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After the four elders were captured...
Mui had them thrown directly into the dungeon, assigning his most trusted subordinates to guard them. This approach wasn't what Menma hoped to see, yet he was satisfied with it. It sounds contradictory, but that's how it was.
From a general perspective, Menma naturally wanted to see these four troublesome elders cleared out quickly. But from a human perspective, if Mui could really kill four senior companions he had gotten along with for a long time so easily and ruthlessly, Menma would actually feel a chill in his heart.
Imprisoning them.
Was the best approach.
It also made Menma feel a bit more at ease about Mui.
Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that Mui was acting.
But if that were the result, Menma would accept it. No one could truly be thorough and comprehensive in everything.
Menma could only do his best to strive for the result he wanted.
The four elders were captured.
Immediately after.
Mui directly mobilized all his forces.
He launched a blanket cleanup of the entire Hozuki Castle. Any Grass ninja belonging to the four elders' diehard faction were all captured. In this process, unless it was a small number of Grass ninja who resisted to the end or even adopted a posture of perishing together and were killed on the spot, the rest were mainly captured alive.
Karin, Suigetsu, and others whom Menma had dispatched in advance also led those few Waterfall ninja to positions near Hozuki Castle.
With the cooperation of the Grass ninja dispatched by Mui, they constructed a barrier that wasn't very strong but was sufficient to intercept most ordinary ninja.
Preventing accidents to the greatest extent.
"Everyone not from the headquarters has been imprisoned. I've also sent people to the village to report the news as you requested."
Hozuki Castle.
In the Warden's exclusive office.
Mui stood to the side.
Reporting softly to Menma, who was standing by the window overlooking the distant scenery.
"Very good. Next, please control the situation here at Hozuki Castle temporarily, Mui-san. When the appointed time comes, go to the Hidden Grass Village with me!"
Menma turned around, looking at Mui with a smile.
First, subduing this group of Grass ninja from the Castle Faction.
Then using the conflict between the Village Faction and the Castle Faction.
Deliberately guiding the Village Faction's gaze.
Using the opening of the Box of Ultimate Bliss to prompt that leader of the Hidden Grass Village to make a corresponding "correct" judgment.
What Menma wanted was to successfully eliminate a batch of diehard forces of that Hidden Grass Village leader in the wild, making it much easier to take over the Hidden Grass Village later.
It would be best if that Hidden Grass Village leader could lead the team personally; that would be the best result.
Of course, this wasn't something Menma could control.
"Do you really not need me to send personnel to accompany you? Although there is no clear information yet, based on my understanding of Hisashi Shigeru (the current leader of the Hidden Grass Village), he will definitely dispatch absolutely trusted elite forces. At that time, it might be..."
Mui seemed to hesitate, then spoke up.
But before he could finish.
Menma waved his hand gently to interrupt: "After all, they are still a ninja village. It's inappropriate for you to intervene too much. And in such a situation, it's harder to stop. Once too much blood is shed, it will be difficult to carry out the subsequent plans. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Instead, Hozuki Castle needs your attention, Mui-san. Not just internal issues, but also attention to external forces cannot be ignored even a little bit. Once everything goes smoothly on my side, I will need you to come forward and appease those people later!"
"Yes, I understand. Please rest assured, Lord Menma."
Mui also seemed to have fully adapted to his current role. As Menma's words fell, he immediately bowed in reply.
"Others are indeed inappropriate, but I should be fine, right, Lord Menma? My power can lend you a hand!"
Muku, who had been standing silently on the right side, suddenly spoke up.
Mui was slightly stunned.
Menma was also startled at first, but then shook his head gently and said: "You are also not suitable to strike now, Muku-kun. Satoru's power is very strong. You have only just adapted, and the suppression of consciousness is not yet in place. You need to adapt for a while longer, or even return to the Box of Ultimate Bliss to undergo cleansing a few times before you can use this power. Otherwise, with improper control, the control right will be seized back, which would be a true loss outweighing the gain!"
It could be said that Muku was truly the strongest combat power on Menma's side besides himself. Whether Utakata or Fu, facing Muku transformed into Satoru, they would appear a bit strained.
Judging from the performance in the original story.
Saying Satoru has strength approximating the Eight-Tails is no problem at all.
But precisely because of this.
Muku couldn't use this power easily.
This was the power of the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
Once Muku used it, he would definitely be further influenced by the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Even in normal mode, Muku needed to constantly resist the assimilation influence of the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Therefore, before Muku could adapt further to the Box of Ultimate Bliss, he absolutely couldn't use Satoru's power.
This was one of the important combat power supports in Menma's future plans.
He couldn't be reckless.
"This... yes, I understand, Lord Menma."
After hesitating for a moment, Muku nodded slowly.
Unlike Mui, who could be considered a man of heavy thoughts.
Muku truly belonged to the kind of simple-minded youth. Even though he knew clearly that Menma's help had his own plans involved, saving him was an indisputable fact. Muku acknowledged this kindness.
And Muku always had a feeling that without Menma, perhaps not only would he be unable to regain a new life, but even his father might not have a good ending.
This kindness needed to be repaid with all his efforts!
"Then, let everything proceed according to plan!"
Menma nodded with a smile.
"Yes, Lord Menma."
The father and son, Mui and Muku, bowed in sync.
"Mhm!"
Immediately after.
Whoosh!
Menma's figure blurred, leaving the spot directly, heading in the direction outside Hozuki Castle.
The first stage of the plan had unfolded smoothly. Next was the more important second stage plan.
Menma wanted to clear out all opposition in the Hidden Grass Village in the shortest time and bring the Hidden Grass Village's power under his rule.
Even if it was a reluctant kind, it didn't matter.
Because only by integrating the power of two ninja villages could he have the confidence to confront the Leaf, Cloud, and other ninja villages in the future.
Rather than truly relying on his own strength or the strength of a few people.
What Menma wanted wasn't just to survive alone, or a future like Obito and Madara's.
The future he wanted was the truly peaceful one he expected!