𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 | sasuke uchiha

10/29

Shikamaru came to a halt in front of a small, decrepit looking house with the nameplate "Namikaze" above the mailbox. It was the only house on the entire street that was still in use; a ghost of the once lively neighbourhood it had been before.

Menma Namikaze was the twin brother of Naruto Uzumaki, younger by two minutes. Their life stories had been tragic since birth, really. Their father, Minato, hadn't been able to witness the birth of his sons as he had been based overseas as a part of the military at the time.

He died two nights before they were born after being caught in a drone strike.

This news did not reach his wife Kushina until after she gave birth to her sons, and she was already suffering from a severe haemorrhage. Before she died, she managed to bestow her sons with their first names: Naruto and Menma. It was the decision of the head warden at the time, a man named Hiruzen Sarutobi, that each twin would receive one of their parents' name to carry on. So, Naruto became Naruto Uzumaki, and Menma became Menma Namikaze.

By now, the Nara had trampled his way through the now overgrown footpath and stood at the faded yellow door, sighing. Menma had turned into just as much as a recluse as Sasuke had, but at least Sasuke made sure to keep his property looking tidy. He knocked on the door.

"Hey, Menma." There were no sounds save for the creaking of the stairs beneath Shikamaru's feet, and he shivered a little. This place already gave him the creeps.

"Menma, it's Shikamaru. I know you said you never wanted to see any of us again, but... I need to talk to you," tried Shikamaru, knuckles still lightly lying against the old door. There was still no reply, and Shikamaru began to contemplate whether Menma had died himself. Or maybe he was in his room, with earphones in or something.

"Menma, I wanted to ask you about Sasuke," tried Shikamaru once more, listening out for any signs of life. He thought he heard a sound, so he pressed his ear against the door. And sure enough, there it was: the soft footsteps of someone trying to go undetected. Shikamaru lowered his head and sighed again.

"Menma, I can help you," said the Nara, thinking of ways to win the Namikaze's loyalty over. "You just need to tell me why you suspected Sasuke of being involved in the accident... and maybe we can prove what you're trying to say."

Just exactly what was he trying to say, anyway? frowned Shikamaru to himself. The footsteps became more audible, and he straightened up. Then slowly, he could hear the clink of a chain being undone, before the sound of multiple keyholes being opened followed.

The door opened an inch.

"Who's there?" came a low and raspy voice. Shikamaru winced; this sounded nothing like Menma at all.

"It's Shikamaru, Menma... I wanted to talk to you," he said, trying his best to sell himself. He heard a scoff.

"Great timing to talk, Nara," spat the figure concealed behind the door. "You're just being nosy now. The case was closed two years ago; there's nothing you can do to help."

"So you do need help," said Shikamaru, sticking his foot in the gap of the door and frame. He heard a scowl.

"Nothing can help now, Shikamaru. Our government's fucked, and the person responsible for the so called accident is walking free," came the numb voice behind the door. Shikamaru sighed.

"I can help, Menma," tried Shikamaru yet again. "You've got to trust me. Please. I have to talk to you. You have to talk to me."

Silence.

"... fine."