The office fell quiet again. Only Kurenai Yuhi remained standing before the desk, her chest heaving as she drew quick, shallow breaths.
"Lord Yongye, Gekko Hayate lied to frame me!"
"The Masked Man killed my father. I would never work with him."
"Please believe me!"
Yongye deliberately kept his face stern and spoke coldly.
"Gekko Hayate accused you himself. You heard him, didn't you?"
"He was under my Genjutsu. He couldn't have lied."
Kurenai stamped her feet in frustration.
"I really didn't do it! Gekko Hayate must have remembered wrong, or the Masked Man tricked him!"
Yongye spread his hands in feigned helplessness. "You're beautiful, and I'd like to believe you. But the Masked Man is an enemy of Konoha. This is serious, and I have to get to the bottom of it."
At the word "beautiful," something stirred in Kurenai's heart.
She had left early during the last double-S-rank mission, but afterward, she couldn't resist asking about it in private. That was how she learned the target had been Uchiha Yongye. Ever since, thoughts of him kept returning, like an itch she couldn't scratch.
Now he had called her beautiful so casually, yet the word sparked a sudden thought.
She couldn't help thinking, The way he looks at me really is different.
Yongye continued his performance, his tone sincere but leaving no room for argument. "There are usually three ways to deal with a suspect. One, torture. Two, interrogation through Genjutsu. Three, have the Yamanaka Clan read her memories."
Kurenai went deathly pale and pleaded at once. "Lord Yongye, please don't do that to me! I swear I had nothing to do with the Masked Man's assassination plot."
The first would torment her body; the other two would violate her mind and dignity. She wanted none of them!
Yongye