Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

"I don't know, but I can give orders directly as the Mizukage to have my subordinates figure out a solution," the masked man replied.

"...What am I expecting?" Snow began to fall in Konoha, bringing a chill to Mei Terumi's skin.

However, Mei Terumi, dressed in a mink coat, paid no attention to any of this. She stood on a high point in Konoha, gazing intently at the increasingly prosperous commercial district of Konoha.

For a long time, Terumi Mei had been wondering why Hiruko insisted on setting aside such a large area specifically for commercial activities.

When buying or selling things, shouldn't you do whatever is most convenient?

It wasn't until recently that Terumi Mei realized that the business in her mind and the business in Hiruko's mind were completely different things.

The commercial district, which is now extremely prosperous and continues to build high-rise buildings, has answered Mei Terumi's question.

What Hiruko wanted was not a small shop, but a commercial center.

It is home to numerous financial tycoons.

Although the absolute number is not large, for an entity like Konoha Village, which is at most a prefecture-level city, those large companies are like powerful hearts, constantly propelling it forward.

Given time... Mei Terumi dared not imagine.

The reason these large companies were willing to gather here was that, apart from a small number who were invited by Hiruko using his personal connections—

For example, there's the military industry faction, born from the same mother as Konoha; the banana faction, who see Hiruko as their father; the tobacco faction, who are always being taken advantage of; and the millet faction, who are bullied by Hiruko to the point of tears. There are also many industrialists from within the Land of Fire, as well as various idle wealthy merchants.

Of course, most of these large companies are not headquartered here, but the driving force behind it is quite remarkable.

Mei Terumi doesn't yet know why the Industrialists came—she doesn't believe their explanations.

But if we were to send someone to investigate thoroughly... that would mean turning against Konoha.

She wouldn't do something so foolish.

But at least Mei Terumi knew why those idle wealthy merchants came.

—For the future of technology companies!

More precisely, it's for that price chart inside the future tech company!

Seriously, it's not impossible to do business without that real-time updated price chart, but it would be much more difficult.

Moreover, the price chart is just an add-on; its more important purpose is that it forms a circle.

A large merchant guild that came together to make money—in Hiruko's words, a zaibatsu (financial clique).

Although this conglomerate is still very loose and cannot be effectively controlled, it is already much stronger than the scattered forces outside.

Not long ago, this merchant group had a conflict with a merchant group from a small country over some matter.

As a result, due to the cooperation among the wealthy merchants in the merchant guild, the merchant group from that small country was utterly defeated.

Although it wasn't as exaggerated as when Hiruko personally led the team, the role of merchants gradually began to emerge.

"Perhaps in a few years, the future technology company system will surpass the industrial faction of the Land of Fire and become the strongest pillar of Konoha... It is not only the brain of information, but also the inexhaustible lifeblood..."

"If that time really comes, how should we, the Hidden Mist Village, deal with it?" Many things in Konoha Village, on their own, are still acceptable.

The problem is that these things can be combined and used together.

Using Konoha as its blade, Future Tech as its blood, and the Industrialists as its muscles.

Once they are fully combined, they can form an invincible giant.

...Who knows what those officials in the Land of Fire were thinking, allowing Konoha to do such a mess!

Have they joined Konoha too?

Mei Terumi felt a surge of suffocation just thinking about those arrogant, useless nobles from the Land of Water who couldn't do anything right and were always hungry.

Konoha's combination punches are very simple.

However, there is no solution.

Terumi pondered deeply but could not find a way to perfectly resolve the three issues.

Moreover, even if it is untied, Hiruko can fix it in a very short time.

The difficulty lies in the fact that these three are essentially the external natural manifestations of the Land of Fire's power.

Because it is the most powerful industrial nation, it can support the most powerful ninja village. Because it is the most powerful ninja village, it possesses the most powerful intelligence and combat capabilities.

Because it has the most powerful combat system, it also has the most powerful financial and industrial systems, which can continuously siphon off the world's resources... These three are a ring that is layered together.

The most fatal thing is that it continues to get stronger over time.

The four great nations are also recovering, but compared to the Land of Fire... for the same job, the other nations offer 1000, while the Land of Fire is willing to offer 1200.

Don't underestimate this 200; it's enough to change the minds of many people.

"Industrial power is truly painful."

Unless there are major changes within the Land of Fire... however, this is Konoha territory..."

"The best option is to completely break with Konoha now, and with a do-or-die attitude, unite with the four great ninja villages to drag Konoha down to hell."

"But no one can make that decision...no one."

"And Konoha will never give anyone else a chance. Once this window of opportunity is over... no wonder the Mizukage insisted that I marry that idiot."

"The stronger the rigidity of something, the more difficult it is to overcome with wisdom."

In this situation, a united front is actually the best option... Must we really only wait for the right moment, for Konoha to make a mistake on its own?

"I'm so unwilling..." Mei Terumi became more and more upset as she thought about it, and even the fish and chips in her hand didn't seem so delicious anymore.

Just as Mei Terumi was feeling extremely sad, a ninja dressed as a member of the Hidden Mist Village appeared behind her.

"Lady Terumi Mei!" Terumi Mei was momentarily dazed before she came to her senses and looked behind her.

"You are..." "Lady Terumi Mei, this is a letter from the Mizukage. Please sign for it!"

A Kirigakure ninja handed over a special envelope, which Mei Terumi immediately recognized as a secret letter from Kirigakure.

Mei Terumi accepted the letter, but she did not open it directly. Instead, she went to the diplomatic embassy in Konoha and opened the envelope there.

What came into view was a series of cryptic codes hidden in the fog.

After so many years of fighting each other, ninjas have long since mastered the art of espionage and counter-espionage.

Mei Terumi quickly scanned the codes and soon analyzed their true meaning in her mind.

"I recently heard that... the Fifth Hokage intends to destroy the Grass Dumplings at all costs... and if possible... to inflict heavy damage on Konoha..." "Just in case... no more specific orders will be issued... allow for discretionary actions..." After translating these codes, Mei Terumi was completely numb.

She almost screamed.

"This..." This is insane! What kind of order is this? It's true that Hiruko is up to something with the grass balls lately, but anyone with eyes can see that this is definitely not a good opportunity to make a move.

So far, Hiruko has only been making legitimate deals with people. In any case, Mei Terumi hasn't seen any flaws in the publicly available information—either this is just the beginning, or... the grass dumplings might not be his real purpose.

Mei Terumi would never hesitate to exercise the highest level of vigilance against a bastard like Hiruko.

Going head-on against someone like that... not to mention that Mei Terumi has no idea what he's up to, even if there were an opportunity now, Kirigakure's financial situation isn't good enough to compete head-on with Konoha.

Moreover, Konoha can call for reinforcements at any time.

Its reinforcements are not only numerous, but they are also incredibly wealthy.

As for a direct armed confrontation... Konoha probably wants a direct confrontation more than anyone else, because it is the most capable fighter...

Yagura's previous strategy was somewhat disheartening, basically avoiding any confrontation with Konoha, but in retrospect, Mei Terumi also believed it was the right thing to do.

Chapter 280 A Desperate Gamble

In the numerous intense and turbulent clashes between Konoha and Kirigakure, Hiruko always managed to skillfully achieve her predetermined strategic objectives.

And the Hidden Mist, like a keen hunter, always manages to get a share of the pie and gain certain benefits in this game.

This cycle continued, and the strength of Kirigakure gradually accumulated and increased without anyone noticing. Both the ninjas' combat skills and the village's resource reserves saw significant improvements.

However, a huge rock was suddenly thrown into the calm lake, creating huge waves.

When the Hidden Mist's leadership suddenly made the bold and risky decision to directly confront Konoha, Mei Terumi's heart was instantly filled with doubt and confusion, as if she were in a fog, unable to find her way.

"Has the Mizukage harbored too much resentment and lost his mind? How could he suddenly make such an irrational decision?" she muttered to herself, her brows furrowed and her eyes filled with doubt, unwilling to believe this sudden decision.

So she hurriedly asked the Hidden Mist ninja who delivered the letter, her voice filled with urgency and unease: "Are you sure this letter is for me? There's no mistake, is there?"

She still harbored a sliver of hope.

The Hidden Mist ninja's face was solemn, like a heavy lead plate, devoid of any smile, her eyes revealing determination and resolve: "Lady Terumi Mei, if you have any doubts, I have no choice but to prove my innocence with my death and let you examine my brain!"

As he spoke, he actually adopted a posture as if he were preparing to die.

"No, there's no need for that..." Mei Terumi quickly waved her hand, a hint of panic on her face.

She knew all too well the consequences of spreading false information, which would incur extremely serious responsibility, a responsibility no one dared to easily bear.

Moreover, after careful examination, she found that the coded message and handwriting in the letter were correct and were indeed written by Mizukage.

Left with no other choice, she had to send the ninja back to report, while she remained alone in the room.

During her time in Konoha, Mei Terumi was like a sponge, deeply influenced by new ideas.

She is young and open to new things; her thoughts are like a wild horse, no longer bound by traditional constraints.

Now, when considering combat strength, she no longer focuses solely on the quantity and quality of ninjas, but has begun to consider it from a more comprehensive perspective.

"Intelligence and funds are far from sufficient, and the chances of victory are slim... It seems that we can only seek help from Kumogakure." Although she was reluctant, the relationship between Kumogakure and Konoha was indeed the most tense.

Putting aside the fact that the Raikage was killed in battle, Mei Terumi was also fully aware of Hiruko's secret schemes against Kumogakure.

She could almost see Yugito, that stupid cat, glaring with angry eyes, waiting for a chance to retaliate... If it weren't absolutely necessary, Terumi Mei wouldn't want to carry out such an order.

But as a ninja, she could not disobey orders.

After the Mizukage finished his seclusion, his behavior became increasingly strange and unpredictable... Could this be part of his plan?

The Mizukage's plan this time is so profound that even she cannot see the whole picture.

Mei Terumi secretly hoped for it, even though she knew the possibility was extremely slim.

Left with no other option, she could only meet with Yukito in private.

Having diplomats around makes things much more convenient.

Yuki arrived quickly, without having to cross the sea and travel through several countries as before, enduring a long and arduous journey.