Hearing of Menma's return, Shibuki was obviously very happy.
After all, while Menma's identity was troublesome and could bring unpredictable danger to the Hidden Waterfall Village, for now, that danger was only potential. Unlike the huge benefits Menma had already brought to the village, which were ongoing.
Therefore, Shibuki was very concerned about Menma's safety.
Unlike initially, when he only trusted his grandfather Sō, Shibuki now vaguely felt in his heart that Menma would lead their Hidden Waterfall Village to an unprecedented peak.
Not to mention...
Shibuki also understood Menma's intention for this trip very well.
Upon learning that Menma didn't return alone but brought a tall, slender man with a very powerful aura...
A smile uncontrollably surfaced in Shibuki's eyes.
Again, the risk was indeed foreseeable, but it hadn't happened yet, had it?
But the strength of their ninja village had genuinely increased.
Three Tailed Beast Jinchuriki!
Ask around: in the entire ninja world today, which other ninja village could compare!?
Although Shibuki was a bit of a political novice, he could judge that just having three Tailed Beast Jinchuriki would 100% make other ninja villages wary. This was solid war potential.
At that moment, without any hesitation, Shibuki directly called for Agun, who was working in the adjacent building.
"Come with me, Agun-san. Accelerator-san has returned. Let's go over there."
Shibuki stood up and said to the arriving Agun.
"Oh? Accelerator-san is back? But, Lord Shibuki, is it necessary for you to go over? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for me to send someone to summon Accelerator-san here?"
Agun was stunned at first, then as if thinking of something, he spoke up subconsciously.
It wasn't that Agun had any opinion against Menma.
He also acknowledged Menma's function and value to the Hidden Waterfall Village.
Even in the future, Agun would be willing to obey Menma's command as a subordinate, but there was a premise: the leader of the Hidden Waterfall Village must be Shibuki, and the Hidden Waterfall Village could only have Shibuki's voice.
Agun couldn't accept anyone else usurping the host's role.
The former Suien couldn't.
Let alone the current Menma.
Hierarchy and closeness of relationship.
This was Agun's only criterion for judgment.
So, seeing Shibuki actually condescending to go to Menma personally, Agun subconsciously objected.
A leader must have the style of a leader.
In normal mode, they can get along equally and friendly.
But at necessary moments, established rules must be followed.
In Agun's view, this was very necessary.
"Huh? Oh, it's not what you think, Agun. It's because the special person brought back by Accelerator-san today isn't convenient to show his face in the village for now, so it's more appropriate for us to go over."
Shibuki didn't react at first.
But just a second later...
Meeting Agun's eyes...
He could understand the thoughts of this senior subordinate who was more than ten years older than him. It must be said that Shibuki was still very grateful for Agun's behavior in protecting him.
But occasionally, he still felt it was a bit too serious.
After all, Shibuki himself really didn't care much about this aspect.
What he cared about most was always the development of the village. Even if he had to make a decision more in line with the village's future, giving up this position wasn't something Shibuki hadn't considered.
Shibuki could be considered an extremely rare "good guy" among the leaders of major ninja villages today.
"Oh? Is that so? Then I was presumptuous."
Agun was stunned at first, then quickly replied.
Subsequently.
The two headed toward the east side of the village one after another.
As the largest area currently in use in the Hidden Waterfall Village, the main feature here was a large area belonging to Menma for personal training and experiments. If there were a group of people in the village who were dissatisfied at the beginning...
Since that super-large sensory barrier was set up...
And successfully captured several spies from other ninja villages...
That discordant voice also dissipated.
Capable people are not allowed to be questioned.
At least on the surface, this is the case. Not to mention that Menma was not only strong himself but could also bring special benefits to the village, so he couldn't be questioned openly.
This super-large sensory barrier was the most important step for Menma to initially gain the recognition of the Waterfall ninja.
The stability and cohesion of the entire ninja village had improved a lot because of the layout of this barrier.
Those captured spies from various ninja villages further consolidated the safety factor of the Hidden Waterfall Village.
Of course, this must have been known by other ninja villages.
It was destined to attract more attention from other ninja villages, but coincidentally at this time, the conflict between the three major ninja villages—Leaf, Cloud, and Mist—broke out, directly attracting more than half of the ninja world's attention.
The Hidden Waterfall Village, on the contrary, didn't have many people caring about it.
A sensory barrier.
Who's to say they didn't suddenly get enlightened after researching in this area for so many years? After all, the Hidden Waterfall Village was a ninja village that almost became the sixth great nation; they should still have this bit of foundation, right? As for spies being caught, isn't that a common occurrence?
In these times, there hasn't been a high-level spy dispatched by anyone who hasn't had an accident.
Concern is naturally necessary.
But more importantly, one must watch the changes in the Five Great Nations!
Who can be sure if a Great Ninja War will break out in the next second?
Therefore, from this aspect, the collision of the three major nations also bought some time for the Hidden Waterfall Village.
The premise was that Menma wouldn't be exposed here.
But as long as there are traces, they can still be detected; the difference is just a matter of time. Neither Menma nor the Hidden Waterfall Village can possibly erase all traces.
Not to mention that the Hidden Waterfall Village is such a large-scale existence.
Isn't the Akatsuki organization the same, existing in the intelligence reconnaissance systems of the major nations? Information about the Rinnegan was also known by some parts even earlier, wasn't it?
But why didn't the major nations take action in advance until before the final war arrived?
To put it bluntly, it's still the so-called human heart ruining things.
Arrogance!
Suspicion!
Greed!
Mutual restraint.
This is the root cause. Therefore, often, just a small delay in time is enough.
Menma never thought he could keep hiding forever. The most important thing was his methods, and most importantly, the foundation of his own strength!
Therefore, in light of the current situation.
It is very necessary to further accelerate the rhythm of his side's plan.
On the way Shibuki and Agun arrived.
Menma thought silently in his heart.
"Oh? People are here. Karin, go open the door."
Without needing to deliberately spread his sensory power.
Menma could easily detect the chakra of others entering a certain range of his, especially with the increase in his control precision of the Nine-Tails' chakra; any spread of negative emotions could be easily captured by Menma.
This is why he can travel more unscrupulously now.
Even White Zetsu couldn't get close to a certain distance without Menma's permission.
Anyone wanting to sneak attack Menma...
It was impossible to do.
Unless it was a space-time ninjutsu, and an instant one at that, only then might it be possible to achieve the effect of sneak attacking Menma.
Shibuki and Agun's chakra.
Menma could lock onto them from far away.
"Mhm!"
Karin, who had just prepared tea on the side, responded lightly and walked quickly to the door, opening it directly.
"Shibuki-san, Agun-san."
The figures of the two appeared at the door just right.
"Sorry to trouble you two to come over."
Menma also stood up synchronously, saying with a hint of apology.
"No, this is also for the sake of the village. After all, Utakata-san's identity indeed needs to be temporarily concealed."
Shibuki, stepping into the room, saw Utakata standing up with Menma. His eyes lit up, and he smiled indifferently.
Agun on the side looked at Utakata with a look of curiosity and vigilance.
Toward Menma.
Agun wasn't 100% trusting to begin with. Even with Elder Sō's endorsement and Shibuki always saying Menma was credible, Agun still held a little bit of vigilance. Not suspecting Menma wanted to do something to the Hidden Waterfall Village.
He also believed that everything Menma did was to make the village stronger.
But he still suspected whether Menma wanted to seize the leader's position.
And now, this stranger ninja pulled in by Menma—from Agun's perspective, was this another move by Menma to strengthen his own faction and increase his voice!?
You know, the establishment of the Barrier Squad...
Had already allowed Menma to initially possess a certain degree of status and prestige in this village.
This pace was faster than Agun expected.
He felt it was necessary to suppress it a bit.
Is this the ninja Accelerator reeled in? His aura seems very ordinary? Is it because of his identity?
Agun sized up Utakata, frowning slightly.
But how could Agun know that unless one was a specialized sensory type ninja, with Utakata actively restraining his aura and not deliberately exploding chakra, how could Agun have the ability to ascertain Utakata's specific situation!?
And Utakata could naturally easily detect Agun sizing him up. He didn't care; this was very normal behavior. Menma had also explained clearly about his status in the ninja village and his current identity disguise.
And since he came following Menma, joining halfway, people being curious and doubtful about him...
This was simply too normal.
But that Lord Leader...
Although Utakata didn't possess powerful sensory abilities like Menma as an Uzumaki, nor did the Six-Tails Saiken possess the ability to sense malice like the Nine-Tails, Tailed Beasts are combinations of chakra after all. As a Jinchuriki, his perception was still much sharper than ordinary people.
He could "see."
This leader named Shibuki was full of joy at his arrival. This was solidly a look of welcoming him very much.
This made Utakata a little confused.
This was a bit different from his estimation before coming.
This was the Hidden Waterfall Village.
He was a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village.
Menma also joined halfway.
Although they could enhance the power of the entire village, the risks brought were also foreseeable, not to mention other potential threats.
Utakata wasn't that kind of hot-blooded, simple guy.
The darkness of human hearts.
Utakata was equally familiar with it.
This seems a bit different from the estimate?
Utakata glanced obscurely at Menma, Shibuki, and Agun, thinking silently in his heart.
"Well, it is indeed so, but it's only temporary. Because this time out, we still encountered some accidents."
Menma first greeted Shibuki and Agun to sit down, then shrugged, saying with a bit of helplessness.
Originally, according to the plan.
The best result would be to enter the village quietly, without firing a gun.
To con... cough... persuade Utakata back to the Hidden Waterfall Village without anyone else knowing would be best.
Although it would definitely be discovered later.
Especially by the Akatsuki organization.
But such an approach would definitely delay things for a while.
But plans can't keep up with changes.
This trip was truly a gathering of heroes. The Leaf side sent two groups, then there was the accidentally encountered Cloud group led by Darui, and the Mist pursuit unit that didn't meet face-to-face but was always around.
Being forced to meet Jiraiya and others...
Had already planted the risk of exposing his tracks.
As mentioned before, this kind of thing doesn't need evidence; being suspected is enough!
"Accident? You mean the Mist ninja?"
Shibuki was stunned slightly.
Agun on the side was even more confused, completely failing to get why his leader suddenly talked about the Hidden Mist Village?
But this was normal.
The current time point was just when the conflict between the three major ninja villages broke out. The specific reasons were unknown to the outside world. The news sent by the Fourth Raikage had just begun to spread.
It would take a day or two to ferment.
Menma could get the news in advance thanks to Orochimaru.
"It has to do with the conflict between the three major nations that just broke out recently. The specific reason is..."
After a slight pause, Menma concisely narrated the general process of his trip.
Shibuki and Agun's faces changed constantly as Menma described, especially the latter.
He subconsciously widened his eyes and opened his mouth.
What the hell!?
This man with bangs covering one eye next to him is the rogue Six-Tails Jinchuriki from the Hidden Mist Village!?
And they encountered Cloud ninja and Leaf ninja!?
And the latter was led by the famous Jiraiya!?
Then what did Menma do? Repelled one of the prestigious Sannin of the Leaf!?
Does this companion of ours who joined halfway have such strong power!?
Agun suddenly felt the world was too unreal.
His brain completely couldn't understand the series of events his ears heard!