Chapter 52: 50: The Question of Offense or Defense
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"Um... what are you doing, Ruri? Is something wrong?" Shiraishi asked, noticing Ruri's silent presence behind him and wearing a relieved smile.
Speaking of which... even standing silently behind him, Shiraishi sensed that Ruri's strength had significantly increased. The Uchiha bloodline truly was formidable, and Ruri, who effortlessly controlled its power, was even more formidable.
Ruri didn't remove the kunai from Shiraishi's throat. Her voice came close to his ear, resonating in the dimly lit laboratory. "You haven't been hiding anything from me, have you?"
"Eh? Why do you say that?" Shiraishi was momentarily taken aback, scratching his head in confusion. He appeared genuinely puzzled by Ruri's statement.
"Your behavior today was a bit strange. Usually, when you go out to buy something, you just leave without saying a word. But today, you came to say goodbye before leaving. So, I've been wondering if you're hiding something from me."
Ruri's expression remained casual, her eyes as piercing as ever, giving the impression that nothing could be concealed from them.
"Uh... Ruri, when did you develop a sense of humor? It was just a spontaneous gesture," Shiraishi replied, trying to convince himself as well.
"Just a spontaneous gesture that happens once every few years? That's quite coincidental. So, I've been thinking, are you secretly meeting someone behind my back?"
"You've misunderstood me. You should know the nature of my relationships, right?"
"Yes, but precisely because of that, something feels off. I have a strange sensation that someone else's scent is on you, and it's a woman's scent" Ruri said, even taking a few sniffs at Shiraishi's shoulder.
"You don't have the Inuzuka clan's sense of smell! Your surname is Uchiha!" Shiraishi couldn't help but complain internally.
Just as Shiraishi was about to respond, Ruri removed the kunai from his neck, and her tone was no longer as cold as before. "But forget it, whoever you meet is none of my business, is it? I'm not yours."
As Ruri spoke, a faint smile formed at the corner of her mouth, intensifying Shiraishi's sense of unease.
Normally, Ruri wasn't one to make jokes.
"Well, you're overthinking it."
"You really didn't meet someone secretly?"
Despite claiming not to care, it was evident that Ruri was deeply concerned. His eyes grew darker, and a hint of murderous intent began to emanate from him.
"Of course not. Don't you know who I am? I never lie," Shiraishi responded, looking directly into Ruri's eyes with utmost sincerity.
"Then how do you explain this photo?"
Ruri presented a photograph that captured Shiraishi and Ayane together. The photo was taken right in front of Shiraishi's former residence as they were about to enter together.
"..." Shiraishi found himself tongue-tied, unable to explain clearly, his mind thrown into a state of panic, freezing his thoughts.
"You were too careless, really. You were caught so easily by me. If it were someone else, your secret would have been exposed long ago. At that time, you wouldn't have received mere interrogation, but a severe punishment from my clan in the mountains."
Ruri sighed, her disappointment evident.
Huh? No scolding, no reprimanding, and no anger? This didn't seem right!
"Then, this... what does it mean?" Shiraishi asked, his expression one of utter confusion.
"Though you have many merits, you are still naive in several other ways. You don't fully grasp the importance of Sage Mode. Two or three years ago, while you were conducting your research on Sage Mode, I had my parents prepare 200 wild cats of various breeds, smuggling them into Konoha through official channels to act as my spies."
Since they were ordinary cats, not ninja cats, and there were plenty of stray and domestic cats in Konoha, even the ANBU hadn't detected anything amiss.
After all, these cats were brought into Konoha in batches over several months through regular channels. Moreover, they roamed in areas far from Konoha's core, behaving like ordinary cats. Even if they transmitted information, it was done publicly, without raising any suspicions.
"..."
Shiraishi remained frozen in place.
Observing Shiraishi's almost petrified state, Ruri smiled with satisfaction.
"But in the process, I accidentally discovered some of your little secrets. Did you think I wouldn't find out about your research on the Hyuga clan's Caged Bird?" Ruri wasn't sure about the exact details of what Shiraishi and Ayane had discussed, but she could infer some information from the situation.
"Ah, well... I'm a bit confused at the moment... So, you already knew?" Shiraishi replied, his mind in disarray.
"About a year ago, it was a little careless, but you and Ayane found ways to contact each other. Unless one pays close attention, it wouldn't be easy to detect. It was just a short meeting between friends. In an era of frequent wars, Anbu has limited manpower and no time to focus on you."
Anbu typically operates with a staff of sixty to seventy members. One unit is assigned secret missions abroad or gathers crucial intelligence.
Another unit remains in the Land of Fire to prevent enemy sabotage and report for additional support if needed. The remaining two units patrol the village and monitor dangerous ninjas with evident anti-Konoha sentiments or enemy spies.
However, Shiraishi's combat record was mediocre, his performance in the Will of Fire exam was excellent, and he showed no signs of being anti-Konoha. Therefore, there was no reason or motivation to put him under surveillance.
Regarding his close association with the Uchiha clan, Konoha didn't pay much attention to it. Although few civilian ninjas had a good relationship with the Uchiha, there were still dozens or even hundreds of individuals who maintained a positive rapport with them, including jonin and chunin.
After all, the Uchiha were part of the village, and some ninjas held no particular prejudice against them. Instead, they believed that the powerful Uchiha made trustworthy companions on the battlefield, enhancing the team's overall effectiveness. Over time, relationships naturally formed.
As a precautionary measure, Ruri had placed 200 cats in Konoha to act as her own spies, cutting off any potential risks and ensuring Shiraishi's safety. When it came to immortality, Ruri couldn't afford to be as careless as Shiraishi.
Although Shiraishi believed he had concealed himself well, he now realized that Ruri deserved the credit for that.
Should he call her a genius from a prominent ninja family?
She flawlessly executed the main plan and implemented effective measures to handle unforeseen circumstances, ensuring there were no leaks.
He could anticipate future situations in the ninja world based on his knowledge, as well as from a historical and political perspective, but there would inevitably be some deviations in the details.
"Huh..." Ruri exhaled, feeling a sense of relief without understanding why.
Shiraishi sighed, smiling wryly. "I really can't hide anything from you. You've always been perceptive since you were a child."
"Years of experience have made you complacent, and you haven't made any progress at all. Remember to be more cautious next time. Now, let's go out for dinner."
Ruri stored the kunai in her ninja bag and walked ahead.
"Ruri, were you actually concerned about me earlier?" Shiraishi's laughter echoed from behind.
Ruri stopped, turned her head, and stared at Shiraishi with a serious expression.
"Which eye did you see i used in caring about you?"
"Huh, really?"
"You fool, I'm only interested in immortality. Power is everything. Your actions and achievements are inconsequential. Wake up and focus on your own dreams."
After speaking, Ruri turned around, her black hair slightly swaying as she arrogantly walked away.
"Is that so? I'm quite interested in controlling others... Is that okay?"
There was no response to his question. Shiraishi helplessly scratched his head. What a chaotic day.
But... it shouldn't be a major issue.
In other words, next time could he bring Ayane here for a proper examination of her body?
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