Ashes

The sight before them could only be described as a natural disaster.

The enormous crater stretched beyond the horizon. The rock layers bore savage cracks left by cooled lava, and the air was saturated with the scent of scorching ruin. Destructive power on this level had long surpassed the realm of ordinary shinobi—it went beyond even the level of a "Kage."

And Hiruzen Sarutobi had seen such power in two people before.

Hashirama Senju. Uchiha Madara.

Those two legendary shinobi had long transcended the realm of "human." It was no exaggeration to say that theirs was a domain only gods could reach.

Now... was there another Asura of the Ninja World? But the problem was—there was no longer a "God of Shinobi" in the present Ninja World who could oppose him.

The Third Hokage's gaze trembled slightly. Didn't want to harm the innocent...? He understood completely now.

Konoha's intact state was not thanks to the Four Violet Flames Formation. If that black "stardust" had fallen directly into the center of the village, the barrier he had barely managed to cast could never have stopped it. Menma had deliberately avoided Konoha—or perhaps he simply disdained to destroy the village that way.

"Cough...!"

The backlash from completely exhausting his Chakra made the Third Hokage cough up a mouthful of bloody froth. He barely steadied himself and swept his gaze across the enormous crater. The Raikage's fate was unknown, and the Masked Man...

"Looks like this guy got lucky and survived."

A cold voice came from high above. The Third Hokage's body suddenly stiffened. He mechanically raised his head and looked at the descending figure.

Menma dragged the Raikage's body with one hand, as though he were carrying an insignificant trophy. Hidden Cloud's "A" was charred black all over, his muscular body covered in burn marks. His hair had been scorched into curls, and dried blood still stained the corner of his mouth.

"Is this all a so-called Kage amounts to?"

Menma's voice came through the Fox Mask. With a casual motion, he threw the Raikage to the ground with a dull crash.

Thud—

The Raikage's body slammed heavily into the earth, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

Menma landed without a sound. The hem of his black robe lifted slightly before settling again. He looked around, his gaze passing over every Konoha shinobi facing him as though confronting a great enemy.

The Konoha shinobi gripped their kunai and blades tightly. Their weapons trembled, and their bodies instinctively shook before the absolute gap in power. Sweat dripped from their forehead protectors, carving miserable streaks through the dust on their faces.

"Actually, there's no need for you to be so wary of me."

Menma's voice made everyone's hair stand on end.

"Because..."

He deliberately paused. Beneath the Fox Mask, the corner of his mouth seemed to curl upward. "If I wanted to take your lives... you wouldn't be standing here right now."

Those words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. They all knew it was no empty threat—the massive crater several kilometers wide was the best proof. Several younger Konoha shinobi could no longer hold themselves up and fell to their knees, yet their hands still clutched their weapons tightly.

Yet even with their legs trembling and their teeth chattering, not a single Konoha shinobi put down their weapon. Like wolves driven into a corner, they bared their fangs despite knowing they were no match.

"L-Let Lord Raikage go!"

Shii forced the words from his throat, struggling to suppress his trembling. As a sensory shinobi, he could clearly sense the Raikage's faint Chakra—he was alive, but gravely injured.

Just as Shii was about to rush forward, an arm barred his chest.

Darui's palm pressed against Shii as his eyes remained locked on Menma. His usually lazy tone carried an unprecedented gravity. "Calm down, Shii."

Lord Raikage is alive... This monster didn't kill him.

Darui drew in a deep breath and forced himself to loosen his clenched teeth. He could feel his molars chattering uncontrollably, but his voice remained unusually steady.

"Lord Menma, Hidden Cloud... fully understands the situation."

He deliberately omitted the somewhat contemptuous term "Masked Man" and subtly moved his right hand to shield Shii behind him.

"Regarding the delegation and the Byakugan incident, Hidden Cloud is willing to... let bygones be bygones. The so-called war will absolutely not happen."

Darui's Adam's apple bobbed. He could feel cold sweat sliding down his back. He is deliberately avoiding large-scale slaughter... His goal is to stop the war, not massacre us.

"Hidden Cloud has deeply understood your desire to stop the war." Darui lowered his head slightly, causing several Hidden Cloud shinobi to reveal looks of disbelief. "But the Byakugan incident... was not Lord Raikage's decision alone. It was the result of a joint decision by Hidden Cloud's upper ranks."

He deliberately slowed his speech, ensuring every word was conveyed clearly. "Moreover, you did not take Lord Raikage's life... presumably because you considered that if Hidden Cloud suddenly lost its Kage, the resulting power vacuum would instead trigger even greater turmoil."

Darui raised his voice. "If you are willing to show mercy this time—Hidden Cloud is willing to offer any compensation!"

His words rang out with force. Darui raised his head and stared directly at Menma's Fox Mask. His pupils trembled, but his gaze did not waver.

Take a gamble... What he needs is an example, not corpses.

The scene fell deathly silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the black-robed figure's response. Even the Third Hokage could not help tensing up.

The wind carried the scent of scorched earth and stirred Menma's black robe. He stood there silently, and no one knew the expression beneath his mask.

"Third Hokage."

Menma suddenly spoke, but instead of looking at Darui, he turned directly toward Hiruzen Sarutobi. The shift startled everyone present.

The Third Hokage slowly raised his head. His aged face was still pale from Chakra exhaustion.

"Don't do anything stupid." Menma's voice held a hint of mockery. "I think I understand now. You really aren't a bad person, but you are definitely an idiot."

The Third Hokage's fingers trembled almost imperceptibly.

Menma's gaze fell on the hand seal the Third Hokage had not yet fully lowered. "That seal... is the Reaper Death Seal, isn't it? It seems the battle at the Valley of the End left quite a shadow on you."

His black robe moved without wind as Menma's voice turned cold. "I have no intention of destroying Konoha... but after that jutsu, I might not be so sure."

Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on the Third Hokage's forehead. In the end, his taut fingers loosened weakly. The hand seal completely dissipated, and this small movement made Konoha's Anbu secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Only then did Menma turn back to Darui, his tone returning to its casual teasing. "Compensation? Looks like you're a smart one."

He pretended to ponder, tapping the mask lightly with one finger. "Let me think... the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails might be a good idea."

Darui's face instantly turned deathly pale. "...My apologies, but anything except that. Please consider something else... Hidden Cloud will certainly meet your demands to the greatest extent possible."

Menma gave a soft laugh. "Heh..." That quiet laugh made every Hidden Cloud shinobi's heart leap into their throats.

"I was only joking." Menma casually waved a hand. "Because... if I wanted the Tailed Beasts, do you think I'd discuss it with you?"

Darui's back was already soaked through with cold sweat, yet he forced himself to remain where he was without taking even half a step back.

"..."

"Ashes."

When that unfamiliar word left Menma's mouth, everyone froze.

"...What?"

Darui instinctively asked in return, his mind racing—this word had never appeared in the Ninja World before. It was neither a known shinobi village nor any rogue organization.

"That is the name of the organization I lead."

His voice was unhurried. "Remember that name well—"

Chakra suddenly erupted, unleashing violent shockwaves centered on Menma. His black robe whipped wildly in the turbulent energy, while the phantom image of the Nine-Headed Beasts flickered behind him.

"Then spread the name of fear throughout the Ninja World!"

Those words were like the tolling of a judgment bell, ringing heavily in everyone's hearts.

Menma's figure began to blur as the Chakra storm grew increasingly violent. At the final moment before he vanished, his voice pierced through the raging wind and reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

"Either obediently gnaw on the rotten fruit of peace and live... or let me teach you—what a real war is!"

Boom—!

The violent Chakra storm exploded. Hurricane winds swept dust into the sky, forcing everyone to raise their arms to shield themselves. Kunai slipped from their fingers, forehead protectors were blown crooked, and even standing became difficult.

When the wind and dust finally dispersed—

Only the unconscious Raikage remained in the clearing. Menma had vanished like a dream, leaving behind only deep cracks in the ground to prove that everything that had just happened was real.