"The village envoy?"
Mei Terumi and Kisame were both caught off guard by the unfamiliar term.
Uchiha Hikaru pulled a chair over to the dining table and sat in front of them.
"Yeah. A village envoy."
"Kisame will still be a shinobi of Kirigakure, but from now on, he'll have permanent residency rights here in Konoha."
"He'll remain here as a symbol of friendship between our two villages. If other Kirigakure shinobi come to Konoha in the future…"
"…he'll be fully in charge of managing them. How about that? Pretty good, isn't it?"
"When the time comes, we'll appoint someone from Konoha to act as our envoy to the Hidden Mist Village as well."
The idea moved even the towering figure of Kisame. His shark-like eyes softened slightly, and his gaze moistened.
Though he still held a trace of loyalty toward Kirigakure, the blood-soaked life he'd lived there left him unwilling to return.
Just as he was ready to give up on his village, Uchiha Hikaru had offered a perfect solution.
Not only could he continue to serve Kirigakure, but he could also stay in Konoha and live the peaceful life he had longed for.
Even Mei Terumi—who had initially intended to convince Kisame to return—couldn't help but nod in agreement.
With the introduction of envoys, the relationship between the two villages would grow even closer, like two clans forming an alliance.
Plus, future visits between villages would be smoother with a guide and point of contact in each.
That thought made Mei Terumi suddenly raise a question.
"What if Kisame marries someone from Konoha and has children in the future? Would they be considered Kirigakure or Konoha shinobi?"
At that, Kisame's relaxed mood vanished. He rolled his eyes, slumped onto the sofa, and turned his attention back to the TV.
Typical nosy woman... What a headache...
Uchiha Hikaru wasn't surprised by Kisame's silence. After all, Mei Terumi had no idea about the female shinobi who once had feelings for Kisame—only to be killed by him under ANBU orders.
Still, the question was a fair one.
It could very well happen.
Considering his long-term plans, Uchiha Hikaru didn't hesitate.
Sooner or later, Kirigakure and the Land of Water will fall under Konoha's domain anyway.
So, he casually offered a half-truth to pacify Mei Terumi.
"Well, it depends on where the child is born. If born in Kirigakure, they're Kirigakure shinobi. If born in Konoha, they're Konoha shinobi."
"What about the parents?"
"One of them would be from the other village. What happens then?"
Uchiha Hikaru looked at her, helpless.
This woman... Why is her head full of marriage logistics?
"Then one of them will have to officially defect and join the other village. But if they're a shinobi, they'll need to accept a curse mark to prevent leakage of sensitive information."
"That's acceptable."
Mei Terumi nodded, satisfied.
The curse seal condition would naturally deter most casual defection. Only those who were truly in love would go through with it.
To her, it was a romantic safeguard—a small price for the possibility of love between villages.
She didn't realize that Uchiha Hikaru had just dug a deep strategic pit.
Civilians didn't matter. They had no secrets to keep, no chakra techniques to protect.
But shinobi?
Once they had children, they would inevitably choose to raise them in Konoha—for better healthcare, education, and resources. Konoha outpaced Kirigakure in every category.
But Mei Terumi didn't notice this at all.
She was too focused on fairness, and that fleeting hope of true love.
...
The Next Afternoon – Village Gates
The Kirigakure delegation assembled at the village entrance.
Uchiha Hikaru walked forward and removed the chakra suppression seals from Mei Terumi and Kisame, doing it publicly in front of the entire escort unit.
The moment her chakra surged and flowed again, Mei Terumi felt a subtle tension return to her body.
She stepped toward Ao and then looked back at Uchiha Hikaru.
"Thank you. And thank Konoha… for your hospitality these past few days."
Then she turned to Kisame.
"Kisame, more of our comrades will likely come to Konoha in the future. I hope you'll look after them."
"If any of them stir up trouble, just take them down. You have full authority as our envoy."
Kisame grinned, exposing those rows of serrated shark teeth.
"No problem, Lady Terumi Mei."
"If someone dares act out in Konoha, they'd better be ready to face the Samehada in my hands."
Ao raised an eyebrow at Kisame's response.
He'd spent all morning discussing the details of the envoy position with Uchiha Hikaru and ultimately agreed it was a smart arrangement.
But Kisame's tone...
It didn't sound like someone serving Kirigakure while stationed in Konoha.
It sounded like someone living in Konoha who happened to be from Kirigakure.
Was it just his imagination?
Ao didn't press the issue. With Mei Terumi returning, his title as Acting Fifth Mizukage would soon be officially revoked.
She would take power, and Ao wasn't foolish enough to interfere based on a gut feeling.
That woman… she's not one to cross lightly.
Mei Terumi waved her hand, signaling the Mist shinobi behind her.
"Head out first. I still have something to discuss with Lord Hikaru."
Uchiha Hikaru gestured casually to his escort detail, and they tactfully left as well.
"Hey, Itachi-kun! Come visit me in the Mist Village sometime!"
Ringo Ameyuri cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted toward Itachi.
Itachi, who had just turned away, froze mid-step.
He turned back, forced a polite smile, and gave her a quick wave.
No one noticed the faint red flush at the tips of his ears... (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄)
Once both squads were gone, Mei Terumi grabbed Hikaru's hand and tugged him toward a grove near the gate.
He reached up, brushing a few leaves off his shoulder with a mildly exasperated expression.
"This better not be something weird…"
Mei Terumi, face slightly flushed, pulled a small box from her waist pouch.
"Turn around."
Uchiha Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"…Why?"
"Just turn around."
He sighed, but complied.
She opened the box and took out a pitch-black ribbon, embroidered with chakra metal threads, and carefully tied it into his hair.
"Alright. You can turn around now."
He turned and gave his head a small shake. He could feel the slight weight of the ribbon swaying with his movement.
"It's nice, I guess. But I still think I'd be more comfortable without it."
The pleasant mood Mei had moments ago evaporated instantly.
This guy… what a block of wood... ( ≧Д≦)
"That's a thank-you gift, okay?!"
"I made it myself last night. Hand-stitched."
"Goodbye!"
She spun on her heel and rushed off toward her waiting team.
Uchiha Hikaru stood there, watching her back as she left.
He raised a hand and touched the ribbon.
Chakra-metal embroidery… silk base…
Where the hell did she even get the money to buy materials like this on her allowance...?
At that moment, Mei Terumi's face was burning red. No one could see that beneath her clothes, she had already changed into something she'd secretly bought using all the savings from her recent days in Konoha...
...
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