Chapter 164 (Patreon)

The sun had already climbed high into the clear sky. A mild breeze drifted through Konoha, carrying the warmth of the late morning sunlight.

After washing and getting dressed, Yujiro left his residence at a leisurely pace, his black blade slung over his shoulder.

Only a few minutes after his departure, Tsunade quietly slipped into the house.

Inside, her eyes met Kurenai’s. A knowing smile immediately spread across Tsunade’s face.

“Kurenai, well done.”

---

Yujiro had barely left his residence when he encountered Shisui, who had come looking for him.

“Yujiro, we just received coded messages from Iwagakure and Kumogakure,” Shisui reported without delay. “Hokage-sama asked me to bring you to his office.”

“All right. Let’s see what they sent.”

The two set off together and arrived at the Hokage’s office five minutes later.

“Yujiro, you’re here.” Minato hurriedly rose from his chair.

Yujiro approached the desk and examined the two confidential documents lying before him.

“Sunagakure sent the same invitation to the other three great shinobi villages,” Minato explained, drawing a slow breath. “The contents of both messages are identical. Sunagakure intends to form an alliance with the other villages at a secret meeting in the Land of Iron.”

His expression became grave.

“Their objective is almost certainly connected to Konoha’s upcoming Chūnin Exams.”

As he said this, Minato looked at Yujiro with a complicated expression.

When preparations for the Chūnin Exams had first begun, Minato had asked whether Yujiro expected any trouble.

Yujiro’s answer had been simple. Although it appeared to be an ordinary Chūnin Exam, if they handled the situation properly, it could become the opportunity Konoha needed to bring the Five Great Shinobi Countries under a single banner.

Now, events were unfolding exactly as he had predicted.

Yujiro read through the secret message and smiled faintly.

A secret conference of five powers?

With the Land of Fire and Konoha deliberately excluded, Sunagakure had apparently counted the Land of Iron alongside the four remaining great shinobi nations to make up the number.

However, the messages in front of him had already made the positions of Kumogakure and Iwagakure perfectly clear.

Neither village wanted a conflict with Konoha.

Yujiro was hardly surprised. After witnessing his strength, neither village would dare act recklessly, no matter how much courage they gathered.

What interested him was Sunagakure’s unusually aggressive stance.

Knock, knock.

A sudden knock sounded from the office door.

“Come in,” Minato called.

Kakashi opened the door. He paused briefly upon noticing Yujiro, then turned toward his teacher.

“Minato-sensei, Acting Mizukage Genji of Kirigakure has arrived in Konoha. He has requested an audience with Yujiro and is currently waiting outside.”

Shisui raised an eyebrow. Kirigakure’s arrival at a time like this could hardly be a coincidence.

“Let them in,” Minato ordered.

“Understood.”

Kakashi stepped outside and soon returned with Genji and Kirigakure’s other remaining elder.

The instant the two elderly men entered, their eyes locked onto Yujiro.

There could be no mistake. It was him.

Although several years had passed since their last meeting, neither of them had forgotten his presence. The memory of Yujiro’s overwhelming aura had been carved into their bones.

“Lord Yujiro!”

Genji immediately bowed with utmost respect.

“Mm.” Yujiro smiled calmly. “Tell me what brings you here.”

“Lord Yujiro, Kirigakure received a secret invitation from Sunagakure yesterday...”

Genji carefully explained everything. The contents of the invitation were nearly identical to the messages Iwagakure and Kumogakure had forwarded to Konoha.

“We saw no other choice,” Genji concluded in a subdued voice. “That is why we came to ask how you wish us to respond.”

Yujiro smiled.

“That works out well. Wasn’t Kirigakure already considering Mei Terumī as its next Mizukage?”

Genji nodded cautiously.

“I have no objection,” Yujiro continued. “Wait here for a while. I’ll speak with Mei myself.”

“Y-You truly mean that?”

Genji could barely contain his excitement. The other elder’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

After years of bloodshed and uncertainty, Kirigakure’s long ordeal was finally coming to an end.

Watching from the side, Minato shook his head and laughed softly.

“Just like that, three of the four great shinobi villages have declared where they stand.”

“That’s fine.” Yujiro’s smile remained unchanged. “Since Sunagakure is so eager to hold this secret conference, we’ll make sure it takes place properly.”

He turned toward the door.

“Leave this matter to me.”

With that, Yujiro leisurely departed from the office.

The tension in Minato’s expression finally eased.

He had initially feared that the other four great shinobi villages would use the Chūnin Exams as an opportunity to form an alliance against Konoha.

Now, there was nothing left to fear.

Three of the four villages had already made their positions clear.

Once again, Minato found himself deeply aware of just how much the shinobi world had changed because of Yujiro.

---

By the time Yujiro returned to his residence, Mei was in the pavilion preparing a plate of fruit.

“Master, you’re back.”

The moment she saw him, Mei greeted him with a bright smile.

“Mei, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

Yujiro sat casually in the wooden rocking chair beneath the pavilion.

“What is it, Master?”

Mei obediently selected a freshly washed grape and held it to his lips.

After eating it, Yujiro smiled.

“I want you to become Kirigakure’s next Mizukage.”

“The next... Mizukage?!”

Mei froze. A moment later, her expression fell.

She looked at Yujiro with wounded eyes.

“Master... did I do something wrong?”

“No.” Yujiro stared at her, taken aback by the question.

“Then... did I fail to serve you properly?” Mei gently bit her lower lip.

“No, that isn’t it either.”

Yujiro scratched his head, increasingly confused. Becoming Mizukage was supposed to be good news.

“Then... why don’t you want me anymore?” Mei asked, her voice trembling with grievance.

Her large eyes glistened as though tears might spill from them at any moment.

“I never said I didn’t want you.” Yujiro was now completely baffled. “When did I ever say that?”

“But if I become Mizukage, wouldn’t I have to remain in Kirigakure from now on...?”

As the words left her mouth, Mei finally began to realize that she might have misunderstood him. Her cheeks gradually turned red.

“Who told you that you would have to stay in Kirigakure forever?”

Yujiro helplessly reached out and tapped her forehead with one finger.

“You belong to me. No matter where you go, you must have my permission first.”

Mei blinked at him.

“Here’s what happened,” Yujiro continued. “Sunagakure has apparently lost its senses and decided to convene a secret conference of five powers while deliberately excluding Konoha.”

He leaned back in the rocking chair.

“Kirigakure is still without a Mizukage, so Genji came to seek my decision. I intend to have you assume the position and attend the secret conference as Kirigakure’s Mizukage.”

“Eh? So that’s what you meant...”

Mei’s face grew even redder.

She could only wonder whether Yujiro would remember how badly she had misunderstood him just now. The thought made her embarrassment deepen.

“That’s all there is to it.” Yujiro chuckled. “Even if you wanted to leave me, I still wouldn’t agree.”

Besides, where else was he supposed to find a maid as obedient, attentive, and devoted as Mei?