Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

Upon meeting Yugito, Mei Terumi expressed her thoughts in a tactful way.

Yukito's reply was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation: "You're courting death. Why did you have to mess with him of all people... Goodbye!" With that, she turned to leave.

"Hey, Yugito, why are you running away! Don't you hate him the most?!" Mei Terumi watched Yugito's decisive departure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She knew that her plan was unlikely to succeed.

"It seems I have no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it." She sighed helplessly, her eyes revealing determination and resolve as she prepared to face the upcoming challenge.

Mei Terumi's heart was always shrouded in a thick cloud of doubt; she always felt that this matter was extremely strange.

Based on her deep understanding of the Mizukage Yagura over the years, although Yagura often acts unpredictably and is sometimes shameless to the extreme, he is by no means the kind of reckless person who would easily put himself in a deadly situation or die needlessly.

Behind every seemingly dangerous choice he makes, there must be a well-thought-out consideration and a hidden plan.

However, this order was like a boulder falling from the sky, crashing heavily into Mei Terumi's heart, which was truly perplexing.

What exactly does "acting expediently" mean? Even if Yagura trusts her a lot, there should be a limit, or at least some consideration for cost control.

How could you not say a word and instead burden her frail shoulders with all these things like a mountain?

This is truly illogical, like a sudden, unpredictable storm erupting on a calm lake.

Regardless, Mei Terumi was a battle-hardened and unwaveringly loyal ninja.

In the world of ninjas, the Kage's orders are the supreme principle, a mission that must be completed with all one's might.

So, clinging to her last shred of hope, she wrote a heartfelt letter to Yagura, requesting that the order be withdrawn.

In the letter, she elaborated on her concerns and worries, hoping to persuade Yagura to change his mind.

However, reality hit her like a bucket of cold water, mercilessly rejecting her request.

At that moment, she felt utterly desperate, but what could she do? She could only grit her teeth and continue racking her brains to find a way to surround Konoha—perhaps Yagura really had other plans?

Just like during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Yagura took a risky attack, which seemed crazy, but he eventually became one of the big winners, gaining countless honors and benefits.

Of course, despite the encirclement and suppression, Mei Terumi knew very well that it would be unwise for her to personally confront Konoha head-on.

Otherwise, they would surely be crushed to pieces by the powerful methods of Biluhu, which are like a giant iron hammer, and end up being smashed to pieces.

The Kongren serve as a cautionary tale. Before they even took action, they had already become enemies of the world due to their various inappropriate actions, and everyone thought it was only natural, as if they were destined to be the objects of everyone's contempt.

So... we need to find Iwagakure first.

For well-known reasons, Iwagakure, like Kumogakure, has a tense relationship with Konoha, as tense as a volcano about to erupt.

Yugito is unwilling to get involved in the conflict due to internal pressure, but Terumi Mei thinks that Iwagakure might be easier to persuade.

After all, Iwagakure may have different interests and considerations in some aspects.

So she quickly arranged a private meeting with Iwagakure's diplomat—a mature, experienced, and old-school ninja.

This diplomat gives off a reliable yet elusive vibe.

However, when Terumi Mei made a request for cooperation with high expectations, the other party refused without hesitation.

Although the other party also agreed that Hiruko had ulterior motives, believing that his sudden interest in the straw dumpling industry was to stir up trouble and create waves in this complex situation, but...

"It is our moral duty to protect weaker nations from the ravages of powerful nations," the diplomat said with a righteous and resolute expression, his eyes revealing unwavering conviction.

"So, you'll support me too, right?" Mei Terumi asked quickly, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"...Konoha is too authoritarian." The diplomat paused for a moment, then said slowly, his tone tinged with helplessness.

...Well, neither the reformers nor the conservatives are willing to be enemies with Hirukov at the moment.

Whether doing good or evil, one needs sufficient power to support it.

What the three great ninja villages need now is not to continue fighting, but to recuperate and restore their strength.

The strategy itself is not problematic; it is a necessary measure.

The problem is that Konoha and the Land of Fire always develop faster than them, leaving them far behind.

...Mei Terumi could understand the diplomats' position, after all, each village had its own difficulties and considerations, but now she could only grit her teeth and continue to think of a solution.

She actually came up with a solution—the Land of Snow.

Due to political differences, the rift between the Snow Country's monarch, Kazahana Sayasu, and his brother, Kazahana Noto, is deepening, almost to the point of armed conflict.

Feng Hua Zaoxue was weak-willed and incompetent in governing the country. He often seemed powerless in handling state affairs and could barely be considered a ruler who maintained the status quo.

His younger brother, Feng Hua Nu Tao, is highly skilled, strong-willed, and ruthless, making him seem more suitable to become a monarch and lead the Snow Kingdom to prosperity.

But in any case, Fuuka Hayate is the rightful ruler of the Snow Country.

Despite his powerful nature, Feng Hua Nu Tao was unwilling to bear the infamy of patricide, even though he desperately wanted to become the ruler of the Snow Kingdom.

Thus, after the Great War of the Millet, a war filled with smoke and blood that swept across the land like a storm, Fuuka Nutō, harboring a thirst for power and ambitions for the future of the Land of Snow, personally visited Kirigakure.

He hopes to gain the support of the Mizukage Yagura in order to realize his dream of dominating the Land of Snow.

Yagura readily accepted the meeting, wearing a seemingly kind yet unfathomable smile, and reached a series of deals with him.

However, Yagura also warned him that the time was not yet ripe and that he needed to be patient.

Although Feng Hua Nu Tao was slightly dissatisfied, his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes, he still suppressed his inner impulse and put down his dissatisfaction in order to gain the support of Wu Yin.

At the time, Yagura smiled and told Mei that this might be the biggest political asset he had acquired since taking office, his smile revealing a sense of pride and control over the future situation.

Hiruko secretly took control of the Land of Grass through various underhanded means.

Although Kirigakure does not have the strength and resources to expand as recklessly as Hiruko, the Land of Snow is isolated overseas and close to the polar regions.

If Kirigakure could secretly take control of this small country, it would greatly benefit Kirigakure's predicament.

However, the time is not yet ripe, and we should not act rashly.

Although Feng Hua Zao Xue is incompetent and often struggles to govern the country, his legitimacy is still supported by the people of the Snow Kingdom.

Only when the turmoil of nature has turned against the tide and public resentment has reached a boiling point can Wuyin intervene as a savior.

This is similar to Konoha's entry into the Land of Grass; both involve taking advantage of the chaos to intervene in the situation with a seemingly righteous stance.

Mei Terumi thought Yagura's plan was excellent and carefully laid out her strategy on the chessboard.

However, the key is not to directly reveal the purpose of the fog concealment, so we cannot be impatient for quick results.

And now... it seems that only the Land of Snow can stand up at this time and unite with other small countries to put pressure on Konoha.

Yes, it is necessary to bring in other small countries; only when a group of ants unite can they fight against an elephant.

Even her opponent, Mei Terumi, had to admit that Hiruko's strategy was superior to the ninjas' tradition of constantly wielding swords and knives, and that she knew how to use various means to achieve her goals.

The Five Shadows Conference is an excellent platform where various national powers take center stage.

Hiruko has been intentionally building and maintaining this platform, and even if he is dissatisfied, he will make the Land of Snow exert its power through this platform.

Moreover, judging from the current situation, the smaller countries do indeed dislike Hiruko and Konoha—this is a legacy of the Millet War.

...I always feel that no matter what kind of mess it is, it can eventually be traced back to the Millet War and Biluhu.

It was one thing if no one took the lead before, but now that the Land of Snow is leading the way, they will surely rise up and attack.

Killing Konoha outright is definitely out of the question; the Land of Fire wouldn't be that stupid.

But at the very least, it can put enormous pressure on Konoha, forcing Hiruko to make a move.

She observed from the sidelines, waiting to find the weakness he exposed and strike it down... that was all she could do.

We can't afford to wage a war of attrition, can we? What's the difference between that and surrendering outright?

"Even at this point, I still don't know what he wants the grass dumplings for... This is definitely not the time to start a war."

Mei Terumi felt helpless, her brows furrowed, and her eyes revealed a sense of confusion and bewilderment, but she continued to carry out the will of the Mizukage.

However, instead of going to talk to those small countries first, she went alone to the cannery of the Water Country.

Calling it a factory is not entirely accurate.

To be precise, this is a mega-scale project planned to cover millions of square meters.

At this time, the construction of this behemoth was only one-fifth complete, still in its early stages of development, but its output had already spread beyond the Land of Water to the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, generating substantial profits for Kirigakure and enriching its economy.

To keep the colossal cannery running smoothly, shipyards throughout the Land of Water were operating at full capacity, like precision machines wound up to their limits.

The bustling scene resembled a never-ending industrial carnival.

In order to acquire enough ships in a short period of time, the ship owners were like a group of adventurers eagerly searching for treasure, even going so far as to order ships from other countries.

It is foreseeable how dazzling the cannery will be when it is fully completed.

Compared to the overwhelming profits, the price Shuiying paid wasn't so excessive...

Yagura went to great lengths to build this super cannery.

He not only obtained a promise of non-interference from Biluhu, like finding a stable rock in a turbulent sea, but also forcefully suppressed the storm of opinions from the militants, enduring immense political pressure.

Chapter 281 My Own Woman's Hobbies

The pressure was like a thousand-pound burden on his shoulders, almost causing him to turn against the Daimyo of the Land of Water.

The daimyo of the Land of Water also keenly saw the benefits – right next to the Land of Water was a golden fishing ground, a treasure trove hiding countless riches.

Previously, due to the war, there was no time to develop the area. Now that the war has finally ended, everyone wants a piece of the pie.

After Kirigakure developed the cannery, even the Daimyo of the Land of Water was unable to mobilize enough resources to create a behemoth of the same level, and could only watch helplessly as Kirigakure dominated this field.

Unfortunately, Mei Terumi came here not to admire its power, but to withdraw funds.

Even if the Snow Country's Fuuka Nutō has political needs from Kirigakure, surely they can't completely withhold any material or financial support? The same applies to other small countries.

The Millet War was a devastating blow, both brutal and heavy, like an invisible giant hand that left all nations reeling and still struggling to recover.

With a complex mix of emotions, Mei Terumi knocked on the door of the cannery manager's office.

When the factory manager first saw Mei Terumi, he was very happy, his face beaming with a warm smile. He even gave her a few sea breams. Since ancient times, sea breams have been regarded as a respectable and precious gift. Those few sea breams were like a few little elves shining with light.

But when he learned of Mei Terumi's purpose, his expression changed instantly, like a sky covered by dark clouds.

"How could you do this... You can't do this... You can't..." The factory manager's voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness, like a child watching helplessly as their beloved toy was about to be taken away.

The person who could serve as the factory manager in this crucial cannery was naturally a member of the Yagura faction, like an important pawn in Yagura's hands.

If it were anything else, the factory manager would have agreed immediately.