Naruto Uzumaki's voice echoed in the mindscape. "I am the personality that bears these painful memories in your place. Do you understand now?"
Because of those emotions and memories, Menma's tone was as chilling as a cold wind, sending a shiver down Naruto's spine. Naruto had seen this look from Menma far too many times. His expression darkened, and he gasped for breath.
"I... I understand," Naruto stammered. "And, I'm so sorry, I..."
He had long sensed something bearing those memories and emotions for him. Therefore, Naruto quickly accepted the fact that he had another personality. After accepting it, a wave of guilt and remorse washed over his face.
"I won't let you bear this alone anymore," Naruto insisted, his voice trembling. "I'll share your pain, I'll help you..."
"How do you plan to help?" Menma interrupted with a cold laugh. "Let me become the primary personality, and you become the dark personality to bear this?"
Hearing Menma's question, Naruto fell silent. Based on the memories Menma had just transmitted, it was indeed necessary for a separate personality to bear those painful memories. The thought of enduring the torment of those dark, abyssal memories day and night was unbearable. Naruto hesitated.
Furthermore, Naruto didn't dare entrust his body to Menma. He could feel the resentment and anger from those memories—the desire to destroy everything. Although he had experienced these emotions before, thinking about it made Naruto even more silent and remorseful. If he hadn't had these emotions, perhaps the second personality within him wouldn't have had such destructive thoughts.
Maybe I could temporarily lend my body to the second personality every now and then?
But could I get it back after giving it away? Would I be tormented by those memories during the time I was away?
Naruto's feelings were extremely conflicted and complex. He was also filled with mixed emotions about the suddenly appearing personality, unsure how to handle it.
Menma sensed Naruto's current thoughts exceptionally clearly. He was also very satisfied with Naruto's guilt. He had the system's help, able to restrict his own access, but Naruto didn't! So things were much easier now.
He needed to explain and dispel Naruto's worries one by one, gaining initial trust. Then he would find a way to raise Naruto's Trust Level to 10%, enough for them to talk at any time.
Thinking this, Menma's icy tone softened slightly.
"Naruto, I have no intention of fighting you for this body," Menma said calmly. "Do you remember what I said before? I am you, and you are me. We are opposites of the same thing, a community of shared interests. Our mutual distrust and internal strife will only cause this body suffering. Cooperation that makes this body better is a win-win situation, and I'll suffer less."
Menma continued, his voice reasonable. "Besides, you are the primary personality. Even if I temporarily take control of the body, you can take it back at any time. And the main reason I was born was to bear those memories and emotions."
Every word Menma spoke was undeniably true. However, he didn't finish his story; he left much unsaid. He genuinely had no intention of seizing control of the body right now. He only wanted to cooperate with Naruto to gain his trust and reliance; any attempt to take it over would be later.
Furthermore, the primary personality does indeed possess the greatest control over the body when Trust Level is low. Even if emotions run rampant, control can be reclaimed at any time.
The reason for his eventual birth was even simpler. He had forcibly guided Naruto onto the path of the chosen one using Asura's chakra. Those forcibly suppressed emotions and memories naturally gave rise to a new consciousness. Menma, occupying this new consciousness, was, of course, the consciousness itself.
While speaking, Menma also granted some privileges. Therefore, Naruto, like Menma, could clearly sense whether what he said was true or false.
Instantly, the gloom and unease on Naruto's face vanished, replaced by joy and excitement.
"Oh, I see! Then we're friends from now on!" Naruto cheered. "I'll secretly let you out to play from now on, as long as you don't hurt anyone!"
As Naruto said this, the system sent a message.
[Trust Level: 21%]
"It's already at 21%?" Menma was somewhat surprised to see the system message. He also noticed that the mindscape, which had been slowly darkening and sinking, had regained its brightness. The faint, terrifying pressure had also dissipated by half.
[Note: Initial trust is easy to acquire but also artificially high, and it's easy to drop back. For example, if the host does something that doesn't suit the primary personality, it might drop to 0% in the next second. Furthermore, the host needs not only trust but also the primary personality's dependence. If you only have trust and want to accumulate it to 100%, it will be a long and likely impossible process.]
Menma understood the system's meaning immediately. It meant that this trust was easiest to increase at the beginning, but easy to drop. And you can't focus on just one point; you have to grasp both. It's difficult to accumulate 100% trust and dependence on a single entity, but it's easy to do two together.
"What? 21%? Naruto Second, what are you talking about?" Naruto asked aloud.
Although Menma's exclamation wasn't loud, Naruto heard it quite clearly. That was a voice inside his head!
"I've been calculating things that are beneficial to us, and it's reached 21%," Menma replied mentally. "Also, don't call me Naruto Second. I just changed my name to Menma Uzumaki."
Menma originally didn't intend to interfere with this initial plot. However, when it comes to trust and dependence, the fewer external factors, the better. So he needed to find a way to squeeze Iruka out.
"As illusory as the wind?" Naruto nodded with a mature air that didn't quite fit him. "As expected of my other self, so cultured and smart!"
After praising him, he immediately turned to ask about the 21%. "Something that would be to our advantage? Menma, do you have a way to make me Hokage, or at least make everyone in the village like me?"
This was the most advantageous thing Naruto could think of.
Menma: "..."
"You really think highly of me. I don't have that ability!" Menma retorted mentally.
[Trust Level: 11%]
"The beneficial thing I mentioned is helping you pass the Ninja Academy's graduation exam," Menma stated, getting to the point. "The exam tests the Three Body Technique. Do you think you can pass and become a genin?"
[Trust Level: 30%]
"Help me pass the graduation exam!?" Naruto outside jumped for joy. If Menma hadn't mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten about it. You see, he'd repeated two years! Now he's in the same grade as Sasuke Uchiha, who entered the academy two years later.
"Of course I can," Menma's voice was full of confidence. He was joking; he was a transmigrator who knew the plot's direction. "First, find the cleaning tools to clean the Hokage Rock. I'll explain the details to you on the way."
Judging by the time, Iruka should be arriving soon.
"Okay, I'll go find it right away!" Naruto didn't care about cleaning. His only thought was how to pass the exam and become a glorious genin