Mei froze for a moment upon hearing his words.
However, before coming here, she had already anticipated this possibility, so she had prepared herself in advance.
She took a deep breath, and that charming smile once again appeared on her face.
She began walking toward Gento with swaying steps.
Her pace was neither fast nor slow, her slender waist gently swaying, while the curves beneath her blue dress rippled like flowing water.
Every step she took was perfectly measured, and through the slit in her skirt, glimpses of her fair, slender legs could faintly be seen.
When she arrived in front of Gento, she deliberately moved really close, so close that only half a fist's distance remained between them.
So close that the faint fragrance from her body drifted directly into his nose.
She raised her head a bit, her breath as soft as orchids, the warm air brushing against Gento's chin.
Gento lowered his gaze slightly.
From this angle, he could clearly see the scenery hidden within the opening of her collar.
Snow-white skin, full curves, and that deep cleavage.
Yet Mei appeared completely unaware of how provocative her posture was at this moment. She even tilted her head a little, exposing that side even more before his eyes.
"If Hidden Mist successfully overthrows the Fourth Mizukage, I can personally represent Hidden Mist Village in signing a military alliance agreement with Hidden Gento Village."
Her voice was lazy and pleasant, carrying deliberate traces of seduction.
"Although Hidden Mist has declined somewhat over these years, we are still one of the Five Great Nations."
"We can become Hidden Gento Village's ally."
As she spoke, she moved even closer, nearly able to feel their breaths intertwining.
Her full chest rose and fell gently with each breath, almost brushing against Gento's arm.
Her fingers lightly rested on the edge of the desk as she leaned forward, making the curve of her figure even more breathtaking.
"Additionally, I heard that you, Dear Gento, are also a noble of the Land of Hot Water. This Cerulean Harbor is your territory."
Her eyelashes trembled faintly, while her pale green eyes shimmered with flowing light, a smile lingering at the corners of her lips.
"I can promise to open Hidden Mist's ports and establish trade with Cerulean Harbor."
She blinked, lowering her voice even further with a teasing tone.
"Well? How is my sincerity?"
Mei leaned close to Gento, her breath carrying the fragrance of orchids.
Her posture, her tone, and the deliberately crafted atmosphere of ambiguity all displayed the absolute confidence she had in this negotiation.
She had originally believed these conditions would be enough to move any far-sighted shinobi leader.
A military alliance and open trade ports represented enormous sincerity for a newly rising shinobi village.
Unexpectedly, Gento merely smacked his lips dismissively.
That soft "Tch" sounded especially clear within the quiet office.
In Gento's view, Mei's promises carried absolutely no sincerity at all.
A military alliance?
In the shinobi world, agreements written on paper had always been worthless scraps.
The Land of Fire and Hidden Cloud Village had signed peace agreements before, yet weren't they still fighting to the death now?
Opening ports for trade?
How much commercial value could a village like Hidden Mist possibly possess when it was trapped in endless internal strife and national decline?
He sized up the woman before him.
Sure enough, despite being only in her early twenties, she had survived the cruel laws of the Bloody Mist Village and maneuvered among a group of ruthless Hidden Mist ninja until now. How could she possibly be as simple as she appeared on the surface?
As for the ninja from her generation, Gento had not heard of a single one of them...
Those people had either died beneath the blades of their comrades, died during the "graduation exam," or died during missions from which there was no return.
The reason Mei had survived was definitely not merely because of her own ninja talent.
Furthermore, relying only on Lava Release and Boil Release would never have been enough for a young kunoichi to gain the recognition of Hidden Mist Village's revolutionary army.
The fact that she had managed to gather such a massive group around her meant she definitely possessed even more formidable methods.
The unseen methods hidden behind her smile, the true abilities that had allowed her to survive until today.
Gento knew that Mei was not a simple kunoichi, so he slowly shook his head.
"Not enough!"
The charming smile perfectly maintained on Mei's face instantly froze.
Her eyes widened a bit in shock, and even the image she had been trying to maintain almost broke apart.
"What? Not enough?"
Her voice rose several degrees, carrying obvious surprise and disbelief.
Gento slowly nodded in confirmation.
"These things... are still not enough."
"After all, written agreements on paper carry absolutely no binding force in the shinobi world."
"The ongoing war in the Land of Fire is the best proof of that."
"Once an opportunity appears, the leaders of shinobi villages will tear up any agreement for the sake of their own interests."
"Isn't that something the Kage of the great shinobi villages do all the time?"
He stared directly into Mei's eyes.
"In my view, Hidden Mist Village's promises show no sincerity whatsoever."
Mei gave an awkward smile, subconsciously retreating half a step, while the deliberately crafted ambiguous atmosphere shattered.
Her fingers withdrew from the desk edge and unconsciously intertwined together, a trace of frustration flashing across her face.
It seemed the Gento Uchiha before her was not easy to fool.
Who exactly had told her that the Uchiha were easy to deceive?
If anyone dared tell her that again in the future, she would definitely lose her temper!
She gritted her teeth inwardly, while the smile on her face became harder and harder to maintain.
Gento stood up, walked around the desk, and moved to the window. With his back facing her, his voice remained calm.
"If Hidden Mist still wants to reap benefits without paying a price, hoping to exchange a few verbal promises for the Uchiha's assistance, then the two of you may leave."
"The Uchiha are not fools."
He turned around, his gaze landing on Mei's face. That look clearly carried the meaning of seeing guests out.
Mei bit her lip, and the deliberately maintained charming smile on her face finally disappeared, revealing the true expression of a young woman facing a powerful opponent.
There was helplessness, and there was unwillingness.
She was still too young.
Within Hidden Mist Village, she had been able to navigate effortlessly among the various factions by relying on her precise judgment of situations and her understanding of human nature.
But when facing this Uchiha clan head, who was only a few years older than herself, all her methods felt like punches landing on cotton, utterly ineffective.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her unwillingness and frustration as her voice became far more sincere.
"Then what does Clan Head Gento want?"
She handed the initiative over to him.
The deliberate charm had vanished from those pale green eyes, leaving behind only the seriousness expected from a negotiator.
Hearing this, Gento fixed his gaze upon her face, and a meaningful smile slowly appeared at the corners of his lips.
He stared directly at Mei before saying:
"I want... you!"
Mei froze for a moment, then her expression relaxed as a smile once again appeared on her face.
"I was wondering what it was."
She let out a soft laugh.
"So Clan Head Gento has taken a liking to my beauty?"
"You should've said so earlier!"
She stepped forward twice, once more shortening the distance between them, her smile now filled with delight.
"You know... I'm also very interested in Clan Head Gento myself!"
Those words were not entirely false.
From the very first time she had met this Uchiha inside that cave outside Hidden Mist Village, she had felt that he was extraordinary.
Later, when the news spread to the Land of Water that the Uchiha had repelled Hidden Cloud, captured the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and extorted two hundred million from the Raikage, she had been utterly astonished.
This man was even more powerful than she had imagined.
Now, seeing him from such close range, that sharply defined face, those deep black eyes, and even the strange, indescribable attraction emitted by the small pink gourd hanging at his waist...
Her heartbeat really did speed up just a little.
"It's just that Hidden Mist's affairs are still more important right now."
Her tone suddenly shifted, becoming somewhat elusive once more.
"After everything succeeds, if Clan Head Gento wants my body, I'll accompany you anytime. How about it?"
She moved even closer, lowering her voice into a whisper, carrying a teasing allure.
"Then, Clan Head Gento can play however he wants... anything is fine~"
---
If you want to support, please consider Patreon and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]