Uninvited Guests

Kirigakure was certainly not so desperate that it couldn't find even a single Elite Jonin.

However Mei Terumi truly lacks a trusted and highly capable confidant.

Unlike Tsunade, the current Tsunade has the support of her former Hokage, her master; a group of loyal Chunin Jonin; and many newcomers, led by her personal disciples. Her position is extremely secure, and she rarely encounters any obstacles in doing what she wants.

The newly appointed Fifth Mizukage was different. During the Bloody Mist Village Kirigakure era, everyone in Kirigakure lived in fear, distrusting one another, and indifference had become the Mist Ninja. In this atmosphere Mei Terumi had few close friends before taking office, her network of relationships was shallow, and she lacked loyal subordinates. Moreover, it was difficult for ordinary ninjas to be won over by the Grand Elder.

In this way, Sakura Haruno, a pure ninja from another village with no connection to the Mist Ninja, became someone that Mei Terumi considered trustworthy.

Coincidentally, Sakura is also a master.

"You guys are really casual about finding people," Sakura Haruno said with a shrug as she left.

"Just being casual?" Pakura smiled slightly and said, "You know I can read faces, right? A beautiful girl like you is trustworthy. I used this skill to recognize the Lord Fifth Hokage back then, and that's how I started following her and became her direct subordinate."

Sakura Haruno gave a forced, insincere laugh and said, "You're just trying to fool me; not a single word of it is true."

"Is this a compliment? Forget it! Besides, I've never believed in such a Ninjutsu art as fortune-telling," she said.

Pakura is eloquent, but sometimes when faced with a question he can't answer, he'll start rambling on and on, making it impossible to tell whether what he's saying is true or false.

"Not everything can be explained by Ninjutsu and science, Sister Sakura!" He chuckled. "Face reading... is a science! Would you like me to read your palm? I'm very accurate at it; I can even help you with your marriage prospects!"

"Get lost!" Sakura glared at him irritably.

Rather than believing he can read faces, it's better to believe he has a keen sense of Chakra; a person's Chakra is a mixture of spiritual and physical power, and one can sense a person's spirit from the texture of their Chakra —whether it's madness or tranquility, evil or good? If one is sensitive enough, one should be able to vaguely perceive these things.

Having been rebuffed by Sakura, Pakura could still continue her eloquent speech, "Don't you believe me? Come on, even the Fifth Mizukage once consulted me about marriage..."

Sakura's lips twitched. "Why are you so skilled... how many girls have you actually looked at?"

"Ahem," he cleared his throat, adopting a serious expression, "I only read fortunes for beautiful women and girls. So, strictly speaking, you're the second one."

"So you only read the Fifth Mizukage's palm before? What was your answer to her about her marriage prospects?"

Pakura paused for a moment.

"No, the first and only person whose palm I read was my mother. I could tell she was destined to die young. Once, during a mission, they encountered the enemy. The Anbu escorting them thought they were outnumbered and that my mother and the others would fall into enemy hands, so they killed them all and escaped alone," he said calmly.

"This is a rule established by the Fourth Mizukage."

Sakura Haruno opened her mouth, but suddenly didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry," was all she could say in the end.

"It's nothing, it's all in the past." Pakura's tone was completely calm, as if he were talking about a topic unrelated to him.

After a pause, he regained his relaxed tone and continued, "Regarding the matter of telling the Fifth Mizukage's fortune, I ultimately didn't do it for her. Do you know why? Although refusing her might get me punished, I certainly didn't want to experience being melted down if I told the truth!"

"Huh? Why?" Sakura blinked curiously.

"You don't even need to read her palm to know this. Although Lady Mei Terumi is young, beautiful, and has a sexy figure, she is also very powerful and has a high status. What man is worthy of her? Besides, her standards are so high. Finding a suitable husband is simply impossible!"

Pakura lowered his voice considerably upon reaching this point, sounding even more nervous and furtive than during their earlier secret conversation. He glanced to his left and right before whispering, "The Fifth Mizukage will soon be 0 years old. If a woman of that age can't get married, it's truly too late! However, I've observed carefully, and there isn't a single man in Kirigakure who meets our Mizukage's criteria for a spouse. Even if we broaden the requirements a bit, the Mizukage still won't find a suitable man..."

"Oh ho ho..." Sakura Haruno chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

It seems that when it comes to gossip, both men and women are incredibly enthusiastic!

Pakura patted her on the shoulder one last time. "Girl, I think you should pay attention too! If you see a boy you like, remember to make your move soon, don't end up like my master!"

"Get lost!" Sakura Haruno's eyes were like knives, and she slashed at him several times.

Pakura, thick-skinned and unafraid of being hurt, still grinned and said, "I really mean it! Excellent women don't get married easily, and before you know it, you'll be an old maid, single for life. Isn't your master Lord Fifth Hokage, a prime example? So you really need to hurry up!"

"What's wrong with being single? I have absolutely no interest in marriage... Also, Jonin Pakura, I will report your marriage to the Fifth Mizukage truthfully to Mei Terumi before we return, so please be prepared!"

"Hey, hey, don't joke about this kind of thing, it could kill someone!"

"I'm serious, it's not like I'm the one who's going to die!"

"Big sister, I'm so sorry! I was being too flirtatious!"

"... Call me Big Brother!"

"Big brother! Big brother! Please spare me!"

"..."

Overall, Pakura is quite an interesting person.

After passing the waterfall and leaving the core area, Sakura Haruno's Team returned to their original courtyard.

After seeing Pakura off, Sakura Haruno's Team began preparing for their second night in Mist Ninja.

As night fell, the full moon rose high in the dark blue night sky, illuminating the night in the Mist Ninja.

Three students were playing a card game. Sakura Haruno was organizing the information she had overheard that day.

Was the Madara Uchiha who appeared in the Mist Ninja Village the same Madara Uchiha she had encountered? As she pondered this, a knock sounded at the door.

The four exchanged glances. They had no relatives or friends in Kirigakure; who could be visiting them?

Sakura Haruno glanced thoughtfully at the door.

Aside from those less likely individuals who are simply bored and have nothing better to do, there are only two groups of people in the entire Mist Ninja who might be looking for her: either something unexpected has happened to Mei Terumi and she's sending someone to inform her, or...

She created a clone of herself to Gate of Opening. Behind the door were an old man and two young men, one of whom was the masked youth who had greeted them yesterday. His eyes had lost their previous sharpness and become much dimmer.

The elderly man at the head of the group wore a white robe, his style resembling that of the several Mist Ninja elders that Sakura had seen. He was vigorous, and although his eyes were old, they were not cloudy and were extremely bright.

"We are ninjas from the largest clan in Mist Ninja. We have come to pay our respects for what happened to my grandson yesterday. Please forgive any rudeness we may have caused," the elderly man at the front said in a refined manner, much like the Hyuga Clan.

Although the content was polite and the speaker claimed to be presumptuous, the tone that left no room for argument and the habitually superior gaze conveyed a somewhat aggressive air.

If their clones hadn't been blocking the doorway, they might have already walked in without waiting for the owner's permission.

Sakura Haruno hesitated for a moment, but didn't linger too long before having her clone make way for the three of them to enter.

Let's see what they're up to.

After all, she had only heard Mei Terumi's side's side's story since entering Kirigakure.

As soon as he entered the room, before he could even sit down, the young man behind the old man respectfully placed several scrolls on the table.

Sakura Haruno frowned slightly. "What's going on here...?"

The white-robed elder sat down calmly, waved his hand, and pointed to the scroll, saying, "Yesterday Tomoaki was mischievous and stole the official seal to forge documents, impersonating someone to welcome your esteemed envoy, creating a farce and causing you much trouble. These few scrolls of Water Release techniques are a small token of my apology; please forgive his youthful ignorance."

The young girl's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Having lived in this world for so many years, this was only the second time she had heard such a pedantic way of speaking, aside from once when she was with the Hyuga.

I'm extremely unaccustomed to it.

Wouldn't the ninja's straightforward way of speaking be better? If you want to express politeness, then use honorifics; conciseness and clarity are the way to get things done, and she admires this style the most.

Saying things too euphemistically is pointless, except for unnecessarily burdening others.

So she also picked up one of Naruto's catchphrases, speaking frankly, "I accept your apology, but you don't need the gift. Please take it back. If there's anything you need to say, just say it directly. I don't understand overly subtle language. Otherwise, if my meaning isn't conveyed properly, there won't be any way to resolve it."

Sakura Haruno resolutely pushed the scroll back.

Sakura was actually quite interested in the Water Release scroll from Kirigakure, which might hold unique insights. However, this item, ostensibly an apology gift, actually far exceeded what was needed to make amends for a misunderstanding; she wouldn't take what she shouldn't, let alone such an obviously malicious apology.

He who takes a bribe is beholden to it.

"I've done it, this is an apology." The old man frowned and said unhappily.

The tone of his voice habitually carried a sense of reprimand and command towards those in lower positions.

He adopted the demeanor of an elder, snorted, his pupils slightly contracted, and coldly stared at Sakura Haruno, trying to subdue her with his gaze and imposing manner; in his eyes, the girl in front of him was nothing more than a greenhorn, and it was clear from her delicate skin that she had not experienced any hardships, and he could easily subdue her with a little pressure.

Then he was met with a sharp glare from Sakura Haruno.

The so-called aura of superiors is nothing more than a psychological illusion created by years of being bossy and domineering. Only those who put themselves in a subordinate position can clearly feel it. In the ninja world, how can an old, weak ninja whose strength has declined to the point of being negligible possibly overpower others with sheer aura? Sakura Haruno is no inexperienced rookie!

"Don't push your luck! Take it back just because we told you to!"

The girl's voice, cold and aloof as ice, was utterly unforgiving.

Regardless of their intentions or actions, their affected manner had completely extinguished Sakura Haruno's interest in them, and she began to regret not having decisively shut them out from the start.

The murderous intent emanating from her was released and withdrawn in an instant, startling the two young men behind the old man so much that they almost drew the long swords from their backs.

"You two!" The old man snorted coldly, stopping the two of them. He had lived for so many years, and the little bit of killing intent released by Sakura Haruno could not frighten him. However, her dignified demeanor made him finally realize that the girl in front of him was not the immature girl he had imagined.

"Konoha envoy, this is Mist Ninja." His eyes turned cold and sinister, and his hoarse, aged voice stated a simple fact.

This is a threat.

(Third update! Bonus chapter for 800 monthly votes!)

(One bonus chapter for every 00 monthly votes, valid indefinitely!)

(Please vote with monthly tickets and subscribe!)