Maki had been hanging her head low, but now she snapped it up, glaring at Sarutobi Ryo, resentment burning in her eyes. A slight tremble ran through her.
"Don't think I'm afraid of you~!" she shouted.
Her voice was loud, but a tremor betrayed her fear.
Sarutobi Ryo simply turned to face her and walked slowly closer.
"What do you want?! This is Sunagakure territory..." Maki started, but she didn't get to finish her sentence. Sarutobi Ryo moved with lightning speed, suddenly appearing right in front of her, forcing her back against the wall.
Instinctively, Maki stumbled backward, her eyes darting around nervously. She was losing her composure.
She hit the corner of the wall with a thud, and a flush crept up her cheeks.
It was a mixture of humiliation and shame.
Sarutobi Ryo looked down at her, his powerful presence overwhelming the young girl before him.
She 's a little younger than Kakashi, he thought. And she looks a bit like Nohara Rin.
But her figure was definitely more developed than Rin's.
This was, of course, a direct result of what he had done to her during the Third Shinobi World War... and what he had continued to do after she came to Konoha.
"You've been getting more and more beautiful lately..."
Sarutobi Ryo couldn't help but sigh, almost to himself.
She was still just a girl, but her body was radiating a powerful, hormonal energy.
She had curves, a petite frame, and a delicate beauty. Feminine attraction seemed to pour from her from every angle.
The shift in her hormones, the events that had taken place, had matured her too quickly, like forcing a green fruit to ripen before its time.
Her skin was so pale and delicate it looked like it could break with a simple touch.
And her pink lips... they made a man want to take what he wanted...
"Go... go tell the Honorable Kazekage that this time, we finally get to finish what we started. I'm ready and waiting... for her challenge..." Sarutobi Ryo said, raising a hand and slowly taking Maki's chin in his fingers.
Then, he let go, turned, and walked into the bedroom.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, and Maki seemed to wake up from a trance.
Her eyes flickered, and she gritted her teeth.
She felt so ashamed of her loss of composure.
She constantly berated herself for always losing her cool whenever she was around this man.
But it was all because of what he had done to her...
He dared to be so bold, even in Sunagakure territory...
Maki trembled with anger. Finally, she glared fiercely at the closed door before turning and hurrying away.
The unresolved grudges from last time?
At this moment, all she could think about was the battle between her Benefactor and Teacher, the Fourth Kazekage Pakura, and Sarutobi Ryo during the Third Shinobi World War.
Konoha's propaganda claimed that Sarutobi Ryo had fought fiercely with Pakura of the Scorch Release, ultimately repelling her.
But Maki refused to believe that her Teacher could have lost to him. And what he'd just said confirmed her suspicions.
"Hmph... I will definitely make Teacher give him a good lesson!"
----
Dusk turned into night quickly.
Kakashi and Guy, who were supposed to return, had been drawn in by Sunagakure's unique nightlife.
In Konoha, there was a strict curfew at 9 o'clock.
But here, it seemed like you could party all night without a problem.
The two young men, wandering through the bustling city, had more than enough energy to explore.
Sarutobi Ryo, who was meditating in the bedroom, was interrupted by a rude knock on the door.
He glanced at the clock. It was already 6 p.m.
Is she here with my dinner?
Sarutobi Ryo got up and opened the door.
In the hallway stood Maki, holding a plate and looking annoyed.
"Guest from Konoha, your dinner has arrived..."
Maki placed the plate on the table in the living room.
She'd seen Guy and Kakashi leave and not return, so she had only prepared food for Sarutobi Ryo.
After putting the plate down, she said, "After you finish eating, the Honorable Kazekage will personally meet you at 7 o'clock tonight..."
Meaning, you have one hour to eat and prepare.
Seeing the plentiful meal, Sarutobi Ryo understood.
She wants me to gorge myself, so she can beat the food right out of me.
Sarutobi Ryo appreciated the thought.
"Have you had dinner yet?" Sarutobi Ryo asked Maki.
Maki was caught off guard by the question.
I'll go back and eat.
She was just about to say she was going back to eat when Sarutobi Ryo said, "Since you haven't eaten, let's eat together..."
Sarutobi Ryo stared intensely at her cherry-like lips, his gaze burning.
A series of chaotic footsteps suddenly sounded.
After the commotion, Maki was kneeling on the floor, tears in her eyes, glaring fiercely at Sarutobi Ryo, and starting to enjoy the delicious food under the table.
Sarutobi Ryo sat in the chair, with a sumptuous plate of food in front of him.
He slowly tasted the food.
Maki was busy under the table.
"As an appetizer... it's not bad..."
Sarutobi Ryo stared at the food in front of him, his gaze full of hidden meaning.
The real main course will be staged later...
Maki: "Ugh~!"
----
7:50 p.m....
The Kazekage's temporary office.
Pakura would stay here for the next few days until the negotiations were completely finished.
She stared at the clock, her expression tense.
Her subordinate... Baki, who was about the same age as Kakashi, and the Jonin who led Gaara in the original story... said, "Honorable Kazekage, is there anything you're worried about?"
Baki noticed that the Honorable Kazekage seemed nervous, but he had no idea why.
"It's nothing..."
Pakura looked at the Traveling Hat placed on the table and regained her composure.
"Later... I have a guest to see..."
A guest?
Baki immediately thought of the ninjas from Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.
Could it be that she's meeting with one or more of them in secret?
Pakura stared at the clock, watching the seconds tick by.
The resentment in her heart grew stronger and stronger.
Last time... what that guy did to her was a lifelong shame!
Every night, it haunts her, making her relive those moments, tossing and turning in bed!
How hateful!
Now, this guy has come to her door, and she finally has a chance to get revenge. It's perfect...
And this time, she will definitely humiliate him severely, making him completely lose face!
Pakura's expression changed with her shifting emotions, leaving Maki completely confused.
And when the time reached 8 o'clock...
There was a knock at the door.
Baki opened it, and saw Sarutobi Ryo standing there.
"Where's Maki? " Pakura thought subconsciously. Where is her Disciple?
She had no idea that her Disciple had eaten too much and was feeling a little unwell.
"Honorable Kazekage, I'm here..."
Sarutobi Ryo's attitude was respectful on the surface, but the contempt in his eyes was clear.
His look seemed to reference the events of the past.
"Honorable Kazekage, I wonder if the sparring location has been prepared in advance?"
*
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 272 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
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]