"You're weaker than me, yet you expect me to carry you into battle?"
The question echoed endlessly in Naruto's mind.
He couldn't refute it. He couldn't fight back. He couldn't even speak.
It had been almost two months since Menma appeared.
Every time danger struck, Menma protected him.
Whenever a problem arose, Menma solved it.
And Naruto—so mediocre—could only manage to steal bodies.
So why did someone as weak as him get to be the king?
[Trust Level: 60% (Cannot drop below 35%)]
Looking at the rising Trust Level, Menma smiled with satisfaction.
Up ahead, Haku stepped out from the ice wall, ice crystal needles pinched between his fingers as he slowly approached.
"Please, don't be sad," he murmured softly. "Everyone is fine. They'll be safe after a good night's sleep."
"If you hadn't shattered the ice wall and run out of needles, you wouldn't be so heartbroken right now."
As Menma spoke, the thousand needles in his hand flashed downward, targeting the pressure points on Naruto's neck and chest.
Haku disliked killing. His goal was simple: wound them, stimulate their pressure points to induce suspended animation, and trick Zabuza. He'd saved many seemingly harmless enemies this way before.
But—
Crack!
"What?"
Haku looked at the arm falling from his own shoulder, shock and anger flooding him.
"Your sadness... it was a lie!"
In his panic, he drew more senbon from his waist with his free hand and thrust them toward the top of the head.
Clang!
The needles shattered against a layer of crimson chakra.
"Is this... evil chakra?"
Haku tried to pull back, but the arm gripping him wouldn't let go.
Thud!
The sound of fingers touching skin rang out.
Menma, who had been kneeling, stood up. He grabbed Haku by the neck and lifted him into the air.
"You did well," Menma said, his scarlet vertical pupils glowing. "I didn't lie to you."
The mad, violent chakra radiating from him made Haku's heart pound with terror. It was as if a demon from the depths of hell stood before him.
"You... you're not him," Haku choked out, struggling like a chick in mid-air. "Who are you?"
Menma grinned, showing his white teeth.
"I'm your future master."
---
Whoosh!
The Executioner's Blade sliced across Kakashi's back and vanished into the thick fog.
"Kakashi, can your eyes still copy my ninjutsu?"
Kakashi remained silent, sensing Zabuza's intense resentment. He had nothing to say. He'd only copied a Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique and a Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique, and the swordsman was already furious. Moreover, in their clash of ninjutsu, Kakashi hadn't gained the upper hand; if anything, he was burning through his chakra reserves.
"I can't copy it," Kakashi said, shaking his ripped jacket. He wasn't bleeding. "But I could see it clearly once you got close."
"Hmph, you can hold out," Zabuza sneered, voice dripping with sarcasm. "But your subordinates are in for a world of hurt."
"I have a powerful subordinate too," Zabuza continued, reappearing to slash at Kakashi. "By now, your brats are probably dead. Hehehe..."
"To be honest, I'm more worried about whether your subordinates will have complete corpses," Kakashi countered, dodging with a quick movement.
He drew the book from his waist—the newest volume of Make-Out Paradise—and glanced at it.
"I have a monster in my squad too. He takes pleasure in torture and slaughter."
Zabuza didn't believe him. "The black-haired brat? The pink-haired one? It can't be that dumb blond kid, can it?"
He reappeared, his blade aiming for the book in Kakashi's hand. "Hehehe, still have time to read? You're as cold-blooded as us Hidden Mist ninja..."
Kakashi lowered his arm, dodging the attack just as a gust of wind swept through, dispersing the fog.
A massive impact sounded, followed by Naruto's soft voice.
"Zabuza, talking behind people's backs isn't a good habit."
Whoosh!
In the thick fog, Zabuza's grin froze.
Before his eyes, a blood-red hand—barely hidden by the mist—magnified.
It struck him square in the face, sending him flying backward like a missile.
"It's the blond brat!"
"Damn it, what the hell is this chakra?"
Ignoring the pain, Zabuza scrambled to his feet and charged forward, swinging the Executioner's Blade high.
"And what are you carrying... you bastard! What did you do to Haku?"
Facing the descending blade, Menma simply extended two fingers and caught it firmly.
"How is this possible?" Zabuza's eyes widened at the nonchalant display.
Menma chuckled. "He's fine. I'll send you to see him soon."
He turned to look at Kakashi, who was busy reading. "You can't even handle a ninja of this level? You really are trash, Kakashi."
"Bastard!"
"It's just the power of a Tailed Beast," Menma taunted. "I've already dealt with that!"
Insulted and with Haku's fate unknown, Zabuza was driven to madness. Even Yagura Karatachi, a perfect jinchuriki, could be handled by him. Was this blond brat stronger than Yagura Karatachi?
Zabuza strained with both hands to reclaim his weapon, but the Executioner's Blade wouldn't budge. It was as if it were stuck in concrete.
"Am I wrong?" Menma asked, amused. "It's just Wind Release ninjutsu. Deal with it."
Kakashi: "..."
He was proficient in all basic elemental attributes, but not all advanced combinations!
Otherwise, the title of "Ninjutsu Professor" would belong to him, not Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"I'm not good at Wind Release," Kakashi said, retreating and raising his hands in surrender. "I'm just trash. Finish me off quickly."
He practically handed over the battlefield.
Since he couldn't retrieve his weapon, Zabuza let go and retreated, unleashing his most powerful jutsu.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
From Zabuza's bulging cheeks, a massive torrent erupted, carrying enough power to create a tsunami. It crashed toward Menma.
"Quite impressive," Menma noted calmly.
Facing the water curtain that blotted out the sky, Menma extended a finger, and the three chakra fox tails behind him aimed their tips at his fingertip.
"I'll use you to test this legendary Tailed Beast Ball."