This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 176 Confession Under the Night Sky (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

After leaving those words, Ryuji's consciousness withdrew from Kuro's body.

Inside the interrogation room, the Konoha ninjas looked at each other, all glancing at Danzo.

Danzo, on the other hand, fell into deep thought.

If Ryuji hadn't made the unusual move of abandoning his escape from Konoha and instead hiding in a suburban mansion, he would have simply ignored the other party's threat.

But given the other party's unusual actions and subsequent cryptic threat, he began to wonder if their strange behavior truly concealed a conspiracy.

"...Lord Danzo, Keito's consciousness has not returned."

Danzo was brought back to his senses by his subordinate's reminder.

He glanced around at the people below, then looked at the unconscious Jingren, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Is he still alive?"

"As long as the body is alive, the soul and consciousness are also alive."

"Is it trapped inside a black body?"

"No mental fluctuations can be detected in Hei's body." A technician in front of the computer screen replied, "Not only can Jingren's mental fluctuations not be detected, but Hei's can't be detected either. Both of their bodies have become empty shells."

"I see!"

Danzo closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and said, "Then use the black body to exchange for Jingren's consciousness."

"Yes."

The subordinate accepted the order and couldn't help but express his gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much!"

Danzo glanced at the speaker with his lowered gaze and said calmly, "Go quickly, and while you're at it, test their attitude. I'll talk to the Hokage."

"yes!"

The subordinates obeyed and left, and the dimly lit room fell silent.

Danzo remained seated, lost in thought.

He agreed to the substitution not to save Jingren, but because he was unsure whether Ryuji was bluffing or had a trump card he hadn't anticipated.

If Ryuji is just bluffing, then even if they return the black to them, they won't be able to escape in the end.

If it's not just bluffing, then there's still room for maneuver.

Saving Jingren was just something I did on a whim.

……

Consciousness returned to his body, and Ryuji opened his eyes.

On a cold, dark night, the courtyard was brightly lit, and all the movements of the Sand Village ninja delegation were clearly visible.

"Master, how is it?"

Hearing the familiar voice behind him, Long Er turned around and saw Hong's tense and delicate face.

He nodded, picked up the wine bowl beside him and drank it all in one gulp before saying, "I brought back the soul of Black."

"That's good." Hong Chang breathed a long sigh of relief. "As long as the soul is still there, we can just make another body later."

"No, I want them to return their bodies safely as well." Ryuji looked at the somber people in the courtyard, a glint of light flashing in his bright black eyes. "If they don't return them, I'll use Konoha to bury Hei's body."

He considered himself a person who was not swayed by emotions, but when the time came, he found it difficult to do so.

If Konoha were truly destroyed, then without a doubt, Sunagakure would be considered the greatest threat. If someone were to instigate it, the entire ninja world might unite against them.

Because tomorrow will be a crushing defeat without any suspense.

From a broader perspective, this is a very unwise choice.

Ryuji had never had such an idea at first.

But seeing the android he had created with his own hands bound hand and foot, stretched out in a spinning hollow iron ball... the feeling of his hard work being abused made his anger rise uncontrollably.

He wouldn't be this angry even if they killed Black.

"I hope you'll be smart enough to return them obediently, otherwise, I'm afraid I really won't be able to resist destroying you." Ryuji's deep gaze fell on the Hokage Rock, where the Hokage Building below was still brightly lit.

"Ryuji..."

A soft voice came from under the eaves.

Ryuji looked down and saw Karura smiling and beckoning to him. "Can we talk alone?"

"Come on up."

Upon hearing the reply, Hong wisely withdrew.

Galuro then jumped up.

She stood on the edge of the roof, sizing up Ryuji, then her gaze fell on the wine bowl beside him, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. "Lady Ayaki is still a minor, isn't she?"

"If you're here to preach, then go back!" With that, Long Er picked up his wine bowl and took a small sip.

Immediately, the pain in my body lessened considerably.

Alcohol certainly cannot suppress pain, but it can relieve stress.

Now that things have developed to this point, he has to consider more than just bringing people back to Sunagakure; he also has to consider the possible upheavals that will come after tomorrow.

The pressure he bears is far from as easy as it seems on the surface.

"How could I be so boring?" Karura still had a smile on her face. "I just wanted to say that rules are used by the strong to bind the weak. I hope that a strong person like Lady Ayaki will not be bound by rules."

Ok?

Ryuji looked at Karura with surprise, as if he were seeing her for the first time.

This seemingly delicate girl, who always wears a gentle smile and appears fragile enough to be blown away by a gust of wind, seems to have an inner nature completely different from her outward appearance.

He suddenly became interested and asked, "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to apologize."

As Karura spoke, she casually walked over to Ryuji and sat down next to him, one seat away from him. "It's because of me that things have turned out this way."

"Hmph!" Ryuji couldn't help but sneer. "You think things wouldn't have turned out this way without you?"

"I never thought that way."

"Then why are you blaming yourself?"

"No matter what, I am the one who sparked this incident."

Even without Gyura, there would have been others.

If Konoha wants to break off relations, even if everyone in Sunagakure holds back, Konoha can still make the first move and then slander them.

In other words, no matter what, things will eventually turn out this way.

Regarding this point...

Ryuji understood, Karura understood, and everyone in the Sunagakure delegation understood.

Therefore, no one blamed Galuro.

But no matter what, she was the one who ignited the incident. Just because others don't blame her doesn't mean she can live with herself.

While I wouldn't feel so ashamed that I'm embarrassed to face anyone, I definitely feel guilty.

Upon hearing the girl's answer, Ryuji chuckled softly.

Gentle and kind, but not naive or simplistic.

No wonder Rasa, who became the Fourth Kazekage in the original work, chose to be with her.

She is both gentle and considerate, as well as shrewd and capable, and can provide great help in both family and career.

For a successful man, this woman is practically the perfect marriage partner.

"Lady Ayaki, aren't you going to ask me why I acted so angrily?"

"I am somewhat curious." Ryuji, holding his wine bowl, looked over curiously. "Given your personality, you shouldn't get angry easily. What did the people of Konoha do to make you attack so violently?"

"This is……"

Before he could finish speaking, Karyu suddenly stopped.

Long Er, who was about to drink, couldn't help but look over and saw that she had her head down and two blushes on her face.

"..."

Ryuji fell silent.

The overwhelming sense of déjà vu left him speechless.

(I guess I'm overthinking it!)

Not hearing Ryuji's follow-up question, Karura raised her head, her gentle gaze meeting the silent face, her blush deepening.

She took a deep breath, snatched the wine bowl from Long Er's hand, drank it all in one gulp, and then threw away the empty bowl.

"They insulted you in front of me!"

"..."

Ryuji remained silent.

Karura stood up and boldly looked directly at Ryuji. "I have admired strong people since I was a child. Not just those who are strong in martial arts, but those who are strong in all aspects. I have been curious about and admired you ever since you led everyone to repel the invasion of the Cloud Village, Iwagakure, Amegakure and Kusagakure alliance half a year ago."

Later, upon learning that you had resurrected the Third Kazekage and proposed a solution to the problem of water scarcity in the Land of Wind, my curiosity and admiration deepened even further, and I couldn't wait to get to know you.

When I learned that I had been selected as a member of the study abroad delegation and would be traveling to Konoha with Lady Aya, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep that night.

"Even after arriving in Konoha, you didn't stop."

"Confronting Orochimaru in the street, publicly insulting Setsuna Uchiha, provoking a duel between Konoha and Sunagakure and winning a great victory... your strength, strategic vision, and wisdom are all perfect and impeccable."

"Later, you turned the tide in the war against Amegakure, killed Hanzo, brought victory to the village, and even established the floating continent... All the deeds you left behind in the ninja world make me yearn for them and wish I could follow in your footsteps."

"Originally, I thought I was just admiring and worshipping you, but when those two Konoha ninjas insulted you in front of me, I, who usually could laugh off being insulted, couldn't help but take action."

"That's when I understood."

"My admiration and adoration for Lady Ayaki has somehow turned into love..." At this point, a trace of sadness flashed in Karura's eyes, "But I also know that you have a girlfriend, and I don't want to disturb your life, so I'm going to keep these feelings to myself."

But... I don't know if I can go back alive this time. I don't want to hide this love until I die. I don't want the adults to never know that there was such a girl who loved you until I die.

So, Lady Ayaki, you can go back...

"Ahem!"

A cough came from under the eaves, interrupting Karura's passionate confession.

She looked up instinctively and saw that the eaves were full of people; almost the entire delegation had arrived.

Karura froze, then her face quickly turned bright red. She exclaimed, "What are you all doing here?!"

"Clang!"

Yashamaru pointed to the broken wine bowl on the ground.

(Oh My God!)

Galuro covered her blushing face, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Confessing to a man who has a girlfriend, and who is several years younger than me, in front of so many people is too embarrassing.

"Don't be shy!"

A puppeteer shouted, "If you're facing someone you love, then go for it! Having a girlfriend doesn't mean you're getting married. Just compete fairly! Keep going!"

"Yes, don't be afraid. What's wrong with confessing your feelings to the person you love?"

"Go, Gallura!"

"Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, so we should cherish every day!"

"you……"

Hearing the encouragement below, Garuda was deeply moved.

She thought she would be scolded for being shameless, but instead she received nothing but encouragement.

She took a deep breath, quickly calming herself, and looked earnestly at Ayaki Ryuji. "Lady Ayaki, as everyone says, I don't want to have regrets after I die, so, can you answer my heart's desire?"

"this……"

Long Er scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

One Wanli River has already made the relationship between Yecang and him very complicated, and now there's Karura... Whether he refuses or accepts, things will only get worse in the future.

"...I think you're overthinking it."

Eh!

Upon hearing the answer, Gallo was somewhat disappointed.

As expected, it still didn't work.

"What do you mean you don't want to regret it after you die? You're still a long way from dying!" Ryuji smiled at her, then turned to face the Sunagakure people below. "I promised you that I would bring most of you back to the village safely, and I will keep my word. Everyone who returns here safely will not die."

If you ask why, it's because I said those words, and what I say, I will always do.

After saying that, he turned to look at the girl, "Karuro, I never thought that such an outstanding girl would like me. As a man, I must be secretly delighted to receive a confession from such an outstanding girl."

But I don't know if this is love. If I answer hastily, it would be irresponsible to both of us.

So please keep these feelings in your heart for now, and ask yourself again a few years later if you still like me then. If you still like me then, please confess your feelings again!

At that time, whether I refuse or accept, I will have the answer in my heart, and I will definitely respond to your feelings.

"Ooh ooh ooh!!!"

The Sand Village members cheered, their previous worries about the future vanishing.

If she can make such a guarantee in the face of a confession from someone she admires, what reason do they have not to trust Lady Ayagi?

After all, he's a man who has created one miracle after another!

When Karura saw this, her eyes sparkled, and the man in front of her became even more charming in her eyes.

(Lady Ayaki, what do you mean by saying that if you continue to be this outstanding, my love for you will only grow deeper!)

……

The quiet night was filled with the cheers of the Sunagakure delegation.

Snowflakes fell from the pitch-black sky.

The Third Hokage stood at the window, gazing in the direction of the Sand Village delegation's residence, his face grave.

In the dimly lit room, Danzo stared at a plan in deep thought.

In the hospital room, Orochimaru lay on the bed, ignoring Tsunade's words. His mind was completely absorbed in the fact that Kurenai had defeated him but then let him go.

"Think it over carefully. Lady Ayaki is the god of this world. Follow her, and you will get everything you want!"

(End of this chapter)