The moment Haku formed the hand seals within the ice wall, the mist inside the Ice Release Secret Technique: Demonic Mirror Ice Crystal abruptly condensed into water and transformed into countless thin, long senbon.
Simultaneously, Haku burst forth, darting back and forth across the ice surface at incredible speed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Black shadows—barely perceptible to the naked eye—darted about, continuously slashing wounds at the three within range. Each time Haku entered the ice surface, a kunai sliced off a piece of ice crystal from the wall. These shards instantly transformed into more senbon, floating in mid-air alongside the previous ones.
"I can't keep up with this speed!" Sasuke Uchiha, covered in wounds, gasped for breath. Sakura Haruno behind him was struggling to stand. While Sasuke could still parry a few attacks, she was completely unable to withstand the onslaught.
"Damn it!"
"Come out and fight me if you dare!"
Naruto Uzumaki stood before the ice wall, receiving the fewest attacks. Though he had several wounds, he still had the strength to pound on the ice wall. However, each shard of ice that fell from his blows silently condensed into a thousand needles in mid-air.
Sasuke clearly noticed this and roared, "Idiot, stop destroying this ice wall! Crawl out through that gap!"
Sakura called out weakly, "Naruto, stop being so stubborn! Do as Sasuke says! Get out of here and let Menma come out to save us!"
Looking at the half-shattered ice wall, Naruto didn't turn around. "Don't call him! I'll get you out of here soon! Even without him, you can still rely on me! I can still protect you! Almost there, just hang in there!"
Sakura and Sasuke's shouts pushed Naruto into a rut. Why couldn't he save them? Why did he always have to call for Menma in times of danger? Why did he have to give up his body?
He was Naruto Uzumaki! A member of Team 7! The owner of this body! A partner everyone could rely on! Why did everyone have to look at his face, hoping for someone else's intervention?
In his mind, sensing everything, Menma grinned, revealing his teeth. It was time to give him a push.
"Naruto, you can't do it. Give me your body, just like Sasuke and Sakura hoped. I'll come out to protect them for you, complete your mission for you, and fulfill their expectations. After all..."
Menma's voice paused, a hint of smugness lingering in it, palpable to Naruto. "The one they expect and trust is Menma!"
Menma's voice was like adding fuel to the fire, and it plunged Naruto into utter anger and resentment.
"No!!! I'll break this ice wall soon! I'll rescue them all soon! They'll trust and rely on Naruto Uzumaki even more afterward! As long as I break the ice wall and rescue them, as long as..."
"Then let me lend you a hand..." Menma's smile was full of malice. He shared his Kage-level taijutsu with Naruto for a second.
Outside, bang!
The ice wall, which had only partially shattered, collapsed instantly under Naruto's attack.
"How is this possible!?" Haku roared in astonishment. Although he deliberately let Naruto destroy the ice wall to accumulate the senbon, he didn't actually let him shatter it! What exactly happened with that terrifying force in that instant?
"It's not enough, but this is the only way." Unable to understand, Haku didn't hesitate any longer. All the senbon that hadn't yet gathered in the sky shot down the instant the ice wall shattered.
Most were aimed at Sasuke and Sakura, with only a small portion aimed at Naruto at the edge.
Naruto, seeing the outside world, turned back excitedly and shouted, "I did it! I'll take you out..."
His words were interrupted by the volley of senbon. The needles stuck into his pressure points. The pain and weakness made him unable to even stand, but the pain in his heart was worse than his body!
Sasuke and Sakura, who had been attacked further ahead, now lay collapsed on the ground. Their bodies were covered with a dense network of ice needles, and large amounts of blood gushed out, staining the ground crimson.
Naruto could clearly see the ice needles embedded in their necks and chests, and their dull, lifeless eyes, just like the dead Mizuki, Aburame Torune, and the other Root ninja!
"This isn't right! It shouldn't be like this!!! It can't be like this—!!!"
Accompanied by Naruto's piercing scream, a system message arrived.
[Corruption Points +25,000]
[Current Corruption Points: 28,000]
[Trust Level: 55% (Cannot be dropped: 30%)]
[Primary personality emotional collapse. Host can perform personality switch at any time.]
Upon receiving the message, Menma did not switch immediately. Instead, he mentally applauded Naruto.
Clap clap clap...
"As you wished, congratulations on successfully shattering the ice wall."
Naruto's voice didn't utter a rebuttal. He stared blankly at Sakura and Sasuke lying on the ground, muttering, "That's not how it is."
Menma chuckled and continued calmly. "Naruto, do you know the difference between a king and a mount? Not some childish riddle like two legs versus four legs, but rather, why is one a king and the other a mount when two people with the same physical attributes have the same abilities?"
Naruto's eyes flickered, but he still didn't answer.
Menma continued, unperturbed. "There's only one answer: the King's talent, intelligence, and intellect far surpass those of his mount. Therefore, the King is the primary, and the mount is secondary! The King can better utilize his own abilities. The King can protect what he desires by any means necessary. The King can defeat what he desires by any means necessary! The mount lacks these qualities. It possesses only mediocrity, only the capacity to carry the King through everything, becoming the King's ally."
"So..."
Menma switched personalities and appeared outside. Naruto was forced back into his consciousness, looking up.
"Why should I carry the weaker you into battle?"