Since Menma said there was something even more important to address, it had to be at least as significant as searching for the Three-Tails.
"What is it, Menma-kun?" Shibuki asked, instinctively straightening in his seat, his expression turning solemn.
Menma's eyes sharpened as a cold light flashed within them.
"We're going to attack Kusagakure… and forcibly annex it."
"What!?"
"Annex Kusagakure!?"
Not only Shibuki and Ajun even Yugao, seated behind Menma, was visibly startled.
Kusagakure was no insignificant hidden village. In terms of military strength, it was generally regarded as being on the same level as Takigakure and Yugakure, with nearly three thousand shinobi under its command.
Although it had suffered devastating losses at the hands of both Konohagakure and Iwagakureduring the Third Shinobi World War, its foundation still remained. It was by no means a village that could be underestimated.
If one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages wanted to annex Kusagakure, it would certainly be possible provided there was no outside interference.
But Takigakure?
"Menma, are you serious? Annex Kusagakure? With just us? Their overall strength isn't much weaker than ours, and launching an invasion would only attract the attention of the great nations even faster, wouldn't it?"
Shibuki looked at Menma in disbelief.
He had expected Menma to propose additional defensive preparations.
Instead, Menma had immediately thrown out an astonishing proposal.
Annex Kusagakure?
What exactly did Takigakure have to accomplish something like that?
It sounded almost impossible.
Ajun also shook his head firmly, his expression clearly showing his disagreement.
"I'm completely serious, Shibuki-san, Ajun-san. This isn't an idea I came up with on impulse. I've been preparing for this since last year."
Menma's tone was calm, yet utterly resolute.
Ever since defecting from Konohagakure and staying in Orochimaru's hideout within the Land of Earth, Menma had constantly considered which hidden village should become the foundation of his future ambitions.
The Five Great Shinobi Villages Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure had all been eliminated from consideration after repeated analysis.
Among the remaining villages, neither Yugakure nor Hoshigakure possessed enough value.
Amegakure was already firmly under Nagato's control.
After weighing every option, only Takigakure and Kusagakure remained.
His decision to choose Takigakure had been influenced by several factors. It possessed the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki, Fū, as well as the Hero Water. More importantly, its leader, Shibuki, was young, kind-hearted, and idealistic precisely the kind of leader with whom Menma could cooperate while gradually establishing his own influence.
However, Kusagakure also possessed unique advantages.
For instance, the average quality of its shinobi was considerably higher. Years of constant warfare had forged them into capable fighters. Overall, they were only slightly inferior to the ninja of Konoha, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure, while standing roughly on the same level as the shinobi of Kirigakure and Sunagakure.
More importantly…
Kusagakure possessed the legendary Box of Bliss.
A relic inherited from the era of the Sage of Six Paths himself.
It was an authentic strategic weapon.
In terms of destructive potential, it could rival even surpass the power of many tailed beasts. Against anything from the One-Tails through the Seven-Tails, the Box of Bliss possessed tremendous suppressive capability.
Of course, using it also carried tremendous risks.
Because of that alone, Menma had never abandoned his investigation of Kusagakure, even after joining Takigakure.
From the information he had gathered and from what he knew of the original storyline Kusagakure was far from united.
At the very least, its internal power was clearly divided between two major factions.
The first was the official leadership of Kusagakure itself, headed by the village chief, Kusakage Yano.
The second was the faction centered around Hōzuki Castle, controlled by several influential Kusagakure elders and Mui, the warden of the largest prison in the shinobi world.
When Menma had first considered Kusagakure as his target, his initial strategy had been to exploit these internal divisions, gradually weakening the village from within before taking control piece by piece.
Unfortunately, the difficulty of such an operation was extraordinarily high.
Moreover, the leaders on both sides were seasoned veterans.
Old foxes.
Unless absolutely necessary, Menma had no desire to compete with people who had spent decades navigating political intrigue.
Scheming against experienced manipulators was never his greatest strength.
One careless mistake, and he could easily become the one being manipulated instead.
Against people lacking strength, overwhelming force was enough.
Against people lacking cunning, strategy worked.
But when facing individuals who possessed both experience and political wisdom…
Choosing the battlefield that suited you best was the only correct approach.
Play to your strengths.
Avoid your weaknesses.
That had always been Menma's principle.
"Now is the perfect opportunity to move against Kusagakure. During the past several months, I've already established preliminary contact with certain individuals inside the village…"
From there, Menma explained every preparation he had made over the previous six months.
Nothing was omitted.
From intelligence gathering…
To infiltration…
To the contacts he had secretly cultivated…
To every step of his overall strategy.
He laid everything before Shibuki and Ajun without reservation.
After all, this operation involved the entire military strength of Takigakure.
Unlike a simple extermination campaign, this war sought to annex an entire hidden village.
That meant a large number of Takigakure shinobi would be required to contain Kusagakure's forces at the critical moment.
Even if Menma and Yugao were individually powerful enough to overwhelm entire battlefields, they could not personally capture thousands of enemy shinobi.
Once the battle began, Takigakure would need enough personnel to secure prisoners, maintain order, and stabilize the village after victory.
Naturally, such an operation required the full approval of both Shibuki and Ajun.
Furthermore, Menma had long recognized another weakness within Takigakure.
Its shinobi lacked real battlefield experience.
Poor training was only part of the problem.
The greater issue was the lack of sustained combat.
If Takigakure's forces were suddenly forced to fight elite shinobi from Konoha, Kumogakure, or Iwagakure, they would almost certainly suffer catastrophic losses.
Kusagakure, however…
Was the perfect opponent.
Whether through direct combat, prisoner operations, or post-war security missions, every engagement would temper Takigakure's shinobi.
Kusagakure would become the whetstone that forged Takigakure into a truly powerful hidden village.
As Menma continued explaining his plans in greater detail, the shock on both Shibuki's and Ajun's faces gradually subsided.
A true leader did not make decisions first and think afterward.
He planned first…
Then acted.
Menma could not claim to have completely reached that standard.
But he had done everything within his ability to consider every possible variable before making his decision.
Just as he himself had said
Every step they took from this point onward had to be correct.
One wrong move…
Could send them plunging into an abyss from which there would be no return.
"This is my complete plan."
Menma paused before continuing seriously.
"I can't guarantee a one hundred percent success rate. But if we seize the initiative and capture Kusagakure before the other great villages have time to react or intervene, I believe we have at least a seventy to eighty percent chance of succeeding."
Both Shibuki and Ajun understood his reasoning.
They could even see the opportunity.
By Menma's calculations, the probability of success was indeed considerable.
Even so…
Launching an invasion against another hidden village of nearly equal strength and not merely defeating it, but annexing it completely in the shortest possible time still sounded almost unbelievable.
Especially considering that Takigakure itself might soon become the target of Konoha, Kumogakure, or even other major powers.
"I still think the risks are simply too great."
Ajun spoke with complete seriousness.
"If the plan stalls for even a little while, or if Konoha, Kumogakure, or Iwagakure intervene ahead of schedule, we'll immediately fall into an extremely dangerous situation. Menma-kun… I believe this deserves much more careful consideration."
The temptation was certainly enormous.
If everything truly succeeded…
Even if the newly annexed Grass shinobi could not immediately be won over, and internal conflicts inevitably arose, Takigakure's overall scale would instantly rival Sunagakure and Kirigakure.
Combined with top-tier combatants like Menma, Yugao, and Fū…
Takigakure could genuinely become recognized as the Sixth Great Shinobi Village.
At that point, Shibuki could openly assume the title of Takikage.
Whether the Five Great Shinobi Villages would still dare declare war so casually would become a very different question.
The future Menma envisioned was undeniably attractive.
But…
That future depended upon everything proceeding perfectly.
If Kusagakure resisted more fiercely than expected…
If the battle dragged on…
Or if the defeated Grass shinobi refused to surrender and continued waging guerrilla warfare…
One problem after another would emerge.
Should Konoha, Kumogakure, or Iwagakure choose that moment to intervene…
The consequences would be unimaginable.
That was precisely why Ajun opposed the plan so strongly.
He simply could not accept gambling the village's future on what he considered an overly optimistic estimate.
To him, a seventy to eighty percent chance of success was little more than youthful confidence.
What Ajun himself failed to notice, however, was that ever since Menma had revealed his true identity, a subtle change had occurred within his own mindset.
An adult in his twenties…
And a thirteen-year-old boy…
Without considering any additional factors, most people would instinctively place greater trust in the former.
Age was not everything.
But at times…
It influenced people's judgment far more than they realized.
Menma himself had long since noticed this subtle change.
Especially after seeing Shibuki begin to waver under Ajun's repeated objections.
Taking a slow breath, Menma gently shook his head before speaking with complete seriousness.
"My words may sound somewhat inappropriate, Ajun-san… but do we truly have any room left to retreat?"
"I understand why you believe this operation carries enormous risks. Given Takigakure's current strength, perhaps we could barely withstand attacks from Konoha and Kumogakure with the additional support of Orochimaru-san and Lord Ōnoki. In that sense, perhaps there would be no need to take such a gamble."
He paused.
"But those are still external forces."
"They are not truly ours."
"Our own strength remains too shallow."
"Too fragile."
"If we retreat now simply because we're afraid, who can guarantee that the dangers awaiting us later won't be even greater?"
"Gambling is indeed dangerous under normal circumstances."
"But…"
"We no longer have the luxury of avoiding risks."
"If we can absorb Kusagakure and unite the strength of both hidden villages…"
"Only then will Takigakure possess a true foundation upon which to stand in this shinobi world."
Menma's crimson eyes met those of both Shibuki and Ajun without wavering.
He admitted to himself that there was pressure within those words.
Perhaps even coercion.
The moment he had entered Takigakure…
The village had already begun tying its fate to his own.
Unless Shibuki had betrayed him from the very beginning revealing everything about Menma to Konoha, Kumogakure, and the other great villages
Their destinies had already become inseparable.
Especially after Menma had begun strengthening Takigakure and bringing tangible benefits to its people…
There had never been any path back.
Either they advanced together…
Or they fell into the abyss together.
Shibuki had understood that from the very beginning.
So had the late Elder Satoru.
Both of them had willingly chosen to gamble.
Not simply because they believed in Menma's potential…
But because, at that time, they had possessed no better option.
Mizuha's rebellion had already pushed Takigakure to the brink.
Had they rejected Menma then…
Neither Shibuki nor Takigakure would have survived for long.
As for regretting that decision afterward…
Shibuki was not that kind of person.
Nor did he possess such cowardice.
Therefore…
Just as Menma had said…
There was no road left except forward.
"You're right."
Shibuki slowly inhaled before speaking firmly.
"We have no path left except to continue moving forward."
Just as Ajun was about to object once more, Shibuki spoke first.
"Everything will proceed according to your plan."
He turned toward Ajun.
"Ajun-san, immediately place the entire village on the highest state of combat readiness. When the time comes…"
"Our forces will march against Kusagakure."
His expression was utterly resolute.
"..."
Ajun looked conflicted.
He opened his mouth several times, wanting to argue further.
Yet when he met Shibuki's unwavering gaze, he could only sigh inwardly before finally nodding.
"…Understood."
Afterward, Ajun confirmed several operational details with Menma before departing to begin the necessary preparations.
Even though wars between shinobi villages differed greatly from the large-scale wars of Menma's previous life, there were still countless preparations that had to be completed beforehand.
Although Menma spoke as though the invasion of Kusagakure would begin soon…
In reality, at least half a month of preparation remained necessary.
Furthermore, before war officially began…
Menma still intended to send covert operatives into Kusagakure to create internal chaos and significantly weaken the village's resistance from within.
The strategy felt strangely familiar.
It was essentially a larger-scale version of the operation Menma had used before joining Takigakure.
The only difference was…
This time…
His methods would be far more ruthless.
Those influential figures within Kusagakure who remained stubbornly opposed…
Would all have to be eliminated.
After Ajun departed, Shibuki hesitated briefly before turning toward Menma.
"Menma-kun… Ajun-san is simply being cautious."
"He isn't questioning your judgment or your abilities."
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