Menma had not expected Kurotsuchi to win Deidara over.
Ever since Iwagakure had gradually revealed its rebellious intentions and Menma had recalled the Military Advisory Group stationed there, the two sides had entered a strange state of mutual vigilance without a full-scale outbreak of conflict.
Although the Land of Stars' shinobi forces were also deployed along the border, they had not crossed it, merely maintaining a certain level of military strength around the Gambling City Concession.
Meanwhile, Iwagakure actively prepared for war while continuously probing the Land of Stars' military deployments along the border.
Both sides had their wins and losses. Overall, the Land of Stars won more often, but Iwagakure occasionally achieved victories in small-scale clashes through surprise attacks and numerical superiority.
As for the shinobi from Iwagakure who had previously studied in the Land of Stars, Iwagakure had recalled them as well.
Menma had specifically instructed his subordinates not to obstruct them and to let them return openly.
Sure enough, not long afterward, spies embedded in Iwagakure sent back intelligence.
Those shinobi who had studied abroad had all been imprisoned by an enraged Ōnoki for opposing his war plans and even advocating for Iwagakure to fully join the Land of Stars.
This included Kurotsuchi, Ōnoki's own granddaughter.
"I was just a little surprised that you'd come to the Land of Stars too." After pulling Deidara to his feet, Menma looked toward Kurotsuchi beside him.
This kunoichi, who had few appearances in the original work and was known as the "Leg Shadow," had ranked at the top of her class while studying at the Land of Stars' shinobi academy.
Whether it was taijutsu, ninjutsu, chakra theory, classes on the Will of the Star, or practical courses that took students deep into grassroots communities, she had performed exceptionally in all