Awen stepped over the shattered ice fragments of the Rasenshuriken, the corner of his mouth curving slightly as he looked at Naruto.
"What's wrong, Naruto Uzumaki? You absorbed half of my soul, yet this is all the progress you've made? If this is all you have, you can't stop me, much less take me back!"
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Naruto's face. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Awen, we can talk this out. You don't have to do this."
"I've always had so many questions I wanted to discuss with you, so many things I wanted to tell you, and so many interesting things I wanted to share with you. I always considered you a friend. Don't let Menma's hatred fade away. Please, Awen..." Naruto's voice carried a trace of pleading, and beneath that teeth-clenched tone lay profound grief.
Awen stopped walking and gave Naruto a slightly surprised look. Naruto was serious. The male protagonist of Naruto would never grovel to an enemy out of cowardice when faced with threats and death.
"Heh..."
Awen revealed a faint smile and appeared before Naruto in an instant, driving a heavy punch viciously into Naruto's abdomen.
Naruto felt dizzy and disoriented, vomiting bitter fluid as pain twisted his features.
Awen's fist opened into a palm, and he lightly pressed two fingers against Naruto's forehead.
"Friends... Hehehe... Naruto Uzumaki, even after fusing with my soul, you're still so naive and foolish. The way you are now is just like you in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. You look weak."
Awen's chilly voice sounded beside his ear as Naruto gasped for breath.
"You, Awen, why? Why are you doing this? Didn't you just take the dominant position? Why are you still acting like that Menma?" Naruto squinted one eye.
Awen fell silent for a