Chapter 525: Tiger Takes A Nap
Chapter 525: Tiger Takes A Nap
Within the splendid and glorious palace, built at the request of 'that person,' was a swimming pool.
At this time, a figure was swimming inside, as agile as a fish.
When he seemed to have had his fill of swimming and surfaced, his handsome yet resilient face shed some water droplets.
This person was the gradually forgotten Fifth Hokage, the universally recognized leader of the rogue ninjas, Aoba!
As he walked up under the bright sunshine, revealing his irresistibly lickable perfect physique, a pretty figure inadvertently blushed and swallowed twice before actively jogging over to drape him in a towel and then offering the freshly chilled juice.
"Hmm, it tastes good, but isn't it too sweet?"
He looked at the red-haired, bespectacled girl who had grown quite a bit taller in front of him, feeling a bit nostalgic about her maturing, but then he couldn't help teasing her:
"Haven't I told you that this swimsuit isn't suitable for your age yet? You can't fill it out."
Karin, who was now 12 or 13, though she had developed a bit, was still far from her dramatic transformation at eighteen.
Aoba needed to understand why she was particularly fond of these swimsuits.Karin immediately puffed up her cheeks in anger and then, in someone's shadow, reluctantly squeezed them together again to no avail, her mind recalling the undisciplined women she saw at the beach that day.
Size isn't everything!
Someday she, too, will grow up!
And she would no longer believe the lies men told; they claimed to like 'cute,' but at the beach, they didn't spare her a glance, their eyes constantly darting towards those bikini-clad beauties, as if she hadn't noticed!
Damn it!
She wouldn't admit defeat so readily!
After letting go angrily, seeing Aoba lying on the beach chair, Karin only hesitated for a brief 0.1 microseconds before jogging over, climbing onto the next chair, and sweetly peeling grapes for someone.
She was also keen on feeding him by hand, making it impossible for Aoba to feel useless.
Karin's face would inexplicably redden every time she fed him, and then she'd enthusiastically prepare for the next round.
No one knew what strange images were being conjured in her head.
Just as Karin indulged in a blissful fantasy, enjoying their 'world for two' in peace, a small Tiger tank charged in.
"Lord Aoba, I, Ranmaru Moho, request an audience outside."
Karin glared unhappily before Aoba could say anything, probably annoyed that Ranmaru was spoiling her excellent moment.
Yes, the one driving the Tiger tank was Ranmaru.
Even Aoba, who had handed over all of Scorpion's collection to him, did not expect Ranmaru's talent in puppetry to be so high.
And perhaps because of his physical frailty, Ranmaru's dedication to perfecting his puppetry was extraordinary!
Talent + effort + a bit of luck or assistance from a benefactor = success!
This is an unchanging rule throughout the ages!
So, more than three years on, not only had Karin grown more robust, but so had Ranmaru, who was fully immersed in the art of puppetry!
The small Tiger tank in front of them was created by Ranmaru himself, based on Aoba's memories, and was a puppet that combined attack and defense capabilities.
Its ability to traverse all sorts of terrain gave Ranmaru the freedom he desired and embodied that phrase by Mundo, "Go anywhere you want to."
"Have him wait in the tea room for me; I'll change."
Based on Aoba's understanding of him, he would not bother coming if it were a trifling matter. To put it another way, he was probably scared of him, constantly feeling uneasy during their meetings.
So, it must be some uncertain matter that brought him here.
"Yes, Lord Aoba."
The rumbling of the small Tiger tank faded as it drove off, and Karin put down the grapes in her hands, humming unhappily.
When they first met, Aoba looked helplessly and petted Kōrin's hair, which felt nice and utterly different from her dry, straw-like hair. "Alright, you're grown up now. No need to be so clingy. Don't forget your training this afternoon; I'll come by to check on you later."
As soon as she heard that training was still on, Kōrin, showing a shy but enjoyable expression, immediately frowned in disappointment. "Didn't you say we could take a break today? Why do we still have to train?"
"Yes, you've already had a relaxing morning. What more do you want? Hurry up and change your clothes for the training, or else the amount of training will double tomorrow. Consider this well."
With that, Aoba left to take a shower and change clothes.
Kōrin showed a resentful expression towards Ranmaru and Naoki for ruining her plans.
But then she soon became disheartened and got ready to change into her training clothes. She would suggest canceling training if 'heaven' had a place for complaints.
....................
As Naoki drank his third cup of tea in the tea room, the person he was waiting for finally arrived, albeit late.
However, he dared not show dissatisfaction and stood respectfully to greet them.
"Alright, there's no need for formalities between us. What brings you here this time?"
After sitting back down, Naoki felt somewhat uncomfortable and shifted his body, thinking, "If our relationship is that good, then why don't you transfer that deadpan Zabuza away? What's the meaning of him staring at me all day?"
Of course, he only dared to say this in his heart. He never dared to bring it up because Zabuza might leave if he's escorted out first!
"This is the situation. Recently, those guys have started to act up again. After I chopped off the claws, they stretched out before, now preparing to flip the table."
Naoki directly explained the recent events to the other person.
Don't look at how well-developed the Land of Waves is now; it couldn't be separated from the suggestions given by this elder. However, in Naoki's view, this elder's methods were much harsher than his.
When it's time to act, there's absolutely no hesitation!
Sure enough, after he finished explaining, the elder immediately scoffed twice.
"The effect of establishing authority last time could have been better. After enjoying good days for so long, they've forgotten the fear in their hearts."
"It's time to let those people know who calls the shots in this country."
"Go, make it clean. Then stop all transportation for ten days and consider it a warning to others. You know the reason; I don't need to spell it out for you."
Naoki immediately smirked, nodded, and left.
All transportation stopped for ten days?
Stopping for a day would already cause heavy losses for all the merchants and ten days.
They might as well wait for bankruptcy!
A tiger not showing its might is not dead. He was just napping.