A scene that was never supposed to happen.
When it actually unfolded...
The negative emotions within Kakashi's heart could be imagined. As Minato's most direct subordinate in the past, someone who could still call Minato his teacher, there was undoubtedly a special sense of gratitude toward Minato within him.
He truly did not want to engage in a life-or-death battle with his teacher's son, especially given the guilt he already harbored.
"Menma, stop this! It's not too late. The Third Hokage is dead; death extinguishes all debts. Why can't you let go of your hatred? Minato-sensei would absolutely never want to see you standing in opposition to the village. Tsunade-sama is currently leading the village. As long as you come back, everything can return to how it was before. Come back, Menma!"
Even if the hope was incredibly slim...
Kakashi still couldn't help but try to persuade Menma to return.
Even now, Kakashi still couldn't truly harden his heart to strike Menma with lethal intent.
But Menma would have no such hesitation.
Just as he had said long ago, Menma wouldn't resent Kakashi for not taking care of him—Kakashi was nobody to him, with no obligation to care for him. But by the same token, in Menma's eyes, Kakashi was just a stranger. As long as he didn't block the way, fine. But if he did, Menma would show no mercy whatsoever.
"Go back? To think you'd be as naive and foolish as that guy Naruto? That really makes me want to laugh my teeth out, Kakashi. You want me to go back? Then take my corpse back, provided you have the ability, Kakashi!"
At this moment, a look of extreme ruthlessness surfaced in Menma's pupils.
In this instant...
Menma had completely formed killing intent toward Kakashi.
Not just because this guy was blocking his path and had to be killed.
But because Menma realized a very important issue: Kakashi the person wasn't important, but that Sharingan of his was crucial.
That was Obito Uchiha's Sharingan, and a Mangekyō-level existence at that.
Considering the future...
That eye.
'I'll be taking it!'
An incredibly powerful chakra aura erupted from Menma's body instantly.
A swirling cloak of crimson chakra, roaring to the extreme.
A third tail materialized.
At this moment, the terrifying aura on Menma was enough to make the vast majority of ninja tremble. This chakra fluctuation already exceeded the Jonin level.
"Not good!"
Facing this terrifying aura spreading toward him and hearing Menma's words filled with chilling killing intent...
Kakashi's eyes changed involuntarily.
Swish!
His body twisted subconsciously.
Trying to distance himself.
However.
Boom!
Menma was a step faster.
He pressed forward ahead of time.
Crack!
Thud!
With a forceful shake, he forcibly broke through Kakashi's defense.
Chakra surged upward.
Pfft!
The kunai plunged straight in.
At that critical distance, Kakashi tensed his body and forcibly twisted his position.
Barely managing to avoid a strike to his vitals.
But the kunai still sliced through Kakashi's clothes, pierced his skin, and tore a wound downwards, accompanied by blood spurting from his abdomen.
In pain...
Kakashi's expression changed slightly despite himself.
His hands shot out immediately.
Launching a counterattack in an instant.
Menma merely tilted his head, easily dodging the attack, then leaned over into a side kick.
Bang!
He slammed heavily into Kakashi's chest again.
The moment that terrifying brute force exploded on a single point...
Kakashi's figure flew backward rapidly once more.
Bang!
Completely unable to control himself, he smashed heavily into the area beneath the giant stone statue.
His back took another hit.
Under this second blow...
Kakashi tasted iron in his throat and spat out a mouthful of thick blood directly. His face paled several shades in that instant.
Kick him while he's down.
Since the decision had been made...
Menma wouldn't hold back in the slightest here.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The moment Kakashi flew backward...
Menma immediately formed the hand seals.
Circling one hand and cupping it by his mouth, a massive, blazing fireball appeared out of thin air, rushing toward Kakashi's position at high speed.
Facing that huge fireball, clearly far exceeding the normal scale...
Kakashi looked solemn but showed no sign of panic.
Clap!
Slamming his hands together.
The jutsu was completed with rapid seals.
"Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu!"
In just a few seconds...
In front of Kakashi...
A monstrous wave surged up, covering the area layer by layer.
Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!
After completely swallowing that huge fireball, amidst the spreading steam, the giant wave continued to crash down with undiminished momentum toward the onrushing Menma.
Facing this terrifying Water Style jutsu that most ordinary ninja couldn't contend with, or even dodge...
Menma's expression showed no change whatsoever.
Whoosh!
He continued his forceful charge upward.
Boom.
Nine-Tails chakra vented further.
Splash!
Leaping up rapidly...
Bang!
He forcibly broke through that layer of water, meeting the momentum of the giant crashing wave head-on.
"!?"
This development, far exceeding expectations, caused Kakashi's pupils to contract sharply as it entered his vision.
The next second.
Buzz!
Seeing the azure sphere manifesting in Menma's palm...
"Rasengan?!"
Kakashi's gaze focused.
This was a jutsu created by his own teacher, Minato. Even as an incomplete product, it possessed top-tier A-rank destructive power.
Kakashi dared not be careless in the slightest. After only a moment's hesitation, a look of resolve appeared as he gritted his teeth.
His hands formed seals rapidly.
Zzzzzzz!
Within a second, lightning flashed wildly. Thunder gathered in his palm, roaring with power.
Chakra condensed to the extreme.
A jutsu perfectly combining shape transformation and nature transformation.
"Lightning Cutter (Raikiri)!"
One of the highest ultimate techniques of Lightning Style.
seeing the surging lightning in Kakashi's palm, the murderous aura between Menma's brows grew even heavier.
'Raikiri, huh? Then let me see just how strong your ultimate technique is at this stage!!'
With a slightly ferocious expression...
He unhesitatingly injected Nine-Tails chakra directly into the Rasengan.
Buzz!!
Compared to that unconscious action before...
This time, with active control...
The color became even darker.
A dark red core appeared clearly in the center.
And the outer edge had turned completely pitch black.