"Fifth Mizukage? Ahhh—" Suigetsu Hōzuki dragged out his words with a mocking grin.
"So that lunatic finally kicked the bucket, huh?"
Suigetsu had no fondness for Karatachi Yagura. Everyone knew just how many innocent lives had been lost under his rule. It was also a fact that the Hōzuki clan was wiped out because of him.
Mei Terumī didn't get angry.
"Yagura did make many mistakes," she said calmly. "We're working hard to set things right. Suigetsu, as a descendant of the Hōzuki clan, I hope you'll return to your home."
"Sure," Suigetsu said with a sly smile, stroking his chin.
"But get me one of the Seven Ninja Swords. If it's the Executioner's Blade, even better."
"The Executioner's Blade belongs to Zabuza," Mei replied. "If you defeat him, I won't object. As for the others, you're Mangetsu's little brother. With your talent, I doubt you're inferior to him. You can try for another blade instead."
Mei knew all too well about Suigetsu.
Even as a child, he had shown a natural talent for handling blades. His elder brother, Hōzuki Mangetsu, had been able to wield several of the Seven Swords at once.
If he returned to the village, there was no doubt he'd become another member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. And right now, Kirigakure needed talents like that more than ever.
As for his attitude toward the village—well, that wasn't important. Mei believed she could find a way to make Suigetsu feel a sense of belonging again. Bringing the Hōzuki back to Kirigakure was a necessary step.
The Yuki clan was gone for good. She knew there was one boy, Haku, who had been taken in by Kiyosuke, but he had already been absorbed into Konoha's ANBU. There was no bringing him back.
The Kaguya clan was in the same situation. Kimimaro had been taken by Orochimaru, making it impossible to reclaim him.
That left only Suigetsu as someone worth trying for.
"One of the Seven Swords, huh? That's tempting. What about my brother's twin swords, the Kiba?"
"The Kiba already have an owner."
"And Samehada?"
"It's in the hands of the rogue Kisame."
Suigetsu let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Man, all the ones I want are taken. Hard to feel motivated with those terms, y'know?"
He strolled behind Kiyosuke, grinning.
"Besides, with a big backer like him around, I think I'd rather head to Konoha."
Turning, he asked cheerfully:
"Kiyosuke-sama, Konoha will take me in, won't they?"
Kiyosuke gave a small cough before answering.
"Konoha is a warm, welcoming family. No one will bully you—as long as you don't do anything that threatens the village."
"Alright, alright, I promise I'll be good. Sorry, Mizukage-sama, but I'll pass. I just can't bring myself to trust Kirigakure."
Suigetsu's grin was wide, but everyone could hear the bitterness beneath it.
His clan had been slaughtered. He might be the only survivor, and on top of that, he'd been locked up as an experiment for years. The fact that he hadn't gone completely insane was a miracle.
Mei sighed softly, disappointment in her eyes, though in her heart she had already known convincing him would be almost impossible.
"If you ever want to return, you'll always be welcome. Kirigakure isn't the same village it used to be."
"Alright. I'll keep that in mind."
Suigetsu smiled, though whether he ever intended to go back was another question entirely.
"You two, pack up," Kiyosuke said to Suigetsu and Sasuke.
"We've got more places to be."
He escorted Mei to the door.
"Sorry for making you come all this way for nothing."
"It's fine. I never expected it to be so simple," Mei replied.
"Changing a village doesn't happen overnight. Still, thank you, Kiyosuke. At least now I know that the three great clans still have descendants alive in this world."
"It's nothing. As for Kimimaro… don't waste your efforts. He doesn't have long to live. When he's gone, the Kaguya clan will truly be extinct."
Kimimaro had never married, never had children. His death would mark the end of his bloodline.
"That's a loss for Kirigakure," Mei said with a long sigh.
"The Fourth… he really…"
Karatachi Yagura could only be remembered as a sinner in the village's history. Everyone would always recall how close he came to destroying Kirigakure. Whatever secrets lay behind it all, the higher-ups would never reveal them. They would carry that truth into the grave.
"At least under your leadership, Kirigakure is improving little by little," Kiyosuke said with a small smile.
"Keep at it. I'm still waiting for the day I can come visit as a tourist."
Indeed, Kirigakure had tourism resources to rival the Land of Hot Water. Mei was already working to shape the village into a destination that could face the world, a place people would travel from far and wide to see.
Tourism could bring prosperity to the villagers—so why not?
At the gate, Chōjūrō was waiting anxiously. He finally relaxed when he saw them return.
The Mizukage had left the village in a hurry after receiving a message, and Chōjūrō hadn't known why. Now it seemed it had been to meet Kiyosuke.
"Sorry for wasting your trip. I'll be destroying this place soon—you should both move back a ways," Kiyosuke said.
"Kiyosuke."
"Hm?"
"I want to get married."
Mei's soft words froze both men in place.
No way.
The beautiful Mizukage-sama, saying something like a wistful bride?
Impossible!
That wasn't Mizukage-sama!
Chōjūrō shook his head furiously. This wasn't the gentle Mizukage he knew.
Kiyosuke's face stiffened.
"…Two years. Give me two years."
Suddenly, Mei's hand wrapped around his neck, squeezing lightly as she smiled sweetly.
"If you're not married to me within two years, I'll kill you."
Kiyosuke's expression turned pale.
Was this… a darkened version of her?
He had to think fast. He needed a way to calm her down.
Chōjūrō, meanwhile, was staring at them in shock.
"M-Mizukage-sama, Kiyosuke-sama… you… you two…"
He couldn't believe it. Those two, of all people?!
"Anything's possible, Chōjūrō," Mei said softly.
"I've liked Kiyosuke since I was your age. But because of my position, I couldn't be with him. Otherwise… well, by now we'd probably have a child your age."
Her voice was tinged with melancholy.
If she had gone to Konoha with him back then… would they already have a child old enough to be a shinobi?
"Oi, if you'd had a kid back then, you might've died in childbirth, you know," Kiyosuke muttered.
He pulled out a scroll, handing it to her with a cough.
"Here. Train with this when you have time. There are supporting techniques included."
"What is it?" Mei asked, taking it carefully.
"Something good."
He leaned in to whisper a few words in her ear. Mei's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with excitement.
"I'll master it!" she declared, tucking the scroll away like a priceless treasure.
After saying their goodbyes, Kiyosuke turned back—only to find Suigetsu and Sasuke standing there, smirking like they'd been watching a play.
"How long have you two been standing there?" he asked flatly.
"Since the moment you said, 'Give me two years,'" Suigetsu answered with a grin.
Great.
The kids had seen everything.
He had completely lost respect.