Only after Shibuki's figure had completely disappeared into the distance did Menma slowly withdraw the faint smile lingering on his lips.
He turned toward Mizuno Satoru with a complicated expression and let out a quiet sigh.
"I genuinely believed my disguise was flawless. I really want to know… where exactly did I expose myself, Elder Satoru?"
The old man sitting on the bed merely smiled calmly.
"No, Menma-kun, you did not truly expose yourself. It was merely the intuition of an old man standing at death's door. From the very beginning, I felt that 'Fang-kun' did not resemble Fang-kun at all. Your bearing was too young, your aura too fresh. Once that thought appeared, it naturally led me to connect it with many other details."
Mizuno Satoru paused briefly before chuckling softly.
"When people grow old, they begin to overthink everything. To be honest, I was never completely certain. If you had continued acting, I may never have dared to expose the matter directly. So why reveal yourself now?"
As he spoke, the atmosphere between the two resembled that of old acquaintances calmly conversing after many years apart.
And in truth, Mizuno Satoru was correct.
Many lies did not collapse immediately because of one fatal flaw. Rather, it was a single tiny inconsistency that triggered an endless chain reaction.
Especially before someone as experienced as Mizuno Satoru.
Menma smiled faintly.
"If I've already been seen through, then continuing the performance would only make me look foolish. Besides…" Menma spread his hands slightly. "I believe Elder Satoru would still make the same choice regardless, wouldn't you?"
Naturally, Menma did not truly believe this was merely "intuition."
There had to be something subtle that exposed the inconsistency in his disguise.
Still, none of that mattered anymore.
From the moment Mizuno Satoru chose not to expose him before Shibuki, the outcome had already been decided.
More importantly
This was a man nearing death.
Menma had no reason to remain excessively cautious.
"Release."
Without hesitation, Menma dispelled the Transformation Technique covering his body.
A puff of white smoke dispersed silently.
The mature appearance vanished.
What remained standing there was a red-haired boy with sharp eyes and whisker-like markings on his cheeks.
The moment those crimson strands entered Mizuno Satoru's sight
The elder's eyes widened abruptly.
"You are…!?"
Although he had mentally prepared himself, the shock still struck him heavily.
After all, Menma's identity was no longer unknown within the shinobi world.
The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
The son of the Fourth Hokage.
The prodigy who defected from Konohagakure.
As one of Takigakure's senior figures, there was no way Mizuno Satoru would fail to recognize that face.
"Please forgive me for using such methods, Elder Satoru," Menma said calmly. "You should understand my current situation better than most. Remaining hidden is necessary for me."
"I see…"
Mizuno Satoru exhaled slowly, the shock in his expression gradually fading into deep emotion.
"You truly are remarkable, Menma-kun."
The old man shook his head lightly.
"I imagined countless possible identities for you, but never did I expect that the person standing before me would be only twelve years old."
His gaze toward Menma became increasingly complicated.
"If Shibuki possessed even half your intelligence, decisiveness, and courage, I would have nothing left to worry about."
There was genuine emotion in Mizuno Satoru's words.
People truly could not be compared.
If Takigakure had possessed another suitable candidate, then with Shibuki's temperament, he would never have been chosen as village leader.
Perhaps in a tiny hidden village such as Hoshigakure or Yugakure, Shibuki's personality would have been sufficient. But Takigakure was fundamentally different. Among the hidden villages outside the Five Great Nations, Takigakure still possessed significant strength and even housed a Tailed Beast.
A leader lacking decisiveness simply could not properly shoulder such responsibility.
Menma merely smiled softly.
"Shibuki-sama's personality is gentle and sincere. That kind of temperament naturally earns the trust and affection of others. Elder Satoru need not worry excessively."
This was not entirely flattery.
A leader's charisma came in many forms.
Although Shibuki was far from outstanding as a Kage-level figure, his kindness and purity were traits many people genuinely appreciated. In peaceful times, under stable conditions, someone like Shibuki could still guide a village adequately.
Of course
That depended on peace continuing.
Once danger emerged, human instinct would always drive people toward stronger figures capable of protecting them.
That was simply the nature of humanity.
After a brief silence, Mizuno Satoru suddenly asked:
"Menma-kun… can you protect that child? Can you ensure Takigakure continues to exist?"
The abrupt change in tone caused Menma to pause momentarily.
But only for an instant.
Then he answered seriously:
"I think Elder Satoru misunderstands me. It's true that I have ambitions regarding Takigakure, but not the kind you fear. I did not come here to destroy this village. Everything I'm doing is for the future."
And this time, Menma's words were completely sincere.
He truly had no intention of killing Shibuki or annihilating Takigakure.
On the contrary, Takigakure was his ideal first foothold.
His future plans required Shibuki's cooperation. Whether through influence or eventual control, a stable transition was infinitely preferable to destruction.
It was similar to the political struggles from the ancient world of Menma's previous life.
When powerful ministers forced an emperor to abdicate, the wisest course was always allowing the emperor to retire peacefully.
Killing him outright only created endless instability and resistance.
Unless one possessed absolute power capable of crushing all consequences.
Menma did not possess such power yet.
Nor did he wish to become that kind of ruthless monster.
Wouldn't a peaceful transition be far better?
When Mizuno Satoru heard Menma's answer, the tension buried deep within his heart finally loosened slightly.
The old man believed he still possessed some ability to judge character.
Just as he had long ago seen through Shuiyan's nature, he could also sense the sincerity hidden within Menma's eyes.
Of course, it could still all be deception.
But if that were the case, then there was nothing more he could do.
He had no other choice left.
So he could only trust Menma.
And trust his own judgment.
"Then…" Mizuno Satoru lowered his head slightly. "I leave Takigakure in your hands, Menma-kun."
The atmosphere instantly became solemn.
Menma straightened himself immediately before returning the bow with equal seriousness.
"Please rest assured, Elder Satoru. From this day onward, Takigakure is my village as well."
His answer rang out firmly.
Takigakure needed to become stronger.
That was Menma's true objective.
Only by strengthening Takigakure could he fully realize the plans he envisioned for the future.
Therefore, Menma had absolutely no intention of deceiving Mizuno Satoru regarding this matter.
Whether he could accomplish it was another question entirely
But he would unquestionably try.
"Then, Elder Satoru, please rest for now," Menma said quietly as he straightened himself once more. "I'll go assist Shibuki-sama and clean up Shuiyan's little rebellion."
After bowing again, Menma's figure flickered.
In the next instant, he vanished from the room entirely.
Only after Menma departed did Mizuno Satoru's expression visibly weaken.
The clarity within his eyes rapidly dimmed.
At that moment, even moving a single finger felt unbearably difficult.
His life force was fading at an alarming rate.
'Not yet…'
Mizuno Satoru slowly closed his eyes.
'I cannot die yet…'
His breathing became increasingly faint.
'Just a little longer… please… just let me hold on a little longer…'
The wrinkles on his face seemed deeper than before.
An unmistakable aura of death quietly spread across his body.
The elder of Takigakure had truly reached the final moments of his life.
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