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Chapter 40: You Lost — Time to Honor Your Promise!
Taking advantage of the moment Terumī Mei's attention was drawn to Konan in the sky, Oborotsuki instantly activated Flying Thunder God Technique.
He hurled three kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God formula toward Terumī Mei.
"Admitting to colluding with outsiders now? Heh…"
"Planning to kill me to silence me?"
Terumī Mei remained expressionless. She easily dodged the three kunai as they brushed past her.
The next instant, Oborotsuki appeared behind her like a phantom.
"…?!"
Terumī Mei's expression slightly changed. She whipped around—but it was already too late.
Oborotsuki's hand landed on her shoulder. He flashed her a meaningful smile while his other hand held the Decapitation Greatsword, its razor-sharp blade pressed against her throat.
"You lost."
"You…"
"I think the honorable assistant to the Mizukage wouldn't go back on her word, right?"
Oborotsuki didn't give Terumī Mei a chance to speak before teasing her again.
Terumī Mei's expression stiffened. Remembering the angry words she had spoken earlier, she was momentarily speechless.
"Hōzuki Oborotsuki—this round doesn't count!"
"You had help!"
Terumī Mei huffed angrily, turning her head with an obvious intention to renege.
At that moment, Konan descended from the sky with a dark expression and landed in front of Terumī Mei:
"This woman is Kirigakure's Mizukage assistant. Since she wanted to arrest you, let me kill her here."
Konan stepped forward, ready to act.
"You—!"
Terumī Mei's face changed drastically. She stared at Konan in shock.
"Wait, Konan—let me handle this."
Oborotsuki quickly stopped her.
Seeing his action, Konan gave him a deep look, her face full of reluctance, but she said nothing more and silently stepped aside.
"Looks like your little lover is jealous."
Terumī Mei, ever quick-witted, immediately tried to sow discord.
Now that she was restrained and couldn't fight back, if she could make Oborotsuki and his "lover" turn against each other, she might still have a chance to escape.
But her little scheme was seen through instantly.
Before she could finish, Oborotsuki ruthlessly cut her off:
"Trying to drive a wedge between me and Konan? You really underestimate us."
"Enough talk. You lost—be a good girl and honor what you said earlier. Come home with me and be my concubine!"
Oborotsuki grinned wickedly.
He raised his hand and released Water Release.
Three streams of water coiled around Terumī Mei like ropes, binding her tightly.
Without waiting for her reaction, he hoisted her over his shoulder.
"Hey!! You—Hōzuki Oborotsuki, what are you doing?! Put me down!"
Terumī Mei panicked instantly.
She had only said those words in anger as a joke—this guy was actually serious?!
"She's only eighteen. You're really taking her home as a wife?"
Konan walked over with a dark face, asking in a low, muffled voice.
"As a concubine."
"Why not? She's already an adult."
Oborotsuki replied with righteous confidence and a laugh.
Hearing this, Konan lowered her head slightly and looked away. When she turned, a trace of small disappointment and sadness flickered in her eyes.
Oborotsuki immediately noticed her expression. He quickly dropped the smile and comforted her:
"I'm just kidding. This big sister isn't my type. I'm not interested in her at all."
"We're just taking her back as a hostage so Kirigakure's people stop bothering us endlessly."
"If you don't like it, once we're done using her, we can just toss her into the lake behind the mountain to feed the fish."
He was obviously joking on purpose.
But after hearing it, Konan actually felt a little better. She gave a half-annoyed, half-amused smile.
Terumī Mei, however, exploded upon hearing this:
"Hōzuki Oborotsuki—what did you just say?! You dare—!!"
A terrifying burst of chakra erupted from her body. In an instant, she broke free from Oborotsuki's Water Release bindings.
Then she launched a fierce kick toward him.
Splash!
It was like kicking into water—completely ineffective. Oborotsuki used Hydrification to effortlessly evade the attack.
But Terumī Mei reacted extremely quickly. She immediately retreated, putting distance between herself, Oborotsuki, and Konan.
"You bastard!"
"What you said earlier—was it true?"
Terumī Mei was both furious and flustered, her face flushed with shame and anger.
She—Kirigakure's number-one beauty—had been called "big sister" by this brat, and now he was saying he had zero interest in her?
Did she, a great beauty, have no dignity at all?!
How infuriating!
"What? You can joke around, but I can't tease you a little?"
A calm voice suddenly came from behind her, startling Terumī Mei so badly her body trembled. Her pupils shrank sharply in disbelief.
"W-when…?"
She turned around in shock—only to see Oborotsuki standing right behind her.
She hadn't even seen how he appeared!
While Terumī Mei was still reeling in disbelief, Oborotsuki suddenly flashed a playful, wicked smile:
"You're my concubine now—don't forget that."
"You said it yourself: if I could defeat you, you'd marry me."
"You… shameless!"
Terumī Mei was so angry she had no comeback.
In all her life, she had never met anyone this shameless.
Yet strangely, even though she was being teased, a tiny part deep inside her felt… a little pleased?
She secretly glanced again at this tall, handsome young man with pale blue long hair, a roguish smile, and a carefree, devil-may-care attitude.
"Hmph. I was only joking earlier, Hōzuki Oborotsuki. If you want me to marry you, you have to agree to return to Kirigakure…"
Terumī Mei quickly relaxed once she realized Oborotsuki harbored no real hostility toward her.
"And even if I were to marry you—why should I be the concubine?"
She blinked and glanced toward Konan in the distance.
"You want to be the main wife? Then it depends on your ability…"
Oborotsuki shook his head with a wicked grin.
"In your dreams! Who said anything about marrying you?"
"Enough nonsense. If you insist on refusing to return to Kirigakure, the village won't let you off."
"You should understand that very well…"
"Let them try."
Oborotsuki's smile vanished. His eyes and expression turned terrifying.
Seeing this look, Terumī Mei was genuinely frightened. The words on the tip of her tongue died away.
"We live peacefully in the Hōzuki clan grounds and have no desire to cause trouble. But if anyone disturbs our quiet life—consequences be damned!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying wave of chakra poured out.
Like a violent storm, water sprayed into the air as though a torrential downpour had begun. Terumī Mei's clothes were instantly plastered tightly against her body, looking as though they might tear off at any second.
She paled in fright and hurriedly protected herself.
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