9: Nothing, Just That This Guy Wanted to Kidnap Me

Kitahara Jo was thoroughly enraged, convinced that Watanabe was being unbelievably ungrateful.

You're just a civilian orphan with no parents. Being invited to join Root is the greatest honor of your life. How dare you refuse Lord Danzo!

"Who do you think you are? You think you can just say no?"

There was something strangely magical about Kitahara Jo's voice. It seeped quietly into Watanabe's cerebral cortex.

Watanabe froze for a moment and looked up instinctively. Kitahara Jo's eyes were spinning like whirlpools.

[Hypnotized by Illusion Technique: Willpower +10, Mental Strength +8, Drowsiness -9...]

Watanabe's mental defenses, which should have been quietly dismantled, instead grew stronger and stronger. His mind was clearer than ever before.

"Damn!"

Watanabe was secretly alarmed. He hadn't expected the other man to use an Illusion Technique to hypnotize him. How was that despicable trick any different from drugging him?

He had studied Illusion Techniques at the Ninja Academy and knew that, to some extent, they were even more terrifying and bizarre than ninjutsu or Taijutsu.

Watanabe had refused Danzo's recruitment out of caution, but now he was certain he could never join Root, even if it meant fleeing Konoha.

They had only just met, and Kitahara Jo had already resorted to underhanded tricks against him. He was clearly determined to take Watanabe away by any means necessary. That said plenty about Root's nature as an organization.

Once he had used his Illusion Technique, Kitahara Jo felt completely at ease.

His mastery of Illusion Techniques was formidable. He didn't believe Watanabe had any chance of resisting.

"Come with me."

Kitahara Jo ordered coldly. Without sparing Watanabe another glance, he turned and left.

Watanabe blinked, and the next second—

Bang!

He decisively shut the door.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Kitahara Jo turned around. A tightly closed door met his gaze.

"??"

Kitahara Jo was dumbfounded.

What was going on?!

Hadn't he used an Illusion Technique on him?!

Kitahara Jo suspected his Illusion Technique had failed, then wondered if Watanabe was messing with him. After a moment, fury surged through him, and he kicked out without hesitation.

Bang!

The fragile wooden door instantly burst apart, sending splinters flying.

Inside the house, Watanabe wasn't afraid. He simply watched Kitahara Jo force his way in, his expression grave.

So he'd finally dropped the pretense and decided to show his true colors.

"I'm an Orphan of Martyrs of Konoha. You may be one of Danzo's subordinates, but even if the Hokage were here, he couldn't force me to do something I don't want to do," Watanabe said in a low voice.

Kitahara Jo responded to his warning with a series of cold laughs. "Don't flatter yourself. You have two choices: one, come with me willingly to meet Lord Danzo; two, I carry you there myself."

Watanabe stared straight at him, ready to fight with everything he had.

He wasn't the type to sit back and wait for death. Kitahara Jo was clearly going to kidnap him. Only an idiot wouldn't fight back.

He had the Karma Reversal trait. As long as he made good use of it, he might still have a chance.

Seeing Watanabe stand ready for a fight, Kitahara Jo understood his choice. The sneer on his lips grew even more contemptuous.

"You ignorant fool. Fine, let me teach you the first lesson of Root..."

"Watanabe."

A clear voice cut him off.

Kitahara Jo turned around and saw a pretty blonde girl standing in the doorway, her beautiful, fair features tinged with confusion.

"What's she doing here?"

Kitahara Jo's heart sank. As a core member of Root, he naturally knew Konoha's Little Princess.

Watanabe glanced at Tsunade and couldn't help relaxing a little.

"Watanabe, what are you doing? The door's broken." Tsunade looked at the wooden splinters scattered across the floor and asked.

Kitahara Jo was starting to panic. He glared fiercely at Watanabe, signaling him to watch what he said.

"Nothing," Watanabe replied calmly. His first words pleased Kitahara Jo.

But what he said next nearly made Kitahara Jo jump.

"Just that this guy wanted to kidnap me."

"Kidnap you?" Tsunade exclaimed in surprise.

Watanabe nodded. "That's right, Tsunade. Sorry for the trouble, but please get someone from the Police Force here as soon as possible. If you wait any longer, I'll be done for."

Seeing that Watanabe didn't look like he was joking, Tsunade's expression grew serious. She eyed Kitahara Jo with hostility. "Who are you? How dare you run wild in Konoha!"

As she questioned him, Tsunade clenched her fist. If Kitahara Jo showed even the slightest sign of aggression, she would pummel his chest with her little fists.

Kitahara Jo didn't know how to answer. Sweat gradually beaded on his forehead.

If it had been anyone other than Tsunade, he could have simply knocked them unconscious before taking Watanabe away.

But he would never dare lay a hand on Tsunade. Not only did she have Mito above her, someone even the Hokage feared, but Danzo, his own superior, would never forgive him either.

"His name is Kitahara Jo," Watanabe said, seeing how nervous the man was. "He's a member of Root. Danzo sent him to kidnap me..."

"Don't make things up!" Kitahara Jo hurriedly protested. He couldn't let this kid keep making up lies.

"I didn't kidnap you! I was clearly just kindly inviting you to join Root and take you to meet Lord Danzo!"

Watanabe was secretly amazed. What a guy.

Before Tsunade arrived, Kitahara Jo had been acting like he owned the place. The moment Tsunade showed up, he immediately panicked and backed down. Tsunade clearly carried even more weight than Watanabe had imagined.

Watanabe got the picture and continued calmly, "So this is how you invite someone? You used an Illusion Technique to hypnotize me, and you were planning to carry me off to meet Danzo?"

"This..."

Kitahara Jo was at a loss for words. When he met Tsunade's eager, challenging gaze, he couldn't help shivering.

"I was just trying to keep you from throwing away a great opportunity... Fine, if you're unwilling, I won't force you. Suit yourself. Don't regret it someday!"

Kitahara Jo had no choice but to give up on using force against Watanabe. He turned to leave.

"Stop!"

Watanabe called after him. "You wrecked my door and aren't paying a thing. You think you can just leave?"

Kitahara Jo gritted his teeth, pulled a thousand-ryo bill from his pocket, and tossed it to the ground. A thousand ryō for a door was about the going rate.

"Not enough."

Watanabe could tell he still had money in his pocket and shook his head. "This door was left to me by my parents. It means the world to me, and there's no other like it—so you'll have to pay more."

What outrageous nerve!

Kitahara Jo was furious. The kid was clearly trying to shake him down.

Even if Watanabe reported what had happened to the Police Force, Kitahara Jo wouldn't be worried. Danzo would take care of any pressure. The only person he was wary of was Tsunade, watching him like a hawk beside them.

Grinding his teeth, Kitahara Jo took out all the bills left in his pocket and stormed off.

It pained him. Though he was a core member of Root, he didn't earn much each month. Watanabe had just taken him for a serious amount.

Watanabe picked up the money from the ground one bill at a time and counted it. There were seven thousand two hundred ryō, enough to cover several months of living expenses. At last, he wouldn't have to eat instant noodles every day.

That door had been worth breaking.

He stuffed the money into his pocket, then looked up and saw Tsunade watching him with a strange expression.

After a brief hesitation, Watanabe pulled out two hundred ryō and handed it to her.