Instant kill!
Sasuke, who had seemed incredibly powerful, was instantly defeated by Menma without him even using Kurama's chakra!
Silence fell.
In the ensuing quiet, Menma finished opening the Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain. The golden-red chakra around Sasuke's feet automatically receded back into his body.
"My Sharingan… I couldn't even see his movements."
Sasuke didn't try to keep fighting. Instead, he picked himself up, utterly dejected. Although they'd only exchanged a single blow, he was acutely aware of the vast difference in their abilities. Even if they continued, he'd just be relying on the Tailed Beast's chakra for defense, taking a beating with nothing to show for it.
Besides, Menma hadn't even used Kurama's chakra. If he had, that kick might have seriously injured him—or even killed him.
The stunned crowd on the other side finally snapped out of it.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Shikamaru rubbed his eyes, momentarily forgetting the pain from Naruto's earlier attack. "That was way too troublesome to watch."
Choji sniffled hard, snot bubbles forming on his nose from sheer fright. "Sasuke… the guy who beat an S-rank criminal… got taken out in a flash by Menma?"
Ino looked even more shocked. "Just like Naruto said! Menma really is like an invincible war god!"
Having never seen Menma in action before, they finally believed Naruto's bragging. Kiba, Hinata, and Shino were frozen in place, completely dazed. First, they'd seen a powerful, berserk Naruto that left them stunned. Now, Sasuke had shown up—even stronger than berserk Naruto—and he was instantly defeated by a Menma who looked completely different, not to mention more handsome.
To be honest, their brains were overloaded. They were totally confused.
After a long moment, they all looked at Shikamaru and the other two, who seemed to understand what was happening. Their eyes were full of questions.
Suddenly, Sakura squeezed through the crowd from the back. Looking at Hinata's battered appearance and Ino and the others, who were slightly injured, she said, "I'll heal you while I talk. We still have the exams to continue later."
She pulled them aside and began treating them with medical ninjutsu. Ino and Hinata actually knew a little, but since they hadn't specifically trained for it, they obediently let Sakura work.
Ino started filling Hinata and the others in on the boasts Naruto had made earlier.
Yamato, regaining his senses, approached Menma, his expression complex beneath his mask.
"May I ask you something?" Yamato's voice was careful. "Was that also Tailed Beast chakra?"
Because Menma didn't shout before unleashing his techniques like Guy did to emphasize his youthful energy, Yamato couldn't be sure what it was. He didn't consider the Eight Gates. After all, taijutsu techniques that cause significant damage to the body are generally not learned by ninjas, let alone by Jinchuriki who already possess the greater power of a Tailed Beast.
Menma glanced at him, ignored him completely, and walked away.
He found a clean spot to sit down, focusing his mind on the sealed space. Sasuke followed and sat beside him, staring at the ground, lost in thought.
Seeing Menma ignore him, Yamato—who was already prepared for that reaction—didn't press the issue. After exchanging information about Orochimaru with Anko, he left with the ANBU.
Anko, meanwhile, gave Menma a deep look before turning and heading toward the tower in the middle of the forest. She was the examiner for the second round. Now that Orochimaru's matter was resolved, she had to get back to overseeing the exam.
Inside the sealed space, now bright and spacious after the seal was broken—
Naruto sat blankly in front of Kurama, lost in thought. Kurama lay lazily on the ground, watching Naruto with one eye open and one closed.
It wasn't until Menma suddenly appeared that the fox fully opened his eyes and sat up. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he winked at Menma.
"Hehehe, you're really something, Menma. This little guy's gone into seclusion again."
"I'm not secluded!" Naruto, who had been lost in thought, immediately retorted after hearing Kurama's words. "I was just thinking about something..."
Menma ignored Kurama and walked straight up to Naruto. Seeing him approach, Naruto's face showed panic and guilt. He lowered his head, not daring to look Menma in the eye.
"Menma, I..."
Before Naruto could explain, Menma's calm voice cut him off.
"Very good, Naruto. You've grown."
"Huh?" Naruto's thoughts were abruptly interrupted. He raised his head in confusion.
Menma's expression remained unchanged. "The idea of voluntarily sinking your consciousness into the sealed space and swapping me out to become the murderer is quite good."
He took a step closer. "After all, I've killed countless people. A few more deaths on my hands wouldn't matter, and you wouldn't have to bear the psychological pressure."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Moreover," Menma continued, his voice cold, "the things you did when you went berserk—the people you hurt because you couldn't control your power—can all be pinned on me. You can even morally condemn me for killing your comrade, further reducing your guilt."
Naruto flinched back.
"Anyway," Menma sneered, "it was the dark alternate personality, Menma, who killed them. It has nothing to do with your loss of control. Naruto, the hero, is still a kind person, right?"
With every word, Naruto's face grew paler. Finally, he curled up, burying his head in his hands as tears streamed down his face.
"It's not like that! I didn't think that way! I didn't want to shirk responsibility!" He choked on a sob. "I'm sorry, I'm cowardly and stupid! I can't solve any problems. I can only rely on you, who's as reliable as my brother..."
As he spoke, Naruto raised his head, his self-blame turning into determination and regret. "But I only wanted to try to save people! I never intended to shirk responsibility! My guilty conscience just now was because I suddenly understood your previous actions, and suddenly felt that I was stupid, hateful, and despicable!"
He clenched his fists. "That heart filled with hatred was completely uncontrollable, but all I could do was blame and lash out at you! Even on our first meeting, you made me feel a resentment even more terrifying than this hatred! Why didn't I understand before? Why did I become so despicable later?"
Seeing Naruto bury his face in his hands in self-reproach, Menma could only think, That's so Naruto.
He had felt Naruto's attitude toward him was problematic from the start. In the original story, Naruto was a saintly figure who embodied kindness through his actions. Why did he become a hypocrite in his words? Now it seemed the discrepancy stemmed from the inherent unity of opposites between the primary and secondary personalities.
However, due to the increasing trust and dependence on Naruto, and Naruto's rapid growth over the past few months, the conflict had diminished. Menma had developed trust and dependence on Naruto, no longer acting like a child. Therefore, his mind had matured, leading to his current state.
"He really is an idiot," Menma muttered to himself, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward slightly.
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