Chapter 34: The Resolve to Be Killed

Chapter 34: The Resolve to Be Killed

"Old Man, how could it be..."

"What choice... should I make..."

Watching the human and fox duo clutching their heads, doubting life, Menma chuckled inwardly.

He then shifted his gaze back to little Naruto.

The logic of the Ashura chakra had fallen into disarray. Now, Naruto needed to break free from Ashura's influence himself and make the choice from the depths of his own heart.

Naruto, what will you choose?

Menma pondered for a moment, then spoke: "Naruto, you seem to have walked into a dead end."

"...Menma-nii."

Little Naruto's expression was still somewhat twisted, but his eyes had cleared.

He murmured blankly: "What should I do? I can't make a choice, but I don't want to run away either."

His long period of study had taught him that if he chose to evade now,

Then one day in the future, the person tied to the 'track' might become Menma-nii or the big fox, someone he cared about.

How would he choose then?

Seeing the bewildered Naruto before him, Menma understood his thoughts. Feeling somewhat gratified, he couldn't help but pat his head, saying gravely:

"In this world, ninja are merely killing tools following the rules of the higher-ups. Therefore, the education and culture you receive compel you to passively accept everything."

"Yet you've never thought about whether any of this is correct, let alone tried to change this predetermined state of affairs."

Menma picked up the paper with the drawing, saying: "Jump out of the logical trap within the problem, jump out of the rule restrictions within the problem. Look down upon the established rules, break the established rules."

Rip! Rip!

With a crisp sound, under Naruto's stunned gaze, Menma tore the drawing into shreds.

"There are three best ways to solve a problem. The first is to eliminate the source creating the problem..."

Suddenly, a flash of understanding lit up Naruto's eyes, and the chakra fluctuations around him dissipated significantly.

Seeing this, Menma's eyes instantly brightened.

Indeed, although Ashura's chakra is bound to Naruto, it's not entirely impossible for him to absorb it.

In his perception, Ashura's chakra had actually begun fusing with the chakra inside Naruto's body.

His life force and chakra volume increased tremendously at a visible rate.

Although he hadn't obtained a 'Sage Body' like Hashirama's, the initial signs were already there.

He believed that as long as the right method was found, Naruto could fuse with Ashura's chakra and obtain a complete Sage Body.

"Menma-nii! I think I know the correct solution to this problem now!"

Naruto suddenly spoke, interrupting Menma's thoughts.

His fighting spirit and vitality restored, he said excitedly: "Only by possessing sufficiently strong power can I save everyone simultaneously when faced with that kind of choice!"

"To protect everything I want to protect, I must become even stronger!!"

The expression on Menma's face instantly stiffened. He couldn't help but complain inwardly:

No, you don't understand.

It seemed no matter what, Naruto's perspective was still too narrow; he was completely unable to see the essence of the problem.

The best way to solve a problem is to prevent it from arising in the first place, not to try and fix it after it appears.

The ninja world needs a new order. Violence is merely a means to maintain order; it can never become the order itself.

When the avalanche comes, not a single snowflake is innocent.

Whether voluntary or coerced, everyone in war is a tragedy, while also creating tragedies for others.

The existence of ninja in this era is a blasphemy against life, and the sorrow of this world.

As his thoughts flowed, Menma just sighed silently in his heart.

The burden is heavy, and the road is long...

Although Naruto realized the importance of power, his thinking was still too naive and childish.

It seemed he would have to let him witness the cruelty of the ninja world firsthand later on.

After all, a child raised in an ivory tower needs to experience trials of blood to become a true warrior.

As Menma calculated, he looked down at Naruto and said: "Since you realize the importance of power now, then don't slack off on your homework anymore."

The homework, naturally, referred to those 'physical training' items.

Previously, Naruto always did as little as possible. Compared to training, he still preferred reading books and watching anime.

Hearing this, Naruto's face flushed red, and he grinned sheepishly, scratching his head: "I won't, I won't! I'll complete my homework properly."

The corners of Menma's mouth lifted in a smile: "Since that's the case, then double the homework from now on."

"Huh!? No way! I'll break! Menma-nii..."

Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails nearby watched the two laughing and playing, its expression growing complex.

Old Man, what exactly are you doing?

Leaving Ashura's chakra behind to constantly seek out reincarnators, then using Ashura's residual obsession to subtly influence each generation's reincarnator.

And judging by the situation, this brainwashing effect is much stronger than any Will of Fire.

If Naruto hadn't undergone Menma's systematic teaching, and if that unanswerable question hadn't been posed, Naruto would probably have already become Ashura's puppet by now.

"Naruto, you head back first. I'll be watching to make sure you complete your homework."

"Oh~"

Watching Naruto's dejected back, Menma smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Ashura's reincarnated chakra...

Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo...

Perhaps you've already arranged everything for Naruto. Just by following your path, Naruto could become the savior of the ninja world.

But, I'm sorry. Naruto deserves a much broader future.

And the reason for your failure is only one, a very simple answer.

That is, you encountered me.

"Menma."

The Nine-Tails' large head moved through the cage bars, getting close to Menma's ear: "Since Ashura is still reincarnating, then Indra..."

Menma snapped back to reality, glanced at it, and said: "Indra is also reincarnating. However, it's their chakra that reincarnates; their souls remain independent from the successive reincarnators."

"And Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara were the previous generation's Ashura and Indra reincarnators. Only after those two died did Ashura's and Indra's chakra begin to reincarnate again."

The Nine-Tails frowned upon hearing this, asking surprisedly: "So that means Uchiha Madara only died shortly before Naruto was born?"

Seeing Menma nod, the Nine-Tails sat up straight, rubbing its chin with a paw: "Uchiha Madara isn't the type to cling ignobly to life. He must have had some goal he hadn't yet achieved!"

What was that goal?

Menma paid no attention to the silly fox's overthinking, turning to walk towards his own room.

"Menma..."

The Nine-Tails' hesitant voice came from behind. Menma paused.

"What is your choice?"

As if afraid Menma would misunderstand, the Nine-Tails quickly added: "I'm just curious! No other intention!"

Choice...

"I have no choice."

"Huh?"

"Rules cannot restrict me. I will become the rule maker."

Menma said gravely: "Whether destruction or salvation, whether tyrant or wise ruler, regardless of how the world sees me, I have long prepared the resolve to be killed and to bear everything."

(End of Chapter)

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