Avengers of the Whirlpool Family

But that's just one sentence.

This made Lu Jiu feel relieved. He smiled and said softly, "Of course, only for now!"

Those were also words that came out in a resounding response.

Menma only raised his eyelids slightly but didn't say anything else.

"You are indeed outstanding, Shikaku-san."

He was staring at Shikaku in front of him.

Menma fell into silence for the third time.

After a while.

Menma, who seemed to have just come to his senses, spoke in a calm tone.

"That's all, but you must remember that this is only for a short period of time. I will never forget the 12 years I spent in the Hidden Leaf Village. If I find an opportunity, I will not hesitate."

Menma took a deep breath and said in a very determined tone.

"That's natural!"

The ultimate final.

The moment I saw Menma say this.

There was just the right amount of joy on Shikaku's face.

Although before coming, Shikaku had repeatedly considered and weighed his words several times, and confirmed that there was indeed a certain probability that he could convince Menma, but after all, this kind of thing depends on others.

You can't really control your destiny.

Therefore, with Lu Jiu's personality, he was still a little nervous. Now, seeing that Menma agreed, his original intention had been realized.

Shikaku would naturally feel happy.

You have to know that this was only after he came to the Hikari Village that he made the decision to change his mind within just a few days.

Such a result.

Shikaku felt that Lord Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya in his own ninja village would still be satisfied.

Even though the process is slightly different.

But the result is what matters, isn’t it?

The subject is determined.

The remaining details were easy to discuss, and there was no need for Menma and Shikaku to negotiate at all, as they saw that the time was almost up.

"Well, I'll be rude today."

Lu Jiu stood up immediately, bowed, and said goodbye.

"Ah."

After Menma nodded slowly.

Lu Jiu also turned around and strode towards the office door at the rear left.

And that was the moment when he reached the door and was about to open it.

"Oh, by the way, Lord Tianying, since you can put everything aside for the time being, I have a small request here. I wonder if Lord Tianying can agree to it."

Shikaku seemed to suddenly remember something, and he stopped abruptly, turned sideways and looked at Menma, and asked with a sincere look.

It all looks so natural.

But Menma could clearly smell a sense of incongruity.

Before Menma could say anything.

"They are some of the people who came with the delegation this time. Lord Tianying must know them. They came here just to see their former companions, especially Hinata. In the past period of time, they always thought it was their responsibility and did not dare to ask for anything. They just wanted to see her. Ah, it is definitely not a forced act. I just hope Lord Tianying can be more magnanimous."

Shikaku, who was sitting at the door, simply stated his request.

Menma's eyes also fixed and his face darkened instantly. The faint chill that was released subconsciously was so cold that the temperature in the entire office seemed to drop suddenly at that moment.

However, Lu Jiu still had that sincere look on his face, as if he didn't notice anything.

The look of annoyance on Menma's face came and went quickly.

Just after a pause of a few seconds.

"Don't worry about unnecessary things, Lu Jiu-san, this is the long-term solution."

Menma looked at Shikaku indifferently and spoke in a slightly cold tone.

"Ah, yes, I will keep it in mind. I am sorry for being so presumptuous, please forgive me, Master Tianying."

Shikaku also bowed again with an apologetic look on his face.

Then he slowly opened the door and walked away lightly.

And it was just when Shikaku's chakra aura had completely disappeared.

Menma's brows slightly frowned.

"The marks are still a little too obvious, and I used too much force... But as long as I take the bait, it's fine."

While gently shaking his head, he thought secretly in his heart.

Menma's words and actions just now were all acting, not to mention that Menma looks only 14 years old.

Even for normal adults, it is difficult to have such acting skills and sophistication.

Menma has already performed very well.

Generally speaking.

It is enough to deceive almost everyone, because Menma's age is actually a better protective color, which will make people more inclined to believe Menma inadvertently.

But it is obvious that Shikaku will be an exception.

This guy is so smart.

He is so smart that it is almost difficult for Menma to find someone with the same IQ as him in this ninja world.

Even Dodai, the think tank of the Hidden Cloud Village who has served two generations of Raikage, is no match for him.

The number one military strategist in the ninja world is no joke.

When it comes to analyzing and grasping current affairs, and understanding human nature, Shikaku is unique, and Menma doesn't think that others won't be able to see through his performance.

But Menma doesn't need Shikaku's 100% trust.

As long as you can believe part of it.

That would be enough as bait.

Because Menma knows the guys in Konohagakure Village too well, the role he plays now is that of a real pretender.

As for if a certain alliance agreement is really reached, we have to worry about whether the alliance will be broken.

First of all, the issues of alliance and credibility in the ninja world are a joke.

Second.

Just wait until your plan is ready.

Menma is confident enough to stimulate the Hidden Leaf Village to break this alliance first.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 385 Respective Expectations

Everything still depends on how things unfold.

At this point.

Menma himself still has a relatively clear understanding. Anyway, it is already the 62nd year of Konoha, and it has entered the final countdown. If he does not take action, Obito and Nagato should also take action.

The next thing to compete is the means of speed between each other.

We need to continue negotiations with Shikaku.

There must be further inducement from the Hidden Leaf Village. With the information from Orochimaru and the information vaguely mentioned by Shikaku, it can be 100% confirmed that the Hidden Leaf Village is in cahoots with the Hidden Leaf Village. This is of course expected.

But Menma definitely does not want to continue fighting with Konoha and Iwagakure now. This is not in line with Menma's expectations.

Fortunately, it will take some time for the Iwagakure Village to fully digest the benefits it has obtained from the Kumogakure Village, and there is no way that the Iwagakure Village will attack them alone.

As long as it can stabilize Konoha a little.

It doesn’t take too long. If you take half a year or ten months, your preparations will be complete enough.

Therefore, some necessary strategies should be implemented as early as possible.

As for Naruto.

Menma would never let them meet. The filter thing was only there at the beginning, and it was all shattered afterwards. What about those former companions in the Hidden Leaf Village?

All we can say is that people have different ideals and cannot work together.

What they think and what they do is their business, and Menma will not indulge them.

Everything still depends on yourself.

Menma slightly bent the index finger of his right hand and tapped lightly on the table, looking at the scenery of his own ninja village outside the window. His eyes also became deep at this moment, and he quietly thought about his other arrangements.

And it was just as Menma himself guessed.

When Shikaku left, he was not at all as excited and happy as he had been in the office.

Although there is indeed a sense of relaxation to some extent.

But I am more worried about the future.

Menma's performance is already superb, but someone with rich life experience like Shikaku is even more sensitive.

How could Shikaku not see through Menma's disguise?

It's just under this disguise.

There is still some genuine feeling revealed.

On this point, Shikaku can still be sure, and it is based on this point that Shikaku has the corresponding confidence in his heart, not to mention the topic about Naruto that he mentioned casually later.

Shikaku could be absolutely sure that there was no water in the expression on Menma's face at that moment.

Then, combined with the seemingly insignificant but still useful "neighborhood intelligence" that Suo had investigated before, Shikaku was already nearly 99% sure that Naruto was definitely still alive.

Verify this information.

This is the biggest reason why Shikaku volunteered to come to the Hikari Village!

"Luckily Naruto is still alive. At least this isn't the worst possible situation..."

As Lu Jiu walked towards the place where his delegation was staying, he felt grateful in his heart.

The relationship between Shikaku and Minato is pretty good.

They have fought side by side several times.

In the first year that Minato came to power, Shikaku was Minato's most important right-hand man. It should be said that both publicly and privately, Shikaku was the most steadfast figure in Minato's faction. Unfortunately, Minato died in battle at such a young age.

It is also based on this point.

Menma's defection.

There is still some guilt in Shikaku's heart.

However, the Ino, Shika, and Chou clans have always been the most staunch Hokage-affiliated ninja clans. They would obey the orders of whoever was the Hokage 100%. At that time, they could not and dared not disobey the orders of the Third Hokage.

Unless Tsunade or Jiraiya can take the lead.

Only Lu Jiucai could possibly get involved.

And it's just a possibility.

The positioning of the Ino, Deer, and Chou clans in the place where they established their village in the Hidden Leaf Village has always been very clear and firm. This is also their way of survival and cannot be easily changed.

Therefore, Shikaku felt a certain guilt towards Minato in his heart.

The news of Naruto's death at Menma's hands only exacerbated this, and now it was confirmed that Naruto was still alive.