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Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: Refusing to Leave

The gates of the Uchiha clan compound loomed before the group of thirteen Cloud Village ninjas, escorted by a Leaf Village jounin. The jounin, his task complete, gave them a curt nod. "You're on your own from here," he said before turning and hurrying toward the Hokage's office, his steps swift as if eager to distance himself from the volatile situation.

The Cloud ninjas approached the Uchiha stronghold, their leader, a jounin named Isshi, steeling himself for the encounter. He was soon ushered into a meeting room where Uchiha Fugaku, the clan leader, awaited. Fugaku's sharp gaze assessed him, his mind already calculating. The Cloud Village's presence could only mean one thing—ransom.

"You've brought the ransom, I presume?" Fugaku asked, his tone calm but authoritative.

"Yes," Isshi replied, pulling a scroll from his vest. He unfurled it, placed it on the ground, and formed a series of hand seals. With a puff of white smoke, a large chest materialized atop the scroll. "Clan Leader Fugaku, please inspect it."

Isshi's heart sank as he looked at the chest, filled with the ransom for their captured comrades. If only the Cloud Village hadn't attacked the Leaf, they wouldn't be in this humiliating position. But regrets were useless now.

Fugaku gestured to several Uchiha clansmen, who began inspecting the chest's contents. The sum was substantial, and he wouldn't put it past the Cloud to tamper with it. As the clansmen counted, Fugaku's mind turned to the clan's future. This ransom would secure their finances, supporting the Uchiha who had voluntarily stepped back from the Police Force during their recent reforms. It was a windfall, ensuring the clan's stability.

The clansmen finished their count. "Clan Leader, the amount is correct," one reported.

Fugaku allowed himself a satisfied smile. "Good. That settles it. You may leave. We won't be hosting you."

His words were polite but firm. The Cloud Village had a reputation for underhanded tactics, and Fugaku wouldn't risk them lingering, possibly scheming to steal the Uchiha's prized Sharingan.

Isshi, however, didn't move. He cleared his throat, his voice steady despite the tension. "We've paid this year's ransom. Can you release the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and Mabui? They've already assisted with your investigations."

The Two-Tails, Yugito Nii, was a vital asset to the Cloud Village, even if her performance against the Uchiha had been lackluster. Against other villages, her power remained formidable. And Mabui, the Fourth Raikage's secretary, held critical village secrets—leaving her in Uchiha hands was unthinkable.

Fugaku shook his head. "That's not my call. They're Ryosuke's captives. I'll have someone take you to him, but you'll need his approval to take them."

Isshi's stomach tightened. Uchiha Ryosuke—the man who'd single-handedly crushed the Cloud Village's elite. Convincing him would be no easy task. Still, he nodded, hoping for the best.

Soon, Isshi stood before Ryosuke in his private residence. The Uchiha prodigy lounged casually, but his eyes gleamed with a predatory edge. When Isshi explained his request to take Yugito and Mabui back, Ryosuke's expression soured. Let them go? The idea didn't sit well with him.

Yugito and Mabui were more than captives—they were his "batteries," boosting his chakra reserves through the "Multi-Child Blessing System." Losing them would stall his progress. With Yugao having slipped away and Kurenai, another of his conquests, now pregnant and unavailable, his options were limited. He could vIsshit the Leaf Village's red-light district, but the women there were a gamble—unclean, unpredictable. Yugito and Mabui, on the other hand, were ideal: strong, compliant, and already molded to his will. Mabui, especially, had become pliant, accommodating his every whim. They were too valuable to release.

Isshi, sensing Ryosuke's hesitation, felt a pang of dread. If Ryosuke refused, the Cloud Village would lose two critical assets. Before he could press further, Mabui, standing behind Ryosuke, spoke up. "I'm not going back," she declared firmly.

Isshi's jaw dropped. Refusing to return? What reason could she have to stay? Then he caught her subtle wink, a signal that she had a plan. Mabui's resolve was clear—she stayed to exact revenge on Ryosuke. Her goal, as she'd confided to Yugito, was to bear his children, raise them in the Cloud Village, and create a rival Uchiha lineage. The thought of Ryosuke's shock at seeing his bloodline flourish in an enemy village fueled her determination. She wasn't certain she was pregnant yet, but she wasn't leaving until she was.

Isshi, catching her intent, realized she was playing a long game—possibly gathering intelligence or undermining the Uchiha from within. He gave a slight nod, acknowledging her strategy.

Yugito, standing nearby, understood Mabui's plan. She'd admired her friend's resolve, a brilliant scheme to turn Ryosuke's cruelty against him. But Yugito had her own reasons for staying. Back in the Cloud Village, she was the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, despised and shunned, her life defined by hateful glares. Here, with Ryosuke, she felt a strange freedom. The pressure of being a pariah was gone, replaced by an unexpected comfort. At first, his touch had been humiliating, but now? She craved it. His restless hands, his commanding presence—it drew her in, shameful as it was.

"I'm not going back either," Yugito said, her voice steady.

Isshi's face paled. The Jinchuriki, too? She was a cornerstone of the Cloud's strength. "That's unacceptable!" he protested.

Ryosuke's grin widened, his heart practically singing. Both women, conquered by his dominance, refused to leave. The system's rewards were secure, and his hold over them was stronger than he'd hoped. "They don't want to go," he said, his tone smug. "So, you'll be heading back alone."

Isshi's expression darkened. The Fourth Raikage's orders were clear—retrieve Yugito and Mabui. Failing was not an option, but what could he do? Ryosuke's power was overwhelming, and provoking him could end in disaster. The Cloud Village couldn't afford another clash with the Uchiha, not after their last defeat. If Isshi pushed, he and his team might not leave alive.

Mabui, watching the exchange, wondered if Yugito shared her vengeful plan. They were sisters in suffering, united by their ordeal. If Yugito was also planning to bear Ryosuke's children, their combined efforts—along with Samui's—could produce a new generation of Uchiha-blooded heirs for the Cloud. Three children, maybe six with another round. A small clan of their own, raised to defy Ryosuke and the Leaf. It was a start to her revenge, a way to reclaim power over the man who'd violated her.

She shot Isshi another meaningful glance, urging him to understand. Isshi, grasping the possibility that both women were staying to gather intelligence or sabotage the Uchiha, relented. "Very well," he said stiffly. "I'll take my leave."

As Isshi and his team departed, the Uchiha compound buzzed with quiet triumph. Fugaku, overseeing the ransom, felt a surge of confidence. The funds strengthened the clan's position, and Ryosuke's hold over their captives ensured their leverage over the Cloud. But beneath the surface, tensions simmered. 

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