'Aka likes me, and Pakura knows about it, but instead of being angry, she's worried she can't compete with Aka?'
For a moment, Ryuji's mind was in a daze.
He wasn't a man who understood nothing; his usual straight-man act was deliberately put on as a joke. But he also wasn't some master of romance, having never thought about navigating between different beauties and then embracing a harem.
Rather, he didn't place much importance on romantic feelings between men and women.
If Pakura hadn't frequently conveyed her feelings to him, perhaps he still wouldn't have thought about romantic matters even now.
This was also why, at the Grand Rift Valley, when Pakura and Kana were at odds, he felt displeased.
Because he originally didn't care much.
And later, Karura's confession left him at a loss, not knowing how to respond.
Because before that, he had no feelings whatsoever about it.
And now, before that matter was even resolved, he heard that Aka also liked him.
He was even more dumbfounded.
Some might say, isn't it a good thing that so many outstanding women like you?
Thinking this way is because you yourself yearn for such a thing.
Others might say, if you don't yearn for this, are you even a man?
Hah!
This has nothing to do with being a man; it's about whether one can possess it.
The easier something is to obtain, the less people care about it.
Ryuji was like this.
If he simply wanted women, he could make one himself every day, each one different.
With such ability, would he still think about having a left and right embrace, navigating between different women?
Obviously not.
So, faced with such a situation, he was dumbfounded once again.
"Are you confused?" Pakura continued. "I clearly don't mind about Aka, but I mind about Karura?"
Ryuji's mind was still in a daze; he didn't hear what Pakura was saying at all, only nodding subconsciously.
"Of course, it's because of the difference in status!" Pakura said. "At that time, I was just your teammate and friend, not qualified to demand anything from you. But now, I'm your girlfriend, so naturally I don't want other women to compete with me for you."
"Does it still feel like the logic doesn't make sense?"
"It's because Aka is too gentle and considerate towards you. She would never do anything to trouble you. Even if she likes you, she wouldn't come out and fight me for you because that would upset you."
"As for Kana, although the situation is different, the reason is the same; she can't take you away from me."
'In other words, cheating is allowed, but the person can't be stolen, right!'
Ryuji came back to his senses. After hearing Pakura's later words, he internally summarized.
He felt the girl's arms tightening even more around him, sensing that the girl's feelings weren't as magnanimous as she claimed.
It was only because her love for the man was too deep that she made concessions.
In that instant, Ryuji made a decision.
He took a deep breath and said, "I'll go explain things clearly to Karura and Kana later. As for Aka... if she doesn't say anything, I'll pretend I don't know."
Pakura's body trembled slightly, then she looked over in disbelief.
"Don't look at me like that." Ryuji chuckled lightly. "Although I believe love is a feeling that makes people warmer and happier, it's based on both parties willingly giving for each other. You're willing to endure grievances for me, so how could I bear to let you endure grievances for me?"
"Ryuji..."
Trembling orange eyes, tears flowed from the corners.
Seeing this, Ryuji embraced her tightly in his arms.
…
The next day.
Ryuji found Karura and Kana to explain things clearly.
Karura appeared very disappointed and sad but didn't say much, only expressing understanding.
Kana, however, ran off with tears in her eyes.
Although this girl knew there were no feelings between her and Ryuji, spending 'days' together could breed affection; it was impossible to have no expectations at all.
Now, the expectations were shattered, and so was the girl's heart.
Seeing the two girls' reactions, Ryuji felt a twinge of guilt.
'Sigh, why am I so handsome and outstanding?'
'If I were a bit more average, a bit uglier, I wouldn't attract so many women to like me!'
After lamenting, Ryuji collected his emotions and went back to continue his experiments.
…
Time passed slowly.
In the blink of an eye, a week went by.
During this week, Ryuji experimented in the mornings and spent afternoons with Pakura.
While their feelings rapidly deepened, there were also gains in research.
First, the reconstruction of the Mechanical Bird and Iron Fortress.
Due to progress in research on the essence of Chakra, there was a significant breakthrough in Chakra Storage Technology, greatly enhancing the endurance of these two mechanical beasts.
And thanks to the enhanced energy source, Ryuji carried out comprehensive upgrades and updates on other components. Not only did performance become more powerful, but weapon power and variety also became stronger and more abundant.
As for Armor...
Although there was still no progress on the Sage Transformation front, there was a major breakthrough in Chakra Amplification. A method was developed to keep Chakra in an active state at all times, allowing the same amount to unleash greater power, increasing Ryuji's strength by a full one-third.
The design of the new Armor resembled an exoskeleton, with only soft armor on the shoulders, wrists, waist, knee pads, etc., but no connecting tubes.
This was a genuine piece of Ninjutsu technology, relying on the array patterns on the armor to function.
After completing these three things, Ryuji intended to press on and tackle the remaining research in one go, but news arrived that disrupted his plans.
…
"Kirigakure has attacked the Land of Whirlpools!"
At the roundtable meeting, the Third Kazekage announced this shocking news.
The Land of Whirlpools, Uzushiogakure… this was the village and country established by the Uzumaki Clan. Their sealing technique was terrifying, deeply feared by the nations of the Shinobi World.
But everyone knew that the Land of Whirlpools and Konoha were as close as could be. Attacking the Land of Whirlpools was equivalent to declaring war on Konoha.
"What's the outcome?"
Rasa couldn't wait to ask.
"No news on the outcome yet, but Konoha's main forces are tied up in the Land of Earth; they've only sent a few teams for rescue." The Third Kazekage said.
"It seems the Land of Whirlpools is doomed." Ebizo sighed.
The Land of Whirlpools bordered the Land of Fire, with a sizable territory and fertile soil. Uzushiogakure's strength was also quite good.
But in the end, it was a village established by a single Shinobi Clan, with a population of only a few hundred, and the number of Shinobi even fewer, only a few dozen. Compared to Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it was insignificant.
If Konoha didn't send reinforcements, the Land of Whirlpools had zero chance of survival.
"There's nothing to be done about it. Who told Konoha to act foolishly and attack us before?" Another council member said.
Originally, Konoha's war against Iwagakure was almost won. But they attacked Sunagakure's delegation, ending up with the chicken lost and the rice spilled, suffering heavy losses instead, turning the nearly certain victory into a stalemate.
To determine a winner again would take at least a year or half.
"This is an opportunity!"
Ryuji suddenly spoke, attracting everyone's attention in the meeting room.
"The Uzumaki Clan inherited sealing technique passed down from the Sage of Six Paths; it's incredibly powerful. We can take advantage of Kirigakure's attack on the Land of Whirlpools to legitimately go and seize it."
Inwardly, he added: 'And even absorb the exiled Uzumaki Clan.'
But since news of the Land of Whirlpools' destruction hadn't arrived yet, he only mentioned it in his heart.
"It's actually sealing technique inherited from the Sage of Six Paths, no wonder it's so powerful!"
"Rather, it's only reasonable if it's like that!"
"If it's sealing technique passed down from the Sage of Six Paths, then it's indeed worth the risk of war with Kirigakure to seize it."
"What's there to fear? If the war is fought on our home turf, Kirigakure is no match for us no matter what. Whether to fight or not, the initiative is in our hands."
In the meeting room, everyone discussed animatedly.
The Third Kazekage nodded slightly. "Since that's the case, summon Shinobi to head to the Land of Whirlpools and seize the sealing technique."
"Sending Shinobi now might be too late." Ryuji pondered slightly. "As the saying goes, beat a drowning dog. Shinobi Villages with the same idea as us are probably not few. The villages in the countries surrounding the Land of Whirlpools will certainly act faster than us."
Hearing this, everyone frowned.
The Third Kazekage contemplated, "Then what should we do?"
"Take the Mechanical City."
After sending back the diplomatic mission's members, the Mechanical City hovered in the sky outside Sunagakure. If they traveled on the Mechanical City, they could reach it in just half a day.
Moreover, only the Mechanical City could secure the final victory against Kirigakure and the other villages looking to plunder.
"Although it will affect the construction work of the Mechanical City, it's not urgent for this moment. Compared to the Sage of Six Paths' sealing technique, it's not worth mentioning." The Third Kazekage pondered slightly. "In that case, I officially appoint Senki Ryuji as the leader, commanding the elite Puppeteer Corps and the Mechanical City to head to the Land of Whirlpools and seize the Sage of Six Paths' sealing technique."
"Yes!"