"I suppose this also counts as our first meeting, Lord Shibuki, Fu. I am indeed that Menma Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I am very sorry for meeting you two in that form earlier; after all, my identity could not be exposed, or it would easily bring unnecessary trouble."
Menma chuckled lightly and spoke in a clear voice.
Originally, Menma's plan was just to infiltrate the Hidden Waterfall Village initially this time, gradually take control of the village in the future, and then choose an appropriate time to expose his identity. Now that Mizuno Satoru intended to "help" him, Menma naturally accepted it with a smile.
As for whether there would be any problems or risks involved...
Menma wasn't blind to them, but the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. Most importantly, Menma believed Mizuno Satoru was a smart man.
Shibuki and Fu were the two most important people in the Hidden Waterfall Village today.
If he could reveal his true identity to them in advance, the progress of his subsequent plans could be greatly accelerated.
Of course, the corresponding risks were also brought forward a bit, but currently, they were still limited to Shibuki and Fu, which was within a controllable range. After all, Konoha Year 61 was approaching fast. At most, there were a little over two years left; Menma couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency.
Whether to take a risk or not depended on the potential returns.
"You? This? The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Me?"
Shibuki became incoherent in that instant, seemingly unable to accept the development before him. Wasn't he a representative of the ninja forces under the Fire Daimyo? How did he suddenly become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
Thinking of the many identities Menma possessed, Shibuki felt as if he had stepped into a bizarre adventure.
This person was truly a heavyweight existence.
"Grandpa Satoru, what exactly is going on?"
Shibuki looked at Mizuno Satoru in the back with a bewildered and incredulous expression. Fu had a similar reaction.
"Heh, simply put, I intend to join your village, Lord Shibuki. The reason is simple: I don't trust the other major ninja villages, and since I want revenge and to realize my ambitions, I must choose a ninja village with relative strength. The Hidden Waterfall Village is my choice because it has always been the existence ranked just below the Five Great Ninja Villages in the ninja world. It also has a Jinchuriki like Fu, special items like the Hero Water, and a force of three to four thousand Waterfall ninja. It can help me. Of course, I'm not saying I'll just blatantly use the Hidden Waterfall Village. This is a process of mutual assistance. I will help the Hidden Waterfall Village reach the level of the Six Great Ninja Villages, or even higher and stronger, while the Hidden Waterfall lends me its strength to resist and even take revenge on my enemies."
Menma took a step forward, looking at Shibuki and Fu opposite him with an incredibly solemn expression.
If he was going to show his hand, he had to do it thoroughly.
At least judging from the few plot fragments in the original story and their interactions during this period, Menma felt that Shibuki and Fu were the type of people who were trustworthy once you truly opened your heart to them.
Not to mention Mizuno Satoru's endorsement.
This was why Menma didn't hesitate at all to reveal his true identity immediately after realizing Mizuno Satoru's intentions.
There was no better opportunity than now.
Listening to Menma's words...
The expression on Shibuki's face fluctuated uncertainly. He truly hadn't expected such a development. For a moment, he didn't know what he should say.
"Shibuki, this is the best choice for our Hidden Waterfall Village. The situation in the ninja world is becoming increasingly confusing. It wouldn't be strange for a new Great Ninja War to break out at any time. Menma-kun's power and wisdom can help us. And don't forget, for our Hidden Waterfall Village, and especially for you, Menma-kun is still our benefactor. Shibuki, Menma-kun can be trusted."
Mizuno Satoru forced himself to sit up straight, looking at Shibuki with an incredibly serious expression.
This was the wisdom of an elder, and even more so, the courage of an elder.
Because wasn't this also a gamble?
He was betting on the future of Shibuki, Fu, and even the entire Hidden Waterfall Village.
But as Mizuno Satoru said, without Menma, the current Shibuki would already be a cold corpse, the entire Hidden Waterfall Village would have fallen into Suien's grasp, and Fu's fate wouldn't have been much better.
Putting it this way might seem a bit unreasonable.
But in Mizuno Satoru's view...
Rather than letting Shibuki and Fu face the turbulent ninja world alone, it was better to let Menma join. Even if Menma ended up leading the Hidden Waterfall Village in the future, it wouldn't matter.
After all, in the vast Hidden Waterfall Village, Mizuno Satoru truly couldn't find any younger generation worthy of trust.
If there were someone of the same age significantly more outstanding than Shibuki, would it be Shibuki's turn to be the leader?
Sometimes bloodline does offer advantages, but ultimately, in the ninja world, it depends on strength and methods.
Just like Danzo, who always obsessed over the laughable idea that if he hadn't hesitated back then and had stepped forward to volunteer as the rearguard more decisively than Hiruzen Sarutobi, the position of Hokage would have been his.
Long before Tobirama Senju asked that question, the position of Hokage was actually 99% decided!
That question was merely Tobirama's final test for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Danzo thought that question decided the Hokage position.
In reality, it wasn't.
It was Hiruzen Sarutobi's overall performance that had gained Tobirama Senju's approval.
Subsequent developments also proved that in the first ten or twenty years of Hiruzen Sarutobi's tenure as Hokage, he was indeed worthy of the title "The Professor" (God of Shinobi) and worthy of Tobirama Senju's heavy trust.
This was ability; this was methodology.
And currently, there was no such figure in the Hidden Waterfall Village.
Naturally, Mizuno Satoru was willing to place a bet on Menma.
As someone raised by Mizuno Satoru, Shibuki could naturally hear the deeper meaning in his Grandpa Satoru's words.
Fu was the same.
Even though the two still didn't have much trust in Menma...
For the sake of Mizuno Satoru's face, they were willing to try to accept Menma.
"I understand, Grandpa Satoru. Menma-kun, welcome to the Hidden Waterfall Village."
Meeting Mizuno Satoru's hopeful gaze, Shibuki took a deep breath and nodded heavily. He turned his gaze to Menma and extended his right hand.
Menma reached out and grasped it directly.
"Yes, it is also my honor, Lord Shibuki. Please believe me, I absolutely did not come to the Hidden Waterfall Village with malicious intent. This is for myself, and equally for the Hidden Waterfall Village."
In front of Mizuno Satoru...
Menma clarified his attitude once again. His resounding words and the determination flowing in his pupils...
Made the look in Shibuki's eyes much more peaceful.
Shibuki was, after all, the head of a village. He was a bit weak, and his reactions were indeed a bit slow; his grasp of the big picture wasn't that strong. But these were judgments made against the standard of an excellent leader, compared to the past leaders of the Hidden Waterfall and the leaders of other ninja villages. Compared to an ordinary ninja, Shibuki still had redeeming qualities.
Ultimately, evaluation depends on the reference point and the baseline conditions. The deep meaning in Mizuno Satoru's words, and the value Menma displayed—especially his personal strength—were things Shibuki could understand and grasp relatively clearly.
The only thing to worry about was Menma's "trustworthiness."
But on this point, with Mizuno Satoru's endorsement, Shibuki was willing to gamble. He didn't trust Menma—at this stage, that was impossible—but he chose to trust his Grandpa Satoru!
Only Fu, who was merely a year or two older than Menma, still looked at Menma with a hint of wariness. Menma was still an outsider, after all. But similarly, for Mizuno Satoru's sake and out of trust in her Grandpa Satoru...
Fu wouldn't voice any objections and would also choose to accept Menma's joining. However, she would retain a basic wariness toward Menma in her heart. There was more or less a sense of "once bitten, twice shy" involved.
The example of Suien was still vividly displayed right next to them.
And Menma easily caught this wariness. Not only because his sensory abilities allowed him to detect all special emotional focuses easily, but more importantly, Fu's thoughts were simply too easy to read; she had no guile at all.
No wonder she was hoodwinked by Suien.
But Menma didn't mind at all. Let alone Fu, even Shibuki probably had a certain degree of doubt about him, and this was the most normal development.
He was an outsider, after all, and had just joined the Hidden Waterfall Village.
Even with Mizuno Satoru's endorsement, they couldn't possibly trust him 100% right from the start. This wasn't a fairy tale.
Menma believed in "actions speak louder than words"!
He would have plenty of time and opportunities in the future to deepen the trust between them.
These were the comrades he could truly cultivate to fight alongside him.
"Then I won't disturb you further. Also, regarding the remaining Rain ninja, Shibuki-san doesn't need to worry. I will deal with them and report to Shibuki-san afterward."
Mizuno Satoru had clearly reached his final moments.
He definitely needed to leave them some time for a final exchange; it wasn't appropriate for Menma to stay. Besides, regarding the Rain ninja, he had received an interesting piece of intelligence earlier, and Menma intended to go check it out personally.
To prevent any accidents.
"Ah, then I'll trouble you, Menma-kun."
Shibuki nodded heavily.
"See you later!"
After bowing slightly, Menma flickered and left the spot directly, speeding toward the eastern outskirts outside the village.
After Menma left...
"Brother Shibuki, should we really trust that guy? He's a Leaf rogue ninja, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki..."
Fu couldn't help but turn to ask Shibuki.
"Fu..."
Shibuki shook his head gently. Just as he was about to say something...
"Shibuki, Fu..."
Mizuno Satoru, leaning against the bed cushions, tremblingly raised his right hand in this moment and called out softly.
Shibuki and Fu turned around hurriedly, moving simultaneously to kneel before Mizuno Satoru.
"Grandpa Satoru, speak, we're here!"
"I leave the village to you two from now on. Menma-kun is an existence worthy of trust. This is for you, and for the future of our Hidden Waterfall Village. Besides, in this world, there is no such thing as perfection. Any choice carries corresponding risks and drawbacks. Shibuki, this is the last decision Grandpa makes for you. Of course, I can only go this far. The future ultimately depends on you. Fu, you too—don't be reckless anymore. Be meticulous, be serious. Menma-kun is your comrade now; don't act wildly. Grandpa hopes you can remember to consider everything for the sake of the village."
In Mizuno Satoru's heart, Shibuki and Fu were naturally very important, but the survival and interests of the village came first. Remember, he had personally experienced the era when the Hidden Waterfall Village was founded.
Even though he was just a wet-behind-the-ears kid back then, over the decades, Mizuno Satoru had long since regarded the Hidden Waterfall Village as his everything. With no descendants and no other relatives, only the village remained in his heart.
Just like when he advised Shibuki to flee the Hidden Waterfall earlier: while it was for Shibuki's sake, hoping he would survive, it was also because he didn't want to see the village face greater internal strife. This could be considered a bit of the old man's "selfishness."
"I know, I understand, Grandpa Satoru. I will definitely shoulder the responsibility of the leader. Everything about the village is everything to me!"
Shibuki tightly grasped Mizuno Satoru's withered, liver-spotted right hand, speaking with the utmost determination.
Fu, beside him, was already crying like a river.
Kneeling on the other side of the bed, she clutched Mizuno Satoru's other hand tightly. Nodding desperately, she replied with a trembling voice, "I know, Grandpa Satoru, I know. Don't worry."
This was the final moment, perceivable to all.
"Shibuki, regarding the others... treat them leniently if possible. As for Suien... let him die quietly. Ultimately, he also had merits for the village..."
Mizuno Satoru turned his head with difficulty, looking toward the door where Suien was detained, still unconscious. A look of complexity appeared in his cloudy pupils.
Once, he had held expectations for Suien too. It was a pity that fate played such tricks on people.
"Yes, Grandpa Satoru, I understand."
Shibuki didn't hesitate, nodding heavily in response.
"That's good, that's good. The village... the village's future..."
Mizuno Satoru seemed to want to raise his right hand. Finally, different scenes seemed to flash before his eyes like a revolving lantern—memories of the past flickering by in this moment.
It's... time...
His vision gradually dimmed.
The last trace of life force flowed away completely.
Gongye, I still couldn't fulfill your entrustment...
The last thought surfaced deep in his mind, and then his consciousness sank into darkness.
His eyes closed slowly.
His arm dropped.
The moment the last breath dissipated...
"Grandpa Satoru!!!"
Accompanied by Fu's miserable cry...
The last elder of the Hidden Waterfall Village who had experienced the warring era passed away.
Menma, who had already left, naturally didn't know about Mizuno Satoru's passing.
But he could estimate the time of the old man's death roughly. The aura of death wrapped around his body was no joke. Normally speaking, it would have been normal for Elder Satoru to die at any time. Holding on until now was purely due to his willpower, that obsession.
Menma admired such an old man.
Or perhaps it should be said that in this world, the elderly of other ninja villages were worthy of admiration. Just as the Hidden Waterfall had Mizuno Satoru, the Hidden Sand had Chiyo and Ebizo, and the Hidden Mist had Gengetsu. Only the F4 of the Hidden Leaf were truly hard to describe. Perhaps their excellence and brilliance were left in their youth. In their twilight years, they were no longer who they were when they were young, and certainly couldn't compare to the elders mentioned above.
If Gengetsu, Chiyo, and the others had been the elders of the Hidden Leaf, those crappy things wouldn't have happened later—or at least, there would have been one or two fewer messes.
But these are just "ifs."
Reality is still the reality right in front of us.
He was a very good old man. Rest assured, Elder Satoru, I won't deceive you. Either I die, or I will definitely lead the Hidden Waterfall Village to true glory. This world doesn't need so many ninja villages, so many countries. One is enough!
Menma took a deep breath, took one last look at the house where Mizuno Satoru was, and then leaped, speeding away into the distance.
Unification isn't a perfect solution.
It cannot be said that once only one country and one ninja village remain in the world, there will definitely be no conflict. That is impossible.
As long as there are humans, conflict will never cease.
For benefits, for love and hate, humans will always have reasons to fight each other. But compared to the current great chaos of the ninja world, where wars break out from time to time, it would at least be much better.
The scope, scale, and intensity of conflicts would also be limited to a certain extent. This was the direction Menma wanted to strive for.
Of course, rice must be eaten one bite at a time.
The road must be walked one step at a time.
Maybe Menma himself wouldn't live to see it, wouldn't be able to create such a future, and would die at someone's hands directly.
Therefore, discussing things that are too distant now is meaningless.
The only thing Menma needs to do now is to deal with the remaining enemies and restore the Hidden Waterfall Village to its previous calm.
Whoosh!
His figure sped away.
Just about ten minutes after leaving the Hidden Waterfall Village, Menma's expanded sensory perception detected several figures speeding in his twelve o'clock direction, followed by a familiar chakra in pursuit.
"Hoho, what a coincidence?"
With slightly raised eyebrows...
A hint of surprise appeared in Menma's pupils.
Boom!
Exploding chakra from the soles of his feet, he chased after the people speeding away ahead with even greater speed than before.
Just a few minutes later.
Menma easily caught up with the vanguard.
Looking ahead...
That familiar chakra belonged to Suigetsu Hozuki. At this moment, the white-haired boy had a bloodthirsty look on his face.
The crimson color flowing in his pupils...
Displayed the Hozuki clan's belligerent gene vividly.
Among the three people being chased by Suigetsu at the very front, the chakra auras of two were weak enough to barely count as Chunin level.
Only the green-haired young man leading them had slightly stronger chakra, but he hadn't reached the Jonin level yet. Perhaps for ordinary ninja, he was considered a tough existence, but in Menma's eyes, ordinary Jonin were weaklings, let alone this green-haired youth.
Even Suigetsu, whose Kekkei Genkai development wasn't fully mature yet, could easily suppress this green-haired youth.
Menma indeed didn't have much of an impression of this green-haired youth.
But the long sword in his hand, currently emitting a special luster, attracted Menma's attention.
Is that the Sword of the Thunder God worn by the Second Hokage? It is indeed somewhat interesting.
A faint look of interest appeared in Menma's pupils.
As he stepped forward...
Clap!
Clapping his hands together, he began to form seals rapidly.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere Jutsu."
The jutsu was completed in almost a second or two.
The next second.
Menma's abdomen swelled.
Pfft!
In an instant.
The air mass spewed out.
In mid-air, the gathered wind tide formed glaring cyan orbs, assaulting the green-haired youth in the middle with extreme speed and ferocity.
Whoosh
Whoosh
The sound of violently tearing air fell.
Followed by several huge cyan orbs rushing forward.
The moment the green-haired youth, Aoi Rokusho, saw them, his pupils contracted abruptly.
The scale and quantity clearly exceeded the scope of a normal "Vacuum Great Sphere Jutsu," covering the area completely.
"Bastard!"
Aoi's face was extremely ugly.
In the spur of the moment...
He could only barely swing the Sword of the Thunder God.
Zzzzzzzzz!
The lightning brilliance bloomed.
"Thunderstorm!"
The light of cruelty whipped up.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The cyan orbs attacked head-on.
One cyan orb was barely "severed."
But Aoi could not block the subsequent cyan orbs wrapping around from different angles.
Amidst the booming assault of the jutsu...
"Ah!"
Aoi was blasted away directly.
Thud!
He smashed heavily into the ground.
A human-shaped pit was blasted out. Suffering injuries to both his front and back, a mouthful of crimson blood sprayed from his mouth.
The next second.
Before Aoi could pull himself together...
Menma's figure had already arrived at close range.
Bang!
His right foot stepped out directly, stomping viciously on Aoi's wrist that was tightly gripping the Sword of the Thunder God.
Under the force...
Crack!
Bones were crushed savagely.
The intense pain transmitted to the nerves...
"Aaaah!!"
Caused Aoi to let out the most miserable scream.
"Who are you!?"
With eyes turning red, Aoi looked at Menma with an extremely crazy and twisted expression, roaring loudly.
But Menma had no interest in answering at all. After looking at the Sword of the Thunder God he had picked up and marveling at it twice...
He glanced sideways.
A wisp of cold killing intent flowed in his pupils.
Shing!
With a light wave...
The chilling gleam of the Sword of the Thunder God erupted.
Squelch!
"Ugh!?"
It sliced across the throat, accompanied by spurting blood.
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
Sounds that could no longer be uttered. The strength receded like a tide. Just a few seconds later, consciousness fell into darkness.
His head tilted to the side.
This Hidden Leaf rogue ninja, now a Hidden Rain Jonin, died at Menma's hands.
Only his widened eyes seemed to be recounting his unwillingness.