Explaining to Naruto

Karin froze at Big Sister Hinata's sudden force, then gave a dissatisfied little snort and pushed up her glasses out of habit, firing back, "Hmph, as if anyone cares."

"Worry about protecting yourself, princess~"

She put extra emphasis on the word "princess," her provocation obvious.

The two girls' gazes met in midair, and invisible sparks instantly crackled between them.

Menma watched the scene and shook his head, both helpless and amused.

He knew Big Sister Hinata was always prone to competing in certain areas, especially when it involved him.

But right now, that competitiveness actually reassured him. They would keep an eye on each other, and they would protect Naruto more seriously too.

He said nothing more, his gaze passing over Gaara and landing on Sasuke on the other side.

At that moment, Sasuke, protected by Sai and Shigaraki, had both hands clenched tight, his crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixed firmly on them, his eyes filled with confusion, wariness, and a restless anxiety.

Shikamaru and Ino were shielding the unconscious Choji not far from Sasuke's group of three, brows furrowed tight, wearing expressions that said, "This is a huge pain," while rapidly analyzing the bizarre situation before them.

Farther away, Samui, Omoi, Karui, and Atsui of Kumogakure, as well as Ao, Hozuki Suigetsu, Chojuro, Uzumaki Honoka, and the others from Kirigakure, were all on guard, weapons held before them, chakra surging, as if facing a great enemy.

They watched Menma's familiar interactions with Gaara, Karin, and the others, watched the strange shift in Hinata's aura, and then combined it with Gaara's undisguised identity as a Jinchuriki and the Land of Stars' position. A terrifying guess had already surfaced in their minds.

This boy named Menma absolutely had an inescapable connection to the Land of Stars and to this attack!

He might