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Twin Demons. Chapter 26
🕑 Added 2025-09-22 21:45:06 +0000 UTCMenma, Naruko, and Rock Lee, under the tireless command of Maito Gai, were running single file around the training field, each lap turning into pure torture. On their shoulders — a log as thick as their own bodies. Above their heads — the merciless sun. In their ears — the sensei’s shouts, always a mix of enthusiasm and madness.
Back then, just looking at this kind of abuse would’ve made Menma’s eye twitch. He’d never have believed a sane person could willingly sprint around with a log on their head while shouting something “inspiring.” But after four years in this cheerful madhouse called the “Power of Youth,” he had learned… if not to love it, then at least to endure it.
The secret was simple: turn his brain off. He would sink into his inner space — where there were no sensei’s screams, no blazing bonfires of youth, no acoustic torture. Only the steady beat of his heart, his breath, and his steps.
“I CAN FEEL THE FLAMES OF YOUTH IGNITING MY MUSCLES!” Gai roared, as if he wanted the whole of Sunagakure to hear.
“ME TOO, GAI-SENSEI!” Lee echoed, and Menma’s eardrums begged for mercy.
Once Rock Lee had fully embraced the Cult of Youth, the team’s noise level at least doubled. Sometimes it seemed like he and Gai weren’t training, but competing to see who could outshout a herd of buffalo.
“And done!” Gai finally dropped his log, straightened up, and thrust a thumbs-up toward the sky. “Today you surpassed yourselves!”
The Uzumaki twins simply collapsed onto the grass in response. Their lungs burned like blacksmith’s bellows, their muscles trembled, sweat stung their eyes. Exhausting? Yes. But still better than before, when after each session they just wanted to lie down and die. Gai was clearly holding back. Not for himself — this jōnin of taijutsu with inhuman stamina could’ve endured something much harsher. He was pacing it for Lee. And even then, the boy still looked ready to run till nightfall.
“I can see your heart blazing with the fire of youth, Lee-kun!” Gai gave him another thumbs-up. “I’ll walk you home. Rest up, Menma and Naruko, until tomorrow!”
And off they went — two green fanatics, cheerfully chanting as they left the field.
“Hold it right there!” Naruko, barely catching her breath, jumped to her feet and jabbed a finger at their backs. “Where do you two keep running off to every day this week?”
“Gai-sensei is teaching me the Eight Gates technique,” Lee replied without the slightest hesitation. “Do you want to join us?”
“YOU IDIOT!” Gai bellowed, making the leaves shiver on the trees. He immediately punched Lee in the jaw. The boy crashed down, but his sensei revived him with a flurry of sharp slaps. “A shinobi must never reveal the secrets of his arsenal! For your carelessness — one hundred extra laps!”
“Yes, Gai-sensei!” Lee shouted with joy, not even offended. He grabbed his log and bolted off, trailing a fountain of enthusiasm and droplets of blood from his lip.
“The fault lies with me, too, for my student’s recklessness!” Gai lamented, wringing his hands in theatrical despair. “I too will run a hundred laps!”
And with a sob, he sprinted after Lee, leaving behind a green trail of self-flagellation and misery.
[Madhouse.]
When the two green freaks finally finished their punishment and sat back down, Naruko was waiting with the expression of a prosecutor.
“So why did you hide such a cool jutsu from me?” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at Gai. “Whatever. Doesn’t matter. Just tell me straight — when are you going to teach me the Eight Gates? I’ll bet you a bowl of ramen I’ll master them five times faster than Lee!”
“I accept your challenge, Naruko-chan!” Lee lit up instantly, almost jumping in place.
But this time, Gai didn’t look thrilled about a new rivalry. His usual bravado faded, replaced by painful hesitation. He looked like a father about to explain to his kid that the Disneyland trip was canceled.
[If I don’t step in, sis will throw a fit and the whole green circus will collapse.]
“This technique doesn’t suit us, Naruko,” Menma said calmly, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I read in the library: it requires a special physique. If Gai-sensei hasn’t offered, it means he’s certain we’re not fit for it. Unlike Lee.”
“Exactly!” Gai jumped in, instantly restoring his trademark mask of enthusiasm. But in his eyes flashed a quiet gratitude toward Menma.
“I’m… special?” Lee whispered, hardly believing it.
“Of course!” Gai pulled him close, as if trying to pour his conviction straight through touch. “You may lack ninjutsu or genjutsu, but your talent in taijutsu is unmatched!”
And Lee burst into tears of joy right on his sensei’s shoulder. Gai teared up too, clutching him in a crushing embrace.
The Uzumaki twins exchanged a glance. Their faces mirrored the same thing: an overwhelming, off-the-charts sense of awkwardness.
“From here our paths will part,” Lee said, wiping away his tears with his fist. His face shone with determination, as if he had just taken an oath. “We may no longer compete in the same training, but we can measure our strength in sparring! By the time we meet again, I’ll be many times stronger!”
He straightened, standing like a steel rod, eyes burning hot enough to set the dry grass aflame.
“Well said, Lee-kun!” Gai clapped him on the shoulder so hard he nearly crashed into the ground, but Lee’s smile never faltered. Then the sensei turned to the twins. “Unfortunately, I can’t teach you my personal techniques. They’re too specialized and simply wouldn’t suit you. But my doors are always open if you want to discuss or practice taijutsu forms.”
“I actually have a question,” Menma spoke up. He sat straighter, brushed a damp strand of hair from his forehead, and asked calmly, almost casually: “Do you know a combat style designed for two fighters working as a pair? My sister and I have nearly identical stats and perfect synchronicity of movement. I think we should use that.”
Gai froze for a moment. Then he stroked his chin, frowned, and began slowly sorting through options in his head.
“Hm… an interesting question. The Inuzuka clan works in tandem with their ninken, yes. The Hokage uses his partner like a staff… but that’s not quite it.”
“Not it,” the twins echoed, shaking their heads in unison.
“Then here’s what we’ll do,” Gai declared solemnly. “I’ll ask other taijutsu masters. Perhaps such a style already exists. And if it doesn’t…” He clenched his fist, his smile blazing as if it had cut through the clouds. “Then we’ll create one together!”
“Thank you, Gai-sensei,” Menma bowed slightly, while Naruko gave a thumbs-up, beaming with enthusiasm.
The Green Beasts bid them a warm farewell and headed toward the exit.
As soon as their footsteps faded, Naruko grabbed her brother by the shoulder and spun him around, her eyes blazing with indignation.
“What kind of nonsense was that just now?!” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “Special bodies for the bushy-browed duo? Are you serious? We’re Uzumaki! We’re the ones with special bodies! We could’ve mastered the most butt-ripping technique in the whole village!”
“And did you think about Lee?” Menma replied calmly, brushing off her hands. His voice was colder than usual. “Gai’s already running a circus just to keep him afloat. Lee is a chakra cripple, Naruko. The only reason he wasn’t kicked out of the academy is because Gai clung to him with his teeth and promised to make him a shinobi. His entire faith rests on his sensei’s words. Now imagine: we suddenly go and master the Eight Gates. What happens to Lee?”
Naruko frowned, but not with her usual certainty.
“He’d stop feeling special,” Menma went on. “Lose the one shred of hope he has. And no amount of Gai’s shouting about the ‘genius of hard work’ would bring his belief back.”
“…You’re probably right,” Naruko admitted reluctantly, turning away. “I didn’t know you were so… sensitive to other people’s problems.”
“I’m not just thinking about him, but about us too,” Menma snorted. “If you’d kept pressing Gai, it would’ve ended in a fight. This way, he’s still useful to us.”
His sister pouted but then burst out:
“It’s still unfair!” She bit her lip, looking off to the side. “That technique is perfect for us. We could reinforce our bones with adamantine to reduce strain damage, and heal injuries right after battle… with a saliva exchange!”
“You think I didn’t consider that?” Menma sighed, rolling his eyes. “We’ll definitely come back to the Eight Gates. Just not now. For now, the important thing is not to lose the only taijutsu master willing to work with us.”
“When you put it like that…” Naruko twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “Grandpa knows all of Konoha’s techniques. He probably knows this one too. If we nag him long enough, maybe he’ll share it with his beloved grandchildren…”
Menma smirked and winked.
“Now that’s the right train of thought. Uzumaki resourcefulness is in our blood.”
The twins exchanged a satisfied look and headed home, chattering over their plan to “storm the Hokage’s residence.”
Neither of them noticed the thin white snake slithering through the grass. It moved silently, almost blending into the earth, listening intently to their every word.
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