The moment Genma Shiranui died...
Naruto's expression froze instantly.
This was the first time Naruto had seen someone close to him die right before his eyes. The bloody scene assaulted his senses.
In the distance, Kakashi, Asuma, and the others, who caught glimpses of this, all wore expressions of grief.
"Menma!! Why!? Why!?"
A scream of anguish and rage tore from Naruto's throat.
This was the first time Naruto looked at Menma with genuine anger.
"Why? This is a battlefield, and you are the enemy. Do you really need to ask why? You are hopelessly stupid, Naruto."
Menma slowly stood up, flicking the blood from his hand with a sharp motion. He looked at Naruto with a mocking sneer.
"You!!!"
"Consumed by anger? Feel the rage? Just because Genma Shiranui died, you feel pain!? How pitiful and laughable. Do you know, my foolish little brother? For the past twelve years, I have been waiting for this moment! This ugly village, these hypocritical, sanctimonious people... Truly, seeing them, and seeing you surrounded by them... everything about it disgusts me! It makes me angry! Now, to wipe out such filth with my own hands... it brings me incomparable joy! And this is just the first step! Rage! Hate! Let me see where your so-called justice is now! Naruto!!!"
A chilling glint surfaced in Menma's eyes as he spoke coldly.
Looking at Kakashi, Asuma, and the others in the distance—who were visibly sorrowful and anxious, desperate to reach them but unable to break through—Menma's expression grew even more savage.
As a terrifying, icy aura spread out...
Naruto was stunned, staring blankly at Menma.
Everything he believed seemed to be crumbling.
He had thought he could stop his brother, maybe even make him see reason and turn back.
But this scene was tragically ironic.
"Menma-kun, you really can't turn back now!"
From a short distance away, Rock Lee, who had been thrown by Menma earlier, flashed back onto the scene. Violent chakra surged from his body, proving that Konoha's Beast of Prey had also opened the Eight Inner Gates. His aura alone rivaled that of an average Jonin.
But even so...
He was still far inferior to Menma.
"Heh, turn back? Lee, you're pretty funny too. Was I not clear enough just now? Or is there something wrong with your ears and brains!? We are enemies now!!"
Menma said icily.
"Enemies? Indeed we are. Naruto-kun, Menma-kun can no longer turn back. The mistakes of youth must be resolved in the way of youth!"
After all, they had just met, and there was no messy emotional baggage between them. Lee had heard Menma's words and felt that Menma's suffering was the village's "mistake." But Lee was a ninja of Konoha, and Menma was an enemy of Konoha.
That left him with only one option.
Lee spoke with firm resolve.
As if to demonstrate his commitment...
"Fourth Gate: Pain Gate, OPEN!!!"
Breaking through the fourth limit, a terrifying wave of chakra erupted from him.
His body was further enhanced.
At Lee's current level and physical conditioning...
The pain was clearly palpable.
But Lee merely frowned, then clenched his fists tightly.
"Wait a moment. I'll attack head-on. You look for an opportunity, Naruto-kun!"
Surging chakra.
Overflowing power.
After speaking in a low voice...
Boom!
Chakra exploded from the soles of his feet.
He charged at Menma with blinding speed.
After his initial shock, Naruto's sorrow and hesitation lasted only a second before being replaced by determination.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
He used the jutsu once again.
Poof!
Poof!
Poof!
Poof!
Countless shadow clones appeared out of nowhere, spreading out and charging toward Menma alongside Lee.
Watching the pincer attack from Naruto and Lee...
Menma maintained his cold expression.
Just as he raised his right hand to act...
At that moment...
Directly above...
Crack!
Rumble!
The massive purple barrier covering the roof of the high platform suddenly vanished.
Seeing this...
Menma's eyes sharpened.
Ignoring Lee and Naruto...
He exploded chakra from his feet.
Whoosh!
Moving at a speed far surpassing Lee...
He completely evaded their attacks and flashed away from his spot, speeding towards the roof.
A second later.
The Sound Four, who had been maintaining the barrier, flashed together.
Inside, Orochimaru leaped out, looking battered and exhausted.
Seeing Menma approach, the Sound Four prepared to attack.
"Stop."
Orochimaru halted them immediately.
"It seems the plan can't continue, can it? Orochimaru-san," Menma said indifferently, glancing at Orochimaru's arms, which hung limp and useless at his sides, completely turned a dark purple.
"Heh, I've disappointed you, Menma-kun. However, it wasn't entirely fruitless. Let's end it here for today."
Orochimaru gestured to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who lay in a pool of blood, forcing a strained smile.
Menma glanced at the body impassively, showing no emotion, then nodded slightly. "Mhm. There's always next time. Well then, let's go, Orochimaru-san."
"Yes."
Immediately after...
Menma cast one last look at Naruto and Lee, who were still frantically chasing after him from below.
Kidōmaru of the Sound Four spat out a giant spider web to block the pursuing ANBU.
Taking the opportunity, Orochimaru, Menma, and the others retreated rapidly in the opposite direction.
They completely ignored the Sand ninja still fighting below and the One-Tail Shukaku roaring in the distance.
After all, for both Orochimaru and Menma, the Sand had only ever been tools to be used.
Orochimaru had personally killed the Fourth Kazekage. Abandoning the Sand to retreat alone brought him zero pressure.
As for the other Sound ninja, Orochimaru cared just as little. They were cannon fodder; their loss didn't pain him in the slightest.
His only valuable subordinate—Kabuto—had already slipped away quietly from the other side the moment the Four Violet Flames Formation fell. The rearguard action was left entirely to the Sand.
"Menma!!!!"
Unable to catch up, Naruto could only watch helplessly as Menma's figure disappeared into the distance, shouting in vain.
But the Menma who had already left would never answer him.
Lee, arriving beside Naruto too late to stop them, watched Menma and Orochimaru vanish and sighed silently. He had been prepared to break his limits and open the Fifth Gate for a fight to the death.
But Menma didn't give him the chance.
Lee could only pat Naruto silently on the shoulder, then turn back to join the other battles.
The enemies hadn't been completely cleared out yet.
However, with the departure of Orochimaru and Menma, this war was finally drawing to a close.