Chapter 66: Earning Respect Through Strength — Unexpected Intelligence!
Because of the Three-Tails berserk incident caused by the Fourth Mizukage Yagura's old illness flaring up,
And thanks to Oborotsuki and Kushina stepping in just in time to stop it, the Three-Tails didn't manage to cause too much damage to the already battered Kirigakure.
However, this incident suddenly thrust Oborotsuki and Kushina into the full view of every shinobi and civilian in the village.
Everyone now knew that their Mizukage Advisor was a monstrously powerful figure capable of effortlessly suppressing the Three-Tails.
In an instant, Oborotsuki's prestige within Kirigakure skyrocketed—to the point that even Terumī Mei, who was about to ascend as the Fifth Mizukage, couldn't compare.
It was an unexpected windfall.
Oborotsuki himself had no interest in such empty fame.
All he wanted were real, tangible benefits.
Like the generous rewards his golden finger (the system) could give him.
At this moment, inside the Mizukage's office.
Oborotsuki half-sat on Terumī Mei's brand-new desk, his fair, slender fingers slowly tracing the smooth edge of the tabletop. He looked up with satisfaction at the luxurious office.
Then, with a playful grin, he turned to Mei:
"So… have you thought it over?"
"How about taking advantage of your inauguration as Mizukage and announcing in front of the whole village that you're marrying me?"
He had known Mei for quite some time now.
Even Kushina had already been successfully won over by him—yet Mei still refused to give in.
There was that saying…
What you can't have is always the most tempting.
Right now, Oborotsuki was feeling very tempted… ahem… very restless.
"Because the Fourth Mizukage passed away so suddenly, a lot of work wasn't properly handed over. I'm swamped right now—no time for your jokes!"
"If you're bored, come help me sort through these documents… and these—these are the funding applications that need to be submitted to the daimyō's office…"
Mei continued working furiously, scribbling away, casually responding to Oborotsuki while pushing a huge stack of papers toward him.
Oborotsuki took one glance and immediately felt a headache coming on.
But then his attention was suddenly caught by something in the pile.
It was a classified intelligence report.
Submitted by ANBU.
It detailed recent movements in the villages surrounding Kirigakure.
Due to the lingering aftermath of the Bloody Mist era, even though the Fourth Mizukage had publicly apologized and called for missing-nin to return and serve the village,
Some people still refused to accept it.
Not only that—they were even plotting a coup against Kirigakure.
And the intelligence report in Oborotsuki's hand was precisely about one such group.
The clan attempting to attack Kirigakure recently was called the Kaguya clan.
A very familiar name. Oborotsuki immediately remembered.
"Kaguya Kimimaro… this entire clan was wiped out for rebelling against Kirigakure, with only Kimimaro—who had stayed behind at home—surviving."
But Oborotsuki had no intention of getting involved in this matter.
With Kirigakure's current strength, Terumī Mei was more than capable of handling these small troubles.
He casually tossed the file back in front of Mei:
"Never mind. Once Risa gets back from the daimyō's estate, just let her deal with this kind of thing. I've been illiterate since childhood—they know me, but I don't know them…"
Because of Yagura's sudden death, the original plan had to be changed.
Now Mei had to handle every major and minor affair in the village while also managing Yagura's funeral arrangements.
She simply didn't have time to go see the daimyō of the Land of Water.
As for Oborotsuki—he obviously wasn't going to meet that kind of person either. Others could come see him; why would he go see some random daimyō?
So now, only Risa could go on behalf of both him and Mei to explain the situation to the daimyō.
"As the Mizukage Advisor, even if you don't have to do actual work, at least have some sympathy for me, okay?"
Terumī Mei lifted her head and gave Oborotsuki a meaningful look.
"I didn't sleep last night—I'm exhausted. Tomorrow, okay? Tomorrow I'll definitely help you deal with all this."
Oborotsuki pointed at the mountain of documents piled on her desk.
"I'm going home to catch up on sleep first. I'll wait for you after work tonight."
After winking and making a cheeky face at Mei, Oborotsuki really did turn and leave the office.
"Hmph… men!"
Watching Oborotsuki's departing figure, Terumī Mei helplessly shook her head and continued dealing with the work at hand.
Of course she had feelings for him—she could understand his goal of reviving the Hōzuki clan.
She didn't even mind how many women he had.
And after the Three-Tails berserk incident, when Oborotsuki single-handedly suppressed the beast and prevented even greater disaster for Kirigakure,
She had developed a small amount of genuine admiration for him.
But this playboy thought he could win her over so easily?
Not that simple!
…
After leaving the Mizukage's office, Oborotsuki didn't head straight home.
He walked in the opposite direction for a while before arriving at Kirigakure's ANBU prison.
Earlier, when Yagura's Three-Tails went berserk, everyone's attention had been drawn to the terrifying chakra.
But Oborotsuki had clearly sensed a very faint, hidden chakra signature appearing outside the village.
That was Black Zetsu's aura—his Sage Chakra would never mistake it.
This meant Akatsuki had already learned that the Three-Tails had fallen into his hands.
Although Oborotsuki's current strength was enough to stand toe-to-toe with Nagato,
He had no need to fear Akatsuki coming to cause trouble.
But the real enemy wasn't Akatsuki.
He knew very well that he didn't have much time to waste.
He had to make the most of the limited time he had—gain more rewards, become even stronger!
Otherwise… how could he possibly make a god-level being like Kaguya Ōtsutsuki willingly bear his children?
"Lord Oborotsuki!"
"Are you here again to interrogate that spy?"
The Kirigakure ANBU guards at the prison entrance saw Oborotsuki and greeted him with extreme respect.
If previously their attitude toward him had been friendly only because of Mei,
Then now, every shinobi in Kirigakure treated Oborotsuki with genuine, heartfelt reverence.
Because Oborotsuki had single-handedly subdued the Three-Tails—the terrifying tailed beast feared by all.
Everyone in Kirigakure now knew his name.
"No need to bother."
Before the guard could turn to fetch the keys and open the door, Oborotsuki had already vanished from the spot.
"Ah… as expected of Lord Oborotsuki!"
"This prison is nothing more than decoration to someone of his level."
The two Kirigakure ANBU guards exchanged glances and sighed in admiration.
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