The meeting lasted for more than three hours. Through everyone's discussions, they laid out the specific framework and assigned their respective tasks.
As they left, Yamei turned down Pakura's offer to personally attend to him in bed under Mikoto and Izumi's complicated gazes, then hurriedly fled the scene with Shisui.
"Shisui, this Pakura's personality... why does something about it feel off?" Yamei finally could not help but make a strange face as they walked down the road.
She was far too enthusiastic, especially the way she looked at him—her eyes were tender as water and seductive as silk. If he had not still been so young, he figured she might have devoured him whole.
"Yamei, don't underestimate how emotional girls can be. Besides, you saved her life, and you're someone who created a miracle," Shisui teased.
"Tch, you lonely bachelor. You've never even dated, yet you're lecturing me?"
"...!"
Shisui's smile immediately froze. He shot Yamei a resentful look. "Now that hurts."
"Haha, don't be sad! Maybe someday you'll meet someone you like, and then she won't like you back..."
"Lord Yamei, you're going to end up with no friends if you keep this up." Shisui covered his face.
"Hahaha, enough joking around... Have you gotten any news on the people I told you to watch?"
Seeing that they had turned to serious matters, Shisui immediately grew solemn as well. He nodded, then shook his head.
"I have leads on some of them, but not on others."
"The Uzumaki mother and daughter from Kusagakure were rescued two years ago as well, but..."
Shisui paused and let out a faint sigh. "Unfortunately, by the time we found them, Karin's mother was already nearing the end of her life."
"I brought them to the Land of Waves in the end, but she died half a year later. Even Medical Ninjutsu couldn't save her."
Yamei nodded upon hearing that. He had already been mentally prepared for it.
Karin's mother had been treated as a human water fountain by those people in Kusagakure since childhood. The fact that she had held on for so long was already remarkable.
"What about Karin?"
"Karin was very well protected by her mother and had not suffered any harm."
"She lives in the Land of Waves now and has already started compulsory schooling. She also has talent as a ninja and is currently training."
There was no doubt that Karin possessed ninja talent. After all, she carried the Uzumaki Bloodline and had the special ability known as the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. Her sensory abilities were incredibly powerful.
"Then there are Jugo and Yakushi Nonō, whom you asked me to keep an eye on."
"First, Yakushi Nonō... We have no idea where Danzo sent her to carry out missions, and there had been no news of her."
"Until a month ago, she appeared outside Iwagakure... but..."
"Looks like she's dead." The moment Yamei heard Iwagakure, he understood. It seemed he had failed to stop Nonō and Kabuto from killing each other. What a pity.
"What about Jugo?"
Shisui shook his head. "There's no news at all..."
"Has he not appeared yet?"
Yamei frowned slightly, then shook his head. Judging by the timeline... perhaps Jugo had already been taken under Orochimaru's control and used to research the Heaven Curse Mark...
"Forget it. If I gain him, it is my fortune; if I lose him, it is my fate."
"Take me to see Karin."
Shisui smiled. "That little girl talks every day about wanting to meet the person who saved her life."
"You were the one who saved her, not me." Yamei rolled his eyes at him and followed Shisui to the front of a house.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opened, and a red-haired girl looked outside in confusion.
"Lord Shisui!"
The moment Karin saw Shisui, she immediately broke into a smile. After greeting him, she turned her curious gaze toward Yamei.
"This is Hyakawa Yamei."
Karin froze. Then her eyes lit up, and she rushed forward at lightning speed, throwing her arms around Yamei's leg.
"Waaah, Lord Yamei, I've finally met you! I've waited two whole years for this day!"
"Cough, cough..." Yamei hurriedly reached out, intending to help Karin up, but she clung to him tightly and refused to let go.
Yamei looked helplessly at Shisui.
Shisui secretly found the scene hilarious, but seeing Yamei's helpless look, he could not keep watching. "All right, Karin. Yamei came here to visit you. You can't possibly not invite him inside, can you?"
"Ah!?" Karin jolted and quickly stood up, bowing to Yamei in apology. "I'm sorry, Lord Yamei. I... I was far too rude."
"It's... it's fine."
Yamei helplessly stroked her soft red hair.
Karin's little face immediately reddened. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she basked in the touch.
?(Uzumaki Karin.jpg)
"Come on, let's sit inside your house." Yamei reached out, took Karin's hand, and led her into the house.
Karin's body stiffened. She stared blankly at the hand holding hers, her face growing redder and redder, filled with satisfaction and shyness.
Lord Yamei... he's holding my hand... I'm done for! I've fallen completely! I like Lord Yamei so much!!
Yamei had no idea about Karin's inner drama. At that moment, the Sea of Derivations had gained new material.
Material acquired: Enhanced Uzumaki Bloodline, Mind's Eye of the Kagura
"Analyze the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and integrate it into Secret Technique: Empathy."
Feeling his vitality and Chakra reserves increase once more, Yamei was satisfied.
Once the Mind's Eye of the Kagura was integrated into Empathy, Empathy's effects would improve as well.
Yamei and Shisui stayed with Karin for around an hour. In the end, Yamei truly could not endure Karin's enthusiasm any longer and found an excuse to leave.
Shisui laughed the whole way, earning several vicious glares from Yamei.
Still, considering this was Karin... it seemed fairly normal. She was a love-struck fool, after all!
Yamei remained in the Land of Waves for another day. From Zabuza, he obtained some decent Water Release Ninjutsu and taijutsu; from Raiga, he obtained some Lightning Release Ninjutsu. He also acquired Haku's Kekkei Genkai—Ice Release!
With that, Yamei's trip to the Land of Waves had truly been immensely rewarding!
That day, Yamei also enjoyed the comfortable life of having clothes brought to him and food fed to him.
Pakura and Karin hovered around him for the entire day. Even more unexpectedly, that afternoon, Izumi and Mikoto joined in as well, using repaying his kindness as an excuse.
One fed him delicious food, one fed him fruit, one massaged him, and another fanned him...
In such a gentle haven, Yamei almost did not want to leave.
In the end, Yamei left Empathy Marks on each of them and placed many Flying Thunder God Marks throughout the Land of Waves before choosing to depart.
Watching Yamei's figure vanish in an instant, Pakura and the others were filled with reluctance.
Shisui said helplessly, "Everyone, don't look so sad. Don't forget that Yamei assigned us tasks too!"
"Yosh! From now on, for Lord Yamei, let's work hard!" Pakura clenched her fist.
"Study hard! Become strong!" Karin's expression also turned resolute.
Izumi and Mikoto exchanged a glance... Perhaps they had not known Yamei for long, but he was like a ray of light...
That light gave them a sense of security, but they were not people who only knew how to take. Then they would contribute their own strength!
Before you continue