บท 75: First meeting

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Menma didn't seem fazed by the formalities. After all, they were in another village's territory; polite gestures were simply part of the process. With a casual smile, he moved through the motions, masking his real thoughts on how to approach Takigakure's young leader. All the while, he used his sensory abilities to scan the building and its surroundings.

Takigakure, the Village Hidden by a Waterfall, was often viewed as a footnote compared to the Five Great Nations. Still, Menma knew it held unique significance. Once home to the Seven-Tails, Chōmei, and a candidate for the sixth great ninja village, it was also the birthplace of Kakuzu, one of the most notorious Akatsuki members. Menma spread his sensory field wide, detecting hundreds of chakra signatures both within and around the village.

Though smaller in scale than the Five Great Nations, Takigakure housed tens of thousands, including a few hundred active shinobi. With those on missions, their total forces could surpass a thousand, though their chakra levels were generally low. Only a handful of shinobi approached Jōnin-level strength, and the village's prime seemed long past.

Curiously, Menma didn't sense any particularly strong chakra nearby. If Fū, the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki, was present, she should have been easy to detect within his range.

Is Fū not currently in the village? he wondered, picturing the girl with short, teal hair. As the jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails, she was crucial to his plans. Even a jinchūriki with limited experience could wield near-Kage-level power, and a perfect jinchūriki like Killer B was even more formidable. Fū's strength was worth the risk.

A Taki-nin approached. "Please wait here for a moment. Lord Shibuki will be with you shortly," he said.

Normally, foreign envoys wouldn't gain an audience with a village leader so easily. However, Menma's position as an envoy from the Land of Fire granted him certain privileges. He nodded politely and took a seat, with Karin silently sitting beside him, prepared to ensure no one came too close.

Menma had taken extra precautions. Transformation techniques might fool most people, but advanced sensory ninjas or those with dōjutsu could see through them. He wasn't naive enough to believe everything would go smoothly and was prepared to adapt.

If the right opportunity presents itself, he mused, sipping the tea that had just been served.

Footsteps approached the reception hall. Menma had already sensed their chakra, and as he turned, a young man entered, accompanied by an older shinobi with a turban and a stern gaze. The older man's chakra was sharp and menacing, hinting at his strength.

"My apologies for keeping such distinguished guests waiting," the young leader greeted warmly, smiling at Menma.

His demeanor was surprisingly casual—more like a friendly neighbor than the head of a ninja village. Menma hid his skepticism. Shibuki seemed far too gentle for a leader. This guy doesn't even seem to have full control over his own village, he thought. Why else would he need Team 7's escort in the original story?

Rebel ninjas, the Hero Water, and other internal strife had plagued the village in the past, suggesting ongoing power struggles. Menma guessed such problems persisted.

"No need to apologize, Lord Shibuki. We should be the ones asking forgiveness for our sudden arrival," Menma replied, rising to bow respectfully. Karin mirrored his action.

Shibuki waved off the formalities, looking slightly flustered. "Not at all! It's an honor for Takigakure to host an envoy from the Land of Fire." Despite his reserved nature, Shibuki handled the exchange with surprising composure. For a smaller village like Takigakure, an alliance with a powerful nation was a valuable opportunity.

"Please, call me Shibuki," he offered, gesturing for them to sit. "And this is Shizuku, our strongest Jōnin. If your mission requires any assistance, he will be assigned to help. Oh, and I don't believe I caught your names?"

Shibuki's eyes were bright with curiosity as he settled into his seat.

A major client always warranted respectful treatment, even if their identity felt questionable. For smaller ninja villages like Takigakure, a mission from the Land of Fire was a significant opportunity.

The only one who didn't seem fully on board was the man in the turban who had entered with Shibuki and now sat directly across from Menma and Karin, eyeing Menma as though he were an intruder.

Menma noticed and frowned slightly.

After Shibuki introduced the Jōnin, though, Menma maintained a neutral expression, realizing something.

So it's this guy! Menma recognized the Jōnin from a minor arc in the original story. Isn't he the one who betrayed Takigakure, bringing in outsiders to attack his own village?

Clearly, this Jōnin's anger wasn't directed at the foreign guests but rather at his young leader.

Menma maintained his polite smile and said, "Shibuki, you're too gracious. I am 'Shirogane,' and this is my associate, 'Misaka Mikoto.' We work under the authority of Lord Tsuchikata. Our mission comes directly from the Daimyo and may range from A-rank to S-rank, depending on its outcome."

Shibuki's eyes lit up with anticipation.

For Takigakure, a steady stream of missions was vital. With limited support from the Land of Taki, the village had to rely on outside sources to grow. A mission connected to the Daimyo was a rare chance for stability, and for Shibuki—newly appointed as leader—it was a chance to solidify his authority.

"Could you tell us more about the mission, Shirogane-san?" Shibuki asked, visibly intrigued.

"Certainly," Menma replied. "This is primarily a search mission. Your task is to locate certain individuals. Finding even one will improve the mission's success rate."

Menma pulled a scroll from his cloak and slid it toward Shibuki. Unrolling it, Shibuki scanned the details, his expression tightening.

"These targets…" He hesitated.

"Is there an issue?" Menma asked casually, though his gaze held a challenging edge. "If Takigakure is unable to complete the mission, we can make arrangements with another village."

"No, it's not that," Shibuki quickly replied. "Takigakure can handle it. However, it may be challenging to guarantee success given the time that's passed. May I ask—what's the timeframe?"

Shibuki passed the scroll to the Jōnin beside him, who studied it intently as Shibuki turned back to Menma.

"If this were recent, we wouldn't need your village's assistance," Menma replied, unbothered. "There's no strict deadline, but ideally, completion within three months would be best. Beyond that, the urgency may diminish."

He raised three fingers. "Half of the A-rank payment is offered up front, with the remaining reward adjusted based on progress. This is merely the first mission; I trust you understand, Shibuki."

The underlying offer was clear, and even the seasoned Jōnin, Shisha, seemed to grasp Menma's intent.

Shibuki was visibly pleased. This was more than a mission; it was a step toward securing a permanent alliance with the Land of Fire. As a young, newly appointed leader, he needed a success to establish his authority. His achievements were modest so far, and some villagers still saw him as merely the heir of the previous leader.

"Oh, well then—" Shibuki began, preparing to accept.

Suddenly, Shisha interrupted, his deep voice breaking the moment.

It's not that we doubt your intentions," Shisha said, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Menma. "However, I do have a few questions. Would you mind clarifying them for me, Shirogane-san?"

His intense gaze fixed on Menma, undeterred by the fact he'd just interrupted his leader.

Shibuki's expression briefly darkened but quickly returned to calm. Despite his inexperience, he knew it was essential not to show discord among his ranks in front of outsiders.

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