The moment Shiranui Genma fell to the ground, his body motionless, Naruto froze.
For the first time in his life, he had witnessed the death of someone standing beside him—someone who had fought for the village, someone he knew.
His mind went blank.
The smell of blood filled the air.
In the distance, Kakashi, Asuma, and the others who caught a glimpse of the scene all stiffened in horror. Their expressions twisted, disbelief and grief written plainly across their faces.
"Menma… why… why did you do this?!"
Naruto's voice cracked as he shouted, his fists trembling violently.
Menma slowly turned his head, the crimson chakra around his body rippling like flames.
"Why?" he repeated coldly. "Because this is a battlefield, Naruto. And on a battlefield, people die. Isn't that something you should already understand?"
His gaze was sharp—merciless.
"You're asking pointless questions. You're still the same naive fool you've always been."
Naruto's breath hitched.
"You!"
"Are you angry?" Menma continued, his voice low and cruel. "Sad? Hurt? Because one of your comrades died?"
A faint, mocking smile curved across his lips.
"That's amusing. Truly. You talk about bonds and understanding, yet you've never once experienced the despair I lived with for twelve years. This village, these people, that so-called 'home' you treasure so much—every single one of them disgusts me."
His eyes burned with cold hatred.
"I'm simply destroying what deserves to be destroyed. And you… you're standing in my way."
Naruto's fists trembled.
He wanted to refute him.
To scream.
To deny everything Menma said.
But the corpse at his feet made his throat tighten.
"Menma… you're wrong," Naruto said hoarsely. "This isn't the way. Killing everyone won't heal anything. Please… come back."
For a moment
Just a moment
Menma's eyes flickered.
But then the light vanished.
"Still clinging to that fantasy?" he scoffed. "Pathetic."
A violent surge of chakra erupted from his body.
The crimson aura surged higher, distorted, oppressive.
Across the battlefield, Rock Lee leapt forward, his body already wrapped in violently surging chakra.
"Menma! I won't let you go any further!"
The air trembled as Lee landed.
His expression was firm—resolute.
"The Leaf Village is my home. If protecting it means standing against you, then I will not hesitate!"
The chakra around him exploded outward.
"The Fourth Gate—Gate of Pain—OPEN!"
A terrifying pressure burst forth as Lee's muscles expanded, veins bulging beneath his skin. The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Menma turned, eyes narrowing slightly.
"So even you've gone this far…"
Lee exhaled sharply, steadying himself.
"I don't care who you are anymore," he said firmly. "If you threaten this village, then I will stop you."
"Then come," Menma replied coldly.
In an instant, Lee vanished.
A shockwave tore through the air as he reappeared in front of Menma, launching a devastating kick aimed at his head.
Menma raised his arm.
Boom!
The impact echoed across the battlefield.
The ground fractured beneath their feet.
Despite the force, Menma didn't budge.
He caught Lee's leg.
Lee's eyes widened.
"What!?"
Menma twisted his body and hurled Lee aside with overwhelming strength.
Lee crashed into the ground, carving a trench across the stone before rolling to a stop.
Before he could recover
Menma was already moving.
Naruto shouted in panic, "Menma, stop!"
But Menma was faster.
The moment his feet touched the ground, his gaze shifted—not toward Lee, but toward the fallen figure behind him.
Shiranui Genma.
Menma's expression did not change.
In a flash,
He appeared before Shiranui Genma's fallen body once more, his expression devoid of emotion.
Menma avoided Lee's strike with a sharp twist of his body. The moment his feet touched the ground, his gaze shifted—not toward Lee, but toward the fallen figure behind him.
Shiranui Genma.
His body lay broken against the shattered ground, barely conscious, blood pooling beneath him.
Menma's expression did not change.
In a flash, he appeared beside him.
A kunai glinted in his hand.
Before anyone could react
The blade plunged downward.
Blood sprayed.
Genma's body jerked violently—then fell still.
The battlefield fell silent.
Naruto's breath caught in his throat.
"…No…"
Menma withdrew the blade and stood upright, his face unreadable.
"This is war," he said calmly. "And this is the path I chose."
He turned away.
Naruto staggered forward, reaching out instinctively.
"Menma!"
But at that moment, the massive purple barrier surrounding the battlefield shattered with a thunderous crack.
The Four Sound Ninja collapsed to their knees, exhausted.
Orochimaru emerged from the crumbling barrier, his arms hanging limply at his sides, his face pale but smiling faintly.
"Well… it seems we've reached the end of this performance."
Menma glanced at him briefly.
"So it ends here."
Orochimaru chuckled weakly. "For now."
He cast a final look toward the fallen Sarutobi Hiruzen before turning away.
Menma followed, his gaze lingering on Naruto for one final moment.
Their eyes met.
Nothing was said.
Then, with a flash of movement, both figures vanished into the forest.
The battlefield fell silent once more.
Only the cries of the wounded and the distant roar of Shukaku remained.
Naruto stood frozen, fists clenched so tightly his nails cut into his palms.
The war was not over.
And the distance between brothers had never been greater.
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