The atmosphere was heavy, the focus of everyone's gaze drawn toward the center of the discussion.
"I still believe we should abandon this mission, Kakashi-sensei," Menma said firmly, his tone calm but weighted. "This isn't only about the rules a shinobi should follow—it's about our responsibility. We have no idea what lies ahead. Two Mist-nin have already appeared, and that alone tells us this mission isn't what it seems. Kado's influence controls the economy of an entire nation. If he can hire elite assassins from Kirigakure once, who's to say he won't hire more? Perhaps one opponent, you could handle, Kakashi-sensei… but what if there are several? Would you still be able to protect all of us?"
Before Kakashi could respond, Menma continued, his expression hardening.
Originally, Menma had planned to follow along quietly, treating this as a chance to measure himself against Zabuza and Haku—nothing more. But after hearing Naruto's reckless words and Sakura's emotional plea, his patience snapped.
He couldn't tolerate this naïve idealism any longer.
This wasn't a lesson in courage—it was foolishness.
He needed to stop Kakashi from making the same mistake as in the original timeline.
Whether Kakashi had once accepted the mission out of sympathy, overconfidence, or sheer recklessness, Menma didn't care. In this life, he would make the consequences clear.
He was no longer just an observer.
"You're not alone on this mission, Kakashi-sensei," Menma pressed, his voice sharp. "You're leading a team of rookies—one of whom carries the Nine-Tails, another the last Uchiha, and the rest barely able to defend themselves. This isn't a simple escort. If more Jōnin-level assassins appear, can you still guarantee everyone's safety?"
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly, his usually relaxed posture stiffening. Even Dazna's expression faltered.
Menma's words hit harder than anyone expected.
Naruto clenched his fists, frustration bubbling over. "Menma! How can you say that!? Ninjas aren't supposed to run from danger! When someone's suffering, we help them! That's what being a ninja means to me! I misjudged you!"
"I agree," Sakura added softly, though her voice trembled. "Menma-kun, Dazna-san and his people are suffering. We should help them, no matter what."
Menma's eyes grew colder.
"'Should'… 'help'… You two really don't get it," he said, his tone cutting through the air like a kunai. "Do you think we can save every person who's suffering in this world? Every small nation? Every village torn apart by war? If you rush into every situation without thinking, you're not brave—you're stupid."
Naruto's eyes widened, stunned by the harshness in Menma's words.
"Courage isn't about charging into every fight you see. It's about knowing when to act and when not to. You talk about helping others, Naruto, but what about your comrades? What happens when your recklessness gets them killed? Would you still say you were right when Sakura's body is lying in front of you? Would you still talk about your ninja way then?"
Naruto flinched, unable to meet Menma's gaze.
"And you, Sakura," Menma continued mercilessly, "do you even understand your strength right now? You could barely dodge that ambush earlier. You're a genin who just graduated—barely trained in real combat. Do you think your parents sent you here to die for some stranger's bridge?"
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Even Kakashi's face had turned grim, the weight of Menma's words pressing down on him.
Sasuke, leaning quietly against a tree, studied Menma with new intensity, his Sharingan flickering faintly with interest. For a moment, he seemed to reassess the person before him.
Dazna, too, fell silent. His earlier resentment toward Menma had been replaced with shame and understanding. From his point of view, Menma was right—these children had no reason to risk their lives for him.
'Maybe this is the price of my selfishness,' Dazna thought bitterly.
The tension in the air thickened, no one daring to speak until Naruto finally broke the silence.
"Maybe you're right, Menma," Naruto said, his voice steady but trembling slightly. "Maybe I can't help everyone in the world. But my ninja way… is to never go back on my word. I can't just stand here while someone needs me. Even if it's reckless, even if I have to fight alone—I'll protect Dazna-san!"
He lifted his head, his blue eyes blazing with conviction.
Menma's eyes narrowed, studying him silently. For the first time, he saw the spark of the future Hokage in Naruto—not skill, not logic, but an unshakable will.
Kakashi exhaled quietly, his expression unreadable beneath the mask.
"…So that's your answer, Naruto," he said finally, his tone carrying a faint trace of pride. "And it's a good one. Menma, you've made valid points—but sometimes, being a shinobi means trusting the will of fire, even when logic says otherwise."
He turned toward Dazna. "We'll continue the mission."
Menma exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment. "So be it," he muttered under his breath. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
As Naruto grinned defiantly and Sakura smiled with renewed determination, Menma glanced toward the misty path ahead.
He already knew what awaited them—Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist.
But this time, things would not unfold as before.
Because this time, Menma was here.
___________________
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