On a rooftop a short distance from the meeting hall—
Mei stood at the edge, looking toward the hall, and said calmly, "How is it inside?"
"Bubble[1]'s emotions are a bit unstable, but his chakra is calm. He shouldn't go into bijū mode," Ao answered respectfully after widening his Byakugan (White Eye) toward the meeting room.
Mei nodded. What she'd said earlier hadn't been a lie—but there was one thing she hadn't said.
If Bubble read that scroll and still thought about fleeing the Mist, there would be only one outcome—replace the Six-Tails' jinchūriki.
And a jinchūriki who loses their tailed beast… dies.
If this were the past, she wouldn't have dared to think it, let alone do it. Matters involving a tailed beast could cost countless lives.
But with Yuto here, even if both Saiken (Six-Tails) and Isobu (Three-Tails) caused trouble at the same time, they still wouldn't be able to stir up real waves in Yuto's hands.
"Canceling the isolation on the Six-Tails' jinchūriki and letting him move freely around the village—won't that be dangerous?" Chojuro asked in a low, worried voice.
"There may be danger," Ao said with a small smile as he lowered the black eyepatch back over his Byakugan, "but I imagine Yuto-sama and the Mizukage have already prepared a solution."
Mei kept her eyes on the direction of the meeting hall, saying nothing, her gaze deep.
After a moment, she stretched lazily; the elegant curve of her figure sprang into view before Ao and Chojuro.
Already shy, Chojuro whipped his head aside at once, flustered.
Ao dipped his head and muttered under his breath, "Come to think of it… Mizukage-sama really should get married."
Whoosh—
A cool breeze swept past.
A chill ran down Ao's back as killing intent wrapped around him. He grimaced, inwardly cursing his loose tongue.
Mei smiled with narrowed eyes and said lightly, half-laughing, "Careful… or you'll wind up dead."
"M–Mizukage-sama, Yuto-sama should… probably be waiting for us at the office. We shouldn't keep him waiting."
Mei's clenched fist paused. She thumped Ao's shoulder a few times and said evenly, "Let's go."
———
Mizukage's office.
Yuto lounged half-reclined on the sofa, looking utterly done with life.
Talking with Genji was exhausting. If there was a next time, he definitely wouldn't—no, there would be no next time!
Click.
With a light sound, the office door opened and Mei walked in.
"Back so soon? Looks like things went smoothly with Bubble."
Yuto's eyes lit up as he smiled at her.
"As expected of Yuto-sama—everything played out almost exactly as you predicted," Mei said with a pleased nod.
"The jinchūriki issue is resolved, and matters with Genji are mostly wrapped up. Now the Mist is unified, inside and out," Yuto said with a faint smile.
Transitions of power were always the most dangerous. Mei understood better than anyone: without Yuto holding the line, that morning's meeting would never have been so calm.
I'll do my best to be a good Mizukage, she swore to herself.
"Since things are quiet for the moment, take a breather. In a few days, it's going to get busy," Yuto said lazily, head resting on an arm against the sofa.
Mei blinked, a sharp light flashing in her eyes. She was about to ask when Yuto's voice came again.
"Before we talk about that, there's something more important."
He rose from the sofa, gaze intent on Mei.
Feeling the seriousness on his face, Mei straightened as well, waiting for what came next.
"If I can't find a place to stay before sundown, I'll be sleeping on the street."
Yuto delivered the line with total gravity.
Mei stared, blank-faced. "Huh?!"
———
On a street in the Mist.
Mei and Yuto stepped out of yet another house, both looking helpless.
"Seriously, even with such a lofty title as Elder, there's no money?" Yuto asked again, clearly unwilling to accept it.
"The Elder's post is different from other positions. You don't answer to anyone; it's a separate system," Mei said softly, then added, "But don't worry, Yuto-sama. Leave the finances to me."
Yuto sighed. He'd thought a Mizukage would be a little rich. Turned out there was some money… just not small-rich-lady levels.
That last house had been the seventh one they'd asked about. Either too expensive or rent-only.
As an Elder, Mei obviously wouldn't let Yuto rent.
There was an Elder benefit—a designated residence—but Genji was living in the existing one. Yuto wouldn't share a roof with that old fox, and he wasn't about to throw him out either.
As for building a new one, even if they started now, it would take the better part of half a year.
"Um… if Yuto-sama doesn't mind, you could stay at my place for now. It's big, and there are plenty of empty rooms," Mei said quietly as they walked.
Yuto blinked.
A man and a woman, sharing the same house.
Not great optics.
Also, he strongly suspected Mei just wanted to save money.
He hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But my room has to be big."
With the housing issue resolved, both of them relaxed.
Passersby gave Mei respectful nods and slight bows, but no one came up to disturb her.
Mei, warm as ever, nodded and greeted them back.
"Mei, what's your dream?" Yuto asked, watching the street scene.
"My dream? I want to be someone like Yuto-sama—someone who protects the village and is respected by the world. What about your dream, Yuto-sama?" Mei tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and asked, curious.
"To unify the shinobi world," Yuto said, calm as ever.
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[1] Utakata