The Price of Seeing the Puppets I Made

Because Mito Uzumaki had told her that the Big Fox had a temperament that begged for a beating. The nicer you were to it, the more it would push its luck and climb all over you, so she needed to be harsher.

The obedient and sensible Kushina followed Grandma Mito's instructions and hung the Nine-Tails upside down.

Mito Uzumaki's burial was held quietly on the third day after the Tailed Beast's transfer.

Aside from the Anbu and a small number of people, almost no one knew that the Nine-Tails had already been transferred and that Kushina had become the village's new Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

Compared to the village, which was facing a generational reshuffle, the border camp remained the same as ever.

Endless rain and a sun that could not be seen.

Fortunately, Jingyi did not need to go out on patrol or stand guard. Even if staying in the medical room was a little boring, it was still better than running around in a downpour.

"Halt!"

Noticing a person in a black raincoat, with even their head and face covered, walking toward the camp, the ninja on duty immediately stopped them.

The stopped ninja halted and raised a hand to pull back the hood covering their head.

"Uh... Lord Orochimaru?"

Only after confirming his identity did the ninja on duty relax his guard. "My lord, you came to the camp..."

"I came to see Jingyi Hyuga. I have a personal matter to discuss with him."

Orochimaru gave the ninja on duty a slight smile and explained his purpose.

Though Orochimaru usually did not have a pleasant expression for Jiraiya, he always wore a smile around outsiders, giving people a rather approachable impression.

Only those who knew Orochimaru well understood that he was a venomous snake, the kind that could spring up and bite you at any moment.

"This way, my lord."

Orochimaru had specifically asked to see Jingyi over a personal matter. The ninja on duty naturally did not dare stop him and let him through after confirming his identity.

Orochimaru entered the camp without obstruction.

"Jingyi, long time no see."

"Long time no see."

Jingyi had not expected Orochimaru to come all the way to the camp.

"These are the goods from this time."

After taking off his raincoat, Orochimaru pulled out a scroll and a list.

Jingyi picked up the list and glanced at it.

Good lord, his debt was about to grow again.

At this rate, Orochimaru would become his biggest creditor.

The kind he owed a whole lot of money to.

After confirming that the amount was correct, Jingyi set the list down on the table and said frankly,

"Orochimaru, I'm very satisfied with the goods you brought, but unfortunately, I don't have that much money right now. I'm afraid what I owe you will keep increasing."

"It's fine. I believe you can pay it back."

Even as Jingyi's debt continued to grow, Orochimaru remained perfectly at ease about being his creditor.

The main reason was that Jingyi had a high income and a good reputation. Since they began working together, even while in debt, Jingyi would repay part of it as soon as he had money.

If it had been Tsunade instead, Orochimaru would have ended their arrangement without hesitation, lest he get dragged in too deep.

And wind up with another bad debt.

"I'll find a way to pay you back as soon as possible."

Jingyi did not want to become a deadbeat. He was the sort of person who wanted to repay money as soon as he owed it, but Orochimaru delivered too many goods, and the debt grew too quickly.

On top of that, he was stationed at the border camp and had fewer chances to earn extra money. He could only rely on his salary to repay the debt.

"No rush." Orochimaru smiled and shook his head.

"May I take a look at the puppets you made?"

Orochimaru suddenly made a rather presumptuous request.

Jingyi had collected too many materials, and he had also purchased quite a few other materials and parts, yet he had almost never taken out any puppets.

Thus, Orochimaru was very curious about what kind of puppets Jingyi was making.

"If you think it's too presumptuous, then forget it."

Orochimaru added with a smile.

Well, well, Orochimaru. Playing hard to get with me, Jingyi Hyuga, are you?

"It is rather presumptuous, and I'm worried you might not be able to handle it."

"..."

Whether it was presumptuous or not, people usually would not say it outright even if they were displeased. Yet Jingyi had thrown those words out without hesitation.

And then added something that made Orochimaru's curiosity itch.

"Oh?"

Orochimaru automatically ignored Jingyi's dismissive words and asked with interest,

"What kind of puppet could I possibly be unable to handle? To be honest, I'm very interested."

"It's good that you're interested."

Jingyi smiled as well. The more interested you were, the better. He was not going to show you anyway.

"???"

What did that mean?

Jingyi was completely unwilling to follow the script, and the smile on Orochimaru's face stiffened slightly.

Yes, this was the Orochimaru I remembered.

Orochimaru's aura changed, turning cold. Jingyi nodded in satisfaction, rose to pour two cups of water, and pushed one of them toward Orochimaru.

"Wipe out my debt, then give me five million ryō, and I'll satisfy your curiosity."

The puppets were merely Jingyi's transitional strength in public. Although the Tenseigan did not have as many attack methods as the Rinnegan, it still had plenty. The puppets were only part of his transitional strength.

At the right time, he could reveal them and let everyone know that Jingyi Hyuga could control some rather special puppets.

As for whether anyone would set their sights on him, Jingyi did not care.

Before the Tenseigan's third awakening was complete, he had needed to keep a low profile and play the fool.

Now that the Tenseigan's third awakening was over and his control over it was steadily improving, what was he keeping a low profile for?

If he kept lying low, he would really become a damn fool.

Revealing some of his cards at the right time would only benefit him.

"???"

You wanted his debt wiped out and another five million ryō just to let him see the puppets you made?

Jingyi Hyuga, were you sure you were not joking?

As long as you could afford the price, you were guaranteed not to be disappointed.

Interesting.

Orochimaru did not know where Jingyi got his confidence, but his curiosity had indeed been thoroughly stirred.

At this moment, he did not care about debts or five million ryō. He only wanted to know the puppets' secret.

"I'll wipe out the debt and give you three batches of materials for free."

Orochimaru was willing to spend generously on things that interested him, but he truly had no money right now, so he changed the terms.

The debt would be cleared, and he would deliver materials three times for free. As for five million ryō, sorry, he could not produce that. He was short on money himself.

"The materials must be top-grade."

"Fine."

Hunting a few powerful creatures was nothing difficult for Orochimaru.

"Then, a pleasant cooperation." Jingyi set down his cup and raised a hand in a beckoning gesture.

Under Orochimaru's puzzled gaze, a crow descended from the sky, flew into the medical room, and landed on Jingyi's arm.

"You may only look. No taking it apart."

Jingyi grabbed the puppet crow and tossed it to Orochimaru, giving him a reminder. Looking was fine, but he had better not let his hands get itchy.

Catching the puppet crow, Orochimaru's first thought was that Jingyi was messing with him.

But Orochimaru quickly dismissed that thought, because he had already noticed what was special about the crow.