Any choice often carries varying degrees of risk.
This is especially true for taking sides in a power group. Choosing wrong, the only result awaiting them is destruction.
No superior can accept those who weren't on the same page with them from the beginning. Although it's unclear how much confidence Mui has, judging from the intelligence known before, Mui already had the power to contend with their leader. Now, having obtained the help of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Menma Uzumaki, and even arguably Orochimaru... no matter how you look at it, the scales of victory are tipping towards Mui's side.
As mentioned before.
The current external view generally holds that Menma represents Orochimaru.
The reason this former Hokage's son defected was due to Orochimaru's deception. Otherwise, would a 12-year-old boy make such a choice himself!?
Mui + Orochimaru.
This weight is already heavy enough!
It's just that making them decide in such a short time is truly difficult. Don't even mention neutrality.
That's a choice made only when there's truly no other way, and largely something stupid people do.
Or perhaps a choice made by those truly without desires.
As long as you don't worry about being marginalized, you can choose neutrality. In the end, any normal superior indeed won't attack neutral people for the sake of stability.
But neutral people shouldn't expect to gain any benefits in the future political landscape.
Power, status.
Will have nothing to do with these people.
"I will follow Lord Mui 100%, and I believe Lord Mui will become the greatest leader of our Hidden Grass Village!"
Others were still hesitating, but the green-haired female Grass ninja took the lead in declaring her stance.
She was already Mui's most steadfast follower, needing no hesitation.
"Mhm, what about you guys? Time waits for no one. If you wait until the news of Hisashi's death comes back to decide, it will be too late."
This blatantly revealed killing intent.
Made the remaining Grass ninja's faces change involuntarily.
They had guessed before that since the other side was prepared, they would definitely act against their leader. The reason they were unsure was thinking that if Hisashi died, there was naturally nothing more to say, but what if he came back alive!?
He was ultimately the justifiable leader of the village.
Unless unexpected events occurred, many people would still choose to support Hisashi Shigeru.
He was different from a leader like Shibuki who had absolutely no prestige; Hisashi had led the Hidden Grass Village for nearly 20 years.
For a moment, asking these Grass ninja to make a decision was indeed a bit difficult.
But hesitation ultimately couldn't last long.
"I am also willing to follow Lord Mui!"
With the difficult opening of a black long-haired Grass ninja on the far left...
The remaining three or four Grass ninja were like a dam bursting open.
"I am also willing."
"Willing to obey Lord Mui's orders!"
One by one, they declared their attitudes successively.
There were still risks, but currently, Mui's chances of winning were much higher. Since a choice had to be made, they could only follow their feelings.
"Very good, I knew you all were sensible people. Then, everyone, please act according to Lord Mui's orders!"
The blue-haired man spoke with great joy.
Then he told the Grass ninja in front of him the orders received from Mui.
After receiving their respective orders.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
These Grass ninja dispersed to execute their assigned tasks.
As for whether all of them would honestly obey Mui's orders, only they themselves and God knew.
However, what they didn't know was...
Their choices were merely icing on the cake.
Whether Mui.
Or Menma.
Neither truly felt these people were necessarily that important.
If they could be subdued smoothly, that would naturally be best, saving a lot of trouble. Even if some tried a little trick...
Menma and Mui also had corresponding means waiting.
Menma didn't let Mui join him in the encirclement mission partly because Hozuki Castle needed Mui to integrate, and partly because once matters there were initially arranged, Mui would follow Menma's orders and detour directly to the Hidden Grass Village.
This was also a preparation in case an accident occurred with Menma and Hisashi Shigeru wasn't killed.
It could be said.
Menma had made corresponding arrangements for all factors that could be considered.
And Hisashi Shigeru, who had already left the village, was still completely kept in the dark. He had no idea that internal waves were already surging in his ninja village, and he was rapidly stepping into the trap Menma had already set up.
The group of Grass ninja sped forward.
Because it was in their own territory.
Hisashi Shigeru had absolutely no warning. Along the way, he chose the shortest main road to advance straight. This couldn't be blamed entirely on Hisashi Shigeru's carelessness; he genuinely felt his side had the time deviation advantage. Currently, this was still within the Land of Grass, and there were a certain number of his own ninja village's strongholds at various border locations.
Since these strongholds sent no warning signals...
Why should Hisashi Shigeru worry!?
Large troops couldn't escape the inspection of these strongholds.
Small units? Hisashi Shigeru felt no need to worry at all. Moreover, at this time point, who would come to intercept him!?
Hisashi Shigeru naturally advanced boldly.
But what he absolutely didn't know was...
A dragnet was already waiting ahead for him to enter.
He didn't know that the forward strongholds were either removed in advance or had belonged to Mui's secret leadership from the beginning.
The tracks of Hisashi's group were almost right under others' noses.
And just when Hisashi Shigeru led his more than three hundred Grass ninja to the northernmost position, close to the border line...
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Suddenly.
In the position directly ahead.
A clear voice fell.
Rumble!!
A massive black shadow instantly entered the view of Hisashi Shigeru, Sanji, Raichi, and the others.
Thud!
The dull sound emitted directly upon landing.
Followed by that spreading chilling aura.
"Alert!"
Although unclear who the interceptor was, this menacing appearance...
Made Hisashi Shigeru's face change involuntarily.
Stopping abruptly, Hisashi Shigeru raised his right hand and shouted sternly.
Along with Hisashi Shigeru's words, the Grass ninja speeding behind also entered combat postures one by one.
"Who goes there!? Why block our way!?"
Hisashi Shigeru stepped forward, drawing a huge chakra blade directly, looking at that massive figure in the distance and shouting loudly.
Sanji, Raichi, and other Grass ninja followed closely behind.
"Heh, of course, to kill you, Lord Hisashi!"
On top of the huge black shadow.
A straight figure stepped out.
When that head of fiery red hair entered Hisashi Shigeru's view below...
The pupils of this Hidden Grass Village leader contracted abruptly.
"Menma Uzumaki!? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be!?"
"Shouldn't I still be on the way? Heh, Lord Hisashi, haven't you ever thought that this might be a trap?"
The visitor, Menma, standing on top of his summon beast Urushi, looked at Hisashi Shigeru with a faint smile and said.
Menma really hadn't expected the plan to go so smoothly.
Originally, in his estimation.
The probability of Hisashi Shigeru dispatching personally was at most 50%.
Even considering other possibilities.
Risk issues had to be considered, right?
The most likely scenario was Hisashi Shigeru dispatching his most capable assistant to lead a group to scout first, then deciding based on the situation.
Menma was already prepared to clean up a batch first, then let Mui bring people to merge with him and pressure the Hidden Grass Village together.
Now it seemed.
It could be much smoother than in the plan!
As long as he could successfully deal with Hisashi Shigeru here.
With Mui stepping in for the rest of the Hidden Grass Village, there would be no problems.
"A trap? Could it be!?"
Hisashi Shigeru was a village leader after all. Although not that outstanding and prone to taking things for granted, Menma's sentence allowed him to instantly get all the key points. Thinking that he had completely stepped into the enemy's trap...
Hisashi Shigeru felt cold all over.
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!"
At this moment.
Hisashi Shigeru had absolutely no desire to fight.
The order issued directly.
"!?"
On both sides.
Hisashi's two most loyal subordinates, Sanji and Raichi, both showed incredible expressions.
Just based on that one sentence from the other party, their leader wanted to retreat!?
This was too unreasonable, right!?
The opponent was just one person, right!?
Even if it was the famous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, their side had the leader personally leading a large force of fully three hundred people. Why be afraid of one person?
A trap!?
Kill him first and then talk!
"Lord Hisashi, this?"
Sanji looked puzzled.
"Can't understand my order!? Retreat immediately!"
Hisashi Shigeru looked at Sanji with a ferocious face, roaring out the words.
While making Sanji shiver, he also bowed his head sharply and replied: "Yes, Lord Hisashi!"
Would Hisashi not know the questions Sanji and Raichi would think of!?
But he had to consider worse scenarios.
Especially since Mui hadn't appeared here, which was a very dangerous signal. If not here, where would he be?
Hisashi knew Mui's character very well and knew the situation of his own ninja village even better.
He felt that if he went back even a step late, the situation in the village might undergo earth-shaking changes.
That was a result Hisashi Shigeru absolutely didn't want to see.
But Hisashi wanted to retreat.
How could Menma let him retreat!?
All the Grass ninja here.
Others could be considered with discretion; as long as they weren't the complete diehard type, there was room for maneuver.
Only Hisashi Shigeru was a must-kill!
Who asked him to be the leader of the Hidden Grass Village!?
And a leader who had sat for nearly twenty years at that. Without killing this guy, Menma couldn't truly integrate the power of the Hidden Grass Village.
Such an old guy.
Under circumstances without desires...
Would never truly submit to Menma.
So.
"Go!? Did I allow you to go? Lord Hisashi, I said it, today, here is your death date!"
Menma's expression turned cold.
Clap!
Slamming his hands together.
"Urushi."
"Yes, Lord Menma!"
Massive chakra erupted accordingly.
"Earth Style: Earth Dome Split!"
As the A-rank Earth Style jutsu was released directly, and the seals completed, the ground vibrated.
Urushi also cooperated with his master, stomping his front claws forcefully.
Rumble!!
On both sides, layers of earth blocks were lifted, pressing down on the more than three hundred Grass ninja in the center.
Crash!
Giant falling rocks.
Areas of ground breaking apart piece by piece.
"!?"
"Ah!?"
"Ugh!?"
In an instant, this large area was covered.
The Grass ninja were separated from each other.
The next second.
Boom!
Menma erupted with an extremely powerful chakra fluctuation, assaulting directly toward Hisashi Shigeru's position.
The figure rushing up wildly.
The chilling killing intent filling this space.
"!?"
In less than a second.
Menma had already assaulted to close range.
Current Menma, even without using Nine-Tails chakra, had personal strength solidly reaching the ceiling of Jonin level.
A powerful aura infinitely approaching the quasi-Kage level.
Shing!
In sight.
Cold light fully revealed.
Hisashi Shigeru only had time to react barely.
From a side-up angle.
A sharp cold edge bloomed.
Clang!
Barely parrying the kunai.
Feeling the massive power transmitted from it.
"Bastard!"
Hisashi's expression became extremely ugly.
"Lord Hisashi!"
"Lord Leader!"
Sanji and Raichi, closest to the scene, saw this and hurried over to cover Hisashi.
"Hehe, let me play with you two, and see what strength you Grass ninja actually have!?"
But only half a step forward.
From the side-down position.
A puddle of water suddenly appeared.
The next second.
A blurry human figure sprang out from this puddle abruptly. Those bright shark-like white teeth—it was Suigetsu Hozuki.
Sudden assault.
Slash!
Squelch!
That sharp special chakra blade cut directly through Sanji's clothes, grazing the skin.
It was only because Sanji was experienced and reacted extremely quickly by twisting backward.
That he barely avoided fatal damage.
But a wound was cut on it.
The transmitted pain, and crimson blood also overflowed at this moment.