Hozuki Shingetsu Had Always Been a True Villain

"By the way, Shingetsu, I heard you rejected the Kaguya Clan's marriage proposal? Have your standards gotten that high? Even the Shikotsumyaku isn't good enough for you now?"

Although the Kaguya Clan had not publicized the matter, quite a few Jonin had been present when the two sides made their bet. So much time had passed without any follow-up, and naturally, everyone else had figured out what had happened.

Now that Karatachi Yagura had met the person in question, he naturally had to tease him properly.

"It's not that I look down on the Shikotsumyaku. I simply have a better option," Hozuki Shingetsu said, shaking his head. He did not hide his true thoughts from his childhood friend.

"Honestly, I've always thought you and Nagi were a good match."

Karatachi Yagura nodded noncommittally. Having grown up together, he naturally knew what Hozuki Shingetsu dreamed of. But in his view, wouldn't a marriage alliance between the Hozuki Clan and the Yuki Clan be even more helpful for becoming Mizukage?

"Besides..." He glanced at Yukinagi, who was eagerly staring at Hozuki Shingetsu nearby. That girl's feelings were obvious to everyone.

"You know we grew up together. I've only ever regarded Nagi as a younger sister. Besides, I don't want our friendship to change," Hozuki Shingetsu replied blandly, his gaze fixed straight ahead on the fishing rod in his hands.

That was, of course, a lie.

As the legitimate daughter of the Yuki Clan, Yukinagi lived up to her name. Her skin was whiter than snow, and beneath her long silver-white hair were a pair of perfect long legs. Knowing some of Hozuki Shingetsu's preferences, she often wore thigh-high socks when going out. Combined with the marks where those socks pressed into her thighs, every inch of her practically hit Hozuki Shingetsu's preferences dead on.

Well, except for her rather indescribable upper body.

If Hozuki Shingetsu's goal had merely been to become Mizukage, then as Karatachi Yagura had said, an alliance between the Hozuki Clan and the Yuki Clan would have been the best possible combination.

But after Hozuki Shingetsu expanded his goal to unifying the Shinobi World, the Yuki Clan was no longer the best choice.

Although the Yuki Clan, as a local shinobi clan of Kirigakure, could provide Hozuki Shingetsu with tremendous support, they still fell somewhat short compared to the Uzumaki Clan.

The gap was not merely that the Yuki Clan was weaker than the Uzumaki Clan. More importantly, the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques had broader applications and greater value. And if Hozuki Shingetsu's future wife did not come from a Kirigakure shinobi clan, it would serve as a far stronger signal to win over others.

Most importantly, the Hozuki Clan and the Yuki Clan were already closely connected. As long as Ren remained in power, the two clans could not possibly turn against one another. A marriage alliance would only be icing on the cake. As for after Ren fell from power, Hozuki Shingetsu had plenty of ways to win over the Yuki Clan.

There was also one point Hozuki Shingetsu found hardest to put into words. After nearly ten years of childhood companionship, he believed that Yukinagi had no eyes for anyone but him—not even their fellow childhood companions, Karatachi Yagura and Ao.

After all, while he was still very young, he had secretly used his Golden Finger to connect with Yukinagi's heart. Yukinagi's trust in Hozuki Shingetsu had been forged through time and the Golden Finger, so naturally, Hozuki Shingetsu was not worried about anyone stealing her away.

With that as the foundation, though it was shameless, Hozuki Shingetsu, being a true villain, naturally would not choose to marry Yukinagi. If he married someone else, he could still fool around with Yukinagi. But if he married Yukinagi, he would have to find ways to fool around with other women. When dealing with other female shinobi without any emotional foundation, he could only resort to lines such as, "Madam, you wouldn't want..." or "Trust me, he'll be fine."

Though it had a certain charm, it was ultimately still troublesome.

Of course, even if such things happened, they would only happen after Hozuki Shingetsu became Mizukage and consolidated Kirigakure's internal factions.

After all, though he possessed the romantic flair of Wei Wu and the libertine spirit of Jian'an, he also understood the warning that lust was a blade hanging over one's head. Before he had a secure grasp on things, he would continue to maintain the image of a proper gentleman before Yukinagi. And even once the time was right, he would tempt Yukinagi into taking the initiative and pushing him down, creating the illusion that he had no choice.

I'm really such a fucking scumbag! Hozuki Shingetsu cursed himself inwardly as he glanced at the Absolute Territory between Yukinagi's thigh-high socks and shorts, reflected in the water.

That was right. He had always known exactly what kind of person he was. He was merely an ordinary villain, loyal to his own desires yet clear-minded.

He craved empty fame, so he gained the title "Kirigakure's Timely Rain." He loved beautiful women, so he wanted to collect them throughout the Shinobi World. He yearned for achievement, so he harbored ambitions of unifying the Shinobi World. He enjoyed luxury, so extravagant goods constantly filled his home. He loathed death, so he wished to attain immortality.

Yet at the same time, the experience of living a second life had given him the courage to stake his life when facing a true crisis, as well as the madness to gamble for greater benefits—this life had been a profit from the start, so why not fight with everything he had?

That was Hozuki Shingetsu: merely an ordinary man full of contradictions. He had principles, but not many. He understood his current circumstances clearly. He knew what could be done now, what could be done later, what could only ever be thought in secret, and what could be said aloud.

Following Hozuki Shingetsu's answer, the atmosphere suddenly became rather awkward.

Karatachi Yagura shook his head helplessly. With Hozuki Shingetsu having clearly refused, there was no way he could continue the subject. Seeing the dejected Yukinagi and sensing the awkward atmosphere, he immediately changed the topic in an attempt to liven things up again.

"Speaking of which, when we go to Uzushio Village this time, do we have a chance of obtaining their sealing techniques for Tailed Beasts?"

Although he did not know why Hozuki Shingetsu was going to Uzushio Village, Karatachi Yagura naturally connected it to the sealing techniques used for Tailed Beast Jinchuriki.

"Tailed Beast sealing techniques... Yagura, do you want to become a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki?"

"Of course. If I say I want to devote myself to the village, then I have to start with what matters most. Right now, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails have both been forcibly sealed inside vessels. Not only can they not be used, but there is also the risk of them going berserk. If we can obtain Uzushio Village's sealing techniques for Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, I'm willing to be the first to become the Three-Tails' Jinchuriki."

As a hot-blooded young man devoted to his village, Karatachi Yagura had always dreamed of becoming a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki and serving the village.

Of course, he had once also dreamed of becoming Mizukage, but after meeting Hozuki Shingetsu, he had naturally forgotten all about it.

After all, becoming Mizukage as a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki was already a fantasy, let alone competing with Hozuki Shingetsu.

"Tailed Beast Jinchuriki sealing techniques... We'll have them." Hozuki Shingetsu went over all of his future plans in his mind once more before confirming it.