Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

"Sorry!" Hiruko quickly stood up, pretending to be flustered as she helped wipe the water stains on the table, but actually took the opportunity to gently touch Terumi Mei's wrist.

In that instant, the miniature collector hidden in his sleeve had silently obtained a cell sample from the surface of her skin.

Mei Terumi frowned slightly, but quickly regained her professional smile and said softly, "It's alright, I'll just get another one."

Tsunade keenly sensed something was amiss and asked in a low voice, "Are you alright?"

"It's just that my hands are shaking a little from the journey," Hiruko smiled and sat down again with a normal expression.

Thinking of yesterday's battle, Tsunade blushed and didn't say much.

Halfway through the negotiations, Hiruko made a crucial request: "To ensure the safety of the factory, we hope that the Mizukage will allow us to set up some defensive barriers around the factory."

"Of course, in exchange, Konoha is willing to share some of its barrier technology."

Yagura and Mei Terumi exchanged a glance and asked, "What kind of barrier is it exactly?"

"It's mainly about perception and early warning." Hiruko took out a drawing from the scroll and slowly unfurled it.

"This is a new type of barrier that we have carefully designed, which can accurately identify specific chakra fluctuations."

Tsunade glanced at him in surprise. She had never seen the blueprints before; they were clearly prepared in secret by Hiruko.

Mei Terumi leaned closer to examine the blueprints, her long, reddish-brown hair cascading down her back.

Hiruko pretended to help her lift her hair, and another strand of hair quietly fell into his palm, which he quickly hid.

"An interesting design," Yagura said thoughtfully, studying the blueprints.

"However, we need to test its effectiveness first."

“Of course,” Hiruko replied with a smile.

“If Lord Mizukage doesn’t mind, we can demonstrate it on the spot. I’ve heard that Kirigakure has the power of the Three-Tails, so it can be a perfect test subject.”

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became subtle.

Mei Terumi's eyes instantly turned wary, and she said coldly, "The Three-Tails is an important strategic force for the village, and is by no means an experimental subject."

“I completely understand.” Hiruko quickly raised his hands to show that he meant no harm.

"It's just a suggestion. If it's inconvenient, we can test it in other ways."

After a moment's thought, Yagura finally said, "Showing some of our power is fine. It'll be a good opportunity for Konoha's envoy to witness the strength of Kirigakure."

He stood up and gestured for me to follow him.

Tsunade tugged at Hiruko's sleeve and whispered, "This wasn't part of our plan."

“This is a rare opportunity,” Hiruko replied softly, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Understanding the strength of our allies is also beneficial to us."

They followed Yagura to a lake outside the village.

Yagura formed several hand seals, and his body quickly changed.

Then it transformed into a giant turtle-shaped creature that slowly emerged, its three tails slapping the water's surface, creating huge waves with astonishing force.

“This is the Three-Tailed Isobu…” Hiruko’s eyes gleamed with an unusual light, as if he had seen some treasure.

He quietly activated the chakra collector hidden in his sleeve. The device began to operate silently, collecting all the chakra fluctuations emitted by the Three-Tails.

The Three-Tails let out a low growl, and ripples of chakra spread through the air.

Hiruko felt the collector getting slightly warm—he had succeeded; he had collected enough data.

"enough."

Yagura then transformed back into his original form, and the lake gradually returned to calm.

On the way back, Tsunade remained silent.

Only after returning to her assigned accommodation did she close the door and demand, "What exactly are you planning? I've never seen those blueprints before, and what's with your unusual interest in the Three-Tailed Beast..."

Hiruko gave a reassuring smile and said softly, "It's all for Konoha."

The new barrier can help us monitor the movements of the Land of Water, and understanding the characteristics of the Three-Tails can protect the village when necessary.

As you know, I've always put the village's interests first.

Tsunade stared intently into Hiruko's eyes, as if trying to discern the truth in his words through this window to his soul: "I hope so."

“I don’t like being kept in the dark, especially about important things.”

"I assure you!" Hiruko said earnestly, placing his hand on his chest to show his determination.

"Once I return to Konoha, I will immediately report everything to Minato in detail, without hiding anything."

"Humph!"

In the stillness of the night, when all was quiet, Hiruko carefully examined the day's harvest alone in his room.

He carefully placed the hair and skin samples he had obtained from Mei Terumi into a special preservation solution to ensure they would not deteriorate.

Then he took out the chakra collector, which contained a wisp of blue energy—the chakra of the Three-Tails, Isobu.

“Perfect progress,” he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps outside the door broke the silence of the night.

Hiruko quickly put away all the evidence and pretended to be reading documents to avoid suspicion.

"Lord Hiruko?" It was Terumi Mei's voice, gentle and with a hint of concern.

"Lord Mizukage sent me to ask if you need anything else?"

Hiruko opened the door, and Terumi Mei stood in the corridor. Moonlight shone through the window and fell on her, giving her a silvery edge and making her look extraordinary.

“You’re too kind,” he replied with a smile.

"Actually, I have some technical details I'd like to ask you about."

"Regarding the extraction methods for special medicinal materials from the Land of Water..."

A hint of doubt flashed in Mei Terumi's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and nodded, saying, "If it doesn't take long, I can answer your question."

Hiruko stepped aside to let her into the room, and as the door closed gently, a barely perceptible red light flashed in his eyes.

The prey has delivered itself to our doorstep.

"Miss Terumi Mei, look at how you received guests today."

"It seems you haven't fully entered the power center of Kirigakure yet," Hiruko suddenly changed the subject, her tone laced with provocation.

Mei Terumi paused for a moment, then smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling into crescents, looking completely harmless: "I don't understand what you're talking about."

Hiruko knew that Mei Terumi was the only ninja in Kirigakure who could injure Yagura, and might even kill him.

Even though Hiruko considered himself very strong, he dared not be careless in the slightest when facing Mei Terumi, who was able to fight Madara Uchiha without being at a disadvantage.

As a ninja who is proficient in bloodline limits, Mei Terumi's strength has been greatly underestimated by many people.

Her two bloodline limits—Boiling Release and Melting Release—provide her with considerable advantages.

However, Mei Terumi also has a drawback: she is too young and inexperienced.

Compared to veteran ninjas like Tsunade and Onoki, she still has a long way to go in terms of mindset and experience.

This point may be revealed through a protracted struggle.

So Hiruko decided to use a little trick to make Terumi Mei reveal a weakness.

Simply put...

“Your abilities do not match your status; you have hidden your true strength!” Hiruko continued.

This can also be seen from the original work.

When Obito ruled Kirigakure, he persecuted many families with bloodline limits, but Mei Terumi was able to escape unscathed, which shows that she was well protected.

They are also good at hiding their bloodline limits.

Keeping a low profile is something many people do.

"Your ambitions go far beyond this, don't they?"

Mei Terumi's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to normal: "I don't understand what you're talking about."

Hiruko chuckled softly, as if he had already seen through everything: "Your ambition, your resentment, are written in your eyes."

"I have no doubt that you will be the next Mizukage."

"But before that, you need to prove yourself, don't you?"

He turned around and looked intently at the girl who was much younger than in the original story.

She is about the same age as Kakashi, and has grown into a very beautiful woman with a hot figure and a mature, sophisticated aura.

However, compared to older ninjas like Hiruko, she could only be considered a young girl.

Of course, compared to Rin Nohara, Mei Terumi's development was quite explosive.

But at this moment, there was no impure thought in Hiruko's eyes, only calculation.

Hiruko's lips curled into a confident smile, his tone carrying an undeniable authority: "In Konoha, my influence is virtually unmatched."

“Apart from Minato Namikaze, but he and I have always been of one mind and he will fully support my decision.”

"Therefore, I also have considerable influence to interfere in the selection of the next Mizukage."

He began to make grand promises to Mei Terumi, and although he did not directly threaten her, his words implied that if she did not cooperate with him, she might face considerable pressure.

He promised that even without directly supporting Mei Terumi's rise to power, he could leverage his own strength and influence to bring new development opportunities to Kirigakure, thereby indirectly helping to elevate Mei Terumi's status.

Of course, Mei Terumi was not a fool, and she would not completely submit to Hiruko based on just a few words. She preferred to strive for her own future through her own efforts.

Mei Terumi stared intently at Hiruko, her eyes revealing a hint of wariness.

After all, who could know what Hiruko's true intentions were when he suddenly extended an olive branch and tried to win her over?

It is now Konoha Year 51, and Mei Terumi is only 18 years old, in the prime of her youth, with a bright future ahead.

Hiruko said with a half-smile, "No matter how hard you try, you may not be a match for Yagura."

"As a perfect Jinchūriki, Yagura is able to perfectly unleash his own power and that of the Three-Tails Isobu, and his strength is still constantly improving."

"You, a ninja who excels in ninjutsu, have very little chance of winning against a tank-type Yagura."