"Oh? If you have questions, Suien-san, feel free to ask."
Menma wasn't surprised by Suien's sudden interrogation. He looked at him calmly, waiting for the question with an air of composure.
"You just said this was an order from your country's Daimyo. So, why wasn't this mission given directly to the Hidden Leaf? As the largest ninja village in the world, Konoha's manpower and intelligence-gathering capabilities far exceed ours. Logically speaking, the Leaf could execute a mission like this much easier than we could. Why didn't your Daimyo go to them?"
Suien leaned forward slightly, his posture aggressive, his voice low and pressing—like an interrogator.
This was an expected development.
The Leaf and the Land of Fire.
The Stone and the Land of Earth.
The Cloud and the Land of Lightning.
The Mist and the Land of Water.
The Sand and the Land of Wind.
To the outside world, the Five Great Nations and their respective Hidden Villages were inseparable. Every year, the villages received massive funding and resources from their nations. In return, everyone from high-ranking officials to commoners generally only issued missions to their own country's village.
It was a system of bound interests.
It was the accepted norm.
Sure, ordinary people or traveling merchants might hire foreign ninjas, but a mission from a high-ranking government official going to a foreign village? That was almost unheard of.
It was a fundamental breach of protocol.
It was the kind of move that could strain the relationship between a nation and its village.
Suien had every reason to be suspicious.
"Heh, so that's what you're worried about. Since when does a client need to explain their choices to the mercenaries? Or are you saying the Hidden Waterfall doesn't want this job? That's fine. We can easily go to another village. It doesn't have to be you. I hope you understand that, Suien-san."
Understanding the question was one thing.
Answering it was another.
At the very least, Menma needed to keep the upper hand in the negotiation.
He deliberately let his demeanor turn cold and let out a soft huff of displeasure.
Never mind the young Shibuki; even Suien's expression changed. He wanted to seize control of the village, sure, but he couldn't afford to screw up on critical issues. Since he had already verified Menma's identity (or so he thought), he naturally didn't want to offend him.
This wasn't just a big client; this was about securing a future slice of the mission market from a major nation.
However, that was exactly why Suien felt the need to dig deeper. Anything involving the Hidden Leaf was never a small matter.
It sounded contradictory, but that was the reality.
"Please don't misunderstand, Mr. Ippou. Suien-san was merely curious. Suien! Apologize for your rudeness!"
Shibuki, seated at the head, quickly apologized to Menma before turning a rare, stern look on Suien.
"Ah, yes. My apologies. Please forgive me, Mr. Ippou."
Suien took a deep breath, bowing his head slightly in apology.
"However, since this does involve the Hidden Leaf, could you perhaps give us a hint? Otherwise, it puts the Hidden Waterfall in a difficult position."
Shibuki might have been inexperienced and soft-hearted, but he wasn't an idiot. A complete fool couldn't become a village leader. This decision affected over a thousand ninjas; it wasn't a game.
He just hadn't reacted quickly enough at first.
After Suien spoke up, Shibuki realized the gravity of the situation. After apologizing, he reopened the topic, looking at Menma with a serious expression.
Menma was prepared for this. On the surface, he frowned deliberately, sweeping an unhappy gaze over both of them before slowly nodding.
"Fine. Since you insist, Lord Leader, I'll say a little more. The Prince... does not wish for the Hidden Leaf to know about this matter. Do you understand now?"
The Daimyo and the Kage.
The Nation and the Village.
The relationship between them was incredibly complex.
As high-ranking ninjas, Shibuki and Suien understood this well. Ninja villages were only nominally subservient to the nation and the Daimyo.
In reality? Everyone knew the score.
Especially between the Land of Fire and the Hidden Leaf.
The incident where the Guardian Twelve Ninja—the Daimyo's personal guard—turned on each other was supposed to be secret, but rumors had leaked. The Hidden Waterfall had heard the whispers.
Menma's explanation was vague.
But with just that one sentence, they thought they understood everything.
The two exchanged glances.
Shibuki frowned in thought for a moment before speaking. "I see. If you put it that way, I understand. However... may I ask for a moment to consider it?"
"Take your time. But I must remind you, Lord Leader... now that you know a little more than you did before, I expect a satisfactory answer. You understand what I mean, right?"
At that moment, Menma dropped his polite facade, radiating an aggressive, pressing aura.
Shibuki took it in stride, but Suien's brow furrowed deeply.
Yet, the tougher Menma acted, the less Shibuki and Suien suspected him.
"Yes, I understand."
Shibuki gave Menma a deep look before turning and walking toward a small door at the back of the reception hall.
Suien stood up and followed him.
Menma acted like he couldn't care less, picking up his teacup and taking another sip.
Karin, who had been silent from the start, glanced at Menma. She looked like she wanted to say something but remembered his warning and kept her poker face.
Less than ten minutes later, Shibuki and Suien returned to the hall.
One looked calm; the other looked a bit grim.
As Menma shifted his gaze to them, Shibuki let out a soft breath and nodded.
"The Hidden Waterfall accepts this mission. We guarantee to fulfill the Prince's request in the shortest time possible."
"Excellent. I knew you would bring me good news, Lord Leader. And... you are clear on the confidentiality of this mission?" Menma smiled.
"Yes, naturally. Please rest assured, Mr. Ippou. And please inform the Daimyo and the Minister that the Hidden Waterfall will not disappoint them."
Shibuki said with a serious face.
"Good. Here is the agreed-upon deposit. We will send someone periodically to make contact. Even if you find something, do not contact us on your own initiative. The reason... should be obvious to you, Lord Leader."
"Understood!"