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Advancing aggressively might still be insufficient.
But self-preservation was definitely more than enough, because those ninja villages couldn't truly pour everything into dealing with their Hidden Waterfall Village. As the leader of the Hidden Waterfall, Shibuki had a certain degree of understanding of how strong a perfect Jinchuriki was.
That was absolutely a powerful force capable of rivaling Kage-level existences.
Not to mention Menma was the Jinchuriki of the strongest Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails' attack on the Hidden Leaf Village 13 years ago... anyone in the ninja world knew how miserable the Leaf was in that battle and how heavy a price they paid.
Therefore, time. What their Hidden Waterfall Village needed most right now was time.
As long as they waited for Menma and Fu to grow up... even if Menma's identity was exposed then, while they couldn't say they would be completely fearless, at least they wouldn't fall into a situation where they couldn't resist at all.
"Additionally, starting today, increase the number of patrol rounds in the village. Arrest any suspicious persons immediately. If there is resistance... no need to hold back!"
Shibuki paused slightly, seemingly hesitant, but ultimately spoke that last sentence directly.
Hearing Shibuki's words, Jun wasn't surprised at all. Instead, a very faint look of relief appeared deep in his pupils. His leader had indeed grown up. If it were the previous Shibuki, he absolutely couldn't have issued such an order.
It wasn't a question of grasping the big picture.
It was purely a matter of mentality and personality.
The previous Shibuki hadn't truly regarded himself as the village leader, which led to significant problems in how he dealt with people and matters.
This was also a point Jun had always worried about before.
Now it seemed his leader Shibuki had grown a lot. In that case, Jun was much more relieved.
"Yes, Lord Leader!"
After bowing abruptly in response, Jun left directly.
As the person in charge of the Defense Squad, Jun handled one of the most complex sets of administrative duties in the village every day, second only to Shibuki.
Jun left, but Menma deliberately stayed behind a bit longer.
"Menma-kun, are you worried about your identity being exposed? Don't worry. Although our Hidden Waterfall Village can't compare to the Five Great Ninja Villages, our confidentiality work is decent. At least we can ensure your identity won't be exposed in the short term."
Thinking Menma stayed behind out of worry for his identity, Shibuki spoke directly to comfort him.
Shibuki really wasn't boasting.
Menma joining the Hidden Waterfall Village was a secret event in itself, and he had disguised his identity. Currently, only Shibuki and Fu knew about it in the entire ninja village. It wouldn't be easy for other ninja villages to steal classified secrets. If they could still obtain it easily...
Then something must be seriously wrong on their side.
"Mhm, there is that issue, but I believe Shibuki-san can handle it. I stayed behind because I have a request I hope Shibuki-san can grant."
Menma nodded first, then changed the subject, speaking directly.
"Hm? What is it? Menma-kun can speak freely. As long as it is within my ability or the village's capability, I will definitely agree."
Shibuki was stunned at first, then said without any hesitation.
If he chose to believe Menma before purely out of Elder Mizuno Satoru's request, after today's barrier deployment, Shibuki had begun to choose to trust Menma himself. Unlike Jun's slight vigilance toward Menma, and Fu who was still in the "non-violent non-cooperation" stage with Menma, Shibuki truly felt Menma could bring qualitative changes to his ninja village. He genuinely hoped to advance hand-in-hand with Menma in the future, creating glory belonging to the Hidden Waterfall Village together. As long as Menma's request didn't exceed their ninja village's limits or involve principled issues, Shibuki would support it 100%.
Shibuki didn't lack this magnanimity and decisiveness.
"Heh, it's not a particularly big problem. I plan to leave the village for a while recently, at most half a month. I might bring back one or two comrades to join the village then. I need to report this to Shibuki-san in advance and hope to get Shibuki-san's permission."
Menma chuckled lightly, speaking as if it were nothing.
"Menma-kun's comrades? That is naturally fine. This can't even be considered a request. Menma-kun's comrades are our Hidden Waterfall's people. Menma-kun doesn't need to worry about this at all. Not just one or two, even a few more are fine."
Hearing Menma's words...
Shibuki immediately revealed a smile.
He had thought it was some particularly difficult request. This request wasn't even a request. Moreover, from the beginning, Shibuki knew Menma couldn't possibly have only those two people with him. There must be a group.
Otherwise, how could Menma have escaped from the Leaf?
Hearing that Menma also had contact with that Orochimaru...
This made Shibuki even more convinced.
In his view, this was Menma feeling the timing was right after staying in the village for a while, and then letting others join in.
Understandable, understandable.
Shibuki thought very relaxed in his heart.
"Heh, Shibuki-san might have misunderstood a little. The identity of the comrade I'm going to invite this time is quite special. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for Shibuki-san to make a decision after hearing about it."
Menma could naturally see what Shibuki was thinking.
He immediately waved his hand and said.
"Hm? Identity is special? Eh? What does that mean? Menma-kun?"
Shibuki was slightly stunned, unable to understand Menma's meaning for a moment.
"Cough, cough, well, it's an existence with an identity similar to mine."
Menma cleared his throat lightly, then continued.
"Identity similar to yours?"
Shibuki repeated it subconsciously, then reacted immediately, his face changing drastically.
"Could it be a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki from some ninja village?"
Shibuki widened his eyes, looking at Menma, asking in a very shocked tone.
"Yes, Shibuki-san. The person I'm going to invite is the Six-Tails Jinchuriki of the Hidden Mist Village—Utakata. This Utakata-san is currently also in a state of defection. I just received news a few days ago and can preliminarily confirm Utakata-san's location, so I want to go invite him!"
Menma looked at Shibuki with burning eyes, speaking in a deep voice.
The Six-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata.
And the Three-Tails Isobu, currently in wild mode.
These were strong reinforcements Menma had planned to win over even before defecting from the Leaf.
Others might not know, but as a transmigrator, Menma knew the situation of these two Tailed Beasts of the Hidden Mist Village all too well. The saying "utilize all forces worth utilizing" referred to such existences. A Tailed Beast could at worst be treated as a powerful Kage-level entity.
The Tailed Beast Ball exclusive to Tailed Beasts was a power that could be called earth-shattering for ordinary ninja.
Without reaching Kage level, one wasn't even qualified to touch them.
For his own plan...
Menma would naturally target this person and beast.
When he was with Orochimaru, Menma had already communicated with him in advance, asking Orochimaru to mobilize all forces to search for the specific locations of Utakata and the Three-Tails Isobu.
Now.
The whereabouts of the Three-Tails Isobu were not yet clear.
But Utakata's general trail had been confirmed.
Orochimaru had also passed the necessary intelligence to Menma through Kabuto Yakushi a few days ago.
With the village's barrier already deployed...
Menma planned to go meet this fellow student Utakata.
"The Hidden Mist's Six-Tails Jinchuriki defected? When did this happen?"
Although he had guessed it...
Hearing the exact information from Menma's mouth, Shibuki still couldn't suppress a look of shock.
He truly hadn't expected the "comrade" in Menma's mouth to be such an explosive existence.
And this obviously wasn't a "comrade," okay?
The other party might not even accept the invitation!
"Looking at the timeline, it should have been a few years."
Menma frowned slightly, speaking with an uncertain tone.
The original story didn't clarify when Utakata defected from the Hidden Mist Village. What was certain was that Utakata was definitely in his 20s, and he absolutely hadn't just left the Hidden Mist recently. Orochimaru had confirmed this during his investigation.
And it is worth mentioning that the reason Orochimaru could investigate Utakata's approximate location was by starting from the Hidden Mist Village.
After all, being the most important Tailed Beast Jinchuriki of their own ninja village...
The Hidden Mist always had a special Anbu squad tracking Utakata.
"Menma-kun, isn't this too risky? A rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist, and a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki... this..."
Shibuki shook his head gently, wearing an expression for which he couldn't find words.
Their own ninja village already had a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who defected from the Hidden Leaf. Putting aside other things, if they also accepted the Six-Tails Jinchuriki who defected from the Hidden Mist... wouldn't they 100% have to face both the Leaf and Mist, two major ninja villages, in the future?
Thinking of such a scene, Shibuki's face turned slightly pale subconsciously.
"Shibuki-san, there are no outsiders here, so I'll be direct. The moment Elder Satoru and you agreed to let me join the village, you... no, I should say we had no way of retreat. Utakata-san's identity is special? Can it compare to mine? Shibuki-san, you should also know very well that my identity will be exposed sooner or later. I can't wear this false identity forever. Joining the village, I never hid my intention: to take revenge on the Leaf. Since we are destined to confront each other in the future, we shouldn't consider the so-called risks now, but should look at what kind of returns there will be. What do you think? Shibuki-san."
Menma shook his head gently. With an increasingly serious expression on his face, he stared straight at Shibuki and spoke solemnly.