Chapter 311: Kurotsuchi's Sincere Apology
Akiyama Makoto smiled without saying a word, but his other hand pinched Karin's butt beside him.
Karin had already disliked Mei Terumī, and now with Makoto's hint, she immediately pushed Mei Terumī out together with Temari.
Mei Terumī didn't dare to be too tough on Karin and Temari, so she could only obediently withdraw from the room, and then was led back to the prison by Makoto's shadow clone to continue her prison life.
Everyone looked at Mei Terumī quietly. Ao's gaze contained a scrutiny and madness that no one else could understand, as if waiting for Mei Terumī to say some decisive words.
But Kurotsuchi spoke first, smiling and mocking, "It seems you got preferential treatment. Let me guess the reason... is it because of your face?"
Kurotsuchi's sarcasm wasn't baseless.
Although Kurotsuchi usually acted like a tomboy, she actually cared very much about her figure and appearance, being at an age anxious about all this.
Therefore, she was the first to observe Mei Terumī's cleaned face. In the current environment, only Makoto seemed capable of doing such a thing.
With Kurotsuchi's reminder, the rest naturally noticed this.
Mei Terumī's face changed slightly, but she didn't say a word, just smiled calmly.
Although Kurotsuchi was Ōnoki's granddaughter, Mei Terumī wasn't a Rock Village ninja, so there was no need to pay attention to Ōnoki.
Makoto's clone was still here. She had to be cautious in her words and actions to maintain the attitude she just showed in front of Makoto, so that she could continue to advance her plan.
However, Mei Terumī never expected that although Kurotsuchi didn't intend to continue, Ao asked, "Did you surrender to him?"
Mei Terumī frowned and looked at Ao. The look of resentment in his remaining single eye seemed to be increasing.
"I'm asking you, Mei Terumī, did you surrender to him!"
"He snatched my eye, insulted me, and even insulted the entire Hidden Mist Village, and you surrendered to him like that bastard Zabuza?"
Looking at the excited Ao, Mei Terumī wanted to knock him out with a punch.
Unfortunately, all of their chakra was sealed by Makoto. Rushing up now would only mean fighting Ao physically, and she really might not be his opponent in that case.
Plus, there was Makoto's shadow clone nearby. Although expressionless, she was sure that everything here was under Makoto's surveillance.
She could only continue with her attitude just now, trying to comfort Ao first, saying, "Ao, this is a misunderstanding. The misunderstanding has been resolved now."
"We entered the country ruled by Lord Akiyama rashly without his permission, and fought with his generals. It's fortunate enough that we weren't killed."
"What's more, the other party has healed Chōjūrō, showing sincerity first. Why do you still hold on to a little pain?"
Ao looked at Mei Terumī in disbelief, and simply tore off the bandage on his face, revealing the empty black hole behind it.
"He snatched my eye so that I can no longer use the power of the Byakugan. Can't you see?"
"If he really has sincerity, then give me back my Byakugan!"
Ao roared at Mei Terumī, but in fact, the object of his roar should be Makoto. However, now he only dared to do this to Mei Terumī.
Mei Terumī's face also turned cold, and she said, "Ao, was that your Byakugan? How come I didn't know you have the Hyūga family's main family bloodline?"
"Things on the battlefield should be taken back on the battlefield, just like you did back then. You can go to Lord Akiyama to get the Byakugan back. I won't stop you."
"You!"
Ao trembled with anger, wanting to say that Mei Terumī should help him get the Byakugan back.
But Mei Terumī had surrendered to Makoto, and even offered her beauty. How could he make Mei Terumī listen to his orders?
Ao's remaining eye rolled, seemingly thinking of something. He stopped speaking and sat back in the corner of the room, his eyes emitting a cold light from the depths.
Mei Terumī saw this scene and knew that she and Ao had completely broken up.
But there was no way. Mei Terumī could only make this choice.
In the current situation, she couldn't fight Makoto to the death for Ao no matter what. That would only lead to the death of all three of them here.
Ao couldn't fail to understand such a stupid thing.
But Ao was a person who cared about face and liked to speak directly. Now he probably lost his reason due to excessive anger.
Hope he can figure it out himself after a while.
A ninja's fate was inherently bumpy and changeable.
As long as Ao was still willing to be loyal to Mei Terumī later, even if his strength was no longer as it used to be, Mei Terumī was willing to give him a clerical job in the future so that he could continue to shine in the Hidden Mist Village.
The ninja from the other two villages watched this scene quietly, each harboring their own thoughts.
Samui wasn't nervous originally because she knew this was indeed a misunderstanding.
Even if they entered the Land of Waves without Makoto's permission, she had the Cloud Village behind her. When the Cloud Village people came to explain the situation, Makoto should release them no matter what.
Makoto wouldn't declare war on the Cloud Village alone just because of today's matter, right?
Even if Makoto had the strength of Minato Namikaze back then, he shouldn't do such a stupid thing.
But now, Samui had doubts about this conclusion.
Because she realized that Makoto might care very much about the Byakugan. Did this mean that Makoto had a deep relationship with the Hyūga family?
Although the Cloud Village knew about Makoto's existence and roughly understood Makoto's strength and fighting style.
But they didn't know much about the intimate relationship between Hinata and Makoto.
After all, no one in Konoha would actively promote this kind of thing, and Makoto rose too fast, so that spies from various countries hadn't had time to send back detailed intelligence.
Samui thought, if Makoto really intended to stand up for the Hyūga family, then the Cloud Village and the Hyūga family still had an unresolved grudge.
Because of a main family Byakugan, Makoto caused Ao such heavy damage.
The Cloud Village forced the Hyūga clan leader's brother to death. How would Makoto retaliate for this account?
Samui wasn't afraid of death, but didn't want to die for nothing.
On the other side, Kurotsuchi watched all this quietly, but she didn't think about the relationship between the Hyūga family and Makoto at all.
She just felt that she really wanted to see Makoto and ask him what he intended to do.
She and the Rock Village had no grudges against Makoto, right?
"Kurotsuchi, it's your turn."
At this time, the shadow clone also pointed to Kurotsuchi. Kurotsuchi jumped up excitedly.
She wasn't afraid, but rather looked forward to how Makoto would communicate with her.
Soon, Kurotsuchi also came to Makoto.
Looking at Makoto, Kurotsuchi rubbed her nose with her finger and said, "Yo, finally met you. You are very strong, very strong. We lost convincingly yesterday."
"However, you also beat us. We can compensate you with a sum of money, and let's write off this debt between the two sides, how about it?"
"What's more, you aren't a Konoha ninja, right? Does that mean the grudge between Konoha and the Rock Village doesn't count here with you?"
Kurotsuchi said a large paragraph like a barrage of cannonballs, showing her eldest miss personality.
And Makoto didn't dislike such a guy.
On the contrary, he disliked those guys who beat around the bush with various theories and rhetoric in front of him. Either negotiate terms or fight. Isn't life simpler that way?
So Makoto nodded and said, "You're right. The grudge between the Rock Village and Konoha indeed has nothing to do with me."
The most recent conflict between the Rock Village and Konoha was a sneak attack on Konoha after the Nine-Tails Rebellion, but it was repelled.
Further back was the Third Great Ninja War. The Rock started this war, and the Battle of Kannabi Bridge broke out in this war, ending with Minato Namikaze leading the team to defeat the Rock Village and the two sides concluding an alliance.
Makoto had no relatives killed by the Rock Village's attack—although if carefully argued, the root cause of Obito's darkening and launching the Nine-Tails Rebellion was that the war started by the Rock Village caused Obito to lose half of his body, but this matter ultimately had to be counted on Madara Uchiha.
Makoto's words made Kurotsuchi happy, but before she could speak, Makoto changed the subject.
"But this doesn't mean there is no grudge between us."
Kurotsuchi looked at Makoto in disbelief, then frowned and thought seriously, and finally simply tapped her head with her finger and said, "Sorry, I really don't know the conflict between the Rock Village and you."
"If you are willing to say it, you can tell me. As the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage, I will try hard to resolve the conflict between us. I'm serious."
Although Kurotsuchi had some eldest miss temper, she was ultimately a conscientious and responsible ninja. At this time, she immediately understood that she had to maintain a good relationship with Makoto.
Back then, the Rock Village failed because of Konoha's Yellow Flash. Now this new Flash ninja was even more brutal than Minato Namikaze. She didn't want to confront a guy like Makoto again.
"Actually, it's simple to say."
Makoto laughed, remembering the plot where he went to the Rock Village and was warmly entertained by Ōnoki in the previous simulation.
Although it was just a simulation, and Ōnoki did it to crack down on Konoha, it had to be said that Ōnoki, who had the ambition to dominate, appeared much more generous than his peers.
It was just that Makoto couldn't show the emotions from the simulation, but had to discuss the matter based on reality.
So Makoto said, "The Grass Village and your Rock Village are in a state of war, right?"
Kurotsuchi nodded, then frowned and said, "You have a relationship with the Grass Village?"
Makoto shrugged and said, "Not really a relationship, but she, Karin, is one of my girlfriends."
Makoto pulled Karin to his side. Karin already knew what Makoto was going to do, and her eyes turned red immediately, as if she remembered her dead mother.
"Her mother died because of the war between the Grass Village and the Rock Village. How do you think this matter should be handled?"
Kurotsuchi was dumbfounded, but then her face became unpleasant.
If it involved human lives, especially the life of the mother of Makoto's girlfriend, did their Rock Village have to hand over the murderer?
Kurotsuchi knew Ōnoki's character very well; he would definitely not agree to do such a thing.
But if they didn't do this, the Rock Village would have to fight another ninja who used the Flying Thunder God, and the Rock Village already had psychological trauma about this.
While Kurotsuchi was struggling internally, Makoto and Karin also looked at each other.
Makoto secretly gave Karin a thumbs up, and Karin winked at Makoto triumphantly.
Karin's mother did die because of the war between the Grass Village and the Rock Village, but the people who really killed Karin's mother were ninja from the Grass Village. Karin hated the ninja from the Grass Village, which had nothing to do with the Rock Village.
But since it was to blackmail the Rock Village, Karin was naturally willing to act with Makoto. After all, this was saving up family assets for the Akiyama family.
As for whether Karin would be sad and angry because Makoto used this reason, the answer was naturally no.
Because Makoto had given Karin the strength for revenge, and he promised to create opportunities for Karin to take revenge because of this.
Then, would the renewed conflict between the Rock Village and the Grass Village be the best opportunity for Karin to take revenge?
Karin had already thought of this, and realized that her chance for revenge had come. She was happy enough.
Kurotsuchi thought for half a day, but couldn't come up with a suitable solution.
But in order to prevent a conflict between Makoto and the Rock Village, she took a deep breath, bowed directly to Karin, and said, "Sorry, although I don't know who hurt your mother, I am willing to apologize for him."
"Of course, I know a simple apology won't reassure you. So I and the Rock Village are willing to pay compensation for this, and if you have any conditions, you can raise them."
Karin was startled by Kurotsuchi's sudden sincere attitude, and couldn't bear it for a moment.
But thinking of her dead mother, Karin's eyes turned red, and she said, "I don't want money. But as for compensation, that depends on my master's thoughts."
Karin threw the question back to Makoto. Such a major decision naturally had to be made by Makoto himself.
Kurotsuchi also secretly raised her head, wanting to see Makoto's expression at this time, but unfortunately, she still couldn't see anything.
Makoto thought calmly. He didn't expect Kurotsuchi's attitude either.
But he could understand Kurotsuchi's attitude. To put it bluntly, she didn't want Makoto to act himself, after all, Ōnoki was getting old.
If Makoto went to sneak attack Ōnoki, the entire Rock Village would be startled.
Of course, Makoto also understood that Kurotsuchi was overstepping her authority at this time.
Although she was Ōnoki's granddaughter, she was just an ordinary ninja at the moment, and actually had no right to make any decisions for Ōnoki.
But considering the rebellious tradition of Rock Village ninja—Kurotsuchi's senior brother Deidara was still in the Akatsuki organization now—Kurotsuchi's conditions could also be considered.
So Makoto said, "My condition is actually very simple."
"My Land of Waves is currently in need of manpower. You stay and help Karin."
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