"I truly owe you this time, Fang-san."
On the other side, Shibuki returned while dragging Shibuki no, Shibuki dragged Shibuki? Wait. The defeated traitor, Shibuki dragged Shibuki? That was impossible. Rather, Shibuki was dragging Shibuki? No. The defeated man was Shuiyan.
Shibuki returned while dragging Shuiyan like a dead dog across the ground. On the surface, Shibuki appeared completely unharmed, but within Menma's sensory range, it was obvious that his condition had deteriorated significantly. After swallowing the Hero Water twice, a considerable amount of his life force had clearly been consumed.
The Hero Water truly was nothing more than poison disguised as salvation.
"No, it was nothing. Just a trivial effort."
Menma shrugged lightly and replied with a faint smile as he released the Summoning Technique.
"Even so, I still have to thank you, Fang-san."
Shibuki shook his head gently and spoke in a sincere tone.
Then he turned toward the Taki ninja who had participated in the rebellion alongside Shuiyan. Many of them lay sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain after being beaten down by Urushi.
"Take all of them to the detention facility."
It was not because Shibuki's old habit of being soft-hearted had resurfaced. Rather, as the village chief, he understood that these rebel ninja still had to be judged according to Takigakure's laws and procedures before punishment could officially be carried out.
Shuiyan's fate, however, was already sealed.
As for the others, each case would have to be handled separately.
If every single one of them were executed immediately, it would inevitably trigger another wave of unrest inside the village.
"Yes, Lord Shibuki!"
The Taki ninja led by the blue-haired young man immediately lowered their heads and responded solemnly.
One after another, they stepped forward and placed specialized chakra-suppression restraints onto the captured rebels. Those sealing restraints, unique to Takigakure, effectively locked down the chakra flow of the restrained ninja. Soon, the defeated rebels were escorted toward the prison complex located on the eastern edge of the village.
"What are you doing!? Shibuki, have you truly betrayed the village!? How could you treat Uncle Shuiyan like this!?"
Just as the rebel Taki ninja were being taken away, an angry and confused voice suddenly echoed from above the village gate.
The next instant
"Buzz!"
A turquoise-haired girl descended from the sky, a pair of translucent chakra wings extending from her back.
The terrifying chakra radiating from her body had already surpassed the level of an ordinary ninja. In terms of raw chakra pressure alone, she was nearly comparable to Shibuki after drinking the Hero Water.
This girl was none other than Fū, the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki of Takigakure.
At this moment, she had already begun drawing upon Chōmei's chakra.
Like the Seven-Tails itself, the chakra manifested into wing-like appendages that allowed her to fly freely through the air.
Now, seeing Shuiyan the man she trusted and respected collapsed unconscious from severe injuries while Shibuki dragged him across the ground like a criminal, the anger in her heart instantly erupted.
More importantly, she still believed the lie involving Elder Satoru.
"Boom!"
"Fū, wait! Listen to me first "
Shibuki barely had the chance to speak before the violent chakra erupting from Fū exploded outward.
"Whoosh!"
In the blink of an eye, Fū shot toward Menma and Shibuki at tremendous speed.
"Ninja Art: Scale Powder!"
Her hands formed seals rapidly.
Her abdomen swelled slightly
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
An enormous amount of glowing white scale powder sprayed from her mouth, instantly blanketing the area around Menma and Shibuki.
"Heh. What a fiery little girl."
Menma shook his head with amusement.
"Boom!"
The next moment, a powerful chakra surge erupted from his body, shocking even Shibuki standing beside him.
The chakra pressure Menma released at this moment vastly exceeded even Shibuki's empowered state after drinking the Hero Water.
"Wind Release: Divine Hurricane!"
His hand seals completed instantly.
A massive quantity of chakra gathered at terrifying speed.
Then
"Whoooooosh!"
A violent gale erupted outward like a raging tempest.
Under Menma's precise control, the gigantic currents of wind swept across the battlefield.
"BOOM!"
The white scale powder was blown away almost instantly.
Even Fū herself was forced backward by the overwhelming pressure, retreating several dozen meters before stabilizing her body in midair.
"What!?"
Fū's eyes widened in shock.
After barely regaining her balance, she stared at Menma with an expression filled with disbelief and vigilance.
This was the first time she had ever seen someone disperse her Scale Powder so effortlessly.
And this man was definitely not from Takigakure.
It was not merely because he lacked a Taki forehead protector.
If such a powerful ninja truly belonged to Takigakure, there was no way Fū would not know him. More importantly, Shuiyan would never have failed to mention someone of this level.
"So you really did collude with outsiders, Shibuki! I misjudged you! I'm going to !"
Fū shouted furiously, her hands already beginning to form another seal.
But before she could finish
"Calm down, Fū! Shuiyan deceived you! If you don't believe me, then at least believe Grandpa Satoru!"
Shibuki stepped forward and shouted with all his strength.
Fū froze.
Even the seals she was weaving halted midway.
"What…? Wasn't Grandpa Satoru imprisoned by you?"
"Imprisoned? What are you talking about!? Grandpa Satoru's condition worsened and he fell unconscious some time ago. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry! He only just woke up. If you don't believe me, then come with me and see him yourself. You trust Grandpa Satoru, don't you!?"
Shibuki spoke helplessly.
At this point, he no longer had any doubts.
Fū had truly been manipulated and deceived by Shuiyan through the most ridiculous lies imaginable.
He imprison Elder Satoru?
That idea itself was absurd.
"Are… are you serious, Shibuki… nii-san? Then who is this guy?"
Only now did Fū finally react properly. Her tone became uncertain as she pointed cautiously toward Menma.
"Do you really think I'd attack Grandpa Satoru, Fū? Fang-san really is outside assistance I invited, but Grandpa Satoru knows about him as well."
Shibuki replied with a bitter smile.
He genuinely had not expected Fū to be tricked so easily. Of course, he also understood that he himself carried part of the blame.
"Come with us to see Grandpa Satoru. I'll bring this traitor along as well. If you still think I'm lying after that, then you can attack me whenever you want."
Shibuki took a deep breath before speaking with complete seriousness.
At this point, although traces of doubt still remained in Fū's heart, the balance had already shifted heavily back toward Shibuki's side.
Embarrassment immediately appeared on the girl's face.
The chakra wings behind her gradually dissipated as she floated downward awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Menma quietly observed her with interest.
'The Seven-Tails' jinchūriki… Her compatibility with tailed beast chakra is impressive. She already has this level of control at such a young age. She could become immediate high-level combat power.'
Menma narrowed his eyes slightly as that thought passed through his mind.
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