Chapter 118: Jealousy Means She's Falling Hard!
Despite Oborotsuki's carefree, unserious demeanor—acting like nothing in the world mattered—he had listened carefully to everything Terumī Mei said earlier about her burdens and responsibilities. Every word was clearly recorded in his mind.
Kirigakure wasn't just following the Land of Water daimyō's orders; they also had their own strong incentives to join Sunagakure in moving against Konoha.
That meant Konoha's crisis had arrived.
The Uchiha clan was now teetering on the edge.
It seemed he needed to find another opportunity to return to Konoha…
With that thought, Oborotsuki's eyes flickered. He glanced at Terumī Mei, who was pretending to focus on her work and ignoring him, and decided it was time to leave.
"You're ignoring me? Then I'm going, okay?"
Oborotsuki teased half-jokingly.
"Finish reading this first. After that, go wherever you want!"
Terumī Mei tossed another new intelligence report toward him.
Oborotsuki grinned, reached out, and picked up the file.
He knew Terumī Mei wasn't genuinely angry.
Right now, the dynamic between them was exactly like that of a couple in the early stages of passionate love.
He casually opened the letter and skimmed it, then curled his lip.
It was intelligence sent back by Kirigakure spies stationed in other countries.
But they were all old news.
Or at best, information of little strategic value.
For example: the Fourth Raikage, upon learning of Futon Yugito's disappearance, ordered Kumogakure into full lockdown.
He also strengthened security around the Eight-Tails jinchūriki and personally led the formation of a special task force to investigate the truth behind the Two-Tails jinchūriki's disappearance.
Another report: the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki of Iwagakure ordered a complete information blackout regarding the loss of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, etc.
None of this held any real value for Oborotsuki.
Because it didn't help advance his true goal.
"By the way—I almost forgot, there's something I need to tell you too."
Oborotsuki finished skimming the reports, offered no comment, and instead changed the subject to Terumī Mei.
"What is it?"
Terumī Mei immediately stopped what she was doing and looked up at him.
"It's about Pakura (Yekura)."
"Orochimaru's research has made progress. That means we're about to fully master her Scorch Release kekkei genkai."
"He asked me to come tell you—since I've been busy lately, I almost forgot."
Oborotsuki explained.
"That Orochimaru really is an invaluable talent…"
Terumī Mei couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
The power of Scorch Release was crucial to dramatically increasing Kirigakure's overall combat strength.
"It looks like my plan to select suitable candidates and transplant Scorch Release cells needs to be put on the fast track…"
"With this power, even if we really end up joining Sunagakure to attack Konoha, we'll be in a much stronger position!"
"And if we have to face Akatsuki, we'll have far more confidence!"
Terumī Mei couldn't hide her delight and began muttering to herself.
"Since Pakura has already cooperated with us to complete the experiment, isn't it about time we honored our promise to her?"
Seeing how pleased Terumī Mei was, Oborotsuki seized the moment and smiled as he spoke.
"What promise?"
Terumī Mei paused, a little confused.
She didn't remember making any promise to Pakura.
Her puzzled gaze quickly turned into meaningful suspicion. She stared hard at Oborotsuki:
"What exactly did you promise her behind my back?"
"Mm—well, back then, to get her to cooperate with our experiment plan, I made her a few promises."
"What promises?"
Terumī Mei was speechless, both angry and amused as she looked at Oborotsuki.
Her eyes were filled with strong suspicion.
It was as if she was saying: Don't tell me you had some improper ideas in your heart?
Sure enough—speak of the devil.
The moment Terumī Mei asked, Oborotsuki answered without hesitation:
"I promised her that if she cooperated with our experiment plan, we would release her from prison."
"Not only that—Kirigakure would also provide her with necessary protection and allow her to live in the village…"
"Hōzuki Oborotsuki! That's going too far!"
"How could you casually make such a promise without consulting me first?"
Terumī Mei immediately frowned after hearing this.
Although she had agreed not to kill Pakura for the time being, she had never considered letting her stay in Kirigakure!
And now this brat had gone and used the authority she gave him to make decisions on his own!
Oborotsuki grinned inwardly. Consult you in advance? No way.
He had only made this decision a couple of days ago.
Of course, he wasn't going to tell Terumī Mei that directly.
"Pakura is a true Scorch Release kekkei genkai user. Compared to being an experimental subject, her own combat ability is far more valuable."
"If we can keep such an elite shinobi in Kirigakure and make her completely loyal to us, isn't that the real benefit for the village?"
"Exiling her would be too much of a waste—don't you think?"
Oborotsuki looked at Terumī Mei seriously and countered with a question.
Terumī Mei was momentarily stumped by his reasoning. After thinking it over carefully, she realized… it actually made sense.
If they let Pakura go and she left Kirigakure, there was a chance she might one day help another village fight against them.
But if they kept Pakura here…
"You're lying!"
Terumī Mei had been watching Oborotsuki's expression suspiciously the whole time.
Now she noticed the sly, scheming smile on his face and immediately frowned.
"What am I lying about?"
Oborotsuki blinked, pretending to defend himself.
"Your eyes—and that little upward curve at the corner of your mouth just now! Hmph… you only make that face when you're guilty of something!"
Terumī Mei pouted.
"You actually saw through that?"
Oborotsuki muttered inwardly.
He had only smiled because he was thinking about how, in the future, Pakura could openly live in the house with everyone—happy family life and all.
He hadn't expected Terumī Mei's eyes to be so sharp…
"So I was right? You're speechless now?"
Terumī Mei looked a little smug.
This guy really hadn't changed—still so flirtatious!
"It's not what you think. You've misunderstood me. Pakura and I didn't even know each other before—how could I have any improper thoughts about her?"
Oborotsuki, of course, couldn't admit his relationship with Pakura right now.
He could only patiently soothe Terumī Mei with gentle words.
Deep down, though, he was delighted.
Terumī Mei was starting to get jealous.
That meant she was falling for him—falling harder and harder.
And the closer she got, the nearer the day when he would finally win her over completely…
"Hmph… who believes you!"
Though that was what she said, Terumī Mei's expression had already softened considerably.
"You don't believe me? Then who do you believe? Alright, enough of this. You want me to go check on the situation in Kumogakure myself, right?"
Oborotsuki shook the intelligence report he had just read and changed the subject.
"Mm. At least you're not completely hopeless."
Terumī Mei's attention was successfully diverted. She nodded immediately.
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