Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

Mei Terumi nodded silently.

She knew in her heart, of course, that Yagura was absolutely right.

Once Kirigakure's economy improves, she can naturally train more powerful ninjas, and the ninjas will naturally respect her more.

Many problems that were originally unsolvable will eventually be solved with the power of money.

But this feeling of frustration is just too much...

When Hiruko did it, everything seemed effortless and easy, until Terumi Mei took the plunge herself and realized the difficulties involved.

Mei Terumi couldn't help but recall the first time she learned to throw ninja tools from her senior when she was a child.

Watching her senior do it, it looked really simple, but when it was her turn... well, that senior almost died back then.

Yagura knew how Terumi Mei felt, but given the current situation, there really wasn't much of a solution.

Hiruko's ability to make money is truly unparalleled.

He always manages to find things that can make money with ease, and these things often have a sophisticated technical system behind them—something that others can't even understand the principles of, let alone learn.

This is something that no one else can learn.

—In fact, the elders can only slam doors now, rather than take more radical action, precisely because of the match factory that Hiruko gave them.

This thing has already started making money, and with money, many things can be discussed...

Yagura took out a small carp-shaped ornament and placed it on Mei Terumi's table.

"This is it."

"The latest type of lie detector."

"polygraph."

"Yes, it's the latest type of lie detector. You're young, and I'm not always around... This should be able to help you a little."

In ninjutsu, there are actually techniques to detect whether someone is telling the truth or lying—there are even peculiar ninjutsu that seal away another person's ability to speak, preventing them from saying certain things.

However, skilled ninjas are very sensitive to chakra fluctuations, while mechanical devices are far beyond the comprehension of these guys who have an average elementary school education...

"This product has just been developed and is not yet available on the market."

It might make mistakes with complex sentences, but with short sentences... just avoid making the respondent use long and complicated sentences.

"If it lies, one of its eyes will light up red; otherwise, it will light up green."

Knowing that Mei Terumi might have difficulty understanding at first, Yagura decided to explain it to her own experience.

"My favorite food is rice crackers."

The red light came on.

Mei Terumi looked at Yagura with a puzzled expression.

"Ah... as you can see, I'm lying."

Yagura looked distressed and depressed. "I hate myself so much... I hate my own incompetence."

What infuriates me most is that even though I know where the problem lies, I still can't do anything about it.

"I have to pretend I don't know what disgusting things some people are thinking. I have to smile at them all day long. I don't even dare to reveal any of my true thoughts."

All I can do is... eat rice crackers.

"If I don't find something to do, I'm really afraid I won't be able to control myself."

So that's what Yagura was thinking?

"So... you really dislike that guy Hiruko that much?"

"No, only in front of that bastard, I don't need to pretend... Watching that guy suppress his anger and argue with people every day actually makes me feel a lot better."

...As expected, there isn't a single normal person who can be friends with that scumbag Hiruko!

Mei Terumi didn't want to deal with this jerk anymore.

She lowered her head and, with Yagura's help, began to study the documents at hand.

Both were temporary rulers facing internal and external troubles, but Mei Terumi and Hiruko dealt with them in completely different ways.

Hiruko floored the accelerator, quickly stunning the Third Hokage, and sped off with Konoha in tow.

As for her... she can only do it little by little...

"If only that guy, Hiruko, wasn't in such a hurry to go back... If only he could handle these problems."

"How could he possibly stay? He's the Hokage."

He's already done so much for us; it's already very kind of him.

And there are some things that he should never know.

"Can't I even tell my husband?"

Mei Terumi glared fiercely at Yagura.

"I am the Water Shadow first, and then a woman!"

“Sigh.” Yagura was in great pain. “Both of you are workaholics, you can’t last like this… Why can’t one of you be love-struck… Hiruko… She was clearly in the stage where she was most vulnerable to being won over, he knew that, but he still ran away, not even staying for a second longer… Are you really stupid, or are you just pretending?”

Yagura was ranting about his beloved friends and family when, at that moment, a very familiar voice came from outside the door.

"Hey, what do you mean by being in the easiest stage to conquer... Do you want to see me get hacked to pieces?"

Under the stunned gazes of the two Mizukage, Hiruko, who was supposed to leave, actually returned.

"You...didn't return to Konoha."

Mei Terumi was a little happy, but she quickly suppressed her emotions.

"Ah, I didn't go back... because I left something here."

With that, Hiruko sat down in the guest seat.

"However, it seems you're still in trouble? Do you need my help again?"

Mei Terumi glanced discreetly at the lie detector pointing at her.

Red.

***

With the help of Namikaze, Konan began writing short essays about Hiruko.

Anyone with a modicum of rationality knows that Hiruko was not that kind of person.

This guy is indeed a harem man, but Mei Terumi is actually not within his protection range—so far, he has never been involved in any scandals with women his own age.

Although many girls of marriageable age wish they could have something happen with him.

But... who cares about the truth?

Wise people don't fall in love; they only stew goose in an iron pot.

As long as everyone thinks he should do it, that's fine.

This kind of thing is something everyone enjoys seeing, and it's absolutely unstoppable.

For a public figure like Hiruko, such private criticism is often fatal—as a Kage, he cannot do anything with the Kage of other major ninja villages.

The short essay was finished very quickly.

However, Namikaze still seemed somewhat dissatisfied.

"This essay is very well written, but Beiruhu will definitely deny it. He might even come up with a ridiculous story about blowing up another country's capital to manipulate public opinion again... Fortunately, we have television now."

"As we all know, videos cannot be photoshopped, so once they are captured by a camera, there's nothing he can do."

What Bofeng said seems to make a lot of sense.

However, Xiao Nan has a question.

"Let's not even talk about whether that guy, Hiruko, actually knows it or not."

"Even if he really has something going on with Mei Terumi, it would be very difficult for us to have a chance to film it."

Unbeknownst to them, their good junior brother Hiruko had grown into a powerful figure who could rival Nagato.

Moreover, unlike Nagato, who was gradually weakening, Hiruko's body remained in excellent condition, and her five senses were also very sharp.

He's still getting stronger; he shows no sign of reaching his peak.

As a research ninja who spends most of his time in the laboratory, his perception of his surroundings has long surpassed that of an ordinary ninja—no matter how small the chakra fluctuations or any hidden mechanical devices, they cannot escape his eyes, which have been honed by countless experiments.

It would be virtually impossible to take a picture of him secretly.

Namikaze: "We can use the transformation technique."

You play Mei Terumi, and I'll play Hiruko.

Xiao Nan felt that something was wrong.

But what Namikaze said made perfect sense...

"Then... let's begin."

……

As Namikaze and Konan began fabricating charges, Hiruko sat opposite Mei Terumi, meeting the questioning gaze of the beautiful girl in black silk shrouds.

The cooperation between the two sides was tacit and within a range that was acceptable to both.

Mei Terumi wants to make Kirigakure stronger, while Hiruko wants to bring Kirigakure to her side.

On this basis, both sides can discuss anything.

He could even get her to help him have a baby.

...Although not now.

But Hiruko left and then suddenly returned, which really aroused suspicion.

Given someone's criminal record, Mei Terumi would certainly have some doubts.

...If he had a choice, Hiruko wouldn't want to come back directly, but damn it...

That might be the Tenseigan!