Terumi Mei couldn't help but feel envious as she observed the exceptional quality of the Konoha ninja stationed at the border—something that present-day Kirigakure simply could not match.
After Uchiha Obito had manipulated the Fourth Mizukage Yagura into implementing devastating policies that tore Kirigakure apart from within, the village's overall military strength had been reduced to less than half of its former glory.
Countless powerful ninja had defected to escape the brutal conditions, and even the once-legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist could no longer be assembled into a complete unit. This bleak and tragic reality was the harsh inheritance that Terumi Mei had been forced to confront upon becoming the Fifth Mizukage.
Terumi Mei wasn't merely a combat-focused ninja who knew only violence—she possessed genuine ambitions for Kirigakure's future development and recovery.
At present, both Kirigakure and the Land of Water lacked the resources and stability necessary to compete effectively in the ninja world's power struggles. Therefore, the wisest course of action was to adopt a humble approach and establish friendly relationships with other nations, allowing them to survive through this most dangerous period of vulnerability.
After personally witnessing the deaths of the Three-Tails Isobu and Yagura at the hands of Shihouin Naraku, and realizing that she possessed no means of contending with such overwhelming power, Terumi Mei had firmly decided to pursue a comprehensive trade agreement with Konoha Village as her first priority.
As someone who had only recently assumed the position of Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei hadn't yet had sufficient time to establish her own political prestige and authority. The fact that she was immediately proposing cooperation with the very nation that had killed her predecessor naturally generated enormous opposition within her own ranks.
Fortunately, the position of Kage carried tremendous executive power—otherwise, Yagura wouldn't have been able to inflict such systematic damage on Kirigakure during his reign.
Although many Mist ninja had secretly attempted assassinations against Yagura throughout his rule, these efforts had proven unsuccessful, demonstrating the substantial authority wielded by the Mizukage office. After all, no one had been able to remove Yagura through open confrontation.
Additionally, the respected elder of Kirigakure, Master Yuan, had chosen to support Terumi Mei's initiatives from behind the scenes, which made her diplomatic mission politically feasible.
However, Kirigakure remained uncertain about Shihouin Naraku's and Konoha Village's true intentions toward their weakened state, so they had prepared themselves to make significant concessions during negotiations.
Of course, if Kirigakure suffered excessive losses in the resulting treaty terms, Terumi Mei couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't face the same assassination attempts that had plagued Yagura after returning home.
It was important to remember that the years of Bloody Mist Village policies had indeed resulted in massive internal casualties, but they had also produced a generation of ruthless, fanatical ninja.
These individuals cared nothing for whether Terumi Mei's diplomatic strategies would ultimately benefit Kirigakure. As long as her decisions didn't align with their extremist worldview, and if the village appeared to suffer humiliation, these fanatics would express their violent dissatisfaction.
Even within the current Kirigakure delegation led by Terumi Mei, not everyone supported her diplomatic approach.
However, since this represented the newly appointed Fifth Mizukage's first major policy initiative, it was difficult for anyone to voice direct objections.
For now, they could only follow Terumi Mei's orders reluctantly.
If negative consequences emerged in the future, there would be ample time to voice their concerns and attempt to change course.
Unfortunately, as the waiting period at the border continued to extend, the entire Kirigakure delegation was beginning to grow increasingly restless and agitated.
"I said this from the beginning—what's the point of signing any treaty with these people..." one ninja muttered with obvious frustration.
"The Konoha ninja clearly don't take us seriously at all. We should just abandon this whole endeavor," another added bitterly.
"I don't understand what Mizukage-sama is so afraid of. How can proud ninja from Kirigakure bow down before Konoha like this?" a third complained.
"It's not too late to reconsider. This was a terrible idea from the start!" someone else declared.
"All of you, shut your mouths immediately!" Ao hissed angrily.
He turned around and glared at his fellow ninja with obvious displeasure and embarrassment.
They were currently positioned directly in front of a group of Konoha ninja. Regardless of whatever personal opinions they might hold among themselves—opinions they could voice freely once they returned home—they absolutely could not afford to expose such internal discord to outsiders.
Perhaps recognizing the validity of this concern, the Mist ninja finally settled down and regained their composure.
However, all of this internal conflict had been carefully observed by the apparently disinterested Konoha ninja positioned across from them.
Hyūga Neji made mental notes of this valuable intelligence. It seemed that the newly appointed Fifth Mizukage lacked sufficient political authority, and her ability to control her own subordinates was completely ineffective.
A group of ninja who dared to voice such open dissent in their Kage's presence suggested even more serious problems occurring behind closed doors.
Yet Terumi Mei, who stood at the forefront of her delegation, remained perfectly still and silent, as if she were completely unaware of her subordinates' growing agitation.
"This Mizukage appears to be quite sophisticated and demonstrates the qualities of a capable leader," Neji observed internally.
Having served as a bodyguard for two consecutive Hokage, he couldn't help but compare Terumi Mei with Konoha's leadership in his mind.
However, he smiled to himself at the comparison. The inexperienced Terumi Mei wasn't truly qualified to be measured against either of Konoha's legendary Hokage.
At least for the present moment, Terumi Mei was clearly outmatched in terms of political skill and authority.
But still...
Something seemed odd about the current situation. Why hadn't Shihouin Naraku appeared yet?
Logically speaking, given Shihouin Naraku's extraordinary abilities and flight capabilities, he should have arrived by now.
Had some unexpected complication occurred?
But Neji quickly dismissed these concerns. There should be no one in the entire ninja world capable of causing serious problems for Advisor Naraku.
Especially within the Land of Fire's borders, such accidents seemed highly unlikely.
As more time passed, the Kirigakure delegation became agitated once again, and this time even the experienced Ao proved unable to suppress his subordinates' growing frustration.
Terumi Mei sighed internally. Konoha's apparent neglect was nothing compared to the compromises she would be forced to make during the actual treaty negotiations...
However, at this moment, she first needed to address these increasingly volatile and disobedient subordinates.
Under the current circumstances, Konoha could not be allowed to question whether the Fifth Mizukage's word could be trusted.
Terumi Mei turned around slowly, without even removing the Mizukage hat she wore, and gazed calmly at her subordinates who were becoming increasingly restless.
Suddenly, the air around them grew noticeably warmer as her chakra began to manifest, and the Mist ninja felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over their heads. Only then did they suddenly remember Terumi Mei's fearsome reputation within Kirigakure before she had assumed the Mizukage position.
She was known as the beautiful but deadly woman who possessed two powerful kekkei genkai and was so formidable that no man dared to propose marriage to her.
In an instant, the situation that had seemed on the verge of complete chaos became perfectly quiet once again.
Terumi Mei didn't speak a single word. She simply turned back around and resumed her previous position, as if she hadn't noticed anything unusual.
However, she wouldn't place all the blame on her subordinates' shoulders. After a long period of tense silence, Terumi Mei suddenly addressed Hyūga Neji directly. "It appears that Konoha isn't prepared to establish normal diplomatic relations with Kirigakure. In that case..."
Before she could complete her statement, a remarkably clear voice reached everyone's ears.
"Konoha has been prepared and ready for quite some time. The question is whether Kirigakure's intentions are truly sincere."
Everyone present turned immediately toward the source of the voice and discovered Shihouin Naraku leaning casually against a large tree, studying them with eyes that gleamed like brilliant stars.
How had he arrived? And when?
A significant portion of the ninja present possessed highly developed sensory abilities, yet they had been completely unaware of Shihouin Naraku's approach—a demonstration that was genuinely terrifying in its implications.
If this individual decided to infiltrate Kirigakure itself, the Mist ninja would be utterly powerless to stop him.
"Hehehe..." Terumi Mei's laughter rang out, though it carried an unmistakable note of underlying tension.
"As expected of the Phoenix of Konoha Village—the legendary Lord Shihouin Naraku!"
Naraku smiled warmly, straightened up from his relaxed position, and began walking toward the assembled group.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion