Konoha: Starting with the Tenseigan, Taking Over Team 7

Aogetsu Hyuga picked up the Kubikiribōchō and spun the massive blade in his hand. With a faint smile, he said, "Mei, you recognize this sword, don't you?"

"The Kubikiribōchō!"

Everyone froze. One glance at the iron blade spinning on Aogetsu's fingertip was enough to identify it. The Kubikiribōchō had vanished long ago after a missing-nin took it from the village!

"I do. It's the Kubikiribōchō, one of the seven famed blades of our Kirigakure." Mei Terumi smiled, putting particular emphasis on "our Kirigakure."

That was right. It was one of Kirigakure's treasures!

She hadn't expected Aogetsu Hyuga to actually come to discuss business.

She had thought...

You damn pervert!

"Why do you have the Kubikiribōchō? Did you..." Mei fixed Aogetsu Hyuga with a puzzled look.

Had Aogetsu Hyuga dealt with the A-Rank missing-nin Zabuza Momochi?

"That's right. It's exactly what you're thinking." Aogetsu Hyuga took out a black Scroll. He opened it, and with a poof of white smoke, two still-warm bodies fell to the floor.

One was Yuki Haku. The other was Zabuza Momochi.

Chojuro stared at Zabuza Momochi lying motionless on the floor, unmistakably dead, and cried out, "That's... Senior Zabuza!"

He had admired Zabuza Momochi when he was younger. Though Zabuza was a missing-nin, Chojuro still regarded him as a senior of the Seven Blade Swordsmen worthy of respect.

More importantly...

Zabuza Momochi was powerful, yet Aogetsu Hyuga had defeated him!

Chojuro stole a cautious glance at Aogetsu. Until now, he had only heard stories about him. He had never seen his strength for himself, and today was their first meeting.

The stories must be true.

After all, Aogetsu Hyuga had defeated Zabuza, one of the Seven Blade Swordsmen!

"He's the A-Rank missing-nin Zabuza Momochi, all right. But who's the other female ninja?" Veins bulged at Ao's temples as he used his Byakugan to stare at the two lifeless bodies on the floor.

Aogetsu Hyuga corrected him. "He's a man."

"Is he?" Ao paused.

Does it matter whether he's a man or a woman?

The question is, who is he?

"Huh?!" Chojuro blurted. Once the words sank in, he blushed and lowered his head.

Someone that cute is a man?

Mei's brows drew together. "He's from the Yuki Clan. They had the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai and were once a powerful clan."

The destruction of the Yuki Clan was a shame.

Ice Release was an exceptionally strong Kekkei Genkai. Unfortunately, no ninja in Kirigakure could use it anymore.

It's all Yagura's fault!

"I'll get straight to the point. The Demon of Kirigakure was an A-Rank missing-nin with a bounty of 2.6 million." Aogetsu Hyuga took out a Bingo Book notice. Seeing Mei deep in thought, he added earnestly, "Don't try to wriggle out of it. The Ninja Village issued this bounty."

"As for the pretty boy..." Aogetsu Hyuga thought for a moment, then raised three fingers. "He was stronger than the Demon of Kirigakure, so I want three million for him."

"That makes 5.6 million altogether. Round it up and give me six million."

Aogetsu Hyuga took Mei's hand and smiled. "Deal. Pleasure doing business with you."

"Don't touch me, you per—"

Mei had been lost in thought. The moment she came to her senses, she flung Aogetsu's hand away. Her alluring face turned cold as she glared at him. She was about to call him a pervert, but stopped when she noticed the strange looks from everyone around her.

"Lady Mizukage?" Chojuro and Ao looked at Mei in confusion. She seemed both cold and flustered with anger.

What's wrong with Lady Mizukage today?

Ever since Aogetsu Hyuga appeared, the Mizukage had been acting strangely. Was there really some bad blood between them?

Mei suppressed her anger, unwilling to let the others notice anything amiss. She forced a smile. "I'll pay the 5.6 million. There's no need for me to round it up for you."

Round it up?

Who rounds up by a whole 400,000?

Truthfully, she had no desire to pay three million for Yuki Haku. But judging by the way Aogetsu had come to collect, his willful nature meant he would surely cause trouble in Kirigakure like a child if she refused.

She still had to deal with the Three-Tails. She had no time to indulge Aogetsu Hyuga's nonsense.

"Give me the sword. The money will be delivered to your village in a few days." Mei raised a fair hand and reached for the blade in Aogetsu's grip.

Aogetsu Hyuga moved the Kubikiribōchō behind his back, leaving Mei grasping at empty air.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mei paused.

Is this damn pervert toying with me?

The corner of Aogetsu Hyuga's mouth lifted. "What do you mean? Do you want my toy that badly?" His voice was deliberately suggestive.

"Kirigakure will pay you. Why are you still holding on to the sword?" Mei bit her lip. She was almost at the end of her patience.

Aogetsu Hyuga glanced at Mei's ample chest and said with disdain, "You empty-headed woman. You get the bodies, I keep the sword, and you pay the bounty. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

You little minx.

Everyone fell silent for a moment. Aogetsu Hyuga seemed to have a point. The bounty was for the missing-nin. What did the Kubikiribōchō have to do with it?

Strictly speaking, there was no problem.

Yet something still felt wrong.

Isn't the Kubikiribōchō a treasure of our Kirigakure?

Why should we pay to buy back a ninja tool our own Ninja Village made?

The corner of Mei's eye twitched, and a vein stood out on her forehead.

Every conversation with Aogetsu Hyuga ended with her furious.

Why?

"If you want the sword, you'll have to pay extra," Aogetsu Hyuga said.

"M-Mr. Aogetsu." Chojuro spoke cautiously, finally mustering the courage to continue. "Kirigakure's seven Ninja Blades are priceless treasures."

Kirigakure's seven Ninja Blades were priceless to the entire village. Even across the whole ninja world, they stood among the most extraordinary ninja tools!

Take the Kubikiribōchō. It might not seem to have any special abilities, but when damaged, it could repair itself by absorbing iron from blood.

Unless the Kubikiribōchō was reduced to ash, it could be repaired endlessly!

"Is that so? I suppose you're right. If this toy is Mu-price, talking money does seem rather vulgar." Aogetsu Hyuga raised one finger and looked Mei's figure over. With a faint smile, he said, "Spend a night with me, and the sword is yours."

He had never intended to sell the Kubikiribōchō. Its properties made it an ideal iron medium for firing his electromagnetic cannon.

"Ao, Chojuro, leave us. I have a private matter to settle." Danger edged Mei's smile. Enormous Chakra erupted from her, shaking the entire building.

She had had enough!

Aogetsu Is Mei Terumi's Boyfriend?

"Aogetsu Hyuga, you've gone too far!"

Several Anbu Ninja appeared out of nowhere and drew their short blades, taking positions in front of Mei. Everyone glared at Aogetsu, and Ao even spoke up to condemn what he had said.

Did Aogetsu Hyuga really dare say that?

He wanted Lady Mizukage to spend a night with him?

Mei Terumi was the hero who had saved Kirigakure and brought the Bloody Mist Village to an end. Nearly everyone in the village respected her, and many young people idolized her!

Yet Aogetsu Hyuga dared...

He had dared to insult Lady Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage, in public, right here in Kirigakure. Aogetsu Hyuga's lust knew no bounds if he thought he could make a move on her!

Lady Mizukage was certainly beautiful, but Aogetsu had clearly lost his head.

Wait!

Everyone looked at the mockery beneath Aogetsu Hyuga's faint smile. Their expressions darkened, and the anger in their eyes burned hotter.

They understood now.

Aogetsu Hyuga was just playing with them!

He was deliberately provoking every ninja in the room for fun. Lust had nothing to do with it. The bastard simply found it amusing!

"You ought to take a hint. Your boss and I have a private matter to settle. Even I'd be embarrassed if this many people watched our little romance." As he spoke, Aogetsu Hyuga stored Haku's and Zabuza's bodies in the Space-Time Barrier Scroll.

He knew the madwoman was furious!

What if she lashed out indiscriminately and melted both bodies, then Kirigakure refused to pay the bounty?

He had to put the money somewhere safe first.

They weren't corpses. They were a fortune!

"Get out. I'll handle this." Mei kept her head lowered, her brown hair hiding her alluring face and whatever expression she wore. Her tall figure trembled slightly, and cold Chakra radiated from her body.

"But..."

"Yes, Lady Mizukage."

The ninja hesitated, then filed out of the room. Since the Mizukage had ordered them to leave, they could only withdraw for now, however worried they were about her.

Once every ninja had gone, only two people remained in the office.

Aogetsu Hyuga cast a casual glance at Mei's shapely backside and grinned wickedly. "What, is your backside asking for more?"

Five years earlier, while capturing an S-Rank missing-nin, he had clashed badly with Mei. Back then, he had jabbed her backside hard with his fingers.

Until it went numb!

"Heh. Don't think you can win so easily this time. I'm much stronger than I was." Mei formed Hand Seals with her fair hands. A dark Kurenai barrier covered the entire room, isolating it to prevent damage to the building.

She had indeed lost to Aogetsu before, when she was still a Jonin.

But now...

She was a ninja who bore the title of Kage: the Ninja Village's Fifth Mizukage!

"Now no one can interrupt us. I'll pay you back tenfold for the humiliation you put me through last time, you pervert." Mei ran her tongue over her lips. Her hands shifted through Hand Seals, then slammed against the floor.

"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"

Boom! The floor shook violently. A massive pillar of water surged upward, hurling Aogetsu Hyuga into the air.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" Mei changed her Hand Seals again and spat a blade of water like a high-pressure jet. As it flew, it split into five enormous water dragons.

Roar! The five dragons spiraled upward. One shot forward and clamped its jaws around Aogetsu Hyuga's waist. The other four seized his limbs.

"And then? Is that all you've got?" Held fast by the five water dragons, Aogetsu Hyuga looked down at Mei with a Lollipop in his mouth.

That little minx really had grown much stronger. She was several times more powerful than when he had last seen her!

Mei had once been as strong as an Elite Jonin. Now she was a genuine Kage Level powerhouse!

Perhaps only at the lower end of Kage Level, but still vastly stronger than Haku by Mu countless times!

Each of those five water dragons had enough power to defeat a Jonin with ease!

"Let's see how long you can keep talking. Today, you're the one who'll be humiliated, you pervert!" A chill flashed through Mei's eyes as her fair hands shifted through another set of Hand Seals. "Water Release: Water Prison!"

She was fiercely competitive. Ever since Aogetsu had humiliated her, she had been looking for a chance to return the favor!

She had to repay the humiliation she had suffered twofold!

Hum! The five water dragons engulfed Aogetsu Hyuga, then merged into an exceptionally heavy sphere of water that trapped him inside!

"Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you. That would cause trouble between our villages. But I can still make you pay." Mei smiled at Aogetsu, mockery flickering in her eyes.

For this moment...

She had waited a long time!

"Is that so? This weight... really is a surprise." Inside the water sphere, Aogetsu Hyuga felt its crushing pressure. It was as heavy as a small mountain.

Aogetsu Hyuga looked calmly at Mei.

That little minx seems awfully confident.