"No, Third Hokage, you have to believe me, that's really what that person said!"
Kakashi immediately grew anxious.
What does this have to do with reading the Icha Icha series?
Besides, the Icha Icha series doesn't have stories like that!
"That's true, Jiraiya's novels are all about men and women, so you're really not making this up, Kakashi?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked the beard on his chin, thought for a moment, and nodded.
"Uh, so you've read them too, Third Hokage."
Kakashi's mouth under his mask twitched.
To be able to confidently say "they're all about men and women," what could be the reason?
"Don't focus on these meaningless details, Kakashi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, "Since that's the case, perhaps Orochimaru, that renegade disciple, has achieved some results. Anyway, this method won't harm Naruto, and trying it won't hurt... Kakashi, I'll leave this matter to you.
But remember, keep a constant watch, and if anything unusual happens, stop immediately."
"Ah? Me? Alright."
Kakashi reluctantly agreed.
He had thought that by telling the Third Hokage about this, he could shake off the trouble, but he didn't expect to still have to deal with it himself.
That evening, at the barbecue restaurant.
After the four of them enjoyed their barbecue, before heading home, Kakashi handed Sasuke a thermos and a piece of white paper with writing on it.
"This is a recipe I found someone to get, for 'Heather Root Lotus Root Starch.' The cup contains a portion I tried to make.
Sasuke, if you really want to use that method, you can have a cup of this every day. Once you get used to it, it'll help a lot psychologically."
Kakashi's expression was very awkward.
He really wanted to say—or maybe just hurt Naruto a little instead.
Sasuke, however, had no such reservations. He simply said, "Thanks, Kakashi," and took the items home.
Kakashi also went home to rest, preparing to start his training tomorrow.
He wasn't sure whether to believe what Bai Mo said or the Third Hokage's analysis.
But improving his strength was always the right thing to do.
He'd first try to develop the abilities of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
—
Land of Water, Kirigakure.
After Yagura regained consciousness, he resigned as Mizukage due to his culpability and was assigned to a secluded, quiet place to recuperate.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't live much longer.
Controlled by genjutsu for many years, then forcibly released from it, he awoke to find his beloved village ruined by his own actions. His body, mind, and spirit had all reached their limits.
As for Mei Terumī, influenced by Bai Mo, she directly proposed to the Elder, expressing her desire to become the Fifth Mizukage and change Kirigakure.
The Elder was very surprised.
He knew Mei Terumī, this junior, very well.
She seemed outgoing but was actually introverted, often becoming passive when it came to things she cared about deeply.
According to Mei Terumī's usual personality, she shouldn't have been so proactive.
Of course, the Elder didn't refuse.
On the contrary, he agreed very happily and stated that he would send someone to inform the Daimyo tomorrow.
This was actually not strange.
At this point, only a few years separated them from Mei Terumī's original succession as Mizukage.
The Elder's reason at the time was "getting old and inconvenient to move around," so he let Mei Terumī become Mizukage.
It was a smooth, natural progression.
It could be seen that he had been grooming Mei Terumī to be Mizukage for these past few years.
Now that Mei Terumī had proactively suggested it, this was different from Uzumaki Naruto shouting about wanting to become Hokage.
This indicated that Mei Terumī felt she could bear the responsibility of being Mizukage, which was a sign of maturity and confidence.
Back home.
Mei Terumī took out the cassette tape and began to play it.
She wanted to listen again to some descriptions of the future, trying to analyze some information.
Hearing herself call herself an "older leftover woman" again, Mei Terumī still felt inevitably awkward.
"Hmm?"
Mei Terumī was listening and writing down the words.
Putting it into text made it clearer.
She listened to the very end, and just as she was about to turn it off and take out the tape, she found that it wasn't finished; there was more after that.
Bai Mo hadn't let her listen to the whole thing before?
Mei Terumī curiously continued to listen.
"Didn't I just tell you?
At that time, Madara activated the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and everyone in the ninja world entered a beautiful dream of genjutsu, dreaming of what they desired most.
I dreamed I got married... and the person I married looked exactly like you..."
Click.
Mei Terumī heard this and abruptly paused the playback.
What was that?
Mei Terumī felt a little goosebumps.
She wasn't sure if her future self really dreamed of the exact same person, or if she was simply trying to flirt with Bai Mo at the time.
Or perhaps, it was just drunken nonsense.
The phrase "didn't I just tell you" indicated that before the recording started, she had already said these words to Bai Mo.
Now Mei Terumī could understand why Bai Mo had started recording as evidence, fearing that he wouldn't be able to defend himself if something happened.
Was she really that desperate?
She scratched her head.
After calming down, Mei Terumī pressed play.
What followed was even harder to endure.
Bai Mo asked her future self, "So, was there a baby shower in the dream?"
Her future self very honestly stated that people cannot imagine things they haven't seen.
The main content of the subsequent Infinite Tsukuyomi dream was her discovering that all the other female ninja in the ninja world were single.
Mei Terumī mocked Tsunade as an older leftover woman, and was envied by female ninja like Kurotsuchi, Samui, and Temari.
What she thought would be a romance drama turned into a drama about showing off and slapping faces.
"This Infinite Tsukuyomi actually sounds pretty good."
Mei Terumī had gradually gotten used to it and let out a light laugh.
Of course, she was just saying that.
A beautiful dream, once in a while is enough.
What was the point of being eternally immersed in a false beautiful dream?
After listening to the rest of the content, Mei Terumī took out the cassette tape, placed it neatly on her cabinet, turned off the light, and went to sleep.
Starting tomorrow, she would forget all this and fully dedicate herself to Kirigakure's reforms!
—
Amegakure.
Bai Mo had returned.
Konan, Sasori, White Zetsu, Black Zetsu, and Bai Mo were discussing.
Deidara had returned to Iwagakure silently on his own, and Sasori didn't know at first.
But, no matter what, Deidara was his teammate, so he still planned to go and see if he could help.
To say that Sasori had absolutely no emotions after converting himself into a human puppet wasn't entirely true, after all, he still had a "heart."
White Zetsu and Black Zetsu were there to tell Bai Mo that they had already collected quite a few "items" from the major ninja villages.
They had even collected Ōnoki's.
If they wanted to save Deidara, they could definitely try using the "items" they brought back to let Hidan make a name for himself.
"To achieve 'Hidan's Deterrence,' there's a prerequisite: others must first know Hidan's abilities. This is a good opportunity."
Black Zetsu spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Exposing ourselves so proactively, is that really a good idea?"
White Zetsu raised a doubt.
"What Black Zetsu said is correct. Do you know why people's feet are whiter than their faces and hands? Because they're always hidden."
Bai Mo agreed with Black Zetsu, and even added a mysterious analogy.
"Then why is Kabuto's 'big dragon' so dark?"
White Zetsu retorted.
Hidan, who had rushed over after receiving the message, had just arrived when he heard White Zetsu's remark and was immediately astonished.
"What are you guys talking about! There's a girl here!"
Hidan shrieked.
One might have thought Hidan himself was the "girl" he was talking about.
"Pfft, girl."
"Strategist, what are your thoughts on the words 'girl'?"
Konan looked at Bai Mo, who couldn't help but laugh out loud, with a serious face.
"Nothing, I was just thinking, I prefer older sisters to young girls."
Bai Mo regained his composure.
The other side was still arguing.
White Zetsu told Hidan the premise of Bai Mo's earlier statement, "feet are whiter than hands," and asked him to judge.
That statement was wrong.
What's this about being white if it's hidden?
Upon hearing this explanation, Hidan stroked his chin and nodded: "That's actually true."
"Right? And, if hiding makes you as white as me, why is Black Zetsu so dark?"
White Zetsu boasted.
"Because he's just a step-dad."
Hidan answered subconsciously.
Black Zetsu stood nearby, his already completely black face growing even darker.
Hidan, that idiot, was one thing, but how dare White Zetsu even mock him now?
And what about paying attention to language when a girl was present?
....
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