Hearing Naruto's words, Kakashi was momentarily stunned, but then he slowly nodded.
Things were different now.
This was happening on their home soil.
Naruto couldn't keep hiding in the back forever.
"Alright. Then be careful, Naruto!"
Kakashi looked at him seriously.
"Yes, Kakashi-niichan!"
Naruto nodded firmly.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side...
Baki and Kabuto had already launched their attacks. They both knew that as long as they successfully covered Gaara's Tailed Beast transformation, none of the Jonin in front of them could stop him. To fight a Tailed Beast required power at least on the level of the Five Kage.
"Wind Style: Blade of Wind."
Hum!
A wave of sharp, cutting wind radiated outward.
"Genma, Asuma!"
At Kakashi's shout, his teammates Asuma and Genma immediately understood.
The three Jonin spread out, forming a semi-encirclement.
Clang!
In less than a few seconds, the Jonin were locked in combat. Nearby, a steady stream of Sand and Sound ninja continued to flood into the arena.
This main stadium was the key to the entire operation. Whoever controlled this ground would hold the initiative in the war.
Up in the contestants' gallery, Menma deliberately feigned shock for a moment, just like Sasuke, Sakura, and Lee, allowing Kankurō and Temari—who were already prepared—to slip past and join Baki to protect the transforming Gaara.
Immediately after...
"Sasuke, Sakura, leave the arena to Kakashi-sensei and the others. We need to clear out the enemies invading the stands. There are many nobles and officials from various countries here; we have to protect them!"
Menma turned to Sasuke and Sakura.
Regardless of their combat strength, getting them out of the way was the correct move. In the original story, Gaara failed his transformation initially and only succeeded after leaving the village.
In this timeline, Menma wanted to see Gaara go on a rampage inside Konoha. Twelve years was a long time—long enough for these people to remember only the hatred, but forget the pain.
Menma felt it was necessary to remind them what true pain felt like!
"Huh?"
"Right."
Sasuke and Sakura didn't find anything odd about Menma's order.
Beside them, Lee and Tenten, who had been somewhat at a loss, nodded instinctively upon hearing Menma.
They could also see their own Jonin sensei (Guy) fighting off enemies while protecting the unconscious spectators nearby, so following Menma's lead seemed natural.
The group of five flickered away.
They moved to the stands on the opposite side.
Clang!
They picked their targets and engaged in combat. However, unlike the others, Menma was completely phoning it in. Most of his attention was focused on the battle below between Kakashi, Baki, and the others. That was the critical point of the "Konoha Crush."
Time ticked away, second by second.
At close range, the aura emanating from Gaara inside the giant sand sphere was becoming increasingly terrifying.
Under the scrutiny of the Sharingan, the massive fluctuations of chakra were clearly visible.
The danger was becoming undeniable.
"Genma, Naruto!"
After a brief skirmish...
While Asuma engaged Kabuto and Kurenai suppressed several Sand and Sound reinforcements...
Kakashi took the initiative.
He forcibly engaged Baki and another Sand Jonin leader, pinning them down.
Creating a momentary opening.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Naruto and Genma leaped forward, charging straight towards the giant sand sphere.
"Damn it! Stop them!"
Seeing this, Baki's pupils constricted.
He tried to break away, but Kakashi wouldn't allow it.
Kankurō and Temari, who were guarding Gaara, gritted their teeth. Even knowing that Genma Shiranui was a Special Jonin and out of their league, they stepped forward to block him for the sake of the plan.
"Naruto, leave these two to me. You destroy that sand sphere! Remember, this is war. They are enemies of the village—do not hold back!"
Fearing Naruto's lack of experience might lead to mercy...
Genma shouted instructions as he moved to intercept both Kankurō and Temari, pulling them into his attack range.
"Yeah, I got it, Genma-niichan!"
Naruto responded with a look of fierce determination.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
While running, he created a shadow clone. It repeated the familiar motion.
Hum!
Blue chakra swirled and condensed in his right hand.
"Rasengan!"
As it formed, a chilling fluctuation spread out.
Taking advantage of Genma momentarily suppressing the Sand siblings...
Naruto flashed to a position directly above Gaara's sand sphere.
Under the horrified gazes of Baki, Kankurō, and Temari, he thrust his palm down.
"NO!!!"
A point-blank impact.
In less than a second...
Just as he was about to smash into the sand sphere...
Whoosh!
A blood-red figure flashed in.
"What!?"
An impact from the left.
"Ugh!?"
It was a speed Naruto couldn't react to. He took a heavy hit to the gut.
Pain flared.
His chakra scattered instantly.
The Rasengan dissipated.
His body was sent flying backward.
Whoosh!
Bang!
He smashed heavily into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
This sudden turn of events instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby. When Kakashi, Genma, Asuma, and the others looked to see who had intervened, their faces twisted in disbelief.
Naruto, having just been attacked, scrambled up from the ground to see which bastard had ambushed him. But when the blood-red figure and the familiar face came into view, Naruto's eyes went wide with shock and confusion.
"Menma!? Why!?"
The question was screamed out almost instinctively.
Standing directly in front of Gaara...
Shielding the Sand Jinchuriki...
Wrapped in a cloak of crimson Nine-Tails chakra...
Menma looked at Naruto with eyes colder than ice.