If You Met Again, How Would You Face Him?

"We agree."

"Then I'll introduce myself first..."

The Lockfront Village leaders exchanged glances and nodded their agreement.

After all, they had made an assumption from the start.

They believed the young man before them merely wanted to choose one of them as a representative for day-to-day communication.

And with their former leader almost certainly dead in Kumogakure, the remaining candidates had similar seniority and ability. Letting him choose would be quicker and cause less friction than fighting among themselves.

For those reasons, they had no objections.

But just as the elder who had made the request prepared to speak, Arata calmly interrupted him.

"No need. I already have someone in mind."

"She'll coordinate with Chino on allocating clan territory, integrating into Demon Hidden Village, and everything else. As for the Lockfront Clan's internal affairs, including your secret techniques, I won't interfere as long as they don't undermine the village's peace and stability."

That promise put the Lockfront Village leaders somewhat at ease.

Protecting their clan's secret techniques was the very foundation that allowed them to survive under any power, anywhere!

Yet it also left them with a pressing question.

The young man might have gathered intelligence on their identities, abilities, and personalities, but if he had already settled on someone, whom had he chosen?

"Thank you for that promise, Lord Demon Shadow. May we ask which of us you've chosen?"

"We can then inform the clan and arrange everyone's duties and recall according to that person's wishes."

They could not contain their curiosity and asked before he volunteered the answer.

His response, however, stirred emotions the Lockfront Village leaders could barely control.

"Oh, the person I chose isn't one of you."

The casual words made every Lockfront Village ninja present wonder whether they had misheard him—or whether the young leader