This was a character who carried a significant portion of his childhood memories from his previous life. He was one of Menma's favorite protagonists back then. He loved his hot-bloodedness, his sense of justice, his perseverance, and even more, he loved watching his many cool, dazzling entrance scenes.
Like facing Neji in the Chunin Exams, or his Sage Mode entrance during Pain's assault.
These scenes.
Once upon a time, they could be said to be etched into Menma's DNA.
This was why, when Menma first arrived in this world in this life, he held a special affection for Naruto.
But precisely because of this.
After seeing through everything...
Menma felt that Naruto was even more "disgusting." Not for any single reason, but because this was the only conclusion drawn after the collision of ideals and reality!
Looking at Naruto, whom he had completely immobilized...
Unlike the ruthlessness he showed others...
At this moment, Menma clearly revealed a trace of hesitation.
Kill Naruto?
This seemed like something he could easily do right now.
But Menma felt a sensation of being unable to strike.
However, only a second later...
A look of resolve surfaced in Menma's pupils. Since he had already made up his mind, any emotional hesitation would become poison that killed him.
A chilling intent emerged starkly.
Facing it head-on...
The dense killing aura could be clearly felt.
'Menma... wants to kill me?'
As their eyes met, the killing intent was naked and unmistakable.
While Naruto's pupils contracted, a look of despair and sorrow also appeared on his face.
His own biological brother wanted to kill him?
This negative emotion completely swallowed his heart.
The moment it spread rapidly...
Menma's sharp kunai had already been flipped out.
Poised at an angle to stab straight down...
"Don't, Menma!"
The next moment, an incredibly anxious and "familiar" voice, seeming not to exist in this space yet ringing solidly in the ears of both brothers at this instant...
In a trance...
The moment a fiery red figure was reflected simultaneously in the "eyes" of Menma and Naruto...
That seemingly clear sorrowful face, that transmitted aura of warmth...
While Naruto froze...
Menma's movement also paused subconsciously in that instant.
'Mother...'
Both of them murmured the word almost subconsciously.
And it was this crucial pause...
That allowed the reinforcements to arrive in time.
"Naruto!"
From the other side...
Choza Akimichi's figure appeared abruptly. Moving much faster than before, the powerful chakra fluctuation blossoming at this moment...
Had already broken through the limits of a Jonin.
This was strength displaying at least a quasi-Kage level.
It was purely because he saw Menma about to deal a lethal blow to Naruto that Choza hurriedly swallowed his clan's secret pill.
The chakra fluctuation was further enhanced.
Arriving at close range...
Menma's gaze focused.
Bang!
Parrying with both hands, he forcefully blocked Choza's attack. However, this time the explosive power was far greater than before, causing a violent tremor.
Menma's expression changed involuntarily. With his blood and qi churning inside, his figure was forcibly blasted away.
In mid-air...
He forcibly adjusted his posture and steadied his breathing.
Slowly landing at a position slightly further away.
"Cough, cough..."
"Naruto, are you okay?"
As Naruto stood up again in a very wretched state...
Choza leaped to his side.
Looking at Naruto, whose aura had become extremely unstable, he asked with concern.
Menma had clearly passed the point of no return. If something happened to Naruto too...
Then they truly would have failed the Fourth Hokage completely.
At least as long as Naruto was here, people like them could still find some comfort in their hearts.
"Cough, cough... I'm fine... Choza-ojisan..."
Naruto shook his head with some difficulty. Lifting his eyelids again, he looked at Menma opposite him, his deep pupils filled with sorrow.
Killing intent!
That was the cold sensation he had felt nakedly in that moment just now.
Before this, Naruto truly couldn't imagine Menma would really try to kill him. If not for that shout just now...
Would he have already died at Menma's hands?
Although he had never heard that voice before, never seen that face or figure...
It was clearly the first time.
Yet Naruto felt an unprecedented sense of familiarity and warmth.
'Was that really you? Mom...'
In the distance.
Menma looked at Naruto and Choza, and the Anbu members who had already scattered to encircle the area.
And within his sensory range...
He could clearly detect other chakra fluctuations faintly approaching from further away.
Menma took a deep breath of fresh air, then exhaled slowly.
"Sasuke!"
He shouted loudly.
"!?"
The moment he heard Menma's voice...
Sasuke's figure paused as well.
Bang!
Abandoning his further pressure on Neji and Shino, with a flicker, he moved straight to Menma's side.
Tayuya, who also heard Menma's words, hurriedly burst her chakra from her feet, returning to a position behind Menma in sync.
Shikamaru, who had just narrowly escaped death, breathed a sigh of relief at this moment. Neji and Shino were only slightly better off than Shikamaru; after all, they had already fought a fierce battle before coming here and were clearly carrying injuries of varying degrees.
In full condition, they might have been okay.
But right now...
Sasuke in Cursed Seal Level Two mode was truly suppressing both of them.
If not for Neji's Rotation and Shino's Parasitic Insects forming a strong enough defense, they would have been KO'd long ago. If it dragged on, Sasuke could still have defeated or even killed them both.
"Let's go. No need to waste any more time. There will be opportunities in the future," Menma said with a flat expression.
"Hmph. Doesn't matter," Sasuke deactivated his Cursed Seal mode. With his pupils returning to black and white, he snorted lightly and spoke indifferently.
"Mhm."
Menma nodded slightly. After glancing at Neji Hyuga who flashed over from not far away...
Clap!
He slammed his hands together.
Instantly extracting a massive amount of chakra.
"Water Style: Great Exploding Water Shockwave."
He used a large-scale restrictive Water Style jutsu directly.
It covered all the Leaf ninja in front of him completely. The rolling, surging waves formed a natural azure barrier.
While they were separated...
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Menma, Sasuke, and Tayuya leaped away, speeding rapidly toward the border.
The Anbu members, who had just barely avoided being covered by Menma's Water Style jutsu...
Watching the three of them gradually moving away, they were about to give chase...
"Don't chase. Ahead is already the border zone. Stop."
Choza's deep voice rang out.
Causing these few Anbu members to halt their steps.