"Haha… I've finally been able to welcome your arrival, Fang-san."
At the predetermined meeting location, the moment Shibuki's political rival, Shibuki's former senior Taki jōnin and current conspirator,
Shibuki's enemy, Shisha, saw Menma's figure appear, unconcealed delight immediately surfaced across his face.
The reason Shisha dared maintain confidence even while planning to betray both Amegakure's hired shinobi and his temporary allies after the coup succeeded was simple.
First, he possessed absolute confidence in his own schemes and abilities.
Second and more importantly he believed he had Menma's support.
After repeated contact, negotiations, and his own investigations, Shisha was utterly convinced that Menma represented shinobi directly subordinate to the Fire Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
More specifically, Menma had convinced him he belonged to a force connected to the Twelve Guardian Ninja, the elite bodyguards of the Fire Daimyō.
Though Shisha did not fully understand the structure of those forces, he knew one undeniable truth:
The Land of Fire was the most powerful nation in the shinobi world.
Even if the Fire Daimyō's direct shinobi forces could not compare to Konohagakure itself, they were still vastly superior to the average military resources of minor hidden villages.
By contrast, Amegakure simply lacked the manpower to deploy overwhelming force this far into Takigakure's internal conflict.
With such backing, Shisha naturally believed his position was secure.
"Haha, I arrived somewhat later than originally planned. I hope Shisha-san does not mind."
Menma, maintaining his transformed appearance as the composed young operative of the Fire Daimyō, stepped forward with a calm smile.
"No, no, no… Fang-san's arrival alone is already the best possible outcome. I trust His Highness has already approved my request?"
Shisha's expression was tinged with barely concealed excitement as he eagerly sought confirmation.
"Of course. If His Highness had not approved, I would not be here."
Menma's smile remained faint.
"However, Shisha-san, I must confirm one final time. Once your plan succeeds and Takigakure falls under your control, complete fealty is unnecessary but in many critical matters, Takigakure must obey His Highness's directives. You must remember this clearly."
His voice remained polite, but the warning beneath it was unmistakable.
"This is only natural!"
Shisha immediately straightened, his tone solemn as though swearing an oath.
"His Highness's support is a tremendous favor. As I have said before, from this day forward, whenever His Highness requires my assistance, even if it means crossing mountains of blades or seas of fire, I will not hesitate!"
"Haha… there is no need for such dramatics."
Menma waved lightly.
"His Highness has no interest in forcing impossible tasks upon his allies. Surely you understand what His Highness truly desires. Some matters are flexible… while others are not. Correct, Shisha-san?"
Menma's deliberately ambiguous tone only deepened Shisha's trust.
After all, the most effective lies were often composed almost entirely of truth with only one fatal falsehood hidden at their core.
Menma's posture, demands, and conditions all felt realistic.
They aligned perfectly with the ambitions a great nation's daimyō would naturally possess regarding smaller shinobi villages.
Thus, Shisha found the arrangement not only plausible but advantageous.
As a former high-ranking figure within Takigakure, Shisha understood the delicate power struggle between daimyō and hidden villages better than most.
Every daimyō wished for greater influence over their nation's shinobi forces.
Most simply lacked the means.
The Fire Daimyō, however, possessed far more leverage than others due to his resources and organizations such as the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Therefore, Menma's demands seemed entirely rational.
To Shisha, this "semi-subordinate alliance" offered immense benefits:
Financial resources
Military backing
Political legitimacy
Strategic leverage
As long as the benefits outweighed the risks, only a fool would reject such terms.
"Haha… Fang-san truly jests."
Shisha laughed heartily, fully convinced of Menma's sincerity.
He remained utterly unaware that Menma had been manipulating him from the very beginning.
To Menma, Shisha was never an ally.
He was merely a disposable catalyst someone useful for igniting Takigakure's civil instability so Menma could later seize greater influence.
"So… what is the current situation?"
Menma lowered his tone slightly, his gaze sharpening.
"Leader Shibuki must already be thoroughly ensnared, yes? If the opportunity has arrived, further delays are unnecessary. Remove Shibuki sooner, stabilize the village sooner. His Highness has many future tasks requiring your cooperation."
"Everything is proceeding perfectly, Fang-san!"
Shisha's expression brimmed with smug pride.
"All necessary arrangements have been completed. Before your arrival, the final step was already enacted. That naïve brat Shibuki has been completely deceived."
"Nearly one hundred of Takigakure's most elite shinobi loyal to him have already been mobilized elsewhere. For the next several days, his direct defensive forces will be at their weakest."
"This… is our ideal opportunity."
At this point, Shisha genuinely felt entitled to his arrogance.
He had secured:
External support from Amegakure
Additional backing from the supposed Fire Daimyō faction
Internal loyalist forces
Fu's manipulated cooperation
The strategic dispersal of Shibuki's key protectors
By every visible metric, the balance of power had shifted decisively in his favor.
Shisha truly believed Takigakure's leadership was already within his grasp.
"Excellent."
Menma nodded in apparent satisfaction.
"Then no further strategic adjustments are necessary. As promised, I will act during the final phase of the operation."
"That particular group… leave them to us."
"Haha! Then I shall trouble Fang-san greatly!"
Shisha's smile widened.
"And allow me to congratulate Shisha-sama in advance on becoming Takigakure's next leader."
Menma returned the smile flawlessly.
Those words only fed Shisha's growing arrogance.
Yet deep within Menma's eyes, hidden beyond notice, was a cold trace of mockery.
Everything was now in place.
The conspirators, the manipulated factions, the false alliances, the displaced defenders
All preparations were complete.
Now…
All that remained…
…was for the east wind to rise.