"Lord Menma..." Kisame tried to mask the almost bursting excitement in his heart with his usual teasing tone. "To be so highly regarded and trusted by a figure like you, I... I am truly flattered."
He forcefully suppressed the urge to immediately pledge his loyalty. The more he desired it, the more he needed final confirmation. He had to ask that question, the one circling in his mind like a final shackle.
However, an unprecedented sense of unease gripped him. Should he really ask? This question was the highest secret that the intelligence agencies of the Five Great Nations had spent countless efforts trying to uncover. On the black market bounty list, its value was even comparable to the head of a Hokage or a Daimyo. Asking so directly was undoubtedly a great offense.
Wouldn't it be better to just agree to him? A voice tempted him in his mind. To find such a comforting home for his dirty and confused life, to write down this intoxicating answer... But another voice was afraid, what if... what if he angered Menma with this question, causing him to withdraw this sole invitation... Kisame could almost foresee that the ensuing immense sense of loss would be even darker than his current confusion, enough to completely devour him.
Menma watched Kisame quietly. On that fierce, shark-like face, such clear unease and struggle were now evident, which surprised him slightly.
He understood what the core conflict in Kisame's heart was at this moment.
He wanted to see the face beneath the mask. In the original timeline, Kisame was indeed subdued by the shock and deterrence brought by the name "Uchiha Madara" before he joined the Eye of the Moon Plan.
At this moment, a hint of uncertainty flashed through Menma's mind: could his identity—Uzumaki Naruto of Konoha Village, a still young Genin, despite being the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—could this truth satisfy Kisame's expectations?
Could it live up to the grand declaration about breaking the world's hypocrisy he had just made?
However, the situation was completely different from Obito's time. The Kisame before him had been deeply attracted by the meaning of "truth" and "companion" as described by Menma. What he needed was not a vague, mythical name to deter him, but a complete, honest "truth" as the final reassurance.
After all, a leader who constantly spoke of cutting off hypocrisy and seeking truth, yet always hid his true face, didn't that itself constitute another kind of "falsehood"?
No matter who was beneath the mask, Kisame at this moment only needed an answer to fill that last gap of unease in his heart, so that he could give everything without hesitation.
"Kisame, I understand." Menma's voice was calm. "It seems what I need to do is take off this mask on my face."
Kisame's pupils suddenly contracted. Once again, Menma had precisely seen through his deepest hesitation and desire.
"Alright then, I will give you the answer you want."
Naruto steeled himself. Within the [Cinder] organization, all core combat members must pledge absolute loyalty to the organization. They served the organization's goals, and as their leader, he had to respond to and strive to fulfill their respective answers and wishes.
Uchiha Shisui wanted his clan to continue, Kakuzu craved wealth, Deidara pursued art, Zabuza sought for Haku to be safe and sound, and Haku's wish was merely to be by Zabuza's side... Now, facing Kisame, Menma had made up his mind. If Kisame still refused to join after knowing the truth, he would have no choice but to use force, subdue him, and bring him back to be locked up.
Watching Menma slowly raise his hand towards the iconic fox mask, Kisame's breathing involuntarily grew heavy, his muscles tensed, waiting for the moment of truth.
However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the edge of the mask, Menma's movement abruptly stopped.
"...Perhaps a different approach will help you understand more deeply. I hope your answer will not disappoint me."
Under Kisame's confused and uncertain gaze, Menma did not remove his mask. Instead, he took a step forward, extended his right hand, and gently placed it on Kisame's muscular shoulder.
At the same time, in a distant place, Naruto's main body had already lent out the stored, violent red Chakra, which was transmitted to this Shadow Clone through a subtle connection.
Instantly, a visible crimson Chakra aura, like flames, appeared and flickered around Menma, exuding a heart-pounding pressure.
Following this, this violent Chakra, as if alive, slowly spread along Menma's arm, touching and enveloping Kisame's body.
"!!!"
The moment the Chakra touched his body, Kisame trembled violently! This Chakra... it was vast, scorching, filled with a beast-like fury and destructive will, absolutely not belonging to a human!
It was a pure pressure from an ancient fierce beast, something he had never experienced before!
The next moment, Kisame felt his vision spin, and the surrounding cave disappeared like shattered glass. When he regained his composure, he found himself in a completely strange and eerie space.
All around was an endless dark void, with only a viscous and cold dark red liquid, ankle-deep, beneath his feet, emitting an uncomfortable aura.
Kisame did not know that his own mental world had been forcibly invaded. Just as he was filled with surprise and uncertainty, the familiar crimson Chakra gathered before him again!
This time, the Chakra was no longer just an aura, but furiously condensed and shaped! Finally, in the surging energy torrent, an immense, illusory Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, composed of pure Chakra, with its vertical pupils, appeared before Kisame's eyes!
A Tailed Beast! And it was the strongest of the Nine Tailed Beasts, the Nine-Tailed!
At this moment, all the clues connected, and Kisame finally got the answer he had been desperately seeking. So that's it!
No wonder the leader of the [Cinder] organization could use such legendary Ninjutsu and possess such subversive power! His true identity was actually... When his consciousness was pulled back to reality, Kisame gasped sharply, only then realizing that his back was already soaked with cold sweat, his clothes chillingly clinging to his skin.
The violent Chakra that seemed to burn his soul had receded like a tide, leaving only a deep-seated tremor.
He didn't even have time to pay attention to the strange, excited yet slightly fearful agitation coming from Samehada on his back; all his attention was firmly fixed on the man in front of him, who still wore the fox mask.
After a brief silence, Kisame let out a low, then gradually louder laugh from his throat.
"Hmph hmph hmph... Heh heh heh... So that's it! So that's how it is!" His laughter was full of shock and relief. "I understand everything! It's actually you... This is truly... too shocking!"
Menma carefully observed Kisame's reaction. When he confirmed that the small shark eyes held only enlightened excitement, without any disappointment or contempt, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his worst fear had not come to pass.
So... this matter is settled?
Indeed, the next moment, Kisame's laughter subsided, and his large body leaned slightly forward as he said decisively.
"Then... from now on, my life, Kisame Hoshigaki, is yours. To cut off hypocrisy, for that world without falsehood... please allow me to join your organization!"
"Mm." Menma nodded. "Welcome aboard. Now, let's leave here. I will give you a safe place to settle."
Saying this, he reached out his hand again, preparing to place it on Kisame's shoulder to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to leave this dark cave.
However, just as his fingertips were about to touch Kisame, Kisame's voice, suppressing immense excitement and a certain "truth-knowing" tone, clearly reached his ears.
"Mm, then... please take care of me—"
"Fourth Hokage-sama."
...Huh?
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