"Hey, stop pretending to be asleep, I know you're awake."
Mei felt someone gently teasing her nostrils with a blade of grass, making her itch unbearably. She reluctantly opened her eyes, meeting a pair of black eyes filled with laughter.
Shun snapped his fingers, revealing a brilliant smile. "I have good news for you, the war is over, and Kirigakure has surrendered."
Mei instinctively reached for her waist, only to find that her ninja tool pouch had already been confiscated. Shun, like a magician, pulled out her kunai from behind his back and deftly twirled it on his fingertip.
"Looking for this? Your weapon will be in my temporary safekeeping."
"Bastard, give it back to me!"
Mei lunged to snatch it, but stumbled due to her leg injury, falling directly into Shun's arms.
Shun caught her steadily, and whispered mischievously in her ear, "Woah, so you're this passionate? But I'm sorry, I'm not really interested in little runts."
Mei's face instantly flushed crimson, and she pushed him away. "Who's interested in you? Arrogant jerk! Get lost!"
Shun was not offended, but instead burst into laughter. He moved in front of Mei , and suddenly changed the subject, "Your Terumī clan is quite interesting. The war just ended, and they're already rushing to send you over for a marriage alliance."
Mei froze, her face filled with disbelief. "What did you say? A marriage alliance?"
Shun pulled out a scroll and waved it in front of her. "With the war over, Kirigakure is about to enter a period of weakness. Your father signed an agreement with me, exchanging you for some protection and a fallback plan."
He scrutinized Mei from head to toe and said, "Perhaps it's because you were captured by me, so your clan took the opportunity to use you as a bargaining chip. Honestly, for a marriage alliance, I'd prefer your clan sent someone a bit more mature and beautiful. You, well… oh dear."
Mei trembled with anger, not because of her father's arrangement, but because of the disdainful attitude of the young man in front of her. She suddenly formed hand signs, and a stream of high-temperature mist erupted from her mouth.
Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!
Shun didn't even activate his Sharingan. He casually formed a hand sign.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
A gust of wind blew out, dispersing the mist that had just gathered.
Mei tried to form hand signs again, but Shun grabbed her hands.
He lifted her like a kitten and said, "Save your strength, little wildcat. Come back to the tent with me, we have serious matters to discuss."
...
Inside a Konoha camp tent, Shun sat cross-legged opposite Mei , toying with a kunai in his hand. He tossed a Kunai up and caught it.
"You have two choices. First, obediently come back to Konoha with me and become my little wife. Second, write a letter home and have Yuki Chie of the Yuki clan take your place in the marriage alliance."
(Note: Yuki Chie is Haku's mother.)
Mei's eyes widened instantly. "How do you know Chie-nee?"
Shun suddenly leaned close to Mei, so close he could count her eyelashes.
"Yuki Chie, eighteen years old, possesses the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, has never had a boyfriend, has a gentle and considerate personality, is the perfect choice for a wife, and most importantly, she's much prettier than you."
"You bastard! Get away from me!"
Mei tried to slap him away from her face, but he easily caught her wrist.
Shun released her indifferently and said, "Little wildcat, such a temper. But I can understand, after all, you're about to be married to a stranger."
"Who said I'm marrying you?!" Mei grabbed the water bottle on the ground and threw it at him.
Shun tilted his head to dodge the water bottle and said with a grin, "Could it be that you've fallen for me? Is that why you don't want Chie to take your place?"
Mei's face flushed red with anger, her hair practically standing on end. "Dream on! Narcissist! Idiot! Pervert!"
Shun clutched his chest in a feigned injured manner and spread his hands. "How mean. I'm handsome, you know. Do you know how many girls want to marry me? Look at you, no figure, no temperament, and your face isn't as pretty as Chie's."
Mei could no longer hold back, and pounced, biting him on the arm.
Shun cried out dramatically. "Ow! Definitely a wildcat, that temper is wild enough!"
Mei let go, looking triumphantly at the teeth marks on his arm. "So what if I bit you? If you're so capable, let me go back."
Because of the Uzumaki Sage Body, Shun's recovery speed was quite extraordinary. He gently rubbed his arm, and the teeth marks began to fade slowly, and the bleeding stopped.
"Your clan and the Yuki clan have a marriage alliance, and your relationship with Chie is also good. You should know she is a peace-loving person, and unlike you, she doesn't like to fight. If she comes back to Konoha with me, she can live a rich and peaceful life, which is the life she wants. If she doesn't take your place, in a few years, after you grow up, you'll have to marry me and bear my children."
Mei hastily turned her face away, stammering in protest. "You bastard. Who… who wants to marry you? Who wants to… bear children for you?"
Shun burst into laughter, then suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair. "You look so cute when you're angry."
Mei secretly glanced at the young man beside her. The lines of his profile were clean and sharp, and his long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes.
She had to admit, he really was quite handsome.
Catching her gaze, Shun struck a pose he thought was cool.
Then, with a smile, he said, "Mesmerized, aren't you? Enjoy the view, I'm just that handsome."
Mei hastily turned her face away. "Who's looking at you? You narcissist, don't touch me!"
She slapped his hand away, but found that she didn't feel as repulsed by touching him as before.
Seeing Mei's reaction, Shun felt there was a chance. He checked the system.
Partner: Uzumaki Yukari (Affection: 100%), Aoyama Yui (Affection: 60%)
On the system, there was no information about Mei.
Shun frowned slightly, pondering.
Does it have to be 'negative distance' first. But she's only…
That's too beastly, does kissing work?
Shun walked over to Mei, and seeing her lost in thought, he lowered his head and forcibly kissed her.
Startled by the sudden attack, Mei bit down on his tongue and wouldn't let go. The tongue is rich in nerves, and being bitten would be quite painful. Shun was in so much pain that he hugged Mei tightly, squeezing her until she could barely breathe, which made her release her teeth.
[Ding, Partner: Terumi Mei's Affection increased by 19%. Current Affection is 63%]
"You… you big pervert… big bastard… go to hell!"
"Ah… ouch! That hurts. You're playing for real."
Mei stomped hard on Shun's big toe.