Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
It was still that gloomy inner world, still the intermittent sound of dripping water. But the violent Tailed Beast Chakra was gone, and the monstrous Nine-Tails fox no longer lurked behind the huge iron bars.
With heavy steps, Menma made his way deeper into his mind.
As his life ebbed away, his consciousness gradually grew hazy. Yet he stubbornly pressed forward, refusing to stop.
At last, he reached the prison that had once held the Nine-Tails.
He stared at the empty cell behind the iron bars and paused, as if only then remembering that the Nine-Tails was no longer here.
"No!"
He gripped the bars with both hands and roared.
Then a voice came from nearby. "All right, that's enough!"
Menma whipped around and saw Naruto. The anger on his face gave way to guilt, and he lowered his head. "I messed up!"
"It's okay. I saw everything!" Naruto said cheerfully, his hands clasped behind his head. "If I'd been in your place, I wouldn't have done any better!"
Menma stared blankly at Naruto. "You're not mad at me?"
"Of course I'm mad at you!" Naruto paused, then added, "But watching you beat the crap out of Sasuke and that stinking fox was pretty satisfying! You did something I couldn't do—and didn't dare do. It felt great!"
Menma explained to Naruto, "I was this close to winning! It was all Hiruko's fault. His damn Mangekyo Dojutsu messed with me. If it weren't for him—"
Naruto shook his head, cutting Menma off. "It's okay!"
Menma shouted, "How can it be okay? Do you even know what situation we're in? We're going to die!"
Naruto said, "I'm not afraid!"
"You..."
Menma was at a loss for words.
Naruto leaned against the iron bars and sat down. "I just regret