Hidden Waterfall Village.
In the spacious government affairs hall.
Menma, Shibuki, Agun, Utakata, Fu, and the Jonin responsible for various important posts in the Hidden Waterfall Village, namely Fushimi, Tarashi, and others, were present.
At this time, when their ninja village was about to face its greatest crisis.
Of course, it was necessary to convene the high-level personnel of the entire village to discuss important military affairs. At this moment, almost all these people wore grim expressions.
While Fushimi, Tarashi, and others looked solemn, the gaze they cast towards Menma also faintly revealed a trace of strangeness.
Even though they had learned about it several days ago.
But Accelerator, a young man who clearly looked over 20 years old, was actually played by a boy of only 13!
Such news, Fushimi, Tarashi, and the others still couldn't quite digest even today.
It was truly because Menma's identity was too astonishing!
Son of the Fourth Hokage, S-rank rogue ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village, Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—any one of these three identities singled out was already a terrifying existence, let alone the three combined into one.
Such a character actually joined their Hidden Waterfall Village!?
It would be strange if they could accept it easily.
Moreover, besides Menma.
Utakata's identity was equally astonishing.
S-rank rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist Village, Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
If he were also some son of a Mizukage, that would be absolute perfection.
Even so, thinking that their ninja village now had three Tailed Beast Jinchuriki at this moment, they couldn't help but gasp.
This was a period when the combat power of their Hidden Waterfall Village had expanded unprecedentedly.
Even the peak period at the beginning of the village's establishment couldn't compare.
Three Tailed Beasts!
This was a luxurious configuration that even the Five Great Ninja Villages had never possessed. However, thinking of the hell-level disaster about to arrive soon.
The expressions of these few people became very grave.
Even with three Tailed Beast Jinchuriki.
They still felt unsure in their hearts. Jinchuriki weren't unbeatable. The foundation of the Five Great Ninja Villages!
That was absolutely not an existence ordinary ninja villages could measure and resist.
But on this occasion.
These few people didn't say much. Everything still had to follow the arrangements of their leader.
Fushimi, Tarashi, and the others shifted their gazes back and forth between Menma and Shibuki with looks that were hard to decipher.
"The above are the movements of the Hidden Leaf and Hidden Cloud Village obtained currently. Thanks to the intelligence provided by Menma-kun and the strongholds established in advance on the frontline, we can grasp the movements of the troops of the two major ninja villages relatively accurately. But it is foreseeable that once the formal invasion begins, the situation will inevitably develop in a direction we cannot control or predict."
On the right side, Agun, as the person in charge of defense, used the most concise language to convey the information gathered in recent days to others present who didn't know the details very well yet.
"Is that Fourth Raikage actually moving out personally? He really thinks highly of our Hidden Waterfall Village. In that case, the Hidden Leaf Village will definitely send corresponding combat power as well. Menma-kun, can we really withstand the invasion of two major ninja villages?"
On the main seat.
Shibuki asked Menma with a look of anxiety and worry that couldn't be hidden.
He was really afraid.
Not pretending.
The prestige of the Five Great Ninja Villages was forged with real guns and swords. Judging from past experience, any ninja village below facing the Five Great Ninja Villages would be crushed!
Even the Hidden Rain Village led by Hanzo the Salamander, who was once known as a Demigod, could barely maintain a bit of its own dignity and autonomy only because the Five Great Ninja Villages were wary of each other.
If it were a completely meaningful one-on-one duel.
The Hidden Sand Village could crush the Hidden Rain Village forcefully!
The comparison of ninja numbers was a solid gap!
The era Shibuki grew up in was the period when the prestige of the Five Great Ninja Villages was established. Even compared to when he first succeeded to the position, he had grown a lot, but this kind of fear originating from the heart couldn't be eliminated in a short time.
Words at this moment appeared very powerless.
Only strength and victory were the strongest reliance.
Menma himself knew this very well.
Therefore.
"Hehe, Shibuki-san doesn't need to worry at all. Everything is within my expectations. The personal leadership of that Fourth Raikage is indeed a bit unexpected, but not impossible to deal with. The Hidden Leaf is even less likely to cooperate truly intimately with the Hidden Cloud Village. This Fourth Raikage probably has his own calculations, but he made a fatal mistake, which is the decision to send troops first. We can completely seize this point, play with the time difference, strike first, and defeat the Cloud ninja troops led by this Fourth Raikage! Establishing an advantage on the battlefield!"
Just as Shibuki's words fell, Menma raised his chin and said forcefully with a look of extreme confidence.
And along with these words falling.
Menma deliberately released an extremely faint chilling aura actively. The majestic chakra fluctuations permeating this space.
Were purely "showing off" his strength!
Using practical action to increase the confidence of his group of people.
Even if Menma himself had a certain degree of worry in his heart, anyone could show it, except him. He must reveal himself to everyone with the most confident and forceful side.
Timidity before battle?
No!
This was absolutely not allowed.
Feeling Menma's inhumanly powerful chakra fluctuations.
Shibuki, Agun, and especially Tarashi, Fushimi, and others below changed their expressions involuntarily.
Until now, they actually hadn't truly seen Menma attack with full strength. The previous battles were just like small skirmishes.
And at this moment, peeping through a tube at a leopard!
This aura enough to make ordinary people tremble.
Indeed inadvertently added a bit of confidence to Shibuki, Agun, and others. But upon hearing Menma's detailed words.
"Strike first?"
"Time difference? Ah?"
The faces of Shibuki, Agun, and others stiffened accordingly.
"Isn't this inappropriate? Menma-kun, the ones coming now are the Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Leaf Village? Even if they didn't attack with full force, the combined power is absolutely extremely terrifying. We are struggling even to defend now; to attack proactively, isn't that abandoning our own advantage? Wouldn't the stronghold defense line established before lose its meaning?"
Agun stood up abruptly, shaking his head quickly with an expression of disbelief and resolute opposition.
This was a completely risky approach.
It was a strategy Agun absolutely couldn't accept. In his view, solid defense was the best strategy. Attacking proactively—if they lost a battle, it would mean a total collapse!
"I think it's best to be steady, using layer-by-layer resistance to constantly wear down the enemy's patience. As long as the casualties are large, whether it's the Hidden Cloud Village or the Hidden Leaf Village, they will definitely have thoughts of retreat. Most importantly, the other three major ninja villages can't keep watching forever. The past three Great Ninja Wars have proven that once one or two ninja villages join the war, other ninja villages will definitely lose patience. And that time will be our true turning point!"
Very traditional and cautious approach.
This was also an approach adhered to by these small and medium-sized ninja villages for decades. Even the Hidden Rain Village led by Hanzo back then almost never attacked proactively. Each time, they only focused on striking enemy ninja who entered the core hinterland of the Land of Rain.
They just wanted to make these major ninja villages feel that continuing to fight would do more harm than good and would give other ninja villages opportunities, thereby forcing them to withdraw troops.
This trick had been tried and tested.
Therefore, just as Agun's words fell.
Shibuki nodded subconsciously.
Tarashi, Fushimi, and others below also showed looks of agreement synchronously. They even felt Menma was too inflated. Did he really think three Tailed Beast Jinchuriki could definitely win the war?
In past wars, weren't there examples of Tailed Beasts being defeated and captured on the battlefield!?
Not to mention the Hidden Cloud Village also had Tailed Beasts!
And two of them!
Attacking proactively was really walking a tightrope, too stupid!
They didn't say these words out loud, but their facial expressions already showed it.
"What Agun-san said indeed makes some sense, but that can only apply to conventional situations. The current situation is completely different. If we choose to defend, we are truly sitting and waiting for death. Please look here, everyone!"
Menma also stood up synchronously.
He pulled over the large map from the side directly.
Displayed on it were the approximate locations of their Hidden Waterfall Village to the Hidden Leaf Village, and to the Cloud ninja troops led by the Fourth Raikage at the closest distance, along with a series of small markers of different colors. Seeing this map, the current enemy-friend situation emerged very clearly in everyone's brains.
"We don't know how much sincerity there is in the alliance between the Hidden Leaf and Hidden Cloud, nor can we predict it. But what is certain is that it's impossible for the two major ninja villages to act together with one heart and mind. There is also a certain guard against each other. This is a gap we can exploit. And another point is the opportunity given by this Fourth Raikage I just mentioned. Look at the location here; this Fourth Raikage has already led troops across the Land of Hot Water, entering directly into the territory of the Land of Frost, less than two days' journey from our Hidden Waterfall Village. However, what about the Hidden Leaf's troops? Judging from the news received currently, they have just been conscripted and gathered in the northern border area. Obviously, they intend to merge with the Cloud ninja and act together!"
Menma patted heavily on two areas clearly marked with prominent red dots on the map.
After a slight pause in his speech, he continued.
"This is exactly our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once the two major ninja villages merge, regardless of whether they each harbor ulterior motives, the pressure brought will absolutely not be as simple as 1+1=2. And if our front line just wavers to a certain extent, other ninja villages will inevitably come up to share a piece of the pie, especially the Hidden Mist Village!"
Deliberately emphasized language.
And the gaze that glanced past Utakata seemingly inadvertently.
Everyone present.
As long as their brains had no problems.
Could react in the next second.
"Facing the joint attack of the Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Leaf Village with a defensive posture means surrendering the initiative, passively and negatively waiting for an opportunity we cannot grasp. But attacking proactively, we can hold our destiny in our own hands. Since we have to bear risks anyway, why not choose to be proactive!? As long as we can inflict heavy damage on the troops led by this Fourth Raikage with thunderous momentum in the shortest time, the situation in the ninja world will be completely refreshed! And we have the ability to do this!!"
Menma took a step forward, speaking with resonance and force.
An aura soaring to the sky erupted from his body accordingly.
"Victory or defeat, our future can only be decided by ourselves. Shibuki-san, this is a step we must take to move forward!"
In an instant.
Agun, Tarashi, Fushimi, and others around were all awed by Menma's aura. Utakata looked at Menma with shining eyes.
Such bearing, such aura, such confidence.
Was the existence he was convinced by.
On the main seat.
Shibuki also stared blankly at such Menma at this moment.
A complex look flowed in his pupils.
'So is this what I lack? Is this what you meant, Grandpa Satoru? I finally understand...'
There was loss, bitterness, but more of relief.
'Your choice might really be correct...'
After repeated ups and downs in his heart, flashing through many thoughts.
Shibuki took a deep breath, looked at Menma fixedly, and said with an unprecedented serious expression: "Ah, it is so. Our destiny can only be held in our own hands. Menma-kun, just do as you said. All actions will follow your command!"
"Lord Shibuki..."
Although Agun on the side was also captured by Menma's mind at that moment, upon hearing Shibuki's words, he still came back to his senses immediately, hurried forward, and said with a very anxious expression.
He admitted what Menma said indeed made sense, and attacking wasn't impossible.
But the specific plan still needed to be discussed.
Most importantly, how could Menma preside over everything!?
Wasn't this violating procedure!?
No!
This was absolutely not allowed. In the Hidden Waterfall Village, the one and only person who could preside over all affairs of the ninja village, especially involving foreign wars, was his Lord Shibuki alone!!!
But just as he opened his mouth.
Shibuki shook his head and waved his hand to stop Agun's subsequent words.
"Menma-kun, I leave everything to you!"
He stood up himself, bowed slightly towards Menma's position, and said in a deep voice.
At this moment.
The faces of Fushimi, Tarashi, and others present all showed subtle changes.
Seeming to smell some rather unusual aura.
But at this moment, they all watched their noses, noses watched mouths, mouths watched hearts, lowered their sights synchronously, and all chose to wait silently for the final order.
This was not a place where they could speak at will.