Menma was stunned for a moment upon hearing the words of these four Hidden Grass elders. He really hadn't expected that after he had spoken so clearly just now, and with the scene playing out vividly before their eyes...
They could still be so stubbornly foolish?
Menma frowned instantly.
Just as he was about to say something...
"Four elders, the Box of Ultimate Bliss is not a wishing machine at all. It is a thing that absorbs chakra and then cultivates war weapons, just like the thing I manifested just now," Muku spoke up first.
"Hmph, don't try to deceive us, Muku. You died eight years ago, yet now you can be resurrected. Isn't this the ability of the Box of Ultimate Bliss!?" The female elder sneered, still speaking very stubbornly.
"Or do you father and son intend to monopolize the Box of Ultimate Bliss!? Mui, have you forgotten the glory of our Hidden Grass Village!? Becoming so selfish now!?" The leading burly male elder followed with a stern scolding.
At the same time, the other three elders also glared at the father and son, Mui and Muku. In their view, this was the most abominable and greedy manifestation of Mui and his son wanting to swallow the treasure, the Box of Ultimate Bliss, for themselves.
"You abused your power privately to resurrect your son. This is already a grave crime. The four of us, considering your past hard work if not merit, won't hold it against you. But now, do you still intend to go your own way!? Mui! This is a betrayal of the village!!"
The leading male elder took a step forward. The gaze exposed under his mask was so fierce and cold.
As if ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.
"Truly stubborn to a certain extent, beyond salvation. Leaving aside whether this Box of Ultimate Bliss is really a wishing machine, why should I help you? What qualifications do you have for me to help you? Any condition I ask? Truly laughable. If the Box of Ultimate Bliss really were a wishing machine, what use would I have for you!?"
Menma on the side revealed a look of sarcasm, looking at the four elders and saying.
The words spoken.
Made the four elders stunned at first, then their faces changed drastically.
Before the four could do anything...
Boom!
Whoosh!
Menma directly unleashed a massive chakra aura, releasing four golden chains once again.
With lightning speed, before the four elders could react at all, they easily bound the four of them.
"This is!?"
"Bastard, let me go!"
"Mui! Are you really going to betray the village!?"
"Mui!!"
Chakra perfectly curbed, completely losing room for resistance.
The four elders cursed directly at that moment.
"Mui-san, I leave these four to you. I trust you won't do anything irrational, right?"
Menma completely ignored the clamor of the four, looking instead at Mui beside him, speaking in a calm tone.
If possible, Menma naturally wanted to kill these four so-called elders directly. Just like the plan Menma set before departure, a significant number of so-called high-level personnel in the Hidden Grass Village needed to be dealt with by bloody means.
Time waited for no one.
Menma didn't have the energy or mind to play political games with these old foxes. The most direct method was to rule everything with violence.
The aftereffects would certainly be obvious.
But it was clean and efficient!
These four, who clearly held important positions in the "Castle Faction" and belonged to the old stubborn type of Grass ninja, were targets Menma had to clean up.
But after all, it was in front of Mui.
Menma still needed to exercise some restraint.
He couldn't kill all the high-level personnel after all; he still needed a buffer, letting some people serve as intermediate channels for him to govern the Hidden Grass Village. Mui was the most suitable one. Otherwise, why would Menma work so hard and think of every way to save Muku!?
Wasn't it just to do a favor for Mui?
Letting this de facto number one person in the Castle Faction obey his orders.
Not killing these four Hidden Grass elders directly.
Was both a form of respect for Mui and a test for Mui.
Sometimes plans are full, but reality is skinny. Even if Menma was 99% sure Mui wouldn't betray his promise, he still needed to guard against the possibility.
"Rest assured, Menma-kun... no! Lord Menma, everything will be as you wish!"
Looking at the four Hidden Grass elders still cursing, a faint look of complexity flashed in Mui's pupils at first, but soon it was replaced by a look of determination. Meeting Menma's calm gaze...
Mui revealed a respectful look completely different from the previous coldness, bowing slightly to Menma in reply.
The next second.
"Fire Style: Celestial Prison!"
As if to verify his words.
Scorching flames manifested directly on Mui's single hand, pressing swiftly and successively onto the four elders who had lost their power to resist.
"Ah!?"
"Ugh!?"
The powerful sealing jutsu applied.
Directly imprisoned the chakra of the four elders.
Seeing Mui's action and hearing his words, a deep look of joy flowed in the depths of Menma's eyes.
But it was quickly concealed after just a second.
Human nature often cannot withstand testing.
Especially in a relationship formed upon first acquaintance.
But Menma had no choice. To quickly solve the Hidden Grass Village's problems, he had to choose an entry point, and Mui was the only choice.
Menma also had to choose to trust Mui.
I hope you are a person whose appearance matches your inner self, Mui-san!
Menma took a deep breath, thinking secretly in his heart.
"I leave these four to you to handle. Next, proceed according to the established plan, Mui-san. Time waits for no one!"
Menma nodded, then continued.
"Yes, Lord Menma, I understand. I will go arrange it now."
The first time might not be so proficient.
But the second time appeared much more natural.
Menma had reasons to make extra preparations and couldn't trust Mui 100%.
But Mui was truly willing to submit to Menma.
This was not only to repay Menma for saving his son but also because Mui had long been disappointed with the Hidden Grass Village.
Whether the Village Faction or the Castle Faction.
Those eternally unchanging rules.
That environment like stagnant water.
All made Mui lose any enthusiasm for the village. His son Muku's death eight years ago had directly awakened Mui.
Continuing like this for the village had no meaning.
Therefore.
Mui was truly willing to follow Menma to bring change to this village together!