After having lunch with Deidara and practicing ninjutsu for a while, Kurotsuchi couldn't help but reveal her true intentions.
"Ah, I'm so tired!"
"Brother Deidara, let's call it a day. How about we go for a stroll in the village instead?" she said, feigning exhaustion.
In truth, their sparring session had been nothing more than a mutual performance. Even a Genin could tell it wasn't serious enough to be tiring.
But Deidara didn't mind. After all, he was just a clay clone—Kurotsuchi could do whatever she wanted.
Kurotsuchi clung to Deidara's right arm as they strolled through the streets. Over time, the Hidden Rain Village had become much more prosperous. Especially after Nagato had adjusted the rainfall schedule, the weather had become perfectly balanced.
When rain was needed, it rained. When it wasn't, the skies remained clear and sunny, creating an ideal environment that was both comfortable and harmonious.
Look at that!
Deidara's eyes were drawn to a bulletin board nearby, which even displayed a weather forecast. Curious, he walked over for a closer look.
The forecast indicated that, due to the rapid growth season for crops, rainfall would increase over the next few days. From 10 PM to 4 AM each night, there would be six hours of steady rain for three consecutive days, ensuring the crops received sufficient water.
Next to the weather forecast were various job postings. The Hidden Rain Village was undergoing rapid development, and many facilities needed expansion. New departments, such as medical services, reconnaissance units, security forces, and ninja academies, were being established, all of which required a large influx of talent.
Beside him, Kurotsuchi puffed out her cheeks in boredom. She wasn't interested in any of this, but seeing how engrossed Deidara was, she didn't interrupt. After a while, when Deidara finally looked away from the bulletin board, she eagerly tugged on his arm and led him toward a shop.
"Brother Deidara, there's a new clothing store in the village. I heard their outfits are really beautiful. Come check it out with me!"
Here we go again! This feels just like shopping with women in my past life.
Kurotsuchi dragged Deidara into a large women's clothing store. The decor was luxurious and elegant, and the merchandise on display clearly wasn't cheap.
The fact that a merchant was willing to open such a high-end store in the Hidden Rain Village was a testament to the village's potential. Otherwise, no one would risk running a losing business here.
The only thing Deidara found worth complaining about was the presence of electric lights in the store—and the female staff wearing tailored suits!
What the heck? Where did they even get this stuff? The technology in the Naruto world is so confusing!
"Ah! It's Lord Seiryū! And Miss Kurotsuchi!" The store clerk greeted them warmly.
Although the store owner was an outsider, the employees were locals. As a resident of the Hidden Rain Village, the clerk naturally recognized Deidara and Kurotsuchi.
"Lord Seiryū, are you here to buy Miss Kurotsuchi a beautiful new outfit?"
"Yeah," Deidara nodded. "Kurotsuchi, pick whatever you like. I'll take care of the bill."
Deidara plopped down onto a soft sofa in the store. Somehow, shopping with women felt more exhausting than fighting battles.
Kurotsuchi shot him a dissatisfied glare but was quickly distracted by the array of beautiful outfits. She eagerly followed the clerk to start picking out clothes.
"Yo! Kisame, Itachi, where are you two headed?" Deidara suddenly noticed two familiar figures passing by outside the store.
"Oh, it's Deidara. What are you doing in a place like this?" Kisame turned to look at him, then flashed a knowing grin. "I see, you're shopping with your little girlfriend, huh?"
Deidara scratched his head but didn't bother denying it.
He stepped out of the store. "So, what are you two up to?"
"You haven't heard?" Kisame asked, surprised.
"Heard what?" Deidara's curiosity was piqued.
"Kakuzu's sick, so we're going to check on him," Kisame said, lifting a basket of fruit in his right hand.
"Kakuzu can get sick?"
"No, I mean... Kakuzu's body is practically immortal thanks to Earth Grudge Fear. How can he even fall ill?" Deidara asked, puzzled.
"Apparently, he's depressed. His mood has been really low lately," Kisame explained.
"Depression, huh? The kind that can even lead to suicide if it gets bad?"
"Exactly," Kisame nodded.
"Man, old folks really do have a lot of mental health issues. How does someone end up with depression out of nowhere?" Deidara sighed.
"Alright, you guys go ahead. I'll take Kurotsuchi to visit him later."
Could it be that Kakuzu found out all his money was spent on explosive tags?
After Kisame and Itachi left, Deidara returned to the sofa. Fortunately, Kurotsuchi was naturally decisive, so she didn't keep him waiting too long.
"Brother Deidara!"
"How do I look in this?" Kurotsuchi's voice rang out, and Deidara turned to look.
What the—?!
Good thing I'm just a clay clone; otherwise, I'd have a nosebleed!
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Deidara coughed twice, forcing himself to stay calm. "What made you think of wearing that?"
He pointed at the fishnet stockings on Kurotsuchi's legs. Seriously, no man could resist their allure.
"Huh?" Kurotsuchi sounded a little surprised, thinking Deidara didn't like it.
"Does it not look good?" she asked, crossing her legs and striking a side pose to check herself in the mirror. "I think it looks pretty nice."
"It does look good. I mean, you've got great taste," Deidara admitted.
"And this one!" Kurotsuchi changed into a kimono. She usually didn't like wearing restrictive clothing, but she had noticed Deidara encouraging others to wear kimonos, so she decided to give it a try.
"Not bad! Not bad!" Deidara nodded. Although Kurotsuchi's personality didn't quite match the elegance of a kimono, it gave her a unique charm.
"Alright, I'll take this one and the previous outfit," Kurotsuchi decided. Deidara followed her to settle the bill—after all, clay clones didn't carry money.
"Where should we go next?" Kurotsuchi wondered aloud.
"Let's go visit Kakuzu. I heard he's sick, and it's pretty serious," Deidara suggested.
"Kakuzu can get sick?" Kurotsuchi's reaction mirrored Deidara's earlier disbelief.
"It's a mental illness. Apparently, he's depressed and hasn't eaten in days," Deidara explained.
The two of them bought a fruit basket and headed to Kakuzu and Hidan's residence.
"Hey! Kakuzu, at least come out and say hello!"
"Everyone's here to see you, and you're being so rude!" Hidan's loud, obnoxious voice echoed from a distance.
When Deidara and Kurotsuchi arrived, they saw that Itachi, Kisame, Pain's Deva Path, Konan, and Sasori were already there. Among the Akatsuki members, only Kakashi was missing.
After all, he had just joined Akatsuki, recently turned to the dark side, and was also dealing with his own mental struggles. He needed time to adjust.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!
Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!
��patreon.com/GoldenLong