"Konoha and Sunagakure are jointly hosting the Chūnin Exams?"
Terumī i fell into thought.
Genshi asked hesitantly, "S-So... what do you think? Are we... are we going to take part?"
Ao suggested from the side,
"Considering the situation with Yagura-sama, it would be better to focus our efforts on rebuilding the village for now."
After the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, had been manipulated, Kirigakure suffered devastating losses. Even now, the village still hadn’t recovered. Participating in the Chūnin Exams, where death was a real possibility, would only weaken the younger generation further.
"That... that makes sense." Genshi nodded in agreent.
Ao added, "Besides, we don’t really have ti to attend so public gathering."
Public...?
No ti for a wedding banquet?!
i was still sensitive about marriage matters. She misheard instantly, her expression darkening as she stalked over to Ao and whispered threateningly,
"Shut up, or I’ll kill you."
Again?
Cold sweat trickled down Ao’s back.
"So... does this an we’re giving up on the Chūnin Exams?" Genshi asked.
i composed herself, intelligence returning to her eyes. After a mont of thought, she turned to Kiyosuke, who was idly fiddling with a desk ornant nearby.
"Kiyosuke, with Konoha and Sunagakure hosting the Exams together, there must be another purpose behind it, right?"
"Maybe. I’m just the ssenger. Whether you go or not is up to you."
Kiyosuke looked up with a grin.
"Ma~ Mizukage-sama, it’s your call to make."
After a short silence, i decided, "Send a few teams. Chōjūrō, you’ll go too—it’ll be good training for you."
"Why? Mizukage-sama, this is clearly just a test. There’s no reason to take part right now." Ao’s sharp mind had already picked up on the hidden motives behind the joint Exams. He thought it unnecessary.
i answered, "I know exactly what they’re plotting. And I intend to test them as well. More importantly, this is a signal to the outside world—that Kirigakure is no longer the sa hidden, stagnant Mist. We can’t let people keep thinking we’re shut-ins who only fight amongst ourselves."
If Kirigakure wanted peace and openness, they had to face outward. The days of isolation had to end.
"T-That’s true." Genshi hesitated, but in the end he sided with i. He was already old, with only a few years left to live. It was better to leave decisions in the hands of the younger generation.
Resettling back into his seat, he said, "Then let’s follow the Fifth’s lead."
"Yes."
Ao no longer pressed the matter. He left imdiately to select promising young genin who would go to Konoha for the first stage of the Exams.
"This ti, I’ll go as well," i said. "I want to see what kind of person the Sixth Kazekage is. And at the sa ti, I’ll use the Exams to announce to the world that Kirigakure is not the sa as before."
"F-Fine. But your safety..." Genshi squinted at Kiyosuke standing off to the side. "Boy, what do you think?"
"?" Kiyosuke smiled. "If she’s going, then of course I’ll protect her."
"Oh?"
"Why? This... this isn’t really your duty, is it?"
"So what? If it’s sothing I want to do, I’ll do it. No one can stop ."
"Young people..." Genshi stood, his words carrying extra weight. "The Fifth... I’ll leave her to you."
"M-Genshi-sama." i coughed lightly, trying to hide her embarrassnt.
Genshi chuckled knowingly and left the Mizukage’s office with his attendants. Chōjūrō remained at i’s side as her guard.
i said, "Chōjūrō, you can go too. Don’t worry about my safety. If he wanted to make a move, no one in Kirigakure could stop him anyway."
"But..."
"That’s enough. Go."
"...Yes." Chōjūrō reluctantly obeyed and left.
"Now then," i smiled, "do you have sothing you want to tell ?"
Kiyosuke returned the smile.
"As expected of you, i. All these years, and you’ve truly grown into a great shinobi—Mizukage-sama."
But i only gave a bitter smile.
"If I had a choice, I wouldn’t have wanted this. Becoming Mizukage was forced on in a ti of crisis. Still, for the village, I’ll give my life. But what about you? Why do you look so troubled?"
She noticed the crease on Kiyosuke’s brow, the sign of soone carrying heavy thoughts. That wasn’t the cheerful man she rembered.
He had grown even more handso with age...
Kiyosuke stood and stepped closer, gazing into her jade-green eyes.
"i, do you think I’m a coward?"
i scoffed.
"You? A coward? Kirigakure might as well be your own ho. You co and go as you please, even waltzing into my private chambers. And you dare call yourself a coward?"
Even barging into her bedroom whenever he liked... and he had the nerve?
"Is that so?" Kiyosuke chuckled. "Then let’s be together."
The sudden, out-of-the-blue confession completely threw i off balance.
The usually composed, gentle Mizukage was flustered in an instant.
"Y-You idiot! W-What are you even saying?!"
Kiyosuke said, "Certain things have made realize I can’t delay any longer. I planned to confess in a few years, but now I know waiting would be a mistake—for both of us."
He had finally co to terms with it. No matter the outco, he couldn’t allow himself any regrets.
He rembered what an older Sasuke once said—that after his death, i had wept at his grave for a long ti, even cursed him, before finally taking his forehead protector and passing the Mizukage title to Ao, never involving herself in village affairs again.
i was a good woman. He couldn’t keep her waiting forever.
She stirred feelings in his heart—feelings that would never fade.
i lowered her head, suddenly shy as a schoolgirl.
"But... I’m the Fifth Mizukage. It’s not like you could ever marry into my household..."
Already thinking about marrying into Konoha?
"No rush. If I took you away now, Kirigakure might start a war with Konoha."
"That’s true." i wasn’t blinded by romance. She feared being left single more than anything. After calming down, she realized Kiyosuke was right. The situation would be difficult.
If he were to marry into Kirigakure, Konoha would never allow it. It could even an war.
"But still, I’m happy you feel the sa." Kiyosuke smiled, pulling i’s soft body into his arms.
"Sorry for making you wait all these years."
"You bastard!" i gently wrapped her arms around him. "It’s not too late at all!"
She fought back the tears of joy threatening to fall.
"Do you know how many people have practically broken down my door these past years?"
"Who would dare? They must have a death wish."
"Hehe... so if you don’t treat right, I still have plenty of backup options."
"Hmph! No one will ever touch you. You’ll always be mine. Let put a seal on it first."
"Wait, wh—mmph..."
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Pls Drop so Power Stones
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