Questions that struck directly at the depths of the soul.
The rage that had been suppressed for twelve long years erupted completely, accompanied by a violent surge of chakra.
Menma roared.
At this moment, no one could answer him.
Hatake Kakashi couldn't.
Shiranui Genma couldn't.
And Naruto—least of all—couldn't.
"I… you…"
Naruto was already on the verge of collapse. His thoughts were in complete chaos, his body trembling slightly as he stared at Menma not far away. His face had gone pale, his breathing uneven.
At this moment, he finally understood why he had felt such an inexplicable closeness to Menma from the very beginning.
Because they were brothers.
Blood-related brothers.
Even though there was no absolute proof placed before him, Kakashi's and Genma's reactions were more than enough to confirm the truth.
And yet, the more he understood, the more confused Naruto became.
Why?
Just as Menma had asked.
Why were the two brothers treated so differently?
Why did the Third Hokage, Kakashi, and the others never tell him that he had a biological brother?
Why hide their mother's true name?
Why conceal everything?
Naruto couldn't understand.
And he couldn't find an answer.
His heart felt as if it were collapsing in on itself.
"Naruto, there is a reason for all of this."
Kakashi stepped forward, his voice low but firm.
"It's not what you think. You have to believe in us—believe in the Third Hokage-sama, and in Jiraiya-sama. Right now, the village is under attack. We must subdue Menma first. Everything will be explained afterward!"
Even Kakashi knew how weak those words sounded.
But he also knew that this was not the time to unravel the past.
Foreign enemies were invading Konoha.
No matter how painful the truth was, the priority was survival.
"Kakashi-sensei… me…?"
Naruto looked utterly lost.
His gaze shifted between Kakashi and Menma, his heart torn apart.
He didn't know what to say.
He didn't know what to do.
Everything he had believed in until now—his pride, his identity, his convictions—suddenly felt fragile, hollow, and powerless.
Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, then stepped forward and faced Menma directly.
"I won't argue about right or wrong in the past," Kakashi said solemnly. "But since you already know who you are, you should also know this. Yondaime-sama and Kushina-sama sacrificed their lives to protect this village."
His voice tightened.
"As their son, you should not stand against Konoha. Come back, Menma. Mistakes can be corrected. The past can still be mended. It's not too late."
His expression was sincere.
As though he truly believed those words.
Menma burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahahahaha!!!"
The sound was sharp, twisted, and filled with bitter mockery.
"Ridiculous. Truly ridiculous."
Menma stared at Kakashi with cold eyes.
"You can really say such righteous nonsense with a straight face? As the Fourth Hokage's son, I shouldn't stand against the village? How naive do you have to be to say something so absurd?"
His chakra flared violently.
"What did my parents sacrifice themselves for—don't you know? What is sealed inside my body? Are you pretending not to understand!?"
Menma's voice trembled with fury.
"They didn't just die for the village. They turned their son into a container. Everything was for the so-called justice of Konoha!"
His eyes burned.
"And what did I get in return?"
"Kakashi, are you saying you don't know that I remember my parents' deaths? The smell of blood? The warmth fading from their bodies!?"
"You tell me not to stand against Konoha!?"
Menma roared.
His emotions poured out without restraint.
Kakashi froze.
He was not someone who could shamelessly justify everything in the name of duty.
Even Shimura Danzō needed to deceive himself to believe in his own so-called justice.
This was a reality that could not be refuted.
Whether it was Menma's identity—
Or the treatment he had endured for twelve years—
Each could perhaps be explained separately.
But when placed together, and compared to Naruto's completely opposite upbringing, all explanations became pale and meaningless.
"Menma… this…"
Kakashi opened his mouth, then fell silent.
In the end, all that remained was a heavy sigh.
Shiranui Genma, standing nearby, looked just as conflicted.
Like Kakashi, he had been a direct subordinate of the Fourth Hokage. As a trusted shinobi with access to Minato's inner circle and Flying Thunder God users, he had always been considered absolutely reliable.
And yet—
Facing Menma, Genma felt no confidence at all.
Only guilt.
"Enough," Menma said coldly.
"There's no need to explain anything. Not you, Kakashi—and not you either, Shiranui Genma."
"You're just shinobi of Konoha. Titles like 'direct subordinate' mean nothing to me."
"I never expected anything from you. I never resented you."
"We are strangers."
"So you are not qualified to lecture me."
Menma turned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield.
"This village once called itself glorious—but it has rotted from the root."
"It's time for it to be reborn."
"And destruction is the first step."
"Let Konoha feel real pain."
Menma's eyes flicked toward the massive sand cocoon behind him.
The violent chakra inside was no longer concealed.
Menma had already vented his emotions.
And more importantly—
He had stalled for enough time.
"Boom!"
As his words fell—
The sand cocoon behind him suddenly shook violently.
A chilling aura burst forth as the structure expanded and contracted.
"Crack!"
The sound of splitting earth echoed.
Then—
A ferocious roar erupted.
An overwhelming wave of chakra surged outward.
"What!?"
The next instant—
Under Maki's horrified gaze, a gigantic hand engraved with black markings burst out from the sand cocoon.
It continued expanding at an alarming rate.
"Kankurō! Temari! Move!"
Maki retreated instantly, shouting as she did.
The siblings snapped back to their senses and leapt away.
"Boom!"
A colossal, terrifying beast—shaped like a monstrous raccoon—emerged fully within the Chūnin Exam arena.
Its oppressive presence crushed the air itself.
"GRAAAAH!!!"
The roar shook the heavens.
Violent shockwaves rippled outward.
A massive tail lashed wildly.
The surrounding high walls collapsed instantly.
Kakashi's expression changed dramatically.
"One-Tail… Shukaku!?"