bargaining

unexpected

Menma's pov

It started all so unexpectedly it was all so sudden so odd so different. Nothing we've bargained for. Nothing we've planned for.

We're all in the grasp of their fists. And now there is nothing to do about this 'change'.

--scroll message--

To all ninja new or old in the village hidden in the leafs. We announce that a new hokage is amongst our people. Her arrival shall be at sun rise. Here is to new alliances and hope for new honor and respect.

-- team 7, team 8, team 10 and team Guy. After our hokages ceremony we shall meet with you all and discuss your new circumstances that you all must accommodate to together.

--End--

concern rose, and questions bubbled in my brain while those thoughts scattered. I couldn't think straight but my mind had to wait.

There were two issues at hand a new hokage is upon arriving and that has to be my top priority momentarily.

We had certain traditions when it came to the respect of our hokages. Ripping me of my thought bubble Naruto barged in and fwumped on my bed.

"I'm assuming the Nara left?" I spoke first. "Nope, he's resting on my bed now and he has yet to know about the news" he started "I'll tell him when he wakes up so that should be soon, and he'll have enough energy to leave by then" he finished.

I nodded and sighed, and Naruto wrapped his arm around my shoulder, laying his head against the other. "I wonder, how much worse our circumstances will get with this new hokage" I spoke suddenly.

Naruto nodded and said "it's okay Menma we can get through another couple years of unjust punishment. We only have each other so we must persevere" he finished holding my shoulder tighter.

I knew he wasn't okay, even me being the oldest Naruto always took it upon himself to protect me, he was like a mother, like our mother who had abandoned us and I wish to repay him for the years of slavery he'd endured for me until I became well.. me.

Naruto was strong and never broke he was always so open-minded and caring. He kept his head high and even held mine for me when I needed him most.

I loved him more than anything and it breaks me so much to know he's not okay. But I can get through this for him and now I can really protect him. I need to protect him the way he always did me when I was weak.

...

Its a lot to take in even for someone so young and had many youthful years to come. But not for us, we've been through a lot together but Naruto had always moved forward and pulled me when I lacked behind.

I hold him back and we sit there in a comfortable silence, until we hear a knock on my bedroom door.

Narutos pov

I have to be strong for Menma even if it does not pull in my favor he is my only thing closest to family and I need him here.

His existence has always kept me sane and it needs to stay that way. We held one another close until a knock sounded at his door and I pulled from him and opened the door to see Shikamaru.

Instinctively I pressed my palm to his head and luckily his fever had subsided to something bearable. I gestured him to move back and I closed the door behind me. From then I explained everything to him.

By the end of it I handed him his shoes and told him to head home and rest, secretly slipping some medicine in his pocket.

The house was empty again besides Menma being there, so I head to my room shouting a 'goodnight' to Menma and falling succumb to sleep. 'this is gonna be exhausting' my last thought flushed and I slept soundly.

-next morning

'Here we go' I thought this is where everything will change for the better or the worse. I dressed quickly in a village colored sari and per say our village clothing is a bit different than any other village, I styled my hair low and pulled back.

To my surprise Menma was just as ready with his hair slicked back and his uneven bangs held by a hair clip, his clothes similar to mine besides the fact that i wore my Sari and he a Vanshik.

His eyes were tired, and I was saddened at that. "You didn't get much sleep have you" I frowned. He shook his head and my frown deepened. I pat his head and grabbed his hand pulling him out the door. There was not much I could do besides look out for him.

"Okay Menma, look for the best ahead okay, we'll be okay" I said softly and in that moment tears streamed down my brothers face and after that we just held each other tightly silently crying.

This will take its toll on us depending if things change, and as much as I tried to stay strong this made me my weakest. This moment, nothing else had mattered.