What everyone initially thought would be an earth-shattering coup d'état ultimately came to an end with such a hasty conclusion. For those Waterfall ninja who had chosen to remain neutral and watch from the sidelines, their hearts were feeling a bit uneasy.
Given that Shibuki had defeated Suien and Elder Satoru was still alive...
These Waterfall ninja were a little worried about facing a reckoning.
After all, their behavior just now could more or less be interpreted as having a hint of betrayal. Of course, in their own words, they couldn't be blamed. Who could have known that in such a situation, Shibuki would still manage to turn the tables?
I can only take it one step at a time...
These Waterfall ninja sighed secretly in their hearts, pondering silently.
But this was also a situation they had considered beforehand.
The reason they didn't act...
Was because they felt that even if Shibuki won in the end, there was a high probability that the law wouldn't punish the majority. Not to mention that Shibuki's personality was inherently gentle; they felt they could still land safely.
While these Waterfall ninja were lost in their various thoughts...
On the other side.
Shibuki, Menma, and Fu had already brought the half-dead Suien outside the house where Mizuno Satoru was recuperating.
At such a close distance...
Fu could clearly sense the familiar chakra fluctuations coming from inside. When the door was pushed open and she saw Mizuno Satoru's familiar, aged figure...
The last shred of doubt and worry in Fu's heart completely vanished in that moment.
But in the next second, seeing Mizuno Satoru's visibly withered and decaying face, and especially his breathing, which was as thin as a mosquito's thread, Fu's heart couldn't help but tremble.
She rushed over in two or three steps.
"Grandpa Satoru, it's me, it's Fu. I've come to see you."
Kneeling beside Mizuno Satoru's bed, Fu's eyes filled with tears as she called out softly with a look of deep concern.
"Oh? It's Fu. You silly girl, how could you be deceived by others so easily?"
Clearly sensing the arrival of Fu, Shibuki, Menma, and the others...
Mizuno Satoru slowly opened his eyes and forced a smile onto his face. Unlike the earlier terminal lucidity where he appeared quite normal, even seemingly recovered, in this moment, the aura of death emanating from Mizuno Satoru was palpable.
You didn't need to be a particularly skilled sensory or medical ninja.
Any normal person could see that Mizuno Satoru had reached the end of his life.
This last breath was being held solely by his formidable willpower.
Just to see Fu, Shibuki, and the others one last time.
And to clean up the final loose ends.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have trusted that bastard Suien so easily. Grandpa Satoru, I disturbed your rest. Please rest well. Let Uncle Furuki take good care of you. You will definitely recover. You still have to come see the results of my training then."
Fu's voice was clearly trembling.
In this moment, Fu felt endless panic and sorrow.
Even when Suien had told her all those conspiracies about Shibuki earlier, the version Fu heard and understood was that Shibuki had been bewitched by outsiders and Elder Satoru had been imprisoned. She just needed to help Suien knock some sense into Shibuki and rescue Elder Satoru.
But now, it turned out that Suien was the one colluding with outsiders to deceive her, not Shibuki.
But more importantly, Mizuno Satoru wasn't imprisoned; he had truly reached the end of the road.
This weak appearance, as if he would pass away at any moment...
Fu was scared, truly scared.
"Silly girl, everyone dies eventually. Grandpa is nearly 70. For a ninja, that's a long life. You should be happy for Grandpa. Don't cry. You're a big girl now. The village will rely on you and Shibuki to support it in the future. Don't let Grandpa down."
Mizuno Satoru wore a look of kindness. His extended right hand, which was almost just skin and bones, gently stroked Fu's small head as he spoke with infinite gentleness.
"Grandpa Satoru, I... boo hoo hoo..."
Hearing Mizuno Satoru's words, which clearly sounded like a last testament...
Fu could no longer control the grief in her heart and wept, her face covered in tears.
"Shibuki, the same goes for you. Let this matter be a lesson. Etch it into your heart. Never, ever make the same mistake again. You must discuss things with Fu, Jun, and the others in the village. Do not show any weakness again. Be strong, do you understand?"
Toward the end...
It was clearly audible that Mizuno Satoru's tone was becoming increasingly weak.
"Yes, I'll remember it. Grandpa Satoru, I will definitely protect the Hidden Waterfall Village."
Shibuki, also wearing a look of sorrow, knelt down as well, nodded heavily, and responded with the firmest tone.
"Also, regarding A... no... Menma-kun. I entrust our Hidden Waterfall Village to you. Although you are younger than Shibuki and Fu, I believe... cough, cough... you will definitely be the correct choice. Shibuki, Fu, from now on, if you have any problems or confusion, listen to Menma-kun's judgment completely. This is Grandpa's final request to you."
These words, spoken by Mizuno Satoru using almost all his remaining strength...
Caused not only Shibuki and Fu to be stunned subconsciously...
But even Menma, who had been standing in the back, froze directly.
For a moment, he thought the old man had exposed his identity to deal with him right then and there.
But that thought was dismissed in less than a second. Not only was it unrealistic, but the old man didn't seem like such a foolish person. More importantly, in the moment his eyes met Mizuno Satoru's, Menma seemed to understand what the old man wanted to do.
He wanted to use his own status and words to pave the way for Menma.
Having lived for nearly 70 years, even if he had just met Menma, how could Mizuno Satoru not guess Menma's intentions?
Ultimately, what Mizuno Satoru valued more was the legacy of the Hidden Waterfall Village.
At least, in Mizuno Satoru's view, this was his best choice under the current circumstances. As for what the future results would be, Mizuno Satoru couldn't control that.
Menma "got it" in that instant.
"Release!"
Immediately after.
Amidst the identical shocked expressions of Shibuki and Fu...
He dispelled the Transformation Jutsu directly.
Bright red hair and a tender face revealed themselves.
The restored teenage appearance.
The moment they saw it, Shibuki and Fu subconsciously forgot their sorrow. Neither could believe that the powerful "young man" from just now was merely a teenager.
Fu was a bit better off.
Shibuki, as the leader of the Hidden Waterfall Village...
Almost the moment he saw Menma's face...
Immediately recognized Menma's identity.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... You are the Hidden Leaf's rogue ninja, Menma Uzumaki!?"
Shibuki exclaimed, raising his voice with a look of utter shock.
Because of Shibuki's words, Fu also widened her eyes instantly, staring straight at Menma.
This boy!?
Was also a Jinchuriki? And the Jinchuriki of the strongest Tailed Beast—the Nine-Tails!?