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66.05% Naruto: The Avenger of the Uzumaki clan / Chapter 72: Smart choice

Chương 72: Smart choice

---

Chakra natures are an innate trait every ninja is born with. While it's possible to learn new chakra natures through rigorous training, one's natural affinity will always be the strongest. For this reason, most shinobi stick to jutsu that align with their chakra nature.

Using techniques that don't match their affinity comes with drawbacks: they require significantly more chakra, and the resulting power is weaker. As a result, most shinobi focus on mastering jutsu tied to their nature, not only due to limited time but also because chakra is a precious resource, not to be wasted.

But Menma was different.

According to the chakra paper test Orochimaru had conducted, Menma possessed two chakra natures: Fire and Wind. However, thanks to his enormous reserves of chakra, bolstered by the Nine-Tails, Menma could ignore these typical limitations. For him, chakra consumption was almost irrelevant when it came to techniques below S-rank.

He could use any of the Five Basic Elements with ease, and if a technique's power was lacking, he could simply push more chakra into it to compensate.

Now, Menma stood before a massive dragon of pure lightning, its crackling form almost matching the strength of a Jounin-level Lightning Release technique. Under his command, the beast surged forward.

The lightning dragon slammed into the towering structure ahead.

"ZZZZT-CRACK!"

A deafening roar of thunder echoed across the battlefield as the fortress trembled violently. The castle seemed to screech in pain before, with a final, anguished groan, it collapsed into rubble. Dust filled the air, and from the wreckage, a thick mist began to spread.

Boom!

From the debris emerged a massive, dark green lizard, easily over a hundred meters long. Its blood-red eyes glowed in the dim light, and its scales gleamed ominously. Chakra radiated off its body, and the pressure of its presence washed over Menma and Karin.

"!?"

Menma's eyes widened briefly, then a grin tugged at his lips. The sheer power radiating from the beast was exhilarating. This was the legendary Kuroishi Lizard, a summon of incredible strength.

The more powerful the creature, the more determined Menma became to tame it.

"Humans! All invading humans must be destroyed!"

The Kuroishi Lizard's blood-red gaze fixated on Menma, and its killing intent spiked. The ground trembled beneath its colossal weight as it charged, its speed surprising for something of its size. The air around it crackled with energy.

For decades, this beast had been the guardian of Shouzaki Castle, bound by its master's last command: kill all who dared set foot here.

And now, Menma was its prey.

"Well, this got interesting," Menma muttered, watching the approaching lizard. The sheer scale of its chakra was almost at a Kage level.

Rather than fear, Menma felt excitement. A challenge like this was exactly what he wanted.

With a sharp clap of his hands, Menma released a burst of chakra.

Boom!

A wave of energy surged from him as he dodged the lizard's charge, his figure blurring into motion. Leaping high into the air, he formed hand seals mid-flight.

"Ninpō: Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

(Ninja Art: Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!)

A handful of shuriken multiplied into hundreds, filling the sky with a rain of steel aimed at the lizard.

"OORAAAAAH!"

The Kuroishi Lizard slammed its forelimbs into the ground, causing massive slabs of rock to rise up in defense. The earthen wall blocked most of the shuriken, though a few pierced through.

With surprising agility, the massive lizard moved to avoid the remaining projectiles. It then lashed its enormous tail through the air, the sound of it cutting through the wind like a whip, aimed directly at Menma.

Whoosh!

The attack came faster than expected, and Menma barely had time to react.

Bang!

The lizard's tail connected, sending Menma crashing to the ground with the force of a falling meteor.

"Menma!" Karin yelled, panic in her voice.

He hit the earth hard, creating a crater where he landed, debris and dust filling the air. But in seconds, Menma emerged from the dust cloud, largely unharmed, save for his slightly disheveled appearance.

"I'm fine!" Menma called back, brushing off the dirt. He turned his attention back to the towering lizard, a grin forming on his lips.

'This beast... it's still beyond my current abilities.'

Despite how far he had come since his academy days, and how many jutsu he had mastered, Menma knew creatures like the Kuroishi Lizard were in a league of their own. He was on par with most Jounin, but this monster was a completely different challenge.

Boom!

A new wave of chakra erupted from Menma, but this time it was darker, colder, and far more menacing. The air hummed with red, malevolent energy as Kurama's chakra flared, bathing the battlefield in its oppressive presence.

The Kuroishi Lizard halted. Even a beast of its size could feel the crushing weight of the Nine-Tails' power.

Menma's eyes glowed red, pupils slitted from Kurama's influence. His smirk widened as tension gripped the battlefield.

"Now then... let's see how you handle this."

---

But this was only a brief pause.

The lizard's violent nature and its summoner's obsessive command made it reckless.

"RAH!"

The Kuroishi Lizard, fueled by primal rage, charged forward without fear, completely undeterred by the growing threat before it.

"Heh."

Menma smirked, his eyes narrowing with cold calculation. He stood firm, not flinching, fully prepared to face the beast head-on.

BANG!

The impact was violent.

Menma absorbed the tremendous force, but the Kuroishi Lizard staggered, as if it had collided with an immovable object. The creature's blood-red eyes widened, its massive form hesitating in confusion. For the first time, doubt flickered in its feral gaze.

Menma wasted no time.

With both hands, he grabbed the lizard's gigantic head.

"HAH!"

A surge of chakra enveloped his body, and with a burst of raw power, Menma swung the monstrous lizard overhead as if it weighed nothing.

WHOOSH!

The air rippled with the sound of the lizard's massive body being hurled through the sky.

BOOM!

The earth shook as the Kuroishi Lizard crashed down, creating a massive crater in the ground.

"Lightning Release: Pseudo-Darkness!"

Menma formed the necessary hand seals and unleashed the technique. A thick, concentrated arc of lightning shot forward, traveling at blinding speed toward the lizard's exposed body.

ZZZZZT!

The lightning struck with precision, coursing through the creature's body. The Kuroishi Lizard let out a thunderous roar, its massive form trembling under the intense pain. Yet, despite the powerful attack, it remained standing, its blood-red eyes growing more furious.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the lizard quaked.

CRACK!

The earth split as enormous chunks of rock rose into the air, manipulated by the lizard's chakra. With a violent thrust, it hurled the boulders toward Menma.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

"Bastard…" Menma muttered under his breath, dodging the incoming projectiles with fluid grace. Despite the lizard's injuries, it showed no sign of giving up. Its raw toughness and will to fight were beyond expectations.

But Menma's eyes gleamed with determination.

His right hand began to glow, chakra swirling and compressing within his palm. The familiar shape of a Rasengan began to form, but this time it was different. The swirling blue chakra mixed with a dark red hue—Kurama's chakra—turning the technique a deep, menacing purple.

The newly enhanced Rasengan pulsated with dark power.

BOOM!

Menma dashed upward with blinding speed, positioning himself directly above the Kuroishi Lizard.

The lizard sensed the danger, desperately lifting more boulders to shield itself, but it was too late.

"Rasengan!" Menma whispered, his voice calm yet commanding.

BOOM!

The Rasengan tore through the boulders like paper, slamming into the lizard's tough hide.

BANG!

The force of the impact sent the massive creature flying through the air once again, its body crashing into the distant trees, tearing the landscape apart.

CRASH!

The Kuroishi Lizard groaned, its once mighty aura significantly weakened. Its scaly defenses had been shattered, and its body quivered from the immense damage inflicted by Menma's enhanced Rasengan.

As the dust settled, Menma descended back to the ground, withdrawing Kurama's chakra. His eyes remained sharp, watching the fallen beast intently.

The lizard, though severely wounded, struggled to lift itself once more. Its forelimbs shook violently, unable to support its weight. The once-fearsome creature was now on the verge of collapse.

Menma hesitated, a rare flash of regret crossing his face. He hadn't meant to cause this much damage. He remembered that even a standard Rasengan had nearly killed Kabuto Yakushi, a renowned medical-nin. But this Rasengan, infused with the Nine-Tails' chakra, was far more potent, approaching S-rank in its destructive power.

"Well?" Menma called out, his voice cold but authoritative. "Are you done? Or do you need more proof? I can keep going if you're still not convinced."

The Kuroishi Lizard's bloodshot eyes glared at him, its defiance still present. But the creature's body, now broken and battered, could no longer obey its will.

Menma sighed, lifting his hand as the dark Rasengan began to form once again. The swirling sphere of chakra crackled with Kurama's malevolent energy, casting a red glow over the battlefield.

The lizard visibly shuddered. It understood now.

After a brief moment of tense silence, the Kuroishi Lizard closed its eyes and lay still, its defiant spirit finally yielding. It had accepted its defeat.

Menma's eyes softened. With a flick of his wrist, he dispelled the Rasengan, letting the chakra dissipate harmlessly into the air.

"Smart choice," he muttered, turning his back on the now subdued Kuroishi Lizard.

----------------------------------------

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Chương 73: Conclusion of the Contract

---

Of course, Menma didn't want to worsen the situation further. He was here to tame the Kuroishi Lizard, not defeat or kill it.

He reminded himself, the balance of heaven and earth must be maintained.

Initially, Menma had planned to subdue the Kuroishi Lizard by force, showcasing his strength right away. But now, he realized how rash that approach had been. His lack of experience had led him astray.

I shouldn't have used the Rasengan earlier.

Now, he needed to tread carefully. Using just enough force—perhaps a mix of taijutsu and a controlled amount of Nine-Tails' chakra—might work better than unleashing more destructive jutsu.

Time for a more direct approach.

The Kuroishi Lizard, however, remained fiercely loyal to its previous master, Shouzaki Gosaku, and showed clear hostility toward any intruder. Menma's earlier attack had worsened the situation. The chances of forming a contract now seemed slim.

He sighed, looking up at the towering creature. "I went too far earlier. I apologize, Kuroishi Lizard. I didn't come here with bad intentions. I want to form a contract with you—so we can fight together," Menma said, taking a deep breath.

Menma knew how absurd this might sound after he'd just attacked it. But what choice did he have? The lizard had ignored his peaceful approach before, forcing him to use force. Unfortunately, Menma had underestimated the effect of his Rasengan, his first mistake.

The lizard ignored him, its eyes staring past him, indifferent. Although it knew it couldn't defeat Menma, it wasn't about to submit.

Menma's attempt to heal it with the Mystical Palm Technique, a basic healing jutsu, hadn't helped. The lizard resisted, unwilling to accept help from someone who threatened its bond with Shouzaki Gosaku. Trying to reason with the lizard felt like talking to a stone wall.

Menma scratched his head, frustration building. Still, he admired the creature's loyalty. Who wouldn't want a partner that steadfast? It reminded him of the bonds between Orochimaru and Manda, or Jiraiya and Gamabunta.

Manda was powerful, but loyalty was never part of the deal—often threatening to abandon Orochimaru. Gamabunta, though gruff, would fight to the death alongside Jiraiya.

That was the kind of bond Menma wanted.

"I know you're loyal to Shouzaki Gosaku," Menma continued, his tone softening. "But his time has passed. You've done your duty. There's no need for you to stay here, alone, any longer. Fight with me, Kuroishi Lizard. I can give you the purpose you once had. Do you really want to remain in this desolate place forever?"

He paused, hoping his words would resonate. This lizard was no mindless beast; it was a creature of intelligence, bound by loyalty and pride. Surely, decades of isolation hadn't dulled its spirit entirely.

For a brief moment, he saw a flicker in the lizard's eyes. But it vanished, leaving the silence even heavier. The bond with Shouzaki Gosaku ran too deep; Menma's words alone weren't enough to break it. The lizard had waited here, bound by the final command it had received long ago.

Just as he was about to abandon the effort, a bold idea struck him.

"If you agree to form a contract with me," Menma said, his voice resolute, "I promise to avenge the destruction of the Land of Swamps. I will bring justice to those who destroyed your homeland. And I will seek out the descendants of Shouzaki Gosaku, to protect them and offer them aid. Would that be enough for you, Kuroishi Lizard?"

If the lizard's loyalty lay with Shouzaki Gosaku, then Menma would appeal directly to that bond.

If this offer didn't work, Menma would have no choice but to walk away. He didn't want to kill the creature, nor did he hold any grudge against it.

Even if Menma failed today, it didn't mean he wouldn't have another chance in the future. If things didn't go his way, Menma would simply turn around and leave.

But now, it was clear that his words had struck a nerve. The lizard had been swayed, if only a little. Just as he had anticipated, Shouzaki Gosaku held an irreplaceable place in the lizard's heart.

In any other situation, the Kuroishi Lizard wouldn't have given him a second glance. But when it came to Shouzaki Gosaku and the fallen Land of Swamps, this beast couldn't stay indifferent.

For the first time, the Kuroishi Lizard turned around, its massive eyes locking onto Menma.

Menma's heart surged with excitement, though he kept his composure, meeting its gaze with a steady, calm expression.

He wasn't trying to deceive the Kuroishi Lizard. If a promise could earn him the loyalty of such a powerful summoning beast, it was worth it.

"Human... are you serious?"

After a long silence, the Kuroishi Lizard finally spoke, its deep voice rumbling as hot air billowed from its nostrils.

"Of course. I swear it on my honor. I will avenge the "Land of Swamps and do everything I can to find the descendants of Shouzaki Gosaku!"

Menma straightened up, his voice loud and clear as he met the lizard's gaze with unshakable resolve.

The Kuroishi Lizard could sense Menma's sincerity. His words struck a chord, and after a long, searching gaze, the lizard gave a slow, approving nod.

"Human, remember what you have promised today."

With that, the Kuroishi Lizard opened its mouth, spitting out a scroll roughly half the size of Menma, slick with thick mucus.

Menma grinned, unbothered by the slime. He unrolled the scroll and, after examining the markings, recognized Shouzaki Gosaku's signature. Swiftly, he bit his finger, drew blood, and signed his name.

The moment the contract was completed, Menma felt an almost tangible shift in the air—a powerful connection had formed between him and the Kuroishi Lizard.

Menma blinked, a thought crossing his mind. "Wait… are you part of a tribe?"

The Kuroishi Lizard, now officially his summon, lowered its head slightly and replied with respect. "Yes, Master. Our Rock Wild Lizard Clan may not be as renowned as the three great summoning realms, but we are a tribe. We number in the dozens, though many are still young or in deep slumber. I am the eldest of the tribe, and my name is Urushi."

Menma's eyes widened with surprise and delight. An entire tribe of summoning beasts? He could hardly believe his luck—the possibilities in battle were endless.

"Urushi, you don't need to call me 'master.' We're comrades, fighting side by side. Just call me Menma. And don't worry—I'll do everything in my power to fulfill my promise."

Though the traditional ninja beast clans valued hierarchy, Urushi paused and nodded. "If that is your wish, then I shall address you as Master Menma."

Menma smiled. The title was a small compromise he could accept; it felt less rigid than "master."

"Yeah, that works."

With the contract sealed, Menma activated the Mystical Palm Technique and began treating Urushi's injuries. Though his healing was basic, it was enough to help Urushi start recovering.

"Release!" Menma formed the seals to dispel the summoning jutsu, allowing Urushi to return to his realm for proper rest.

Urushi's injuries from their earlier battle were no small matter, and Menma knew he wouldn't summon him again until he had fully recovered. As for the other lizards in Urushi's tribe... Menma would take his time getting to know them.

I've really found something special here, Menma thought, a smile spreading across his face.

In the distance, Karin leaped toward him, her expression lighting up as she noticed his satisfied grin.

"Menma! Did everything go well? Are we heading back now?" she asked, with a hint of reluctance.

Menma, realizing what she was hinting at, chuckled. Orochimaru's lair was an unsettling place, and it was no wonder Karin preferred not to return.

Still, they couldn't avoid it. While Menma had his own plans to eventually break free and form his own group, the time wasn't right. He still needed to build his strength and gather resources, and Orochimaru's hideout remained his temporary base of operations.

"Yes, we will go back… but not yet." Menma grinned. "We made it here faster than expected, so there's one more thing I'd like to handle before we return."

Karin's face brightened with joy. The thought of spending more time with Menma—and avoiding Orochimaru's eerie presence a little longer—brought her a happiness she couldn't quite express.

"Alright! Let's get going, then!" she said, her eyes shining.

As long as she was with Menma, Karin felt like she could face anything. Even if it meant postponing their return to that cold, dark place.

----------------------------------------

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