Chapter 312: Samui's Shock
Kurotsuchi stared at Makoto dumbfounded, unable to figure out what Makoto was planning for a while.
Knowing she was the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, he still dared to detain her. Did he really want to challenge the Rock Village with his own strength?
But looking at Makoto's relaxed tone and attitude, he didn't seem to want to force her to stay—for safety's sake, Kurotsuchi asked again.
"Then my identity and treatment here—won't be a slave, right?"
"How could that be? It's just to make you apologize for the Rock Village's previous actions. When Karin completes her revenge, you can leave."
"During this period, you can move freely, and even occasionally return to the Rock Village to visit relatives. I will unseal your chakra, and even pay you a salary."
Kurotsuchi was even more confused. What was this? It had exceeded her cognition.
Kurotsuchi looked at Karin and Temari beside Makoto again, then looked down at herself, and suddenly a blush appeared on her face. She blocked her chest and took a step back, saying, "Y-You guy, you aren't interested in me, are you!"
"I felt something was wrong with you for a long time. Just now you said Karin is one of your girlfriends. Are you not satisfied with two girlfriends?"
Karin and Temari looked at each other and couldn't help laughing out loud.
They knew Makoto's specific situation, but neither of them liked to crack jokes, so they would naturally keep Makoto's secret.
Makoto rolled his eyes and said, "Although you are one of the top beauties in the Rock Village, it's only limited to the Rock Village. I wouldn't keep you here just because I covet your beauty."
"If you must find a position and reason to stay here, how about the title of Economic Exchange Advisor of the Land of Earth to the Land of Waves?"
"Eh?"
Seeing Makoto utter such a serious term, Kurotsuchi discarded the possibility that Makoto was interested in her, and asked instead, "What does this position do?"
"Simply put, the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Water will conduct economic exchange activities centered on the Land of Waves later. Our port here is also the most suitable."
"I believe all parties will make a lot of money in this process. Don't the Land of Earth and the Rock Village want a share?"
Only then did Kurotsuchi realize that it wasn't considering the problem from the perspective of a ninja, but from the perspective of civilians and the country.
After turning the corner in her brain, the clever Kurotsuchi also understood immediately and said, "You want me to be a bridge to help you open the door of convenience."
"Isn't it good? Do you and the Tsuchikage hate money?"
"I certainly don't hate it. With money, I can buy delicious food and cosmetics."
Kurotsuchi had an excited smile on her face, then realized she was being stared at by three people, quickly restrained herself a bit, and continued, "But my grandfather might not be so easy to pass. That old guy—cough cough, my grandfather, he might be a bit stubborn."
While Kurotsuchi was still considering her words, Makoto said directly, "Your grandfather still wants to dominate the ninja world and make the Land of Earth the overlord of the ninja world, right?"
Hearing this, Kurotsuchi smiled awkwardly.
Obviously, for young people in the ninja world like Kurotsuchi or Makoto, dominating the ninja world was already an incomprehensible idea.
With the implementation of the "One Country, One Village" system until now, more and more ninja had broken free from the shackles of the clan but entered the narrative structure of the village and the country.
The advantage was that more people united, and ninja didn't have to fight every day, worrying about being exterminated by a certain clan.
The disadvantage was that young people no longer understood the Warring States period thinking of the clan and the older generation of ninja.
The lighter situation was a rebellious granddaughter like Kurotsuchi calling her grandfather an old fossil, and the serious situation was someone like Itachi Uchiha killing his entire clan for his brother and the village.
Makoto's civilian orphan identity made it unnecessary for him to be involved in the collision of these thoughts, but it didn't mean he didn't understand Kurotsuchi's thoughts.
What's more, in the simulation, Makoto and Kurotsuchi had communicated for a long time and almost became a couple.
Now Makoto used the experience of getting along with Kurotsuchi in the simulation to communicate with her, didn't it make Kurotsuchi and Makoto appear very congenial?
"This is also why I want to cooperate with you, because I don't think I can change them, not to mention that they are ninja from other countries."
"But we are different. When you become the Tsuchikage, you can work with us to build a new ninja world of peace and free trade exchange. At that time, wars between ninja will become history."
Kurotsuchi looked at Makoto in surprise, a trace of appreciation slowly appearing in her eyes. She put her hands on her hips and said, "I didn't expect a guy like you to have such thoughts. Clearly having the strongest strength in the ninja world but willing to work hard for peace—you are really interesting."
"Alright, let me consider it."
Kurotsuchi felt that this matter indeed needed slow consideration, but it was difficult to discuss with the people around her.
After all, Ōnoki was an old fossil, and her captain and others were also old fossils.
Originally, the only person who could understand her was Deidara, but now Deidara had run away to play.
But now there was Makoto. Kurotsuchi felt that staying here to play for a while seemed not bad.
"Come, let me show my sincerity."
Makoto waved to Kurotsuchi. After a slight hesitation, Kurotsuchi stepped forward and then extended her hand.
Now her chakra was sealed, and she had no power to resist at all.
Even if she wasn't sealed, she still couldn't resist Makoto.
Therefore, there was no need for her to act cautiously. Anyway, she couldn't confront him either way, so she might as well show her temperament generously.
Then, Makoto released the seal on Kurotsuchi's chakra. Under Kurotsuchi's astonished gaze, he said, "You can move freely now, but your teammates can't, because the Rock Village's compensation hasn't arrived yet."
Feeling the chakra in her body, Kurotsuchi completely believed Makoto's words.
She simply put her hands on the table and started bargaining, saying, "Hey hey, we will be cooperative partners in the future. How about forgetting the compensation?"
"You have already subdued that Mei Terumī, right? Also, I can help you blackmail the Cloud Village fiercely. How about we write off this debt like this?"
Kurotsuchi didn't try to argue that everything yesterday was a misunderstanding, but instead saw this as an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation.
Makoto was also interested in Kurotsuchi's words and looked at her with interest. "Tell me."
Kurotsuchi leaned forward actively, putting her mouth close to Makoto's ear, and said, "You just say you reached a cooperation with the Rock Village and want the Cloud Village to be responsible for this conflict."
"We will be witnesses and back you up. If a fight really breaks out, you restrain the Cloud Village experts, how about it?"
Makoto looked sideways at Kurotsuchi close at hand. Her eyes flashed with quirky excitement, seemingly very proud of causing trouble for the Cloud Village.
What made Kurotsuchi even prouder was that Makoto nodded and agreed.
Immediately, Kurotsuchi had a sense of pride as a female strategist devising strategies. Makoto was a powerhouse comparable to her grandfather, yet he still had to listen to her?
"Hehe, you said I would be the Tsuchikage in the future. I thought it was a compliment. But now, I suddenly feel that me being the Tsuchikage isn't impossible."
Kurotsuchi smiled brilliantly, only to realize that she and Makoto were almost face to face.
Originally, because of her situation, Kurotsuchi didn't pay too much attention to Makoto's appearance. But now looking at Makoto, Kurotsuchi felt her heart skip a beat.
There was no helping it; the current Makoto had undergone multiple evolutions in life form.
Although Makoto's facial shape hadn't changed much, the vigorous vitality was reflected in every aspect of his body, naturally including his eyes and skin, making people feel very comfortable looking at him.
If men in the Mist Village were strange-looking, men in the Cloud Village were dark, and men in the Rock Village were big and crude, then Makoto could now truly be called a handsome man in the ninja world.
Makoto naturally noticed Kurotsuchi's change, but he pretended not to notice anything, and instead leaned closer and asked, "What's wrong?"
Then the door opened violently. Kurotsuchi was startled, lost her footing, and tilted her face forward a bit.
In just an instant, Kurotsuchi covered her lips and stepped back, pretending nothing happened.
But the blush on her face could no longer be hidden no matter what.
Temari and Karin looked at the door, where Zabuza stood pushing the door open.
Originally, Zabuza had a ferocious look on his face, but seeing the situation in the room, he suddenly became awkward and said, "Sorry, Boss, I came at a bad time."
"It's okay. What happened?"
Makoto looked at Kurotsuchi out of the corner of his eye and licked his lips lightly. This action made Kurotsuchi, who was subconsciously looking at Makoto, blush even more.
"We discovered ninja movements. It seems what happened here yesterday attracted more attention. So I came to ask you, Boss, do you have any plans?"
Makoto said calmly, "It's okay. Capture as many as come. Just right, Kurotsuchi, you help build some prisons with Earth Style."
"Eh? Huh!"
Kurotsuchi said in surprise, "Me, I do it?"
"If there are Rock Village people, explain the situation to them and let them be guests in the Land of Waves. I'll pay the expenses."
Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up immediately and said, "Okay, then there's no problem."
She already had a small plan to make money in her heart, for example, if Makoto gave her the expenses for everyone, she could keep a part of it.
She was the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, true, but how could a person like Ōnoki give her enough pocket money?
Even though Kurotsuchi became a ninja and did missions, she was still tight on money.
Makoto naturally understood Kurotsuchi's current mentality and habits, and waved her and Zabuza away.
At this time, Temari stretched and said, "Do you still want to see the Cloud Village people?"
"Of course, but we need to change the environment."
Makoto immediately changed into a black combat suit, looking chillingly murderous.
Karin and Temari also changed into combat gear. At this time, the shadow clone brought Samui to Makoto.
Samui had just met Kurotsuchi and sensed that Kurotsuchi had been unsealed.
This wasn't good news for her and the Cloud Village, because it meant Makoto had compromised with the Rock Village.
Then would Makoto compromise with the Cloud Village?
In terms of strength, since Makoto didn't dare to offend the Rock Village, he shouldn't dare to offend the Cloud Village either.
However, when she saw Makoto's combat suit, Samui knew that this possibility couldn't arise.
What awaited her was very likely a harsh interrogation.
In fact, Samui guessed right.
Makoto also considered whether he could establish a stable relationship with the Cloud Village.
But in the end, Makoto gave up this idea.
Not because the Raikage A of the Cloud Village didn't have a daughter, nor because the Cloud Village didn't have beautiful women.
But because the best way to talk to these muscular barbarians was with fists; any other way didn't mean much.
This didn't mean Cloud Village ninja had no brains; on the contrary, they might be the most united group among all villages in the ninja world.
And this meant they would be very xenophobic. How easy would it be for Makoto to integrate?
Then it was better to fight directly.
The Cloud Village and the Rock Village were also targeted by Makoto because of the opportunity.
Seeing Samui shocked, Makoto said calmly, "I came to give you an ultimatum. Within a week, let the Cloud Village hand over one hundred million ryō as ransom."
"Of course, you can also choose to resist, but for ninja captured by me in the meantime, the ransom amount will double."
"Ten million ryō for Chūnin, fifty million ryō for Jōnin, one hundred million ryō for Elite Jōnin."
"If it's the Raikage, sorry, use half the village to compensate."
A contemptuous smile appeared on the corner of Makoto's mouth, looking arrogant and domineering.
If Kurotsuchi and Mei Terumī were still here, they would definitely wonder how Makoto's face changed so fast.
But Samui hadn't seen Makoto's expression before, so she naturally thought this was Makoto's true face, so she responded with a sullen face, "Are you planning to go to war with the entire Cloud Village?"
Makoto sneered, put his arm around Temari's waist, and said, "Tell her your identity."
Temari took a deep breath and said, "I am the daughter of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, but now I am Akiyama Makoto's fiancée."
"I represent the Sand Village, standing behind Makoto-kun."
Makoto nodded with satisfaction and said, "I am a Konoha person myself, and have a deep relationship with Princess Tsunade. And I just reached an agreement with Kurotsuchi and Mei Terumī, considered allies."
"I want to ask you instead, do you dare to declare war on me on behalf of the Cloud Village?"
"Is the Cloud Village ready to challenge the entire ninja world?"
After Makoto finished speaking, a shocked look appeared on Samui's face, scanning back and forth on Makoto and Temari's faces in disbelief.
In the end, she concluded that what Makoto said was true.
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