"No. Our next move is to fall back and rebuild the defensive line connecting the Hidden Waterfall and the Hidden Grass. We need to fully integrate the forces of both villages so we can share intelligence and reinforce each other at a moment's notice. That's how we prepare for the inevitable retaliation from the Hidden Leaf or any other village," Menma said, shaking his head slightly.
"Huh?"
It wasn't the answer Shibuki expected.
Just like Menma's initial, seemingly reckless proposal to attack first, his current strategy completely threw Shibuki for a loop. They had just crushed the Hidden Cloud's vanguard, captured the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and nearly killed the Fourth Raikage. And now Menma wanted to pull back and play defense?
Shibuki felt like he was entirely out of his depth trying to follow Menma's logic.
Wasn't this the perfect time to press the advantage? If they could cripple or entirely dismantle one of the major ninja villages now, wouldn't that give them more breathing room and freedom later?
"Don't forget, Shibuki," Menma continued, pausing slightly, "this was supposed to be a joint operation between the Leaf and the Cloud. We hit them during a window of opportunity—a window the Cloud practically handed to us by jumping the gun. The Leaf's vanguard is already pushing into the immediate area. If we keep advancing, we stretch our supply lines and pull too far away for the Grass ninja to back us up. If we get surrounded, we're the ones who lose.
"The smartest play right now is to quit while we're ahead and solidify our defenses. If we don't attack, the Cloud won't be eager to send another army right away; this defeat will make them think twice. Plus, they have to worry about the other major villages making a move. As long as the Cloud stays out of it, our defenses will be more than enough to handle whatever the Leaf throws at us."
Ultimately, the Hidden Waterfall was still the underdog.
Even with the Hidden Grass backing them up, their combined strength was only just enough to hold the line. Menma was undeniably powerful, but he had only just crossed the threshold into the Super Kage tier. He was stronger than the current Five Kage, sure, but he was still a long way from the level of Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju—beings who occupied a tier of their own and could crush the Five Kage without breaking a sweat.
Menma couldn't win this war single-handedly. He had to play the long game.
Falling back and playing defense was the only logical choice.
Hearing Menma's explanation, realization dawned on Shibuki's face. Behind them, Agun, who had just arrived, nodded silently in agreement.
At that moment, Agun completely let go of his lingering doubts and fears about Menma.
This was someone they could trust.
Whether it was raw power or strategic brilliance, Menma operated on a level far beyond his years. He was exactly the kind of leader who could take the Hidden Waterfall to the top and secure their future.
Maybe giving him the reins really is the right call, Agun thought, stepping up beside them. He looked at Menma's youthful face and found himself entertaining an idea he would have vehemently opposed just days ago.
People, in the end, are pragmatic creatures.
"Agun," Menma said, turning to him. "How do things look? After the initial sweep, what are the casualties on both sides?"
"Yes, Lord Shibuki, Menma," Agun replied. "Preliminary counts show over 1,300 Cloud ninja killed in action. We've taken more than 600 prisoners, most of them heavily wounded. Less than a thousand managed to retreat.
"On our side, we're looking at over 800 casualties. Roughly two-thirds of those are fatalities. A significant number of our losses happened during the final phase of the battle when the remaining Cloud ninja made a desperate last stand."
It was a staggering victory. But the price the Hidden Waterfall paid was steep.
With over 800 casualties and more than 500 dead, the Hidden Waterfall had taken a serious hit to its core strength.
But it was a necessary sacrifice.
The Cloud ninja they fought were the absolute elite, handpicked by the Fourth Raikage himself. Unless they were completely incapacitated and physically unable to fight, Cloud ninja rarely surrendered. Among the Five Great Ninja Villages, the Mist were known for their brutality, but the Cloud were known for being unbreakable.
Their training and their history demanded that they never yield to the enemy.
Because of that stubborn pride, the surviving Cloud ninja had fought like cornered animals during their retreat, taking a lot of Waterfall ninja down with them.
In terms of sheer willpower and combat prowess, the Waterfall ninja were still a step behind the Cloud.
Taking that into account, achieving a victory of this scale at this cost was nothing short of a miracle.
"Make sure our fallen are handled with respect. Ensure their families receive the full compensation outlined by village regulations. And get the wounded into medical care immediately so they can get back on their feet," Shibuki ordered, his eyes darkening as he heard the casualty report.
Deep down, Shibuki was a gentle soul. Even knowing that casualties were an unavoidable part of war, he couldn't help but grieve for the lives lost.
It was a double-edged sword. A leader should have compassion, but they couldn't let it rule them. A leader also needed a certain degree of cold-blooded pragmatism.
Shibuki was perfectly suited to lead during peacetime. But in the middle of a war, his soft heart could easily become the village's greatest vulnerability.
"Yes, Lord Shibuki," Agun replied solemnly.
"Once that's handled, order everyone to fall back immediately," Menma interjected, looking at Agun. "We stick to the plan and link up our defensive lines. I'll coordinate with the Grass village. From here on out, we need to operate as a single, unified force!"
"Understood, Menma. I'll see to it immediately," Agun nodded. He paused, waiting to see if either Menma or Shibuki had anything else to add. When they didn't, he bowed respectfully and vanished.
It was clear that Agun now viewed Menma and Shibuki as equals.
"So, we lock down our defenses and wait to see what the other villages do?" Shibuki asked, looking for confirmation.
"No," Menma replied, his voice ringing with authority. "We have a lot of work to do. First, we make sure the entire ninja world hears about this victory. They need to know that the Hidden Waterfall isn't the same weak village it used to be!"
Shibuki blinked, then a wide smile broke across his face. He nodded emphatically. "You're absolutely right!!"
A victory of this magnitude would be impressive even if it were between two of the major villages. But for the Hidden Waterfall to crush the Hidden Cloud? That was a story that demanded to be told.
When the cleanup was finished, the surviving Waterfall ninja returned home, carrying their wounded and marching their prisoners. Their arrival instantly lifted the dark cloud of dread that had been hanging over the village.
Before the battle, hardly anyone in the village—even the soldiers marching out to fight—believed they actually stood a chance. They were up against the Hidden Cloud, led by the Fourth Raikage himself! A significant portion of the village had already accepted defeat and was quietly making plans to flee. The only reason a mass exodus hadn't occurred was that everything had happened too fast. If they had had more time, it was a mathematical certainty that some traitors would have tried to sell the village out to the Cloud.
But now, this victory shattered that paralyzing fear.
Menma and Shibuki understood the psychological impact of the win. When the battle ended, they ordered the returning troops to march through the main gates in a grand, triumphant procession. A victory like this needed to be celebrated loudly and proudly.
The sight of the Waterfall ninja marching with their heads held high, contrasting sharply with the battered Cloud prisoners they led, was a powerful image.
"We actually won!?"
"No way. This is impossible. We beat the Cloud ninja!? And the army led by the Fourth Raikage himself!?"
"It's not impossible! Look right there! That's hundreds of Cloud prisoners!"
"Heh, I heard Menma took down the Fourth Raikage in single combat and sent him packing!"
"Wait, you mean the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!?"
"Watch your mouth! That's Lord Menma to you. Show some respect!"
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible! To think the Hidden Waterfall could beat the Hidden Cloud... I must be dreaming!"
"Haha! Let's see anyone call us a trash village now!"
"With the Grass village backing us up, the Hidden Waterfall is finally taking its rightful place!"
"We're the Sixth Great Ninja Village now!!!"
The news spread like wildfire. Regardless of whether people wanted to believe it or not, the sight of hundreds of Cloud prisoners and the firsthand accounts of the returning soldiers were undeniable proof.
The Hidden Waterfall had crushed the Hidden Cloud!
This unimaginable outcome didn't just shock the village; it ignited a fire in their bellies.
All the cowardice, all the hesitation—it was completely vaporized by the blinding light of their triumph.
Humans naturally gravitate toward power. It's hardwired into their DNA.
Who cared about Menma's past or his age? If he could lead the Hidden Waterfall to victory, defeat their enemies, and elevate the village to new heights, then the people would gladly follow him. They would bow to him.
That was the harsh reality of the ninja world.
All the anxiety, fear, and dread that had plagued the village vanished in an instant.
Of course, this newfound loyalty was fragile. It wasn't built on genuine trust or a deep-seated belief in Menma; it was built on the high of a single victory. To truly win them over, Menma would have to keep delivering wins. He needed to prove, over time, that he was a leader worth dying for. Only then would he earn their true loyalty.
But that was a problem for another day. For now, Menma had exactly what he wanted.
As the village celebrated, Menma began rolling out his next set of strategies.
The situation in the Hidden Grass was playing out similarly. The Grass ninja had practically zero respect for Mui or Menma. Their obedience was maintained entirely through fear and force.
If a strong enough external pressure was applied, their loyalty would snap, triggering a total collapse.
The alliance with the Hidden Waterfall, coupled with the joint declaration of war from the Leaf and the Cloud, had already caused cracks to form. While the Hidden Waterfall had Shibuki—a legitimate leader—and figures like Fu and Agun to maintain order and keep panic at bay, the Hidden Grass was a different story.
When word spread that the Fourth Raikage was marching on them, the Hidden Grass village became a powder keg. Former subordinates of the previous leader, Masashi Shigeta, were already plotting a coup to overthrow Mui. Mui sensed the brewing rebellion and had been spending all his energy trying to keep the lid on it.
This instability was exactly why Menma hadn't brought any Grass ninja into the fight against the Cloud. They were too much of a wildcard. Putting them on the front lines would have inevitably led to a mutiny.
They, too, needed a massive victory to solidify their resolve.
And the defeat of the Cloud was exactly what the doctor ordered. While it wouldn't win their undying loyalty overnight, it would force them into submission.
Power was the ultimate argument.
When Mui, following Menma's orders, announced the victory to the entire Grass village, the initial shock and disbelief quickly gave way to a noticeable drop in tension.
"Link up with the Waterfall forces on the front lines and establish a joint defensive perimeter!"
When Mui issued Menma's order, the Grass ninja complied with far less resistance than usual. Unlike before, where they dragged their feet or looked for ways to undermine orders, this time, they moved with purpose.
They had always bowed to Mui and Menma out of fear. Now that Menma had proven he could go toe-to-toe with the Five Great Villages and win, nobody dared step out of line.
Fear of power. It was the only language they understood.
Most of these ninja had families and friends in the village. Nobody wanted to be branded a traitor and forced into exile if they didn't have to.
So, riding the shockwave of this massive victory, the Hidden Grass village stabilized. As long as Menma maintained his position of absolute dominance, the Grass ninja would continue to obey Mui—and by extension, Menma.