"Second—and this is the most important condition."
Uchiha Kai raised a second finger and waved it in front of Mei Terumi.
As he spoke, he deliberately paused.
It seemed as though he was organizing his thoughts.
Or perhaps...
He was simply enjoying the changing expressions on Mei Terumi's face as she listened.
Only after watching for a while did he continue.
"Second, if I tell you to go east, you don't go west."
"If I tell you to beat a dog, you don't go chasing chickens."
"Even if I order Kirigakure to turn its weapons toward the other ninja villages, you'll charge forward without the slightest hesitation!"
The words exploded like a thunderclap in everyone's ears.
No one had expected Uchiha Kai's ambitions to be this enormous.
"Against... the other Four Great Ninja Villages?!"
Especially Mei Terumi.
Her delicate body trembled violently.
Her emerald-green pupils contracted sharply.
She had anticipated that the price would be heavy.
She had even prepared herself to offer up her own body if necessary.
Even now.
Immediately.
If he wanted her, she would give herself without hesitation.
But she had never expected that the man before her wasn't interested in her.
He wanted Kirigakure itself.
He wanted to turn the entire Hidden Mist Village into a blade in his hand.
This...
This was equivalent to binding Kirigakure to the Uchiha clan's war chariot.
In the future, they might even become enemies of the entire ninja world.
"Could it be..."
"Does this little man want to unify all Five Great Ninja Villages?"
The thought sent chills throughout her entire body.
She couldn't believe her ears.
Or perhaps...
She simply didn't want to believe it.
If it only concerned herself, then nothing mattered.
Even if Uchiha Kai's demands were harsher...
More unreasonable...
She could grit her teeth and endure them.
But Kirigakure...
The implications were far too great.
"What?"
"Not willing?"
Seeing the hesitation on Mei Terumi's face, Kai raised an eyebrow.
A trace of disappointment flashed across his face.
"If you're unwilling, then let's—"
"I am!"
"I agree!"
Before he could finish speaking, Mei Terumi blurted out the answer.
Her voice was hoarse.
Yet incredibly firm.
She first turned toward the raging Three-Tails behind her.
Deep fear flashed through her eyes.
A completely berserk Three-Tails was a walking catastrophe.
Every movement it made was a disaster waiting to happen.
For a village...
It was nothing less than a machine of destruction.
And after careful consideration, she had already reached a conclusion.
The current Kirigakure simply lacked the ability to stop it.
So she abruptly turned back and met Kai's indifferent gaze.
Then she spoke with absolute determination.
"As long as you can protect Kirigakure."
"As long as you can contain the Three-Tails."
"As long as you can save the people here."
"I, Mei Terumi, agree!"
"From this day forward, under my leadership, the entire Hidden Mist Village will follow your commands!"
After speaking, she slowly lowered herself.
Lower.
And lower.
Until her forehead pressed firmly against the cold, jagged stones beneath her.
Her posture was humble to the extreme.
As if she had lowered herself into the dust itself.
The meaning was crystal clear.
She was placing everything she had at his disposal.
Success!
A grin immediately spread across Kai's face.
Two neat rows of white teeth became visible.
Only then did he nod in satisfaction and reach a hand toward Mei Terumi.
"In that case... you..."
As he spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly.
A spatial vortex suddenly appeared before him.
The next moment—
A large black cloak fell out.
It landed perfectly over Mei Terumi's exposed body.
Hm?
The kneeling Mei Terumi trembled slightly.
After seeing Kai's movement, she had already guessed what might happen next.
Yet she had remained motionless.
She had not intended to refuse.
After all—
What promise could possibly be more reliable than a genuine relationship?
Just as she was mentally preparing herself—
A black cloak suddenly covered her shoulders.
Huh?
She froze.
Subconsciously, she looked up.
All she saw was Kai's figure walking away with his hands clasped behind his back.
So...
He only wanted to give her something to wear?
He wasn't planning to...
Mei Terumi took a deep breath.
She rose to her feet and wrapped the cloak tightly around herself.
Yet beneath her lowered lashes—
A trace of disappointment flashed by.
Yes.
Disappointment.
Tiny.
Almost imperceptible.
Yet undeniably real.
Like a pebble falling into a calm lake, sending ripples across her heart.
Why was she disappointed?
He had already agreed to save the village.
Everyone would survive.
Then why...
Why did she feel strangely empty inside?
As though she had been expecting something...
Only to have it gently brushed aside at the last moment.
Mei Terumi unconsciously tightened the cloak around herself.
At the same time, she gripped the tattered remains of her blue dress.
The confusion in her heart only deepened.
She was a stunning beauty.
Her clothes were practically in tatters.
She had even knelt before him and offered up her "token."
More importantly—
She had practically stated her intentions outright.
No, it wasn't even a hint anymore.
It was an outright declaration.
So why...
Why wouldn't this little man even spare her a second glance?
Could it be...
At that thought, Mei Terumi's heart suddenly sank.
For the first time in her life, a powerful sense of self-doubt emerged.
Could it be...
That her charm wasn't enough?
Or was her face not beautiful enough?
As for her figure...
Not to boast, but this figure alone should rank among the very best in all Five Great Ninja Villages.
Then why was this little brat...
Wait.
Suddenly, another possibility appeared in her mind.
"Could it be because I'm older?"
"Does he think I'm an old woman?"
"Hmph!"
"What an inexperienced little brat."
"You don't understand at all."
"This age is when a woman is at her finest."
"As for those immature little girls?"
"I can leave them a hundred thousand miles behind!"
Countless thoughts collided wildly in Mei Terumi's mind.
As a result, a faint blush gradually appeared on her previously pale and beautiful face.
The way she looked at Uchiha Kai changed completely.
The hesitation and confusion from before vanished.
In their place was an excitement akin to a hunter spotting prey.
"Once you've experienced how wonderful your big sister is..."
"You won't even spare those little girls another glance."
"Hm?"
Kai frowned.
Watching Mei Terumi's ever-changing expressions, his small brows knitted together even more.
What was wrong with this woman?
A moment ago, she had looked ready to march to her death.
Then she had been trembling like a leaf.
Now she wasn't trembling anymore.
Nor did she look resigned.
Instead, the way she looked at him had become strangely intense.
As if she wanted to devour him whole.
Could it be...
Had the Three-Tails scared her crazy?
That couldn't be it, right?
Kai never once considered that she might be doubting her own attractiveness.
Nor did he imagine that one day he might become someone else's prey.
In his eyes—
Mei Terumi was simply a useful tool who happened to be good-looking.
As for anything else...
Well.
Maybe when he grew up a little more, he wouldn't mind if he happened to be in a really bad mood.
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