Chapter 69: Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted
Looking at Naruto, fists clenched, head lowered, Menma walked to his side.
"Naruto, you must remember."
He placed both hands on Naruto's cheeks, lifting his head.
Menma's eyes were profound, staring intently into Naruto's hazy eyes, his tone low: "While seeking the truth, remember, nothing is true."
"While others are bound by morality or law, remember, everything is permitted."
"We serve the light, yet cultivate in darkness. Nothing is true, everything is permitted."
Nothing is true, everything is permitted...
Naruto murmured these two phrases, then asked: "Is this the conviction Menma-nii has always held?"
"Ah, you could say that."
Menma smiled and nodded.
Nothing is true – the foundations of social civilization are fragile; we must become the guardians of our own civilization.
The foundations of this society – whether morality, law, or faith – exist within everyone's hearts and constantly change with time and shifting concepts.
Everything is permitted – we are the designers of our own actions. Once we choose our path forward, we must bear the consequences of our actions.
Whether glory or tragedy, regardless of how much criticism or infamy we bear, we must keep walking forward.
Just like in his previous life, the world once believed humans should be God's meek servants.
But later, people discovered this was just a policy to keep the people ignorant under theocratic rule; humans could be their own masters.
-- This was the order rulers crafted for people, absurd and fragile, the so-called 'nothing is true'.
And for the longest time, all aspects of human spiritual life were dictated by the church.
But later, people sought new value in art and science one after another; the meaning of life was no longer merely pursuing heaven after death.
-- There isn't just one set of values in the world. People should rely on their own reason and make independent choices – the so-called 'everything is permitted'.
"Things possessing the contradictory natures of maintaining the status quo and changing the status quo simultaneously – only these deserve to be called human."
Menma wiped the tears from the corners of Naruto's eyes, his tone softening: "Living in this world, you can no longer shed tears. This world doesn't believe in tears."
"Mm..."
Naruto sniffled, widened his eyes, and forced a smile: "Let's do it, Menma-nii! Didn't you say you were giving me a birthday present?"
Finished speaking, he directly pushed the corpse off the operating table, then lay down on it himself.
Menma smiled helplessly, taking out the pair of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan from nearby.
He didn't plan to transplant both eyes into Naruto. One Mangekyō Sharingan plus Naruto's current physique was enough to offset the side effects of the Hashirama cells.
Menma picked out the left eye, pondering.
"Judging from the original story, both of Shisui's left and right eyes possess Kotoamatsukami, but their effects should differ somewhat."
Like the left eye Shisui entrusted to Uchiha Itachi – it should be the instant-cast Kotoamatsukami with permanent effect.
But it requires consuming over a decade's accumulated pupil power at once to implant an 'instruction' into the target's brain.
This was also why Uchiha Shisui didn't use his left eye's Kotoamatsukami on Menma before dying.
-- After using Susanoo, his remaining pupil power was insufficient to use his left eye's Kotoamatsukami.
Conversely, the right eye stolen by Danzō in the original story had the opposite effect.
The Kotoamatsukami in this right eye required continuous consumption of pupil power to activate, and the duration the target remained under the genjutsu was determined by the caster's casting time.
Once interrupted, stopping the casting, the Kotoamatsukami effect would also disappear.
The advantage lies in: as long as there's a sliver of pupil power remaining, it can be used whenever desired.
"Naruto, stay conscious no matter what happens next."
Naruto stared at the ceiling, his voice trembling slightly: "Menma-nii, if this succeeds, will I have enough power to protect everything?"
"...This is your admission ticket to becoming strong."
Menma paused silently for a moment, then comforted: "Relax, I'm very familiar with this simple surgery. Just leave everything to me."
"I trust you, Menma-nii."
Seeing Naruto nod, Menma then took out the right eye.
In terms of potential, this eye definitely can't compare to Sasuke's.
Even though Naruto possesses Ashura chakra, wanting to evolve it into the Rinnegan has an astonishingly high difficulty factor.
But Menma never hoped for that anyway; he just needed Naruto to awaken the Body of the Sage.
Whether Wood Release or the Mangekyō, those were secondary.
"First, transplant the Sharingan into Naruto's palm. Then, transplant Hashirama cells bit by bit into Naruto, paying attention to his body's critical point..."
Menma picked up the scalpel, his expression grave.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was just a catalyst to guide Naruto in awakening the Sage Body; it wouldn't stay on Naruto permanently.
It would be removed and transferred later.
Naruto himself is an Uzumaki, his bloodline originating from the Ōtsutsuki clan.
Coupled with long-term absorption of Ashura chakra, if the Mangekyō and Hashirama cells were transplanted, the success rate actually wasn't low.
Inside the seal space, even the usually gluttonous and lazy Nine-Tails sat up, watching the surgery progress outside intently.
"Starting human experimentation so soon? And directly on Naruto? Is this guy Menma reliable?!"
Sizzle!
Blood flowed as the flesh on Naruto's palm was carved out.
"Ngh!"
Naruto grit his teeth, still unable to suppress a muffled sound.
Since this surgery couldn't use anesthetic, he was relying entirely on his own willpower to endure the pain of having his flesh gouged out.
"Hold on."
Menma glanced at Naruto, seeing no violent reaction.
He then activated the sealing formula on the Hashirama arm, quickly cutting off a palm-sized piece of flesh.
Picking up this piece of flesh belonging to the previous Ashura, possessing a higher bloodline level, he perfectly embedded it into Naruto's palm.
Simultaneously, Menma multitasked, activating a barrier while infusing the Yang Release Chakra within his body into Naruto's, using it to guide him in activating the 'Power of the Sage' within his body.
Swish!
Naruto's vital signs immediately fluctuated violently.
Heart rate accelerated, breathing frequency increased, his entire body turned flushed red, blood vessels all over tensing tightly, looking like they would burst instantly.
The Yang Release Chakra continued to transmit immense life energy to Naruto through the Hashirama cells.
"Naruto!"
Menma said gravely: "Feel this chakra! Guide this chakra to regulate your body!"
As his voice fell, Menma began the Mangekyō transplant, then unhurriedly started suturing the blood vessels.
He pressed it onto Naruto's palm, using the Mystical Palm Technique to begin repairing the joined blood vessels.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
The blood vessels began to heal. Along with the cut opening, everything healed bit by bit under the power of the Mystical Palm Technique.
Menma could clearly see that about one-third of the Yang Release chakra was diverted by the Mangekyō.
The originally gray, stagnant three tomoe actually began to spin rapidly.
Even gradually transforming into a shape resembling a shuriken.
The Uchiha clan's Sharingan, at this moment, was grafted onto Naruto's body.
(End of Chapter)
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