Chapter 323: Happy Time with Kurotsuchi
Ōnoki looked at A in disbelief, as if looking at a fool.
The Land of Lightning and the Cloud Village ranked second only to Konoha in terms of finance among the Five Great Nations. Even because the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning had a better relationship with A, there were fewer restrictions on the funding for the Cloud Village, so the actual funding available to each person might be more than Konoha.
So for the Cloud Village and A, coming up with 500 million ryō wasn't a problem.
But the problem was that he knew A's temper very well. It was absolutely impossible to be so generous, especially on the premise of giving money to foreigners.
Even if Akiyama Makoto was very strong, 500 million ryō was enough to put a bounty on twenty Jōnin. Only a fool would give this money to someone who might become an enemy.
A naturally knew that Ōnoki didn't believe it. If he hadn't lost to Makoto, even A himself wouldn't believe it.
But now, in order to pit Ōnoki and balance the losses of the Cloud Village and the Rock Village, A could only try his best to display his acting skills.
So A directly slapped down the agreement between the two parties. The Cloud Village would directly invest 500 million ryō in the Land of Waves for the construction of bases and a series of other things. Both A and Makoto had already signed their names on it.
Ōnoki took it incredulously, and after discovering that it was indeed an effective agreement, his face changed.
Although for ninja, betraying contracts was commonplace.
But A being able to agree to this matter itself meant that A thought highly of Makoto.
Or, A had some reason to agree to Makoto. What was this reason?
Did Makoto win against A?
Ōnoki looked at A, then at the group from the Cloud Village. Although their mood was relatively low, everyone looked intact and no one was injured.
He even saw Yugito of the Two-Tails, so Ōnoki couldn't believe no matter what that A lost just like that.
Even if the Fourth Hokage was reborn, it would be impossible to defeat A just like that and force A to bleed heavily, right?
With the strength and speed of A's Lightning Release Armor, even if he couldn't beat Minato Namikaze, covering the retreat for everyone and then escaping would still be possible.
So after thinking twice, Ōnoki finally concluded that it should be that both sides had their wins and losses, and finally Makoto offered a condition that A couldn't refuse.
It was just that this specific condition wasn't reflected in the contract, and he wanted to ask more questions.
So Ōnoki pretended to ask contemptuously, "A, you really are a fool with only muscles in your brain. You even agreed to such a contract."
"Even if it's cooperation, you have to seek more benefits for your own village. I don't see any benefits in this contract."
There were naturally not many benefits in this contract, because this was essentially part of the war reparations, transferred to the Land of Waves in the name of investment.
A naturally couldn't admit this kind of thing and said, "Do I have to tell you the commercial secrets between me and Makoto-kun?"
"Go back to your Rock Village after eating. You are not welcome here in the future."
A waved his hand with a look of disgust, which instantly made veins pop on Ōnoki's forehead.
He suppressed his anger, looked at Makoto, and said, "Makoto-kun, is this your hospitality?"
Makoto didn't deny A's words either, just saying calmly, "My villa has limited guest rooms. If the Rock Village team also wants to move in, it really won't fit."
"If the Tsuchikage still wants to stay in the Land of Waves temporarily, I will order someone to prepare a hotel for you."
For subsequent development, Makoto had already taken over several large hotels in the Land of Waves and carried out basic construction using Wood Style.
As for subsequent decorations and such, ninja in this profession wouldn't care about these details. What was more important was the attitude Makoto showed at this time.
Although Makoto didn't reject people thousands of miles away, Makoto's different attitudes towards A and Ōnoki still aroused Ōnoki's vigilance.
Ōnoki wanted to ask further but couldn't bring himself to do so.
After all, in his eyes at this time, Makoto was at most an opponent with similar strength, and just a commoner.
He couldn't afford to lose face by asking to get to the bottom of it himself.
So Ōnoki could only snort coldly and lead the team to an unmanned long table, joining the banquet to give Makoto face.
But privately, he asked the ninja around him to remind Kurotsuchi to hurry up and complete the task.
Kurotsuchi immediately looked bitter.
Although she was now familiar with the girls around Makoto, everyone was just acquaintances.
On this basis, wanting to further explore Makoto's thoughts was obviously impossible through these people.
She could only find a way to see Makoto again, and privately—thinking of this, Kurotsuchi couldn't help blushing slightly, thinking of that coincidental touch before.
The banquet proceeded in an atmosphere that wasn't lively but harmonious enough.
A chatted enthusiastically with Makoto all the time, even telling Makoto various anecdotes during the previous war. He was really happy at this time.
Especially looking at Ōnoki's bitter face, A felt that losing so much money wasn't in vain.
Ōnoki became more and more worried, fearing that Makoto would unite with the Cloud Village, then what awaited their Rock Village would probably be a huge disaster.
Just as Ōnoki gradually lost patience, Makoto excused himself to use the restroom and left the banquet, coming to the bathroom in the backyard.
Just as Makoto pushed the door open, a figure suddenly broke into his sight. Who else could it be but Kurotsuchi?
Kurotsuchi's face was ruddy, not because she was so shy seeing Makoto, but because she was fed a glass of wine by the drunken Anko and Mei Terumī.
She was a ninja and wouldn't get drunk so easily, but this glass of wine also turned her into a tipsy girl with peach-blossom cheeks.
"Hmm?"
Makoto looked at Kurotsuchi, knowing well in his heart, but pretended to be confused and said, "Is there anything?"
Kurotsuchi took a deep breath, wanting to ask Makoto's thoughts, but suddenly became speechless, not knowing how to start.
Makoto did invite her as an exchange envoy between the two countries, but that was just an invitation. As long as her grandfather didn't agree, this invitation was invalid.
How could she tactfully propose wanting to know Makoto's thoughts?
Kurotsuchi bit her lip lightly, trying hard to think, when a man's voice suddenly sounded behind Makoto.
Kurotsuchi's body stiffened, realizing only then that she had broken into the men's restroom.
She wanted to turn around and rush out, but it was too late, because the person coming was Zabuza. With his strength, it was impossible not to see Kurotsuchi.
Helplessly, Kurotsuchi cast a pleading look at Makoto. Makoto also found it funny that Kurotsuchi could be so reckless—or rather, it would be strange if Kurotsuchi wasn't reckless at this time.
Makoto put his hand on Kurotsuchi's shoulder. The next second, the two disappeared from the bathroom.
When Kurotsuchi came back to her senses, they had arrived at the seaside. This was Makoto's private beach garden.
Seeing Makoto arrive, the attendants working here immediately brought drinks and set up beach chairs and parasols for the two.
Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up.
Although it wasn't her first time seeing the sea, she was strictly controlled by her grandfather usually and had no chance to play in the water freely.
Even if she could move freely here with Makoto before, she was mostly understanding Makoto and the Land of Waves, not daring to put entertainment first.
Now with Makoto accompanying her, Kurotsuchi's eyes were immediately different.
Makoto saw her desire and smiled, "Play if you want. I'll send a shadow clone to deal with the banquet."
It was just dealing with A and Ōnoki; Makoto's main body didn't need to be dispatched.
Kurotsuchi jumped up excitedly, took off her shoes and rushed into the sea water. Stepping on the beach, the warm, cool, and soft feelings intertwined, making Kurotsuchi hum uncontrollably.
But then Kurotsuchi's skirt hem got wet. Just when she was distressed, Makoto said, "I have some spare swimsuits here. Want to use them? Temari's size."
Kurotsuchi and Temari had similar figures, but she weighed slightly less.
Where she weighed less could be known by glancing at Kurotsuchi's chest.
Kurotsuchi hesitated a bit. Only the two of them were here alone. What if—then Kurotsuchi shook her head and threw away this thought.
If Makoto wanted her, there wouldn't be any "what if".
So Kurotsuchi came to Makoto's side, extended her hands, and said, "Give it to me. I'll pay you later."
"No need, treat it as a gift for you."
Makoto gave the swimsuit to Kurotsuchi, then took Kurotsuchi back to her residence, and came back after Kurotsuchi finished changing.
Seeing the clear sea water in front of her, Kurotsuchi shifted her gaze back to Makoto and said, "The Flying Thunder God is really convenient—but I have a question."
"What question?"
"Why can you fly directly into my guest room? Did you set up a Flying Thunder God mark there?"
As the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, Kurotsuchi's knowledge was naturally incomparable to ordinary people, knowing the working principle of the Flying Thunder God.
But compared to the divine skill of Flying Thunder God, now she was more curious about why Makoto did this.
When asking this sentence, her heart beat fast, both nervous and uneasy, not knowing what answer she was expecting from Makoto.
Makoto smiled slightly and said, "Actually, my Flying Thunder God marks are everywhere. After all, I don't know who will live in which room in the future."
"But you can rest assured, I won't sneak in at midnight."
"Hmph—I'll believe you for now."
Kurotsuchi breathed a sigh of relief, but for some reason, she was faintly disappointed in her heart.
She just wanted to turn around and continue playing in the water, then looked at Makoto in a long robe, and a triumphant smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. "Since your main body is here, why not play together?"
"Could it be—you are shy?"
Kurotsuchi puffed out her chest hard, making her bikini appear more substantial.
Unfortunately, wearing Temari's swimsuit, it was still loose on her, which instantly made Kurotsuchi a bit discouraged.
Makoto smiled and said, "You want me to play with you—it's not impossible. Just treat it as fulfilling the duties of a host."
Then Makoto touched his body lightly, and the coat on his body disappeared, and even the swimming trunks were changed.
Kurotsuchi was startled. Just as she wanted to cover her eyes and scream, she saw Makoto's unique skill of changing clothes in one second.
Looking at Makoto, who was not robust but had well-proportioned muscles, with fine and fair skin even surpassing hers, she was speechless with shock for a moment.
Seeing Makoto walking towards her, Kurotsuchi laughed twice to relieve the embarrassment and quickly said, "You actually wore clothes underneath in advance. You obviously wanted to play too, why pretend to be serious?"
"Is that so?"
Makoto was noncommittal and smiled, "Just treat it as me being nervous. After all, it's a date on the beach with a beautiful girl."
For Makoto, such words were just a light tease.
But for Kurotsuchi, it was an arrow hitting her heart.
She was already anxious to approach Makoto to complete the task given by her grandfather. Now Makoto actively opened the door for her to approach, only the price of approaching Makoto was a bit high.
But looking at Makoto's back, Kurotsuchi felt her rapid heartbeat. She understood that she didn't resist being close to Makoto.
In that case—the daughter of the Rock Village wasn't a shy character. Go!
Then the two played on the beach and seaside.
You might wonder, what games can two people play?
The answer is very many.
Treading water, swimming, and then surfing.
The waves were created by Makoto using Water Style, and Kurotsuchi had a great time stepping on the surfboard made of light-weight rock.
Then the two also competed in Earth Style sculptures on the beach. Kurotsuchi carved an evil god version of Makoto, while Makoto carved Kurotsuchi vividly.
When the two were tired of playing, they lay on the beach chairs, eating watermelon and drinking iced cola, enjoying the wonderful scenery of the summer beach. Unknowingly, the sun was setting.
Seeing this, Kurotsuchi suddenly became alert. She came to probe Makoto's tone.
But now Makoto was asleep on the beach chair, and the banquet on the other side should be over, yet she hadn't got anything.
Thinking of this, Kurotsuchi couldn't help being a little anxious.
Finally, she summoned up the courage to sit up, came to the side of Makoto's beach chair, and reached out her hand towards Makoto.
At this time, Kurotsuchi suddenly had a strange feeling.
Makoto was so defenseless against her. Was this trust or too reckless?
The answer could only be trust. After all, Makoto could deal with her grandfather and Raikage A at the same time with the identity of a commoner, which was enough to explain Makoto's intelligence.
Thinking that she was trusted so much, and Makoto showed his most fragile side to her, made a trace of pride rise in Kurotsuchi's heart.
Then, her hand finally landed on Makoto.
But it landed on Makoto's cheek, stroking gently.
Although Kurotsuchi was touching Makoto's cheek, she felt her own cheeks were surprisingly hot.
Especially when seeing the Yin Seal mark on Makoto's chest, Kurotsuchi's curiosity arose greatly. Her fingertips went all the way down from Makoto's scapula. Just when she was about to touch Makoto's Yin Seal, her hand was caught by Makoto.
Kurotsuchi was startled and wanted to retreat.
How could Makoto let her leave? This was the big fish Makoto caught by sacrificing his handsomeness.
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