The clearing was completely destroyed, trees felled, earth turned over, pieces of broken puppets and various claw marks everywhere.
At the center of it all, the figures of Deidara and Sasori, in his main puppet form which was identical to their younger versions, stared at Yugito's inert body, bruised, with torn clothes, showing no apparent movement except for weak breathing.
Sasori pursed his lips, Hiruko had been destroyed. It was a shame, he would have to rebuild it.
-Come on, the preparations have already been made.- Sasori said lightly, turning to leave. His quick departure made it clear that he expected Deidara to take Yugito.
Deidara didn't care, he put his hands in his clay pockets, and two large birds soon formed from clouds of smoke.
One of the birds grabbed Yugito's body with its tail and Deidara landed on it, the other bird flew close to Sasori, who easily jumped onto it, and soon the two were flying away. They wanted to leave before ninjas from Oto or Kumo showed up.
The Snake Clone observed all of this from a distance, including the departure figures of Obito and Zetsu shortly afterward.
He simply smiled, unconcerned, and left the clearing as well.
//-//
(Utakata's POV)
Utakata strolled through Otogakure with a neutral expression, but inside he still felt that vague sense of familiarity.
The time he spent there was short, but it was strangely peaceful, which should normally bring him a sense of peace and familiarity, but in reality he seemed to feel everyone's eyes on him, as if he had done something wrong and now people were judging him for it.
Of course, nobody was really doing that, the only reason he was being targeted was because he was a ninja from another village, and some random spy had made the population hate those outside ninjas. It wasn't really focused on Utakata, but he only felt that way because there was still guilt in his heart.
He doesn't think what he did was right or wrong, it was just a difficult choice, like many before in his ninja career, where right and wrong were constantly set aside, only the mission mattered.
Even so, the feeling did not diminish.
They had been there for days, he wasn't quite sure why they hadn't left. The Mizukage-sama seemed too interested in the leader of Otogakure, so they stayed.
Other delegations also stayed, so it wasn't unusual, even so, he couldn't help but sigh, feeling how much his life had changed in such a short time.
He was no longer a rogue ninja, he no longer possessed a monster within him, and he had even become part of the Mizukage's inner circle, working directly for her, something that caused envy among many Kirigakure ninja.
However, this couldn't truly make Utakata happy, because of the pained and angry look in the eyes of a certain red-haired girl.
He never forgot.
Utakata wasn't an idiot, he knew there was something between him and Tayuya, but he had made his choice. He wouldn't go back now, that was what a ninja was, making difficult choices, and even if they were wrong, he would continue down that path.
Unfortunately, fate did not allow him to choose.
-You seem quite at ease.- A female voice snapped Utakata out of his train of thought and made him stop in his tracks.
Turning his head slightly, he looked with mild surprise at the red-haired woman behind him.
-Tayuya, it's been a long time.- He finally managed to say, feeling the inner discomfort growing.
Tayuya didn't answer, her face still a mask of indifference, staring at him completely focused.
Utakata turned slowly, also feigning indifference, neither of them spoke, neither of them moved, but neither of them left either.
They stood there in the middle of the street, looking at each other as if the civilians passing around them didn't exist, as if time had stopped.
They didn't need to speak, their eyes already said it all. Their serious faces couldn't prevent eye contact. They saw in each other a similar situation, confusion, duty, and beneath it all, an unlikely affection, born in an even more unlikely way.
They knew it wouldn't work, they knew their worlds were different and their responsibilities were different, but... love was never rational.
-Do you want to eat?- Utakata finally asked, feeling a little stupid for asking the question right after he asked it.
Anyone who spoke directly about eating should have been more subtle, besides, no restaurant would have accepted him at that point, so he was only causing complications.
His eye twitched slightly, a shame he tried to hide behind indifference.
Tayuya noticed, a slight smile spreading across her face, before dying soon after. She snorted coldly, turned, and began to walk, but her voice was still clear. -Follow me, I have some food at home.
Utakata froze for a moment, feeling the situation complicated again. Taking a deep breath, he made up his mind, quickly placing one foot in front of the other.
//-//
(Terumi Mei's POV)
At one of Jugo's properties in the center of the village, a bar called Drunken Clam, Jugo and Mei were in a private booth on the second floor.
(A/N: Who got the reference?)
-Jugo-kun, it's really hard to find you these days.- Mei said with a soft smile, resting her chin on one hand and leaning slightly forward, clearly revealing her cleavage.
Jugo crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair, he stared directly at the two tall peaks, without the slightest shame, clearly interested, there was no Guren to get in the way this time.
Mei didn't mind at all, she even leaned in further.
Jugo knew exactly what this woman wanted, she was clearly using it as bait.
He meant to say that he wasn't one of those standard reincarnators who think with their lower half, unfortunately, even though he knew he wasn't, Mei had successfully lured him in.
Mainly because there was nothing to lose.
She clearly knew about his power and acted based on a desire for protection, not only for herself, but for Kirigakure.
Uchiha Madara had a Senju Hashirama as a leash, but what about Jugo? Terumi Mei wasn't sure, so she was clearly trying to seduce him.
If she were stupid enough to try to control him through that, Jugo would just laugh and enjoy watching the woman be consumed by her own ignorance.
Now, if she wanted to appease Jugo in that way, making him leave Kirigakure in peace because of it... Jugo could only say that she made the right move, but an unnecessary one.
Jugo had no interest in leaving his "lair" to conquer an island, what would he do with it? He had no desire to conquer the world, what would he want to do with it anyway? Reverence? Fame? What good would that do him?
He had his own desires, but he was aiming for divinity. More territory, more profit, more troops... all of that was irrelevant in the face of personal power.
So he found it amusing that Terumi Mei wanted to sell herself for nothing.
Of course, if one day he needed to conquer the world to complete a ritual, he would do it, so he couldn't say that the woman's action was useless, who knows, maybe selling her body really would be worth the price.
Jugo was busy with the progress of the Bunretsu no Jutsu, so he didn't have time to play games with that woman.
He stood up, facing the woman's surprised and inquisitive gaze, approached her, and took her by the waist, placing her on the table.
Mei watched all of this with wide eyes and a pounding heart, but offered no resistance, even facilitating his actions.
When Jugo was just inches from her, looking at her calmly with a haughty smile, he spoke softly. - I know what you want, but I'm not a one-woman man, are you okay with that?
Mei's heart was still pounding, she bit the corner of her lip. If she needed to be honest, she would say that she wasn't doing well at all. Her dream was to get married and have children, a faithful husband was what she hoped for, but dreams are just that, dreams.
Kirigakure is more important to her than her personal happiness.
-Yes.- She replied without changing her tone, still looking at him with a submissive expression.
-Are you sure? If you take this step, you'll be mine, and I don't share my things. This is your last chance to change your mind.- Jugo simply continued to look her in the eyes.
Mei didn't answer, she raised her hands to her breasts and pulled her dress down, exposing herself completely. Her movements made it quite clear that she had already made up her mind.
It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, it was something she had planned for a long time, so she didn't hesitate for a second.
Jugo gave a soft chuckle, his breathing deepening.
The rhythmic movements and moist sounds soon began to echo through the private room, in the end, Jugo felt he had made a very good deal.