"Get me out of here! Uncle, save me!"
The panicked shout echoed through the training ground, freezing everyone. Orochimaru, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the reanimated First and Second Hokage all turned their gaze toward the entrance of the Four Violet Flames Formation.
"Not Naruto... it's Menma?"
Orochimaru stared at the figure standing there—Menma—his serpentine pupils shrinking into slits. He frowned deeply, piecing things together. Combined with the conflicting reports he'd received earlier and Kabuto's initial theories, he understood instantly. A dark, terrifying expression twisted his features.
Kabuto, observing from outside the barrier, realized it too. Disbelief flashed across his face before a silent, analytical smile replaced it.
"A split personality..." he murmured, his voice barely audible. "This development is completely unexpected... no, it's inevitable."
He adjusted his glasses, his mind racing.
"How could someone who grew up in an environment devoid of sunlight be so warm, kind, cheerful, and generous? It was all an act—just like me: the multifaceted spy. No, he's even more cunning than I am; he's developed a completely separate personality!"
Kabuto had accompanied Orochimaru through countless human experiments. They had seen dual and multiple personalities before—seven at once, even. Though their memories and areas of expertise differed, each personality switch allowed them to transform from one type of genius to another. Their physical abilities even changed with the switch.
"The newly born personality is always extreme or genius-level," Kabuto reasoned. "It compensates for the deficiencies and madness of the original."
So, everything I guessed before was correct. The crater in the Land of Waves, the destruction at the Root base, the disappearance of Anbu, and his attitude toward Naruto... It's all connected to this personality called Menma.
On the viewing stands, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire looked toward the entrance with visible concern. He held his war fan close, his face torn with hesitation. After a long moment, he turned to the shadowed figure behind him.
"Who is that Menma? Why did the Third Hokage have to call him for help? Is there another ninja in Konoha stronger than the Hokage?"
"He is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," Danzo Shimura emerged from the darkness, his voice cold. "And a Jinchuriki who's been indulged by Hiruzen—utterly unruly and defiant."
His sudden resentment made the Daimyo shrink back. The Daimyo covered his mouth with his fan and whispered to the other feudal lords beside him.
"It's him—the one I told you about. The sharp-eyed, terrifyingly tempered Hokage's assistant..."
"Daimyo!" Danzo interrupted sharply, having overheard. "Look at the village now! This is all a consequence of Hiruzen's naive and weak thinking. It was this very naivety that led to the Sand Village's betrayal. It was because Orochimaru was allowed to escape that they're invading Konoha now!"
"And his Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—you'll soon see just how reckless and uncontrollable he can be."
Danzo understood Menma far better than Hiruzen did. He held no unrealistic expectations. He knew perfectly well that Menma wouldn't easily save anyone. Even if he did, it wouldn't go according to Hiruzen's plan. It would definitely lead to embarrassing consequences.
Danzo's words didn't seem to affect the other Daimyo much; they simply nodded to each other, acknowledging the danger. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, however, fearfully hid his face behind his fan, only his terrified eyes showing.
"Then what does it mean for the Hokage to assist you...?"
Danzo stepped forward to the edge of the stands, his expression sinister as he stared down at Hiruzen below.
"I hope that after this incident, the Third Hokage will abdicate and apologize. The next Hokage must be someone capable of handling this terrible situation—someone who can bring change and rebirth to Konoha!"
With that, he slammed his wooden cane down hard. Several masked Root members appeared behind him, kneeling on one knee.
"Begin the suppression operation. Show the Daimyo our worth."
"Yes, sir!"
The Root ninjas scattered. Danzo had been waiting for Menma's arrival. Now that he was here, Orochimaru's assassination plan—whether successful or not—would surely be resolved quickly. What Danzo needed to do was seize this opportunity: he would have the entire Root force intervene immediately to eliminate and suppress the Sound and Sand ninjas, who had been nearly crippled by the Anbu.
At the entrance to Konoha, a large number of Root ninjas suddenly rushed out from the shadows. Facing the numerous giant snakes that Ibiki Morino and his team were struggling to handle, they held talismans they had already negotiated with Orochimaru to dispel the Summoning Jutsu. With a single swipe, the snakes all returned to Ryūchi Cave with a thud.
Meanwhile, throughout the village and in the Forest of Death, the Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja fighting the Anbu were ambushed from behind by a large number of Root ninjas who had been hiding nearby. In less than ten minutes, this joint invasion of Konoha was completely suppressed.
Ten minutes earlier. Inside the arena—
As Danzo and the Daimyo were talking, Hiruzen was being subjected to even more intense attacks from Orochimaru and the reanimated First and Second Hokage.
Looking at Menma standing motionless, Hiruzen coughed up blood, his face pale. But he forced a benevolent expression and shouted loudly.
"Menma and Naruto! Quickly use the Nine-Tails' power to protect the village and eliminate the enemy! Naruto! Have you forgotten how Grandpa used to catch and grill fish with you when you were little? Now is your chance to gain everyone's approval. You need to tell them that you're not that evil fox spirit, but Naruto, the protector of everyone!"
Seeing Menma standing there without any reaction, Hiruzen's heart sank. He had witnessed the power of the Tailed Beast Ball. If Menma were to make a move, the Four Violet Flames Formation would be destroyed instantly, Orochimaru would be surrounded and beaten, and then he would flee in disarray.
The Anbu and the spectating ninjas also looked at Menma with trepidation.
Then the first voice rang out: "Lord Menma, Lord Naruto, for the sake of the village, we beg you, please help!"
That seemed to flip a switch. The voices of numerous Anbu members followed in quick succession.
"You were raised by the Hokage! How can you watch him be killed by the enemy?"
"You are orphans, but the village raised you. Now it's time to repay him!"
"That's right! I'm the Anbu who protected you since you were little. It was only on the Hokage's orders that you grew up safely!"
Amidst these numerous voices, Naruto in his mindscape also began to speak.
"Menma, they're right. You can't watch Grandpa Third die! I beg you, help Grandpa Third! He watched me grow up; without him, I wouldn't have survived..."
Hearing the seemingly pleading, but actually threatening words from inside and outside, Menma finally couldn't hold back any longer. He covered his face with his hand and laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.
"Hehehe... Hahaha..."
The laughter abruptly stopped, replaced by a roar.
"Shut up, all of you!!!"
Golden-red chakra surged forth instantly in response to the roar. Nine fox tails appeared behind him in the blink of an eye, blotting out the sky. With the appearance of the Nine-Tails' chakra, a terrifying pressure unleashed layers of outward-flowing hurricane-like air currents, sweeping across the entire area. Everyone was blinded by the wind, even the Four Violet Flames Formation rippled.
Then...
Whoosh!
Splat!
The enormous fox tail shot out like an arrow, immediately impaling the Anbu member who had spoken last on the tip of the tail.
Menma's voice was low and dangerous. "So, you're the one who watched me being insulted and bullied since I was a child?"
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