he touched his bandaged shoulder, shook his head. "I'm in no shape to be walking around. Besides," he grumbled, "Lord Orochimaru-"

"-wouldn't give a damn if I starved to death," Menma finished, rolling his eyes. "Look, I get it. You all are scared shitless. But unless one of you wants to end up like Kimimaro, you'll point me in the direction of some decent food."

The threat, though veiled, hung heavy in the air. The Sound Four exchanged uneasy glances. They had all witnessed his power firsthand, and none of them were eager for a repeat performance.

Kidomaru, ever the pragmatist, sighed. "Fine," he said, stepping forward. "I'll show you the way out. I'm the least injured, anyway." He gave the others a pointed look. "Don't even think about following."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Sakon muttered, while Tayuya just flipped him off.

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As they walked through the winding corridors, Menma's stomach rumbled again, the sound echoing in the silence.

"You know," he said to Kidomaru, "for a guy who tried to kill me earlier, you're surprisingly helpful."

Kidomaru shrugged, his six arms moving in a strangely fluid motion. "We have our orders. And besides," he added, a hint of amusement in his voice, "it's not every day we get to see Kimimaro get knocked on his ass."

Menma chuckled. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it."

His mind drifted back to the fight, replaying the clash of bone and chakra. The raw power he'd wielded, the instinctive use of gravity manipulation, it was exhilarating, but also unsettling. A part of him, that darker voice, craved more.

'Gotta get a handle on that,' he thought, clenching his fist. The memory of the gravity technique surfaced again, clearer this time. He'd seen Menma use it to fly in the movie, effortlessly soaring through the air.

'Flight,' he thought, a spark of excitement igniting within him. 'That's the next step. If I can master that...'

The possibilities were endless. But first, he needed to learn control. And he needed food.

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Finally, they reached a hidden exit, a section of the wall that slid open with a low rumble, revealing a narrow passage leading into the darkness.

"This is it," Kidomaru said, gesturing toward the tunnel. "Follow it, and you'll reach the surface. Don't get lost."

Menma stepped into the passage, the air growing noticeably cooler and fresher. "Thanks," he said, glancing back at Kidomaru. "I owe you one."

Kidomaru simply nodded.

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Emerging from the tunnel, Menma blinked, his eyes adjusting to the dim light of the late afternoon. He was surrounded by the dense, eerie forest he had encountered when he first arrived, only now he had a completely different view. Towering trees with gnarled branches formed a canopy overhead, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze, it was almost peaceful if it wasn't for the oppressive atmosphere he was starting to get use to.

Kidomaru pointed toward a cluster of buildings in the distance, barely visible through the trees. "That's the village," he said. "You'll find food there. Try not to cause any trouble."

It was the same village he'd glimpsed when he first arrived, the outskirts of Otogakure. The buildings were dark and imposing, their architecture unlike anything he'd seen in Konoha. It looked less like a village and more like a fortress.

"And what about you?" Menma asked, turning back to Kidomaru. "Aren't you worried I'll just run off?"

Kidomaru shrugged, his multiple arms shifting slightly. "You could try. But Lord Orochimaru has ways of finding those who stray. Besides," he added, a hint of a smirk on his face, "where would you even go?"

"Fair enough," Menma conceded.

"Just be careful," Kidomaru warned. "There are traps all around the forest. You got lucky before, but don't push it." With that, he turned and disappeared back into the tunnel, leaving Menma alone.

Menma watched him go, then turned his gaze back to the village. His stomach growled again, reminding him of his original purpose.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, adjusting his mask.