Adopted by Tsunade [85-86] (Patreon)

Chapter 85: The Future, Dignified Mizukage

Uzushio Village was now a wreck, overrun with weeds.

Looking at everything around him, Natsume couldn't help but sigh. "The ninja world is truly heartless."

Mei Terumi paused at his words, then couldn't help agreeing.

Uzushio was destroyed because people feared the Uzumaki clan's sealing arts, and also because of the death of Senju Hashirama.

He, honored as the God of Shinobi, pacified the chaos and established the one-country-one-village system.

Because of his ideals, he distributed the tailed beasts to other villages and agreed there would be no more wars, granting the shinobi world a long-lost peace.

Sadly, his death proved it was all but a fleeting illusion.

People did not keep the peace for peace's sake—they did so because of his strength.

In a ruthless ninja world, peace is ultimately too extravagant.

"Who's in charge of the Land of Whirlpools now?"

Natsume gazed out at the distant sea and asked.

"There's a daimyō for the Land of Whirlpools, but he doesn't manage much."

Mei Terumi came back to herself, her tone cool. "Ever since Uzushio Village fell, the Land of Whirlpools has descended into chaos. It's occupied by all kinds of rogue shinobi and vicious criminals, and has become a paradise for crime."

A lawless zone, huh?

Hearing that familiar description, Natsume fell into thought.

Maybe he could take the Land of Whirlpools.

From the perspective of maritime transport, its location was absurdly good.

The "whirlpool" in its name wasn't metaphorical.

Here, several ocean currents intersected, forming an actual whirlpool.

The Five Great Nations and the Five Great Villages clearly had no sense of the importance of transportation.

Ditto for land transport.

If you don't build roads, how do you make money?

"Something's wrong."

Mei Terumi arched a brow, her face turning grim.

Natsume narrowed his eyes—he, too, noticed the anomaly.

There were enemies across the sea.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

Mei's eyes went cold as her hands wove signs.

Chakra surged from her body and quickly vanished.

In the distance, the sea roared.

A massive water dragon took shape in an instant.

At the same time, human screams rose.

Four unfortunates were caught up in the water dragon and swept far away.

But more shinobi shot up from the sea in unison, forming a line. Countless shuriken and kunai filled the sky.

A chill flashed through Mei's heart.

That many shinobi, all to assassinate Natsume?

Impossible.

Their killing intent was clearly aimed at her.

The only village nearby that could mobilize that many shinobi at once was Kirigakure.

And among them were some she recognized.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Mei formed signs again.

Under the tug of her chakra, seawater surged in and became a towering wall, blocking the rainlike storm of ninja tools.

"Go!"

Mei turned and shouted to Natsume.

So many shinobi would be hard to handle even for her.

Add the "ordinary man" Natsume and it would be pure suicide.

As soon as the words fell, two earth dragons burst from the ground, spitting mud projectiles that shattered the water wall.

Both sides tacitly avoided using Hidden Mist Technique.

They'd all had professional training; their vision wouldn't be blocked by a little fog.

Mei had also considered Natsume.

If the mist came out, he'd have an even harder time running.

A dozen shinobi charged them from different angles.

Mei's cheeks puffed; she opened her small mouth and spat a stream of orange liquid.

Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!

The orange liquid was a sticky, highly corrosive acid.

With one spray, the three foremost shinobi were dissolved on the spot, not even leaving bone behind.

Natsume couldn't help a shiver.

He began to wonder—could a Sage Body tank that?

The acid kept spreading.

The other shinobi, seeing their comrades' fate, fled in terror.

"Go!"

Mei didn't have time to catch her breath. With a Body Flicker, she appeared at Natsume's side, grabbed him, and tried to run.

But the next moment, someone was already blocking their path.

"Eigi, do you understand what you're doing?"

Mei's eyes brimmed with killing intent and chill, and her entire bearing emanated an indescribable authority.

For a moment, Eigi felt like he was staring at the Mizukage.

This woman can't be allowed to live!

If she really becomes Mizukage, I'll be the first to be purged.

"What am I doing? Naturally, killing you—by order of the Mizukage!"

Eigi snarled, face twisted.

Hearing that, Mei's heart sank.

Though she had suspected it, having it confirmed still gave her a betrayal kind of feeling.

Since becoming a shinobi, she had considered herself absolutely loyal to the Mizukage.

She hadn't expected to be distrusted for trying to secure Kirigakure's future.

Suddenly she remembered Momochi Zabuza.

He failed to assassinate the Mizukage and fled.

But before that, he had always been loyal to Kirigakure.

Only after seeing the Mizukage's inaction did he think to make a change.

Mei bit her lip; her face had gone pale.

Because of her age, she wasn't yet at her peak.

Stronger than the average jōnin, but with limits.

Her chakra flared violently again.

Mei seized Natsume and retreated.

Waves sprang up out of nowhere, surging toward the two of them, trying to drown them.

Meanwhile, the others weren't idle.

Water and lightning—

Two colors of chakra merged. Instead of clashing, they reacted and amplified each other.

Mei immediately tossed Natsume.

Chakra wrapped him and carried him drifting into the distance.

As soon as she did, Mei faced the lightning-laced waves and formed signs.

Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!

Water and fire fused, producing superheated mist.

With each breath in and out, the mist rapidly expanded, soon shrouding the waves.

With nothing to stop it, everything began to melt.

Even the ground became a giant pit.

Eigi's body trembled.

Terrifying!

Bloodline limits really are heaven's own gifts.

But they have drawbacks too.

They burn chakra fast.

"Don't be afraid—she can't use many more jutsu. Everyone, go!"

Eigi shouted, while edging backward.

Mei's escape route was blocked again.

But her expression didn't change in the slightest.

She was the future Mizukage, after all.

Even at a moment of crisis, she would never give up.

Compared to Tsunade, another female Kage, who didn't quite fit the traditional Hokage mold and tended to be laid-back—

Mei was different. Every move she made was proper and dignified, aside from the occasional flash of temper.

Water Release techniques rose again.

Standing on the sea, watching the crisscrossing blue in the distance, Natsume finally understood why Mei had contributed one hundred fate points earlier.

It was because his plan to open sea routes would lead to her death—

If he didn't save her.

Of course he would act.

Whether for fate points or for his plan, he couldn't just watch her die.

The only trouble was the identity issue.

Natsume fell into thought. How should he explain?

Obviously he couldn't be a Konoha shinobi.

So he'd have to pull out the mysterious organization.

He hadn't even settled on a name before. For now, he'd just call it "Heaven's Mandate.'

Chapter 86: Mei Terumi's Wavy Curls

Natsume entered Sage Mode at extreme speed; markings appeared around his eyes and on his forehead.

But with his mask on, they weren't very obvious.

All three great sanctuaries taught Sage Mode, but each had its own differences and specialties.

In terms of duration, Mount Myōboku's was the shortest—without a toad's help, at most five minutes.

The fastest to enter Sage Mode was Shikkotsu Forest—practically instant.

In terms of focus, Ryūchi Cave boosted perception and bodily flexibility; Mount Myōboku enhanced chakra and physical attributes; Shikkotsu Forest maxed out regeneration and physical toughness.

As for using senjutsu chakra to amplify jutsu power, that was common to all.

Natsume had asked the Slug Sage; Senju Hashirama had indeed come to learn Sage Mode.

But how to put it?

He was so strong that Sage Mode had become something altogether different in his hands.

Just like Wood Release.

Sage Art: Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Natsume didn't use Wood Release—no need.

He was surrounded by water; Water Release got a sizable boost here.

Pair it with Sage Mode and it was enough to deal with most shinobi.

Senjutsu chakra tugged the sea into motion, and a wall sprang up in front of Mei.

All ninja tools and jutsu were blocked.

Mei jolted slightly; a bit of hope colored her pale face.

This wasn't her jutsu. That meant someone had come to help.

At that moment, the one she thought of wasn't Natsume, but a shinobi from Elder Genji's faction in Kirigakure.

Eigi didn't notice—he assumed it was Mei's doing.

They were in the thick of battle; all kinds of chakra fluctuations masked Natsume's trace.

And ordinary jutsu infused with senjutsu chakra didn't look much different on the surface.

"Use Earth Release!"

Eigi barked.

Earth Release counters Water Release.

They'd used Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet to break Mei's Water Release: Water Formation Wall before.

Time to do it again.

At his command, three large mud-colored dragon heads burst from the ground, opened their mouths, and spat three mud projectiles.

Mei frowned slightly, forced down her discomfort, and began forming signs.

She knew one Water Formation Wall wouldn't stop three shinobi using Earth Dragon Bullet at the same time.

But then she was surprised.

The mud projectiles slammed into the wall and did nothing.

We've run into a real expert.

To push a jutsu's power beyond its rank, there's only one way—

Dump in absurd amounts of chakra.

Who is it?

Does Kirigakure have a shinobi that strong?

Mei could only think of Yagura.

He was the Three-Tails' jinchuriki—his strength spoke for itself.

But there was no way he'd show up.

Just as that thought rose, the roar of a water dragon sounded from behind her.

Eigi didn't have time to wonder why the wall was so sturdy that they couldn't smash through it; he hastily formed signs.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

A water dragon formed before him and took flight.

"Everyone be careful—there's someone else!"

Eigi finally realized the problem.

Mei hadn't even formed signs; this had to be someone else's jutsu.

As his words fell, the two dragons collided.

Eigi's face froze—his water dragon didn't last even a second before it was torn to shreds.

He scrambled backward.

The water dragon crashed down; wild chakra blasted in all directions.

Mixed with dirt and stones, it pelted the surrounding shinobi.

Screams rang out.

In an instant, a third of them fell.

"What?!"

Eigi was stunned.

How could a mere Water Dragon Bullet hit that hard?

Why did my Water Dragon Bullet look like a fake?

He shivered.

The shinobi he'd brought were all jōnin and chūnin—elite by Kirigakure standards.

Half of them were already gone.

How could he explain this when he got back?

"Lord Eigi! Run!"

A sudden shout snapped Eigi out of it.

He looked up instinctively—and saw the entire sea roiling, as if some giant monster was about to surface.

Eyes wide, he watched as countless waves shot into the sky—ten-plus meters high—and crashed down over them all.

Power like that was beyond ordinary shinobi.

Eigi turned and ran without hesitation.

The others did the same.

Mei swallowed.

She was protected by the Water Formation Wall, but it only blocked one side.

Her chakra was nearly spent.

Just as she braced herself to leave, a figure appeared before her.

Mei's mind went blank.

She had imagined many people, but never that it would be Takashi the merchant.

"Don't resist."

Natsume grasped Mei's smooth shoulder, slipped his right hand under her knees, and lifted her in a princess carry.

A few bounds later, they were gone.

The next moment, the sea came crashing down, drowning the former Uzushio Village—along with Eigi and his men.

Warmth and a foreign scent passed through their tightly pressed bodies.

Mei went rigid.

It was the first time a man had held her.

She was the textbook strong woman—

For a simple reason.

In Kirigakure, she had the best talent and the greatest strength.

Destined to be the next Mizukage, she would never rely on anyone; she would be the towering tree sheltering the village.

But now, her feelings shifted slightly.

The only person a strong woman recognizes—

Is someone stronger.

She had admired Natsume's foresight before. Now she had to add unfathomable strength.

More important still, she was in danger.

There's a psychology concept called the suspension bridge effect.

Crossing a suspension bridge makes your heart race.

If you meet someone at that moment, you might mistake that racing heart as being caused by them, and develop a feeling of love.

It's why roller coasters are better than other rides at making couples—same principle.

Feeling an unprecedented sense of safety, Mei's face flushed slightly.

Moments later, she fainted.

Her stamina was spent in the earlier fight. Now, in a comfortable environment with her guard down, she couldn't hold on.

Natsume didn't return to Kirigakure. He found a room in a nearby town.

He laid Mei on the bed and checked her over again.

Aside from exhausted chakra, she had no other injuries.

Natsume let out a breath—no need to call anyone over; just wait.

He rubbed his hands together. Since she couldn't resist right now, he could do something he wanted to do.

Not somenthing naughty—doing her hair.

If she asked later, he'd say her hairstyle got messed up in the fight.

Sitting at the bedside, he propped her upper body up and undid her hair.

He used his fingers to part the bangs slightly to both sides, revealing the right eye she always kept covered.

Then he combed the messy hair into shape, and with her natural wave, it became big, bouncy curls.

Her small maidenly face was soft and springy to the touch—Natsume couldn't help giving it a few extra squeezes.