Crane's eyebrows raise in morbid curiosity, contemplating the significance of Jimi's phraseology. A gradual yet appalling rivulet of revelations further inundates the Medical-nin with grief. However, the general methodology of Jim's machinations eludes the dying shinobi. Aware subsequent elucidation will bestow further turmoil upon what remains of his decaying humanity; distress compels him to inquire into Menma's undoing. "Pray, tell. What manner of transgression has befallen my late nephew?"

"It was a means to an end, and we're both aware of how ends justify a means." Jim smothers the cigarette stub beneath his boot, "I assure you, comrade Namikaze was a victim of circumstance and not the initial objective."

The shinobi's eyes narrow, "victim of circumstance?"

"The Sovereign Colonies used commando units for skirmishes and raids against the Land of Fire as a diversion. Their primary target was the Namikaze compound. According to our Intel, the Namikaze were a clan of merchants; however, they had ties with the Uzumaki royal family and were proficient in fūinjutsu. Most were too hazardous to apprehend, so the Contras resorted to chemical and biological warfare to subdue the clan. The few survivors were lucky enough to be on missions or trading abroad that night!"

Crane sighs, recalling a petty dispute being the cause of Menma storming off in anger, 'so he never returned from his departure that night.' The shinobi realizes working overtime at the Hidden Leaf's medical research facility saved him from a similar fate.

"There were other—more promising test subjects, but my platoon was short on time. We knew the survivors would seek refuge within the Hidden Leaf Village and took advantage of this."

Crane grits his broken teeth, "So murdering my sister and brother-in-law wasn't enough!? Did wiping out most of the Namikaze clan and razing the compound serve any purpose, or are you just that petty and vindictive? Have you the slightest inkling of psychological harm you've caused my nephew!? I always knew that Menma wasn't the same once I adopted him. I could see it in his eyes; they were empty, devoid of life or cheerfulness. Doll-like almost! He became reclusive and maniacal—much like…"

"As indicated, Menma Namikaze has been dead longer than you realize, Dr. Kuriarare," Jim says with a predatory, inhuman gaze. "I was an intelligence operative tasked with infiltrating the Konoha Cryptanalysis Team; furthermore, Menma acquired an entry-level position following his internship. Isolation and vulnerability were the contributing factors that sealed Menma's fate."

Uneasy of the awful truth developing within the gloomy confines of his broken mind, Crane struggles to keep his voice from cracking. He proceeds with his inquiry to verify the horrendous theory behind Jim's rationale to confirm a means, "It's atypical of you to make a move nor reveal anything without a purpose. I'll ask one last time, Malkhaz. What manner of transgression has befallen my late nephew?"

"You deserve to know the truth at least, although, on account of my—alleged demise, it's plausible the data I've acquired is obsolete or declassified at best." Jim whisks the blood dripping from Raven's sword before wiping it on the cloth between his forearm and bicep, 'It's not like you'll live to tell anyone, regardless.' Jim's eyes widen, almost gasping at the weapon's familiarity as he whirls, then sheaths the blade, 'T-this is—my old.' Nevertheless, he perishes the alarming thought, refocusing on his final task. "The simplest explanation of what happened to Menma is an amalgamation of ancient techniques that I had stolen from the Sealing Sages before defecting to the colonies."

"Sealing Sages? Care to elaborate? I'm barely familiar with the ranking structure you unholy GMOs employ."

"They were a loyalist battalion of genetically engineered super soldiers proficient in sealing and Sage Jutsu."

"By chance, are you referring to those responsible for butchering the Hidden Cloud and Bloody Mist's forces in the Land of Whirlpools, then causing a ghoul infestation on the island?"

Jim nods, "More precisely, it was a subdivision led by my older sister known as the Skin-walkers. However, the conflict's outcome was of no consequence to them. They consumed every shinobi, civilian, or living being unfortunate to cross their path regardless of affiliation." He sighs, maintaining a vigilant eye upon the shinobi, "I was there; I fought during the War of Whirling Tides."

"Some rather incriminating information came of that incident implicating you in various war crimes. You realize Hashirama hasn't forgotten what happened to Mito and the Uzumaki royal family, right?" Crane chuckles, "Nobody I know wants you dead more than he does."

Jim rolls his eyes, "And I've got two balls for that tree humpin' hippy's chin!"

Crane raises a curious eyebrow at Jim, "…anyway—the survivors mentioned those things were after you, Nazeem, and Cicero. Why? What was the point of a systematic mass slaughter of an entire amphibious joint strike force if the conflict's outcome had no consequence to them?"

"As my sister oh so gracefully put it, they were starving since transit and required sustenance," Crane shudders, recalling the autopsy documents, photographs, and eyewitness reports from the Anbu Black Ops, "Even at my prime, I didn't stand a chance against her; it took everything I had to retreat, and even then it cost me my lower right arm. I had no choice but to amputate the limb to prevent the infection from spreading across the rest of my body or eventually succumb to Wendigo Psychosis." Jim lifts his sleeve, revealing the prosthetic limb.

Crane recognizes the symbol on Jim's prosthetic, 'That's the symbol of the Red Sands Contras; figures someone like him would be in league with those terrorists.'

"Apropos to the rationale behind their pursuit of us is the initial reasoning we fled our homeland—"

"Your capture and subjugation to the Day-breaker Initiative, right?"

Jim's head tilts in curiosity, "Then you're aware of what happens to those unfortunate enough to undergo this process."

"The ASF has been sending Anbu to this theatre of war for years in preparation for a full-scale invasion. Intel regarding inhumane biological experiments began leaking back to headquarters despite the infiltration team's disappearance."

"You're welcome."

Crane sighs, "We feared the SSR had developed a weapon capable of surpassing the tailed beast's power. Our priority was to seize advanced weapons and technology after securing a beachhead, then capture as many scientists, engineers, or anyone with bloodline limits as possible. Furthermore, what we found in those research facilities during the initial assault was far worse than imagined."

"Tch," Jim scoffs, concealing subtle hand seal gestures to exploit Crane's weakening mental state with genjutsu. 'So—the Great Shinobi Nations are ramping up their eugenics programs.'

"Though exiguous, the data salvaged was horrific, to say the least, and classified as S-rank top secret. The Marine Contras were rigorous in destroying whatever the Syndicate of Socialist Republics were up to in those labs."

"After storming the blood factories, we executed everyone responsible and ensured the Syndicate's research and experiments were irreplicable," Jim leans against a ruined pillar crossing his arms. "Essentially, the Day-breaker Initiative was a socialist conspiracy to genetically engineer their most elite units willingly or unwillingly into soulless killing machines subservient to a hive mind of some sort."

"And those supporting the Initiative, specifically your elder sister, felt it would remove insubordination from their ranks. While those in opposition knew it robbed them of their humanity, abolishing all free will. You'd have been a petty vassal to this—hive mind after being mutilated via invasive surgery and then further disfigured by injecting a whole cocktail of mutagens into your body. Yes, tell me, Malkhaz. How does it feel to become the very thing you despise!?"

Jim sighs, "The irony isn't at all lost on me. Though I could never break the Hidden Leaf's Will of Fire, I liberated my people from the socialists, but at what cost? The rebellion succeeded, yet it was a pyrrhic victory at best—all those lives and years of planning for nothing. I took a gamble and came up short, but life is about compromises. We can't always have what we want exactly the way we want it. Unfortunately, we don't live in a manga where the good guy always wins, nor are there any heroes who always save the day at the last minute. No one truly gets what they want in the end, and if one does, it'll be because they did something reprehensible to acquire it. Sometimes, wants and needs are mutually exclusive; thus, perceiving the cost/benefit analysis is imperative to determine whether one's desires are worthwhile. Or get what you deserve in a twisted way. As you proclaim, Dr. Kuriarare, you either die a hero or become the very thing you despise."

Crane counters Jim's Interrogation-Genjutsu with Regressive Hypnosis. Nevertheless, the outcome is ambiguous, resulting in him divulging minor details of what the Medical-nin already knows. Moreover, replies to direct questions diverge into extraneous subjects with analogous commonalities. Crane concludes that reverse inquiry proves ineffectual or may even backfire if it isn't already, given the Marine Contra's brief synopsis of covert operations within the KCT (Konoha Cryptanalysis Team). Further scrutiny inside the confines of Jim's subconsciousness reveals half-truths, alterations of traumatic experiences, and mental barriers masquerading as conduits to his psyche.

As Crane navigates the various pitfalls safeguarding Jim's rationale, he realizes the false memories identical to authentic occurrences intertwine with subtle layers of genjutsu. Therefore, hijacking an interrogator's mind before implanting thoughts or suggestions without their knowledge, the alarming discovery raises the fine hairs on Crane's neck, compelling him to cease his 'Back To The Past Technique (Time Reversal/Jigyaku no Jutsu).'

'Unless… Malkhaz acquiesces to incursive genjutsu as a medium to acquire sensitive Intel?' Crane deduces, uncertain if his fruitless endeavor remains inconspicuous; regardless, the Marine Contra's soulless gaze leaves no indication. Crane's training at the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force enables him to maintain a primary defense against cerebral incursions and identify corresponding tactics against him. However, Jim uses a similar kinjutsu the Anbu Black Ops employ to extract information from a victim's mind. 'So they undergo interrogation to establish incognizant sleeper cells within our ranks through inception.'

Sensing what seems to be a dual consciousness in Jim's body perplexes the shinobi yet elicits further insight into an autonomous procedure that functions with semi-sentience.

Hence, Crane cannot bypass the security apparatus of interchangeable tesseracts or interface with the operating system constituting Jim's cognitive fortifications, "release!" the Medical-nin rasps. The air ripples like a stone hitting a still pond. Electromagnetic waves reverberate around Crane, generating subtle vibrations that melt the afflicting genjutsu shroud from existence, akin to a viscous sludge.

"As you proclaim, Dr. Kuriarare: you either die a hero or become the thing you despise."

'How long was I under?' Crane gasps as his visibility recovers, 'did he extract any information from me?' he wonders, struggling to retain consciousness, 'seconds felt like hours! Even if he had a dōjutsu, Malkhaz engineering countermeasures this intricate by himself would be absurd! Without a doubt, this MUST be the handiwork of the Land of Keys. Yes, I'm certain of it!' the shinobi doubts Jim comprehends or is even aware of the auxiliary mechanism synchronizing his two distinct minds to operate in conjunction—the former acts as a diversion. The latter can either sortie an intruder's brain with psychological incursions or render it into a permanent vegetative state.

"Then, if you're not disguised and truly aren't Menma. How did the Sovereign Colonies locate any Hidden Villages, let alone successfully infiltrate the KCT? Those Gaigen look nothing like natives of the Great Shinobi Nations. You especially would've stuck out like a sore thumb anywhere in the Land of Fire, round eyes!"

Jim's eyebrow raises. "Is that so?"

'Well, maybe not in the Land of Lightning, but that's a stretch even then.' Crane takes a drag of the cigarette resting in his mouth, "Any Sensor Type worth their salt would've spotted someone using a Transformation Jutsu. No matter how sophisticated it was."

"Hmm. Perchance a demonstration will elucidate a broader interpretation, then?" The Contra uncrosses his arms, "Think of this technique as a complex variant of Chakra Absorption that extracts, then seals the target's soul within a host. Analogous in almost every way to how one creates a jinchūriki but from a different approach. Thus, the user gains all knowledge and abilities of their victim." Jim chuckles. "You have no idea how fortunate we are that those damned socialists could not perfect this jutsu."

Jim speeds through dozens of foreign hand seals in a flash. Crane almost mistakes the sequential blowback as a stray bullet, soaring past his ear, "Corpse Clone Jutsu!" thunderclouds erupt into a radiant tempest encompassing the three stone towers; lightning ruptures the humid tropical skies. The fūinjutsu seal on the Contra's abdomen illuminates within his armor and fatigues; dense natural energy surges into Jim's body, levitating him off the ground as brilliant beams of blinding light flicker from his eyes and mouth.

The fabric of reality appears to whir and distort before tearing like an aluminum sheet. Within the small fissures, the petrifying axiom of the Immaterium engulfs Crane like the slithering tentacles of a Kraken. The boundless torrents of the Warp's madness manifest as a conscious membrane of chaotic psychic energy and raw emotion given physical form, a constant wailing nightmare of countless quivering silhouettes that the shinobi can all but describe as distinct translucent constructs of extradimensional beings from across time and space. The eternal sea of alien spirits crying out for their nonexistent deities to end their perpetual torment almost drives the shinobi insane.

The swirling vortex of corrupt senjutsu chakra ceases, condensing inside the seal on Jim's abdomen. Incorporeal orbs amass near his navel; Menma's soul materializes as a pale, gaunt corpse with piercing black voids for eyes and a mouth extending beyond natural proportions. The apparition screeches in agony as it stretches and contorts over Jim's body like cheap latex. Spherical waves of evil energy discharge in all directions. The expanding apertures of the Immaterium shatter like glass before the hordes of demonic beings can rush into the physical world.

The impious ritual is over in seconds. A dark figure stands before Crane within the incandescent haze, "I'm turning-Japanese-I-think I'm turning-Japanese-I-really THINK—SO!" The figure sways forward, dancing mockingly from the darkness as the interdimensional dust phases out of existence, "I'm turning-Japanese-I-think I'm turning-Japanese-I-really THINK—SO!" The shinobi's heart plummets into his stomach. A disturbing realization sucks the air from Crane's failing lungs, paralyzing him.

The Medical-nin stares in abhorrent disbelief, now comprehending the horrendous irony of the Contra's blasphemous covert conspiracy, 'I never truly imagined how deep the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces intelligence networks operated within the Hidden Villages.' Menma Namikaze, The Scarlet Terror, stands as youthful and vibrant as ever—a hideous transformation from psychotic depravity incarnate to the quiet, handsome teen of days gone. His long blond hair, braided into a ponytail, settles in the calming winds. Menma's bright, balmy blue eyes and fair, delicate skin appear as pristine as the day of his resignation from Anbu black ops despite the passage of time.

However, Crane scorns the unholy abomination as no more than a sick perversion of his nephew's memory. The inconsistencies are blatant; Menma should be much older and not possess the ruthless gaze of a drug lord and genocidal war criminal. "So this is how you fiendish Gaijen were able to locate and infiltrate the hidden villages!?" bound by an inconceivable and horrendous fate no more than a confined consciousness. An imprisoned spectator powerless to stop a parasitic usurper from acting on their own accord without sanction or decree of its host that Crane best delineates as 'a corrupt madman using my beloved nephew's body and soul as a Gigai.'

Jim dawning the Syndicate of Sovereign Republic's combat uniform defiles Menma's likeness with blatant treachery and villainous sentiment. Characteristics Crane knows his real nephew is incapable of, considering his indomitable Will of Fire, steadfast devotion, and loyalty to the Hidden Leaf. Though Jim is fluent in Japanese, he mocks the Medical-nin by speaking with a thick foreign accent using Menma's voice. "We never wanted any of this, nor was it supposed to happen; however, desire's irrelevant. I take no pleasure in what I must do. Still, I will do what I must to ensure humanity's survival by any means necessary.

I was much weaker after losing my lower arm," Jim says, pulling a cylindrical cartridge from a pouch on his waist. "I knew it would be an eventuality before the Skin-walkers tried abducting my comrades or me again. Rather than face my sister, we hid like scared children, taking the mission to avoid capture and subjection to the Day-breaker Initiative. Our past had finally caught up with us and forced my hand—no pun intended. Shinobi are regarded as heroes by their respective villages. Nevertheless, heroes must make sacrifices. Therefore, when asked for another, I hope you and Menma will understand; it was never personal."

Jim's head tilts in curiosity as Crane becomes feral, trying to tear his limbs free. "To save a family, abandon a man; to save the village, abandon a family; to save the country, abandon a village; to save the soul, abandon the Earth." After accruing enough chakra, he reloads the cylindrical cartridge into his pistol and aims.

The Marine Contra fires twice, severing the zombified Medical-nin's arms from the pillar before firing again. Teeth, brain matter, and skull fragments with clumps of hair fly everywhere as the upper half of the mutant shinobi's head explodes. The Red Zetsu's body plummets from the colossal stone tower into the darkness below. "A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic."