Chapter 190: What the Previous Kage Couldn't Do—He Did!
Oborotsuki led Terumī Mei, Kushina, Konan, Yūhi Kurenai, Yekura, and the others back into the heart of Kirigakure.
They immediately saw thousands upon thousands of shinobi from Sunagakure, Konoha, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure gathered amid the ruins.
Although fighting had already stopped between both sides,
and there was no longer any active confrontation,
these invaders strangely hadn't left.
Terumī Mei stared at this bizarre scene, suddenly remembering Oborotsuki's cryptic words earlier.
A realization hit her.
"You didn't… actually make them stay, did you?"
Terumī Mei asked hesitantly, turning to look at Oborotsuki in astonishment.
The corners of his mouth curved upward into a meaningful smile:
"How else do you think I fell in love with you at first sight?"
"You're not only smart and capable—you're beautiful, kind-hearted, gentle, and considerate…"
"Enough, enough."
Terumī Mei couldn't handle any more praise:
"Keep going and it'll turn into flattery!"
"How is it flattery? I'm just telling the truth!"
Oborotsuki grinned mischievously.
"Whether it's true or not, you know best in your heart. I don't need empty compliments."
"But seriously—why did you make them all stay?"
What truly shocked and puzzled Terumī Mei was how Oborotsuki had managed to achieve this.
These were the four strongest ninja villages in the world besides Kirigakure.
In past Great Ninja Wars, even when Kirigakure threw everything they had into battle, they could never decisively defeat any single one of these villages.
The usual outcome was mutual heavy losses—neither side gaining a clear advantage.
Capturing their forces was simply unthinkable.
Yet just looking at how these enemies were behaving, it was obvious they weren't staying willingly.
So there were only a few possible explanations:
Either Oborotsuki had offered them some promise or benefit,
or he had threatened them…
"And how exactly did you do it?"
Finally unable to hold back her curiosity, Terumī Mei asked outright.
Oborotsuki gave her another mysterious smile and shook his head:
"I just reasoned with them and presented the facts."
"These guys were pretty menacing and aggressive when they first attacked Kirigakure, sure."
"But honestly—they're quite reasonable once you talk to them. Don't you think so, Lord Fourth Raikage?"
Oborotsuki turned with a half-smile toward the Fourth Raikage.
The Raikage immediately snorted coldly and looked away, refusing to meet Oborotsuki's eyes.
That reaction alone confirmed everything for Terumī Mei and the other women, as well as the ANBU who had returned with them.
"And they're the ones who voluntarily offered to help rebuild. I didn't force them at all."
"Right? All of you feel so guilty after realizing you misunderstood me and joined forces to wreck Kirigakure like this—so you're willingly staying to help us rebuild, aren't you?"
Oborotsuki smiled as he looked toward Ōnoki, Rasa, and the others.
Instantly, both Kage-level powerhouses awkwardly averted their gazes, refusing to engage with Oborotsuki's obvious teasing.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was bitter. He could only sigh inwardly.
They had truly fallen this time.
And fallen into the hands of this young brat, no less.
"See? Everyone's silently agreeing with what I just said!"
"Hey—since you're all so filled with remorse and eager to earn Kirigakure's forgiveness, you can't just stand around like statues, can you?"
"Get to work!"
Oborotsuki ordered the crowd of shinobi impatiently.
Hearing this, a Sunagakure ninja immediately spoke up:
"It's not that we refuse to work—we just don't know what to do…"
"Yeah, what exactly should we be doing? How do we do it? With so many people here, it'll be chaos without proper direction!"
"I suggest each village be assigned different tasks—otherwise some will work more than others, and I won't accept that!"
"…"
The crowd erupted into discussion, raising protests and suggestions toward Oborotsuki.
After listening to them, Oborotsuki spread his hands and turned toward Terumī Mei:
"See what I mean?"
"Now you understand what your job is going to be next?"
He then looked toward Kushina, Kurenai, Konan, Yekura, and the others.
Terumī Mei stared at the massive crowd of former enemies—who were somehow genuinely preparing to participate in Kirigakure's reconstruction.
Her heart was once again shaken by Oborotsuki's overwhelming power and extraordinary methods. Unconsciously, little stars appeared in her eyes.
Though the sparkle vanished in an instant.
Right now, in Terumī Mei's heart, Oborotsuki's position had risen dramatically once more.
Kushina and the others were equally stunned by the scene before them.
Meanwhile, Oborotsuki remained calm and casual, as though nothing extraordinary had happened.
He turned back to his wives:
"Kushina—you and the others go check on Mayumi's side. The fighting there probably caused quite a bit of damage too."
"In short—these villages no longer dare to act recklessly. Later, arrange a place for them to interrogate Uchiha Madara."
"And you?"
Terumī Mei sensed that Oborotsuki seemed about to leave and quickly interrupted.
"Me? I'm obviously going to clean up the remnants of Akatsuki!"
"Don't worry—I'll be fine. When I come back, I'll bring every last member of Akatsuki with me so you can judge them personally."
Oborotsuki finished speaking and looked at Terumī Mei with a meaningful, heated gaze.
Seeing that intense, mischievous look, Terumī Mei instinctively turned her head away.
"You be careful out there, Oborotsuki."
Kushina reminded him.
Konan stepped forward silently. Without a word, she gently straightened his collar and brushed off the dust.
"I'll be waiting to drink with you when you return."
Yūhi Kurenai placed her hands on her hips and smiled confidently at Oborotsuki.
She believed that no opponent—no matter how strong—could threaten this man.
Oborotsuki said nothing more. With a flash, he vanished.
Terumī Mei immediately began tackling the headache-inducing problem before her.
"Reconstruction work, huh…"
"Tch… managing all of them is going to be a real pain!"
Even so, she steeled herself. As the Fifth Mizukage, she walked toward these former deadly enemies and began issuing specific work orders.
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