"Menma Master..."
Kisame tried to use habitual ridicule to cover up the throbbing in his heart that was almost bursting out of his chest, "I am... really flattered to be so respected and trusted by a person like you."
He forcibly suppressed the urge to offer his loyalty immediately. The more eager you are, the more you need final confirmation. He had to ask that question, the question that hung over him like the last shackle.
Then, an unprecedented sense of uneasiness gripped him. Do you really want to ask about the exit? This problem is that the intelligence agencies of major powers have spent countless efforts trying to find out the highest machine tonnage. On the black market reward list, its value is even comparable to that of a movie star or Daimyo. It is undoubtedly a great offense to ask so directly.
Isn't it good to just promise him like this? A voice in his mind tempted him. For myself, a dirty and confused person, to find such a safe and secure home, I write this fascinating answer...
However, another voice was afraid that if... if Menma was offended by this issue and made him accept this only invitation...Kisame could almost foresee that the huge sense of loss that would follow would be darker than the confusion at the moment, enough to swallow him completely.
Menma stared at Kisame quietly. That face that was as ferocious as a shark actually showed such clear restlessness and struggle at this moment, which made him slightly surprised.
He understood what was the core dispute in Kisame's heart at this moment.
He wanted to see the face under the mask. In this timeline, Kisame was impressed by the shock and intimidation brought by the name "Uchiha Madara", so he devoted himself to Moon Eye Plan.
At this moment, Menma felt a trace of uncertainty in his heart. Can this truth about his identity - Konoha Village and Uzumaki Naruto, a still young Genin, even though he is Nine-Tails Jinchuriki - satisfy Kisame's expectations?
Is it worthy of the grand declaration just now about breaking the hypocrisy in the world?
However, the situation is different from that of Obito. Seeing Kisame in front of him, he has been deeply attracted by the meaning of "truth" and "companion" depicted by Menma. He needs not an illusory and legendary name to intimidate, but to seek a thorough and honest "truth" as the final reassurance.
After all, a leader who keeps saying he wants to cut off hypocrisy and seek truth always hides his true appearance. Doesn't this in itself constitute a different kind of "falsehood"?
No matter who is under the mask, at this moment Kisame only needs an answer to fill the last uneasy gap in his heart, so that he can hand over one without hesitation.
"Kisame, I understand." Menma's voice was calm, "It seems that what I need to do is to take off the mask on my face."
Kisame's pupils suddenly shrank, and once again, Menma accurately penetrated the deepest hesitation and desire in his heart.
"Okay, then, I'll give you the answer you want."
Naruto's heart moves horizontally. [Jin] In the organization, all core combat members must show absolute loyalty to the organization. They work for the organization's goals, and as the leader, he must respond and try his best to realize their respective answers and wishes.
Shisui Uchiha wants the continuation of the clan, Kakuzu desires wealth, Deidara pursues art, Zabuza wants Bai to be safe, and Bai's wish is just to accompany Zabuza...
At this moment, facing Kisame, Menma has made up its mind. If Kisame still refuses to join after knowing the truth, they can only use force to subdue him, take him away and lock him up.
Watching Menma slowly raise his hand and reach for the iconic Fox Mask, Kisame's breathing became rough involuntarily, and his muscles tightened, waiting for the moment of the truth to be revealed.
However, just when his fingertips were about to touch the edge of the mask, Menma's movement stopped abruptly.
"... Perhaps another way can help you understand more deeply. I hope your answer will not disappoint me."
Looking at Kisame's confused and uncertain eyes, Menma did not take off his mask, but took a step forward, stretched out his hand, and gently touched Kisame's muscular shoulder.
At the same time, in a distant place, the body of Naruto has been lent out, stored, and the violent red chakra was transmitted to this Shadow Clone through exquisite connections.
In an instant, scarlet chakra flames like flames were visible to the naked eye, appearing and swaying all over Menma, exuding a heart-stopping pressure.
Immediately afterwards, this violent chakra seemed to be alive, slowly spreading along Menma's arm, contacting and wrapping Kisame's body.
"!!!"
The moment chakra touched his body, Kisame was shaken all over! This chakra... is huge, hot, and full of beast-like rage and will to destroy. It definitely does not belong to humans!
This is a kind of pure coercion that he has never experienced before, originating from ancient ferocious beasts!
The next moment, Kisame felt that his vision was spinning, and the surrounding cave scene dissipated like a broken lens. When he stabilized his mind again, he found that he was in a completely unfamiliar and strange space.
Surrounded by endless pitch black void, only beneath his feet was a thick and cold dark red liquid that covered his ankles, exuding an unpleasant aura.
Kisame doesn't know that his own spiritual world has been forcibly invaded here. Just when he was in shock and doubt, the familiar scarlet Chalak gathered in front of him again!
This time, chakra is no longer just a breath, but is condensed and shaped like crazy! Finally, in the surging energy torrent, an extremely huge illusory Nine-Tails Fox Demon made of pure chakra, with its vertical pupils, suddenly appeared in front of Kisame!
Tailed Beast! And it is the most powerful Kurama among Nine Tailed Beasts!
At this moment, all the clues were connected, and Kisame finally got the answer he was searching for. I see!
No wonder the leader of the [Jin] organization can perform that legendary ninjutsu and possess such subversive power! Its true face turned out to be...
When his consciousness was brought back to reality, Kisame took a sharp breath, and then he was shocked to realize that his back was already soaked with cold sweat, and his clothes were cold against his skin.
The violent chakra that seemed to burn the soul had receded like the tide, leaving only a trembling feeling that penetrated into the bone marrow.
He didn't even have time to pay attention to the strange restlessness coming from Samehada behind him, which was both exciting and a little fearful. All his attention was firmly locked on the man in front of him who was still wearing Fox Mask.
After a brief moment of dead silence, Kisame let out a low, then gradually louder laugh.
"Huh huh huh... hehehe... So that's it! So that's it!" His laughter was full of shock and relief, "I understand everything! It's you... This is really... so shocking!"
Menma carefully observed Kisame's reaction. When he confirmed that the eyes of those tiny sharks only showed excitement and realization, without any disappointment or contempt, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that the most worrying situation has not happened.
So... is this thing done?
Sure enough, the next moment, Kisame stopped laughing, leaned forward slightly with his huge body, and said categorically.
"Then... from now on, my life, Kisame, belongs to you. In order to cut off hypocrisy, and for a world without falsehood... please let me join your organization!"
"Yes." Menma nodded, "Welcome to join. Then, let's leave here first, and I will give you a safe place to stay."
With that said, he stretched out his hand again, preparing to put it on Kisame's shoulder and use Flying Thunder God Technique to leave this dark cave.
However, at the moment when his fingertips were about to touch Kisame, Kisame's voice, which contained great excitement and a certain "insight into the truth" tone, clearly reached his ears.
"Well, then... please give me some advice——"
"Fourth Hokage Master."
... Huh?