Kuro's Expectations

The office Mizukage Aide in Mist Village and water.

The afternoon sun shone through the glass window, casting bright streaks of light on the desk piled high with documents.

Mei Terumi placed the intelligence report that had just been sent back from the Land of Fire on the table, her pale fingertips pointing to the exaggerated data line, her voice rising several decibels with excitement:

"Sora, look! The Odd Jobs Agency's pilot program in the Land of Fire is incredibly successful!"

How much time has passed? There are already a thousand Chunin and Genin who have volunteered for the Odd Jobs Agency Project!

Looking at Mei Terumi's excited little face, a genuine smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

He understood Mei Terumi's excited reaction at this moment.

As is well known, Mist Village has long relied on high-risk, high-reward assassination missions as its main business.

Although the high-paying jobs involved in dangerous trades were enough to barely keep the massive machine of the ninja village running, the number of low-level missions suitable for relatively mediocre Chunin and Genin was pitifully small, far from enough to support the large number of low-ranking ninjas who had left to make a living.

The infamous "Ninja Academy Chicken-Eating Contest" from the Village of the Bloody Mist era was created to solve this problem of supply and demand imbalance.

Don't ask how the problem was solved, just tell me if the problem no longer exists!

The Odd Jobs Agency project, which is about to spread throughout the entire Ninja World, can be seen as a solution to the employment problem of the growing number of grassroots ninjas in the village.

"Hmm... Why does this give me the feeling that my hometown is struggling economically, and young people are flocking to developed areas to work and earn money?"

He muttered something to himself, then raised his hand and lightly tapped the locations circled in red on the map.

"Since the response has been good, let's ride this wave and continue to expand the Odd Jobs Agency!"

We'll start with the Land of Fire, gradually expanding to the surrounding smaller countries. Once the other major Ninja World nations have witnessed our tangible results, we'll use this solid data to negotiate with them one by one..."

Mei Terumi listened attentively, occasionally offering a few additional comments.

The two worked together seamlessly as always. Mei Terumi had already pulled out detailed information on several of the surrounding small countries from the stack of files beside her.

Mei Terumi mentioned that a certain section of the border route needed to have additional supply depots set up, Koko immediately marked the ideal locations for these depots on the map in red...

Before long, all the work related to the Odd Jobs Agency's current expansion plan was finalized.

"Okay, all done!"

Koko finished reviewing the densely packed schedule in his hand one last time, let out a long sigh of relief, and then solemnly handed it to Mei Terumi:

"Then, I'll leave the specific personnel transfer work to you."

Once the data on the Odd Jobs Agency's performance in the small countries surrounding the Land of Fire is available, I will immediately make full preparations for diplomatic negotiations with each country.

Mei Terumi took the heavy document and nodded solemnly:

"Don't worry, Sora, everything will proceed smoothly."

"... I hope so."

He answered softly, then, as if suddenly remembering something, asked casually:

"By the way, what's the result of that matter I asked you to investigate before?"

Mei Terumi shook her head, her smile slowly fading slightly.

"I asked my family to investigate, but we still couldn't find any information related to the 'Moon' organization you mentioned."

Neither Mist Village's intelligence network nor any of the forces their clan could contact had any information about this organization.

"... Is that so?"

Kou nodded without the slightest surprise at the result, a glint of malice flashing quickly in his eyes:

"As expected, Mei Terumi's side also can't find anything."

Mei Terumi looked at Kokoro's somewhat obscure profile and asked cautiously:

"Kong, you specifically instructed me not to reveal the investigation into the Moon Organization to anyone, and to conduct the investigation secretly using only my family's resources..."

Is it because you think there might be members of that organization you mentioned within Mist Village?

"What are you saying? This... how could such a thing be possible!"

Knocking on the ground, a slight tremor ran through him, but his face maintained its impeccable, composed smile.

"I had only heard about this organization from someone else by chance."

Because the name is somewhat similar to the Akatsuki, I thought I should try to investigate it, just in case.

However, since you haven't found any information on your end either, it's probably just an unknown small, unofficial group, not worth all this trouble.

As he spoke, Kou casually waved his hand:

"The reason I don't want the people in Mist Village to know that I'm investigating this matter is simply because I don't want to cause them unnecessary trouble."

Hearing Kō's explanation, Mei Terumi's doubts finally subsided somewhat, and she said to Kō in an annoyed tone:

So, according to you, you think I have a lot of free time?

"I've been helping you with all this pile of paperwork whenever I have free time... That's really too much."

That's not true.

Looking at the aloof woman glaring at him with feigned displeasure, his smile softened slightly.

"The reason I asked you to help me investigate this matter is because we work together most effectively."

After all, we've spent the most time together, so no matter what happens, I can directly consult you as a friend.

This has made me feel much more relaxed.

"Hmph, all you do is say nice things."

Mei Terumi spoke defiantly, but the slight upturn at the corner of her mouth betrayed her completely.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. I'm very busy!"

She waved the schedule in her hand, waved to Kou, then walked briskly down the corridor, pushing open the office door...

Kouchi maintained her gentle smile and waved at Mei Terumi's retreating figure.

The fake smile vanished completely only after the heavy door slammed shut in front of him.

"As expected, Mei Terumi's side also failed to find anything..."

He silently confirmed it in his heart, stood up from his chair, and walked to the glass window at the edge of the office.

Through the transparent glass, his gaze passed over the misty square and landed on the Mizukage Building across the street, a building now rarely visited. His gaze was particularly deep and solemn.

To be honest, Kou was finding it increasingly difficult to understand what that man was thinking.

But there is one thing he can be completely, 100% certain of.

That Obito guy doesn't trust me!

"... Ha, so that's how it is."

He murmured softly, a hint of relief appearing on his otherwise ordinary, slightly tense face.

"If I had discovered this before, I probably would have been terrified and wouldn't have known what to do..."

He slowly raised his fist to his chest, straining so hard that his knuckles trembled slightly, as if using this slight pain to suppress all the complex emotions that shouldn't have arisen in his heart.

"I'm really looking forward to it now."

"I look forward to dealing with you myself, for Minato and the others, for the entire Uchiha Clan, and..."

He paused, gazing intently at the Mizukage Building across the way, the Mangekyō Sharingan subtly appearing in his eyes:

"The day I truly know you, the day of revenge!"

--

There is one more chapter to go Chunin Ninja Exams arc (Konoha Collapse arc), which takes place 5 years from now.

I'm a little embarrassed, but could you please send me a gift or leave a rating?

Sorry, there have been far fewer people lately, and the book's performance hasn't been very good...