What Menma Feared

"Yota, actually... you were brought back to life," Menma finally said.

"Brought back to life?" Yota didn't quite understand.

"What I mean is, you actually died a long time ago. Then someone used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to bring you back," Menma finally told Yota the truth.

"Is that so? Then the person who brought me back must be the one with snake-like eyes," Yota said after thinking it over.

Menma nodded. "His name is Orochimaru. He used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to bring you back."

"I see. Well, that's pretty great too. I got to meet so many friends!" Yota wasn't too bothered by it. He was just happy to have made so many friends.

"Don't tell anyone else about this. It would make them sad," Menma added.

"I know! I won't tell anyone. It'll be our secret!" Yota said happily.

"Okay! See you tomorrow, Yota!" Menma said, then vanished on the spot.

Sunlight bathed Konoha that day. Dappled shadows lent the lively village a sense of peace and tranquility.

Naruto, Menma, Yota, and their other friends gathered once again. Their experience the day before had made their bond even stronger—a deep connection forged through a trial they had faced together.

"Let's go explore outside the village today!" Naruto suggested excitedly. His eyes sparkled with a yearning for the unknown, and his enthusiasm seemed capable of setting the whole world alight.

"What? Leave the village?" Menma asked in surprise.

"Yeah! Aren't you curious about what's out there, Menma?" Naruto asked.

"But... I don't think we're allowed to leave the village." Menma's words poured cold water on the idea, and Naruto fell silent.

"I know a way out! Follow me!" Yota said.

They followed Yota to the wall. He moved a nearby wooden board aside, revealing a hole just big enough to squeeze through.

"We can get out through here!" Yota said, then crawled through.

But no matter how hard the others tried, they couldn't get through. With no other choice, Menma gave Yota his Flying Thunder God Kunai and used the Flying Thunder God to take everyone outside.

"Awesome! This is going to be so much fun," Ino replied, her eyes full of anticipation, as if she could already see the sights along the way and all the exciting things waiting for them.

So the group set off for the forest beyond the village, brimming with anticipation. Yota walked among them with a happy smile. This was a precious moment for him, and his heart was full of gratitude toward his friends.

As they slipped out of the village, two figures watched them silently from the shadows.

"Lucky us. We ran into some Konoha brats sneaking out to play," one of them said.

A closer look revealed that all three wore Cloud Village Forehead Protectors.

"Looks like we can have some fun," one Cloud Village ninja said with a sinister grin.

"Then let's kill the brats. We'll follow them!" said the third, setting off with the other two behind him.

Not long after they entered the forest, the atmosphere around them quietly changed. The cheerful birdsong vanished, and silence spread like a rising tide. Then a faint mist began to gather, seemingly alive as it quickly enveloped them.

"This mist is kind of strange," Shikamaru said with a frown. His sharp instincts had picked up on the danger, and his mind was already racing to figure out what was going on.

"Everyone, be careful," Menma warned. His gaze sharpened as he prepared for whatever danger might appear.

Suddenly, several enormous spiders sprang out of the mist. Their huge black shells gleamed with an eerie sheen, and their eyes shone with a hellish red light. Long strands of webbing shot from their mouths like deadly white whips.

"Ah! What are those monsters?" Choji cried in terror, instinctively shrinking back, his face full of fear.

Naruto reacted quickly and formed Hand Seals without hesitation. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" In an instant, more than a dozen clones charged toward the spiders like a surging wave crashing against a reef.

"Hey! Don't rush in alone! It's dangerous!" Menma shouted. He knew he had to step in.

He prepared to use the Flying Thunder God Technique. But when he saw the spiders' countless legs, fear crept into his heart.

Menma was afraid of spiders. It was a fear buried deep inside him, and now it spread through his mind like a demon. His legs started trembling. Even a little spider suddenly appearing in front of him could startle him—let alone spiders bigger than they were.

Still, he forced himself to calm down. His friends needed him. Menma steadied his breathing and quickly formed a Rasengan, a blue sphere of chakra taking shape in his hand. He lunged at one of the spiders. The Rasengan struck it with tremendous force, sending it flying into a tree. The trunk shook violently, and leaves fluttered down.

"The jutsu that kid used..." The three watching from the shadows were stunned.

"There's no mistaking it. That's the jutsu the Yellow Flash of Konoha, Minato Namikaze, used," one of them said.

"See those two kids? Could they be Minato Namikaze's sons?" Another man's expression turned increasingly sinister, and he began to grow eager.

"Looks like it. We're in luck. We can finally get our revenge," another said.

"Let me add some fuel to the fire. Summoning Jutsu!" The man summoned an enormous spider, making the ones they had seen before look tiny by comparison.

The giant spider bared its fangs and opened its gaping maw, letting out a shrill sound.

Seeing his friends fighting, Yota desperately wanted to help. He tried using his ability, but it had no effect on the spiders.

He grew anxious, and the sky darkened with his mood. Clouds gathered overhead, as if a storm were about to break.

"Yota, hide!" Ino shouted. As she called out, she used the Mind Transfer Jutsu to briefly take control of one spider, buying her friends some time.

Yota obediently hid behind a tree, wrapping his arms tightly around the trunk. His body trembled slightly as he watched his friends fighting, tense with worry.

But the spiders kept multiplying, like an endless tide of darkness. The children began to struggle. Exhaustion showed in their movements; their breathing grew ragged, and sweat soaked their clothes.

"We can't keep this up. We need a plan," Shikamaru said, dodging a spider's attack as he quickly thought through their options. His eyes searched their surroundings desperately.

Just then, a spider quietly crept up behind Yota. It moved lightly and stealthily, like a ghost in the dark. Suddenly, it pounced, its sharp claws glinting in the faint light.

"Yota!" Menma spotted what was happening, but the swarm blocked his way, and he couldn't reach Yota in time.

The spider wrapped Yota tightly in its webbing. The strands were like tough ropes, tightening with every moment. He struggled, terror filling his eyes as if he could see death approaching.

The spider dragged Yota deeper into the mist at tremendous speed, like a black gale. His friends were frantic to chase after him, but the other spiders held them back.

"Yota!" Naruto roared in fury, his eyes turning red as a powerful force burst out of him. He used the Multi-Shadow Clone, and a Rasengan formed in his hand. His countless clones launched a fierce assault on the surrounding spiders, knocking some of them away and opening a path for the others.

The group hurried after the spider that had dragged Yota away. When they reached him, they found him lying on the ground, looking near death.

"Yota, what's wrong?" Naruto asked anxiously, his voice trembling.

"I feel my strength fading... I think I'm going..." Yota whispered weakly, his voice as light as a falling feather, full of helplessness.

"No, Yota! We'll save you!" Naruto shouted, determination filling his eyes. He had no intention of giving up.

The others gathered around and looked down at Yota, their hearts heavy. A rustling sound came from the mist again. It seemed there were even more dangers lurking in the forest.

Suddenly, strands of webbing shot from somewhere and wrapped tightly around them. Menma reacted in time and dodged the oncoming webs, but the others weren't so lucky. They were caught and pinned to the ground, unable to move.

"Hahaha! Can't move, can you, brats?" a voice called out. Three figures appeared in front of them.

"You're... Cloud Village ninjas!" Menma said, recognizing their Forehead Protectors.

"Oh? You recognized us, kid. Then I guess we'll just have to kill all of you!" the man said. A giant spider appeared behind the three.

The spider was truly enormous. Its legs were nearly as thick as tree trunks. Menma's legs trembled at the sight. He stared at the monstrous spider, shaking and unable to move.

"Menma! What are you doing? Aren't you strong? Hurry up and take them down!" Naruto shouted when he saw him.

Menma was too terrified to speak. He stared at the giant spider in horror. Faced with the thing he feared most, he had lost all ability to fight. He could only stand there, frozen, staring at the spider's gaping maw.

The giant spider slowly approached them, baring its long fangs as if it meant to eat them.

As it drew closer, Menma's fear only grew. He collapsed to the ground and stared at the spider.

"Damn it, Menma! What are you doing?" Kiba shouted.

"There's no use. Spiders, centipedes, and snakes are what Menma fears most. He can't fight at all right now," Shikamaru said, sounding as if he already knew how this would end.

"Damn it! Are we really going to die here today? I haven't even become Hokage yet! You've got to be kidding me!" Naruto said bitterly.

"Hey, Menma, what are you doing? You're afraid of this thing? Even this old man isn't scared of it! Am I not more terrifying than that thing?" Kurama shouted from the Sealing Space.

Menma seemed not to hear them. He continued staring blankly at the giant spider.

"Don't... hurt... my friends!" Yota slowly rose and shouted at the spider. Faint sparks appeared on his body. Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared overhead, and countless bolts struck the spider.

Yota's anger grew, and the lightning struck more and more often. Everyone was stunned by the sight.

"Ah!" Yota roared and charged at the spider. A massive bolt of lightning came crashing down.

With a tremendous boom, a flash of white light filled the area. When everyone came to their senses, the spider had been blasted to ashes.

A scrap of cloth drifted over on the wind and fell in front of them. It was a piece of Yota's clothing.

"Damn brat. Looks like I'll have to kill you all myself," one of the men said, preparing to rush at them. The other two drew their Kunai and charged.

Menma picked up the scrap of cloth from the ground. Clutching it in his hand, he glared at the three men charging toward them.

"You want to dance too?" Menma said, then pulled out a Flying Thunder God Kunai and threw it at the three.