Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

She bared her teeth and claws, wanting to go over and punch him, but Hiruko let out a smug laugh and drifted away, leaving her standing there in a frenzy.

"You bastard, come here! I'm going to kill you!" Nohara Rin shouted angrily.

Hiruko replied with a laugh, "That's not ladylike at all."

After Nohara Rin's anger subsided somewhat, Hiruko slowly floated back and lay down flat.

The two lay down on the cloud bed, where the beautiful scenery made even the clouds seem exceptionally quiet.

Looking at Hiruko's contented expression, Nohara Rin said, "I want to lie down like you too."

Hiruko controlled Nohara Rin's body to lie down, and Nohara Rin felt as if she was lying on a soft cloud bed, which was very comfortable.

The two of them floated around in the clouds, enjoying this moment of peace and beauty.

The two were initially enjoying the beautiful scenery when they drifted closer together.

"Ah, no!"

Chapter 132 begins!

Nohara Rin then kicked Hiruko, saying coquettishly, "Don't push your luck. Even though you're so close to me, don't think I won't mess with you. Believe me, I'll throw you down!"

Hiruko, however, said nonchalantly, "I don't believe it."

Seeing that his threats were ineffective, Hiruko suddenly grinned and said, "Then do you believe I can do something to you? Anyway, there's no one here."

Nohara Rin's eyes widened instantly, her cheeks flushed, and she spat out, "Shameless!"

However, to her surprise, Hiruko actually leaned towards her with a wicked grin on his face.

Nohara Rin wanted to back away, but found that she couldn't move her body, like a lamb to the slaughter.

She covered her chest with her hands, closed her eyes, and shouted, "No!" But in the end, Hiruko did not actually lay a hand on her.

Nohara Rin cautiously opened her eyes, only to find that Hiruko was nowhere to be seen.

She looked around, but there was no one in the clouds, so she tried calling out, "Hiruko, where have you gone?"

There was no response. She floated alone above the clouds. The once beautiful scenery now made her feel a chill.

She hurriedly shouted, "Stop messing around, come out quickly, I won't kick you anymore!"

Although she knew in her heart that Hiruko was probably joking with her, Nohara Rin still felt a little panicked when she couldn't see him.

Just as she turned around, Hiruko suddenly appeared in front of her again, looking at her with a smile.

Nohara Rin's heart skipped a beat, and she felt even more moved.

She was about to yell "You bastard!" when Hiruko suddenly leaned in and gently kissed her cheek.

Nohara Rin froze on the spot.

After the kiss, Hiruko asked with a smile, "Are you feeling better now?"

Nohara Rin did not answer, perhaps because the scene she had just witnessed had shocked her too much.

Then her face turned as red as if it were burning, and the blush spread all the way to behind her ears.

"He's such a shy little guy," Hiruko thought to himself.

He turned around, but Nohara Rin covered her face with her hands and remained silent.

"Why are you still shy?" Hiruko chuckled, floated in front of her again, took her hands away from her face, and leaned closer once more.

Nohara Rin said in a panic, "What...what are you going to do?"

Looking at Birukhu's handsome face so close to hers, her mind went blank, and she felt like she was suffocating.

Hiruko gently lifted her chin and said, "This time, the target isn't your cheek."

Nohara Rin suddenly felt a wave of fear, as if she had fallen into a bottomless black hole.

It can only be said that girls in the ninja world mature too quickly. Hiruko doesn't like skinny little girls and plans to raise Nohara Rin for a few more years.

However, someone with curly hair who looks exactly like Nohara Rin might be worth considering.

Every time, the master of the scroll, Yekura, would use all his skills to extract all the energy from Hiruko.

This was to prevent Hiruko from harming his obedient disciple, Maki.

Hiruko didn't want to offend Yokura, so he temporarily refrained from making any plans regarding the scroll.

However, when Nohara Rin grew up, she and Maki looked almost identical, and if they were together, it would definitely be quite a sight.

On the side of the Land of Grass, Konoha never directly interfered in its internal affairs from beginning to end.

However, the Grass Country government quickly aligned itself with Konoha.

It wasn't that Konoha used any special methods; the reason is actually quite simple—money.

Before Konoha arrived, the Land of Grass had no outstanding industries due to years of war, and its economic system had long since collapsed.

The domestic situation was in complete chaos, with the rulers unable to reach a consensus and everyone just floundering in a quagmire with no progress.

However, this situation changed after the arrival of the Konoha United Merchants Association.

The Konoha United Chamber of Commerce did not make any political moves; it simply followed the contractual standards and continued to make payments to its partners.

The problem lies here: for the bigwigs of the Land of Fire, the dividends from the Konoha United Merchants Association, while substantial, are merely an effective economic supplement.

For the small and sparsely populated Land of Grass, the funds invested by the Konoha United Merchants Association were a lifesaver for their "independent industry" funding.

With the financial support provided by the Konoha United Chamber of Commerce, the pro-Konoha political influence of the Chamber of Commerce naturally grew significantly.

The rival forces that were once able to stand on equal footing with them crumbled one after another under the onslaught of money.

These forces, backed by the interests of the Konoha United Merchants Association, naturally take good care of the association.

The Konoha United Chamber of Commerce never actively pursues political rights.

On the surface, the deal appeared perfectly harmonious.

However, the politically astute Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, did not think so.

He felt that although the Konoha United Chamber of Commerce did not have any extra demands at the moment, what about in the future?

There are indeed still many forces opposing Konoha in the Land of Grass, but once these forces are eliminated one by one, everyone will be "pro-Konoha".

If this continues, will the Land of Grass be able to refuse any special requests made by Konoha?

Obviously not.

Konoha did indeed give them benefits, but this also meant that they would gradually become unable to escape Konoha's control.

In other words, Konoha has effectively taken control of the Land of Grass through economic means.

Or, to put it another way, the Land of Grass became a source of raw materials for the Land of Fire.

If Hiruko aspires to be the former, then his ambition is far too great; he could even become the "daimyo" of the Land of Grass invisibly.

If he wanted to do the latter, then the Land of Grass would become part of the Land of Fire, taking over some of the Land of Fire's production work.

And it is quite obvious that this model can be replicated.

The Grass Country can specialize in producing various fruits and other materials, while a small country may specialize in producing a particular industrial product.

Another small country specializes in producing spare parts, while other small countries specialize in producing rice, and so on.

If each country focuses on doing just one thing, it will surely be able to do that thing to the best of its ability.

As long as the Land of Fire maintains its huge market advantage, those smaller countries will naturally not seek the protection of other major powers.

Through this model, they can leverage the size advantage of the Land of Fire to manipulate the surrounding smaller countries one by one, eventually merging them into a behemoth.

By then, what good would it do if other major powers united?

They don't even need to engage in direct confrontation to slowly deplete the strength of other countries.

Just like in the Fourth Shinobi World War, the reason why Iwagakure and Kumogakure adopted such aggressive war tactics was entirely because they were forced into it by Konoha.

As they struggled to drink cold water and eat the rations they had eaten until they vomited.

Those guys in Konoha who are jokingly called "spoiled brats" are enjoying delicious canned beef, ice cream, chocolate, and iced cola every day.

The look of despair on Onoki's face at that moment was truly unforgettable.

The atmosphere at the scene was so oppressive that everyone felt like they couldn't breathe.

Based on Hiruko's style of doing things, Konoha will only become richer in ten years.

Looking back, those merchants who supported Bilihu did indeed receive great rewards.

Long ago, rulers treated merchants with exceptionally poor attitudes.

The nobles treated these merchants like poultry that had been fattened up, ready to be eaten whenever they were hungry.

They showed no mercy and often treated businessmen with condescension, forcibly dictating what they should do.

Businessmen who cooperate with them often end up losing everything.

Since that's the case, it's better to choose someone like Hiruko who likes them, even if it's just being wary, it's better than being treated like a rag before.

Rights may seem insignificant, but they are timeless.

Wealth is like a magnificent boudoir; it can be burned to ashes with just a spark.

Although the situation of businessmen has improved a lot since the modern era, they are still suppressed and even used as front men.

Which respectable wealthy family would marry their daughter as their principal wife? At most, they would only take her as a concubine.

Beiliuhu had a unique style of doing things; his friendliness towards certain people was merely out of consideration for his own interests.

He's like a shrewd businessman. If he has to support a comrade, why not support someone who can benefit him?

Hiruko's character was indeed utterly despicable; his lecherous nature was his defining trait. However, his actions were as decisive as his rotten character: he prioritized self-interest.

He came out to do only one thing: fairness! Fairness, that's for sure!

Fairness will bring him the greatest benefit!

Hiruko truly kept his word; he promised to give you dividends, and he did.

If he were to kill you, he would do so after the profits are distributed, and then let his children inherit your fortune.

These are the things that Ohnoki thinks about all the time now.