Ao stepped forward, his brow furrowed, and sternly questioned Kaguya, "What is your purpose in coming to the Land of Water?"
"Indeed, I have a purpose," Kaguya replied softly, raising her head. "I came to investigate the Three-Tails."
"So, you were deceiving me all along?" Mei Terumi said expressionlessly.
"I'm sorry," Kaguya's eyelashes trembled as she spoke softly, "I had no intention of harming you."
"Leave," Mei Terumi turned away, her voice cold. "From now on, you are an enemy of the Land of Water."
Kaguya sighed, knowing that what she did was indeed wrong and would anger anyone.
"Then I'll go," Kaguya sighed again, her expression downcast.
Mei Terumi's body trembled imperceptibly, but she did not turn around or speak. She clenched her fist slightly.
As Kaguya's footsteps grew distant, Mei Terumi couldn't help but turn around, only to find Kaguya's figure had already disappeared. She sighed softly. The reason she was so fond of Kaguya from the first meeting was that she reminded her of an old childhood friend, especially her scent. This friend had always followed her, calling her "sister, sister," but had died in the war.
Mei Terumi sighed again, realizing it was just a dream of hers, a desire to recapture the past, and now it was time to wake up. When she turned back around, she saw a familiar pretty face smiling at her and waving.
"Aren't you supposed to be gone?" Mei Terumi's eyes widened, then she huffed and turned her head.
"I can't leave without earning your forgiveness," Kaguya said cheerfully, grabbing Mei Terumi's hand. Mei Terumi tried to pull away but eventually let her hold it. "Don't be mad."
Mei Terumi huffed, turning her head away and ignoring her.
"I'll let you pinch my face," Kaguya said, scrunching her face. She hated when people pinched her cheeks. Every time Mei Terumi did it, she dodged until she got angry and Mei Terumi finally stopped. But since then, Mei Terumi hadn't pinched her face again.
"Really?" Mei Terumi turned around, expressionless.
"Really."
Before Kaguya could finish speaking, Mei Terumi had already grabbed her cheeks.
"Hey, hey, it hurts. Don't use so much force."
As if venting her earlier frustration, Mei Terumi pulled Kaguya into her arms and roughly pinched her soft, flawless cheeks. Kaguya resisted firmly, but Mei Terumi's tall stature made it impossible for her to escape.
After a long while, Mei Terumi finally let go of Kaguya, releasing her from her embrace. Despite the playful struggle, the atmosphere had lightened considerably.
"Are you really here to capture the Three-Tails?" Mei Terumi asked seriously afterward.
"Yes." Kaguya gently rubbed her reddened cheeks.
"Why do you need to capture a tailed beast? What's your purpose?" Mei Terumi seemed less angry than before.
"Do you know about the Akatsuki?" Kaguya twirled a lock of her hair around her fingers.
"The Akatsuki, the organization causing wars across the continent?" Mei Terumi asked, her hand supporting her chin in thought.
"Yes, I didn't expect the Land of Water to know about it," Kaguya said sheepishly, scratching her cheek. "I'm part of that organization."
"What?" Mei Terumi's eyes widened as she stood up from her chair. "You're actually—"
"Don't be nervous," Kaguya said with a playful wave of her hand. "Is it that surprising? But I'm just a small fry in the organization."
"Are you the Silver-Haired Witch of the Akatsuki?" Mei Terumi asked seriously.
"Silver-Haired Witch?" Kaguya, who was drinking water, suddenly spat it out, wiping her lips with a napkin. "What kind of name is that? It's so awful."
Kaguya thought that the name should at least sound pleasant.
"If possible, I hope you can leave that organization. I have a feeling it's not that simple," Mei Terumi said with a serious expression.
"If I leave the organization, they'll hunt me down," Kaguya said, waving a lock of her hair in front of her.
"Really," Mei Terumi fell silent for a moment, then seemed to make a decision. "Come to me. I will protect you," she said earnestly, looking at Kaguya.
She had already lost one sister; she did not want, nor could she afford, to lose another person who gave her the same feeling.
"No, no, it's okay," Kaguya quickly waved her hand, her expression relaxed. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm quite strong now, and if I can't win, I can always run away."
Kaguya's tone was matter-of-fact, without any sense of shame. What is shame anyway? Can it be eaten?
Mei Terumi exhaled deeply. She knew it was impossible to persuade Kaguya.
"Well, it's time for me to go," Kaguya said, standing up from the chair with a shallow smile. "I'll come back when I have time."
"Won't you stay a bit longer?" Mei Terumi said hastily. "Even if it's for a year or half a year, it wouldn't be a problem, right?"
"I can't, I have other tasks to complete," Kaguya replied seriously, putting away her smile. "Sister Mei Terumi, if anyone from the Akatsuki comes, I hope you won't get involved. The Akatsuki members are very powerful, far beyond the realm of ordinary people. Even I might not be able to defeat them."
"As the Mizukage of Kirigakure, I have a responsibility to protect the village," Mei Terumi said softly, her expression resolute. "It's something I must do."
"Don't be foolish," Kaguya grabbed Mei Terumi's shoulder and said softly. "You can't beat them. If you go, you'll just be throwing your life away."
"How will I know if I don't try?" Mei Terumi insisted.
"Then promise me," Kaguya's eyes were firm, "that if you find you can't win, you'll run immediately, okay?"
Mei Terumi was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Well, I have to go now," Kaguya's eyelashes trembled as she spoke softly.
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
To be honest, Kaguya really didn't want to leave. Although they hadn't been together for long, she really liked this mature and elegant woman with a hint of allure. She was the perfect lover. Kaguya couldn't understand why Mei Terumi wasn't married yet. How could such a perfect woman not find a husband?
Suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on Kaguya's face. Taking advantage of Mei Terumi's distraction, she stood behind her and extended her hands from her armpits, grabbing her chest. The soft sensation made her squeeze twice.
Before Mei Terumi could react, Kaguya quickly fled, shouting, "I'm leaving. I'll come back, don't miss me too much!" She waved and disappeared into the sky with a few jumps.
Mei Terumi frowned, then relaxed, watching Kaguya leave. She gently touched her chest and smiled slightly.
Walking through the endless forest, Kaguya reached out her hand, reminiscing the soft feeling with a mischievous smile. After being pinched so many times, she thought it was fair to take some interest back. Indeed, older women had a better feel. She wondered how Hinata was developing now.
Having completed her mission in the Land of Water, it was time to report back.
In the darkness, several figures gathered around a campfire, their shadows flickering in and out. They were spirit projections, not physical bodies. This was an Akatsuki meeting.
"I've found the Three-Tails," Kaguya said softly. "But it's no longer within the Land of Water. It's moving north."
"Understood, I'll send someone to retrieve it," Nagato said in a deep voice. "As for you, head to the Land of Earth and wait for further instructions."