Terumi Mei placed a beautifully wrapped wooden box on the table, sliding it toward Mufasa with a graceful smile.
"This is a special gift from Mist Village—fresh abalone, caught just this morning. It's tender, packed with nutrients, and highly valued among the elite. I hope you'll give it a try."
Mufasa raised an eyebrow at the unexpected generosity.
The rich, briny scent of the sea wafted up as he unlatched the box, revealing plump, glistening abalone resting on a bed of ice.
The aroma alone transported his mind to the ocean, an odd contrast to the endless dunes outside his window.
He rubbed his nose, eyes narrowing in appraisal.
This wasn't just any abalone—this was top-tier.
He had eaten enough high-quality food to tell the difference at a glance.
"Impressive," he admitted, shutting the box gently. "That's quite the welcome gift."
Terumi Mei, poised as ever, crossed her legs and leaned slightly forward.
Her emerald-green eyes, always carrying an air of mystery, studied Mufasa's reaction.
Her long, auburn hair cascaded past her shoulders, partially tied by a blue headband.
Her attire—partially exposing her shoulders—was as bold as her personality.
"You've built an impressive reputation, Kazekage," she said smoothly. "A gift like this is only fitting."
Mufasa gestured to the plush chairs across from him. "Please, have a seat. Let's talk."
As Terumi Mei and Ao settled in, Mufasa poured them all a round of hot tea.
The pleasantries continued for a moment before he finally leaned back and got to the point.
"You didn't come all this way just to treat me to seafood. What brings the Mizukage and her right-hand man across the sea to my village?"
Ao and Terumi Mei exchanged glances before Ao spoke.
"We need your help."
Mufasa chuckled. "Mist Village is one of the five great villages. If there's something you need, I'll do my best to assist. But let's hear the details first."
Ao's expression darkened. "Kazekage, are you aware of Konoha's fishing operations?"
Mufasa nodded.
He was well aware.
Ever since Danzo discovered the lucrative industry of deep-sea fishing, he had turned it into a personal gold mine.
With an abundance of tuna, eel, lobster, and whale meat at his disposal, Konoha had established a steady export business.
More importantly, Danzo's newfound wealth gave him financial independence from the Hokage's direct control.
His fleet of ships had grown substantially, and with it, so had his power.
"What about it?" Mufasa asked, though he had a feeling he already knew.
Terumi Mei took a sip of tea before setting her cup down.
"They've taken things too far. Danzo's fleet has started fishing in our waters. Our fishermen have confronted them multiple times, but Konoha's ships are faster, bigger, and armored with steel.
We can't chase them down, and when we try, they create massive waves to capsize our boats. Our people are losing their livelihoods."
Mufasa scoffed. "So Danzo's officially gone full warlord, huh?" He shook his head.
"Why haven't you just sunk their ships?"
Ao sighed. "We would if we could. But our wooden boats are no match for their steel hulls. We need something better."
Mufasa tilted his head, already sensing where this was going. "You want me to build you a fleet?"
Both Ao and Terumi Mei nodded firmly.
"Not just any fleet," Terumi Mei clarified. "Something superior to what Konoha has."
Mufasa stroked his chin, considering it.
"I won't lie—building warships isn't cheap." He tapped the abalone box. "And this isn't enough to cover the cost."
Terumi Mei smirked. "We are prepared to pay any price."
Mufasa was about to name his price when he paused, his eyes flickering toward the large map pinned on the wall.
Maybe money wasn't the best form of payment.
He leaned forward, his smirk matching hers. "Tell you what… before we talk numbers, why don't you both join me for an event?"
Ao looked skeptical. "An event?"
Mufasa nodded. "It just so happens that today is the final graduation exam for my Sand Ninja Squad 6 students. You've never seen how we do things here, have you?"
He reached into a nearby cabinet and pulled out an outfit.
Before Terumi Mei and Ao could react, he slipped it on.
The two Mist ninja sat in stunned silence as Mufasa stood before them, now dressed in an yellow octopus-themed academic gown, complete with a doctoral cap and neck tie with a yellow crescent-moon symbol on it.
His normally sharp, commanding presence was replaced by something entirely… ridiculous.
Terumi Mei blinked.
Ao cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Um… Kazekage?" Terumi Mei asked slowly. "What… exactly… are you wearing?"
Mufasa adjusted his cap, a confident grin on his face. "It's my proctor uniform."
"…Your what?"
"My proctor uniform. You know, for exams." He folded his arms, his long coat-like sleeves swaying. "Can't be a proper educator without the right attire."
Ao buried his face in his hand. Terumi Mei bit her lip, unsure whether to laugh or question her life choices.
"You like sailing on dry land," she muttered. "And now you're dressed like… seafood."
"This is not seafood."
Mufasa finished dressing.
Korosensei appeared, his milk-yellow complexion shining under the sun, two small black dot-like eyes and a wide, ever-present grin stretched across his face.
He looked almost too cheerful, too ridiculous.
His tentacle-like arms wiggled as he adjusted his new outfit—a high-end product crafted from his personal stash of shapeshifting alloy.
"How about it?" he asked, his voice brimming with self-satisfaction.
"Handsome, right?"
Terumi Mei and Ao were frozen in place, staring at him in disbelief.
"You... you're supposed to be a teacher?" Ao finally managed to ask.
"Aren't you just an octopus?" Terumi Mei added, raising an eyebrow.
Mufasa nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! My greatest passion is teaching and shaping young minds!"
He spun around, proudly displaying his absurd outfit.
"This is my special attire, personally designed to inspire my beloved students! Learning should be fun!
And what better way to make my students adore their teacher than by giving them a cute, friendly figure to look up to?"
He extended a tentacle dramatically.
"Just look at this warm, inviting milky yellow! The friendly, ever-smiling face! How could any student not love learning when guided by the greatest teacher in the world?"
Terumi Mei and Ao exchanged looks.
Their expressions were a mix of confusion and mild horror.
Their eyes then fell on the books hidden under Mufasa's teacher robes—titles such as Make-out Tactics and Roots: My Way of the Ninja.
Yeah. This guy was definitely not a normal teacher.
"Let's go!" Mufasa announced, using his tentacle-like appendages as legs, moving forward in a bizarre, bouncing gait.
Boing~Boing~
Boing~
He gestured for them to follow.
"I'll take you to the graduation assessment. You can witness my exceptional students in action!"
Mufasa, now in full octopus-teacher mode, drove his hovering electric tractor toward the Knight Academy.
Terumi Mei and Ao sat stiffly behind him, still processing what they had just witnessed.
The academy was packed.
Students and teachers gathered in the training grounds, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
The first-year class was about to witness something momentous—several of their own had passed the grueling exams.
Standing proudly on the stage were the top five students: Yusuke, Michiki, Jin, Miyuki, and Katsuragi.
These five had managed to score an S-rank in ten different courses, an achievement that was nothing short of incredible.
The rest of the students, standing in the audience, were a mix of admiration, jealousy, and motivation.
Everyone here had their own dreams of becoming a Kamen Rider.
Among them were students from different backgrounds: Chris, Sakyo, Miyamoto Shino, Minakami Mei, and a whole new wave of recruits like Yo from the former Anbu, Kannan, Bujiro, Yerin, and many others.
The list of promising young talent was growing every year.
Sand Ninja Village had truly changed.
Gone were the days of struggling for survival in the desert.
With improved infrastructure, generous wages, and advanced technology, the village had become a thriving hub of development.
People from all over were now eager to join, bringing new blood and talent into the system.
Even among those present, many already displayed the potential to surpass the old generation.
Yusuke, Michiki, Jin, Miyuki, and Katsuragi had already reached power levels rivaling elite Jonin.
Excitement filled the air as everyone waited for the final ceremony to begin.
Then, the sound of a tractor engine chugging through the sky disrupted the moment.
The students groaned collectively.
'Oh no.'
'Why was he here?'
A floating tractor descended from above, and from it, a familiar yellow-skinned figure leaped down, wiggling his tentacle arms in greeting.
"Hello, my adorable students! Your beloved Korosensei has arrived!"
Groans and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
This teacher was infamous.
Among all substitute teachers, he was by far the most unbearable.
He was flamboyant, a chronic flirt, always carried suspicious books, and somehow found ways to make his lessons a mix of nonsense and sheer brutality.
His teaching philosophy?
'Learn to kill or get beaten half to death trying.'
Students had given him a few choice nicknames:
'The Eternal Storm Pretender, The Octopus Pervert, and the ever-popular That Jerk Who Never Dies.'
Even now, Ms. Elise in the crowd quietly checked her supply of healing serum, calculating how many she might need to survive the class.
Korosensei waved happily at the students, his presence alone causing their excitement for the ceremony to fade into dread.
Mei and Ao, watching from the sidelines, tried their best to stay unnoticed.
"You two just sit here and enjoy the show," Mufasa whispered to them.
"Remember, if you reveal my identity, no ships for you."
Terumi Mei and Ao nodded quickly, wanting no part in whatever was about to happen.
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Word count: 1628
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