Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 202 True identity?

"Menma-sama..."

Kisame tried to use his habitual teasing to cover up the pounding excitement in his heart, "To be valued and trusted so much by someone like you... I am truly flattered."

He forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately offer his loyalty. The more he longed for it, the more he needed final confirmation. He had to ask that question, that question that hovered in his mind like the final shackle.

However, an unprecedented sense of unease gripped him. Should he really ask? This was a top-secret question that the intelligence agencies of the five major powers had painstakingly sought to uncover; on the black market bounty list, its value was comparable to the head of a Kage or Daimyo. To ask so bluntly would undoubtedly be a grave offense.

Wouldn't it be better to just agree? A voice tempted him in his mind. To find such a peaceful refuge for his dirty and confused life, to write down this answer that made him feel so intoxicated...

However, another voice was filled with fear. If... if this question angered Menma and made him withdraw this only invitation... Kisame could almost foresee that the ensuing immense sense of loss would be even darker than the confusion he was in now, enough to completely engulf him.

Menma stared silently at Kisame. The fact that Kisame's fierce, shark-like face now revealed such clear unease and struggle surprised Menma slightly.

He understood what Kisame's innermost struggle was at that moment.

He wanted to see the face beneath the mask. In the original timeline, Kisame was captivated by the awe and intimidation emanating from the name "Uchiha Madara," which led him to join the Eye of the Moon Project.

At this moment, a trace of uncertainty swept through Menma's heart. Could his identity—Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha, a young genin, even though he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—meet Kisame's expectations?

Does it live up to that grand declaration you just made about breaking down the world's hypocrisy?

However, the situation was completely different from what Obito had experienced. Kisame, now standing before him, was deeply attracted by the meaning of "truth" and "comrades" described by Menma. What he needed was not an ethereal legendary title to intimidate him, but rather a thorough and honest "truth" as a final reassurance.

After all, isn't it a kind of "falsehood" in itself for a leader who claims to cut off hypocrisy and seek truth but always hides his true self?

Regardless of who is behind the mask, Kisame at this moment only needs one answer to fill the last unease in his heart, so that he can give everything without hesitation.

"Kisame, I understand." Menma's voice was calm and even. "It seems that what I need to do is take off this mask."

Kisame's pupils suddenly contracted, and once again, Menma accurately pierced through the deepest hesitation and longing in his heart.

"Alright, then I'll give you the answer you want."

Naruto steeled his resolve. Within the [Jin] organization, all core combat members must be absolutely loyal to the organization. They serve the organization's goals, and as its leader, he must respond to and strive to fulfill their individual pursuits and desires.

Uchiha Shisui wanted his clan to continue, Kakuzu craved wealth, Deidara pursued art, Zabuza hoped Haku would be safe, and Haku's only wish was to stay by Zabuza's side...

At this moment, Menma had made up his mind when facing Kisame. If Kisame still refused to join after learning the truth, he would have no choice but to use force to subdue him and take him back to be imprisoned.

As Menma slowly raised his hand and reached for the iconic fox mask, Kisame's breathing involuntarily became heavy, and his entire body tensed, awaiting the moment when the truth would be revealed.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the edge of the mask, Mianma abruptly stopped.

"...Perhaps a different approach will allow you to understand more deeply. I hope your answer won't disappoint me."

Under Kisame's confused and uncertain gaze, Menma did not remove his mask. Instead, he took a step forward, extended his right hand, and gently placed it on Kisame's muscular shoulder.

Meanwhile, in a distant place, Naruto's main body had already borrowed and stored his violent red chakra, which was then transferred to this shadow clone through a subtle connection.

In an instant, a visible crimson chakra aura appeared and flickered around Menma like flames, radiating a chilling pressure.

Immediately afterwards, this violent chakra, as if it had a life of its own, slowly spread along Menma's arm, touching and enveloping Kisame's body.

"!!!"

The moment the chakra touched his body, Kisame trembled violently! This chakra... was vast, scorching, and filled with a beastly rage and destructive will; it was definitely not human!

This was a kind of pure pressure originating from an ancient ferocious beast that he had never experienced before!

The next moment, Kisame felt his vision spinning, and the surrounding cave scenery vanished like shattered glass. When he regained his composure, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar and eerie space.

All around was an endless, pitch-black void, with only a thick, cold, dark red liquid beneath their feet, flowing past their ankles and emanating an unsettling aura.

Kisame was unaware that his own mental world had been forcibly invaded. Just as he was filled with shock and uncertainty, that familiar crimson Charak once again gathered before him!

This time, chakra was no longer just an aura, but a frantic condensation and shaping! Finally, in that surging torrent of energy, an enormous, illusory nine-tailed fox made of pure chakra, with its vertical pupils, appeared before Kisame!

A tailed beast! And the Nine-Tails, the most powerful of the nine tailed beasts!

At that moment, all the clues connected, and Kisame finally got the answer he had been searching for. So that's how it is!

No wonder the leader of the [Jin] organization could wield such legendary ninjutsu and possess such revolutionary power! His true identity is...

When his consciousness was pulled back to reality, Kisame gasped for breath, only then realizing that his back was already soaked with cold sweat and his clothes clung coldly to his skin.

The raging chakra that seemed to scorch the soul had receded like a tide, leaving only a deep-seated sense of dread.

He didn't even have time to pay attention to the strange restlessness emanating from Samehada on his back, which was both exciting and tinged with fear. All his attention was fixed on the man in front of him who was still wearing the fox mask.

After a brief silence, Kisame let out a low, then gradually louder laugh.

"Heh heh heh... Heh heh... So that's how it is! So that's how it is!" His laughter was filled with shock and relief. "I understand everything now! It was you... This is truly... astonishing!"

Menma carefully observed Kisame's reaction. When he confirmed that the tiny shark's eyes held only the excitement of sudden realization, without the slightest disappointment or disdain, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that his worst fears had not materialized.

So... is this matter settled?

Sure enough, the next moment, Kisame stopped laughing, leaned forward slightly, and said decisively.

"Then... from this day forward, my life, Kisame Hoshigaki's life, belongs to you. To sever hypocrisy, for that world without falsehood... please let me join your organization!"

"Okay." Menma nodded. "Welcome to the team. Well then, let's leave here first. I'll give you a safe place to stay."

As he spoke, he reached out again, preparing to put his hand on Kisame's shoulder and use the Flying Thunder God Technique to leave the dark cave.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch Kisame, Kisame's voice, which suppressed immense excitement and had a certain "insight" into the truth, clearly entered his ears.

"Well then...nice to meet you!"

"The Fourth Hokage."

……what?