Chapter 70: On the Right Track
The Ashura chakra within Naruto's body gradually began to fuse with Naruto's own body.
Menma, standing nearby, even felt a wave of warmth.
He even keenly sensed that the violent aura within his own heart had been suppressed somewhat.
"Ashura chakra... the infectious power of this obsession is too strong..."
Menma couldn't help the corner of his mouth twitching. He then said gravely to Naruto: "Naruto, stay conscious. Don't lose yourself."
But clearly, this was an exceedingly difficult process.
Menma stopped the input of Yang Release chakra. The complex markings laid out on the ground began to wriggle at this moment, surging onto Naruto's body, starting to suppress his chakra.
Naruto's figure still trembled slightly, doing his utmost to calm this life force so powerful it was hard for him to imagine.
Menma could even hear his strong heartbeat, which was gradually becoming calmer.
"Made it through? Well done, Naruto."
Although he could interrupt the experiment at any time, it was best if it could be completed in one go.
Looking at Naruto, whose breathing was now steady, Menma asked: "How do you feel?"
Huff!
Naruto let out a long breath, then slowly opened his eyes, a trace of surprise flashing within them.
"It feels a bit strange. There seems to be a very strong power flowing within my body, and the focal point is..."
Saying this, Naruto couldn't help but clench his fist, looking down at his palm.
On that palm, an eye slowly closed.
This feeling is so weird, like looking at myself.
"When this eye is closed, aside from a slight feeling of swelling, it doesn't seem any different," Naruto murmured in a low voice.
"Your chakra refining speed should have increased now. You can also store more chakra internally, and your overall physical constitution will be stronger."
Menma pondered for a moment, nodding with some satisfaction.
Largely as he had expected.
Next came various tedious physical tests, all designed to comprehensively assess the changes in Naruto's various bodily functions.
Some time later, Menma looked at the data in his hand, surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Physical stamina, speed, strength, as well as chakra refining speed and efficiency, and finally, the Mangekyō's pupil power..."
All his various bodily functions had received a wave of enhancements.
And this was just the beginning. As time passed, Naruto's strength would be further enhanced.
What truly concerned Menma was the change in Naruto's body.
Rip!
"Wh-what the hell is this thing..."
Watching the sharp tree branch growing out of his palm, Naruto looked completely bewildered.
How can a human body grow tree branches?
This isn't scientific at all!
"An incomplete form of Wood Release, huh..."
Menma looked meaningfully at Naruto, a hint of anticipation hidden in his gaze.
If he had Water and Earth chakra natures, could Naruto catalyze a complete form of Wood Release?
"Naruto has preliminarily awakened the Sage Body. My physical body template is ready. Now all that's missing is an All Creation Synthesis Formula."
Naruto's success proved the path he walked was correct.
...
After returning home from school, Naruto removed the training weights from his body, then lay on his bed and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
He was also very tired today.
Although the Adamantine Sealing Chains had awakened some time ago, using them was still somewhat strenuous.
Not to mention, after that, he experienced a wave of both mental and physical torment.
Just as Naruto's breathing gradually steadied,
A figure quietly appeared in the room, pulling the blanket covering him up a little higher.
"Sleep well."
Looking at Naruto's gradually maturing face, a hint of a smile flashed in Menma's eyes.
These few years had passed in a flash. Currently, everything was developing on the right track he had predicted.
Under Menma's influence and guidance, Naruto's growth, whether in thought or strength, was very evident.
He was no longer the hot-blooded youth from the original work who constantly shouted "I'm going to be Hokage!"
For the current Naruto, Hokage was merely an optional position.
But no matter how he changed, Naruto's respect for Menma never wavered.
He was still that stubborn, one-track-minded brat who would "repay kindness doubly to whoever is good to him".
If becoming Hokage could help Menma-nii achieve his ideal, then he would become Hokage.
If destroying Konoha could help Menma-nii achieve his ideal, then he would destroy Konoha.
Menma's ideal was Naruto's ideal.
In his own words: "I don't know what kind of future I want for myself, but the world Menma-nii talks about – I look forward to it, and I'm willing to live in such a world."
Looking forward to such a world?
Neither heaven nor hell can offer me solace. Only myself – lonely, insignificant, struggling against the world, praying to myself, praying for myself.
Thinking these things again, Menma shook his head somewhat helplessly: "That guy Naruto, even though his personality has become more cynical, he still likes to bear others' expectations."
It's just that it changed from shouldering everyone's expectations to shouldering his alone.
This unique favoritism made Menma not know whether to laugh or cry.
Initially, he only thought of acquiring a useful "weapon".
Unexpectedly, it slowly turned into a student who shared the same ideals as him.
"Plant flowers with care, they don't bloom; unintentionally stick a willow twig, it grows into shade. Indeed."
Menma looked meaningfully at Naruto, murmuring to himself: "Become the sharp blade of my left hand. We are accomplices, aren't we?"
He chuckled softly, rose, and looked out the window.
Konoha under the moonlight was silent, most lights already extinguished.
But Menma knew very well, an undercurrent was constantly surging within Konoha.
"Heh, Konoha..."
Make Naruto defect from Konoha, become a so-called S-rank missing-nin? How could he do something so shortsighted (like killing the chicken to get the eggs)?
Better to play this village in the palm of his hand, making those ignorant fools feel grateful to Naruto – that would be more enjoyable.
"When Konoha's utility value is exhausted, let the faith of those fools completely collapse."
We ministers wish to fight to the death, why does Your Majesty surrender first?!
A smile couldn't help but appear on Menma's lips. This smile still made one feel as if bathing in the spring breeze.
But the Nine-Tails in the seal space, upon seeing it, inexplicably shivered, a chill rising in its heart.
Couldn't tell if it was mockery, or some other meaning, but anyway, it was quite "fox"-frightening.
Crunch crunch~
"Poor Konoha."
The Nine-Tails grabbed a handful of chips, shaking its head: "Of all people, it had to run into this guy Menma."
No matter how many resources Konoha had, it probably wouldn't be enough for Menma to dig out.
What's more, Konoha also had two "hidden talents" (used ironically).
Looking at its own increasingly stocky physique, the Nine-Tails suddenly grinned: "Speaking of which, the purity of chakra in my body has been getting higher and higher lately. I always feel like I'm reaching some kind of critical point..."
Anyway, whatever happened to Konoha had nothing to do with it. It was just an uninformed fox freeloading and lazing around.
Right now, it had no qualification whatsoever to meddle in others' affairs. Better to just obediently stay inside the brat Naruto's body.
Besides, the Nine-Tails had a premonition.
This entire ninja world was going to be thrown into chaos by Menma alone.
(End of Chapter)
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