When Mei Terumī woke up, there was a water - soaked cloth torn from Seisuke's clothes placed on her forehead, and a charred animal skin covered her body.
A campfire was burning nearby, and Seisuke was sitting beside it, roasting meat by the fire.
Seeing that she was awake, he handed her a coconut shell filled with herbal medicine and said, "You're lucky to have me around. And there happened to be fever - reducing herbs on this island. Drink this, and then work up a sweat."
"What's this on me..."
"I encountered it while looking for herbs and killed it. It seems this deserted island is quite big." Otherwise, there wouldn't be such a large animal here.
Large animals usually don't exist on small islands. After all, there isn't a suitable environment for them, and it's difficult for them to reach the island. Of course, it's also possible that someone brought them to the island.
"Drink it. I went through a lot of trouble to find this."
He handed her the coconut shell. The pitch - black liquid inside made Mei Terumī feel a bit disgusted, and she looked at him with suspicious eyes.
"You don't think I poisoned it, do you? I swear, if I wanted to kill you, I could have slit your throat when you had a fever. Why would I waste so much effort? Hurry up and drink the medicine."
Mei Terumī pursed her lips, then took the coconut shell with a blushing face. It was hard to tell if it was due to the fever or the heat from the fire.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. You saved my life after all."
"It's so bitter." After taking a sip of the medicine, Mei Terumī wrinkled her brows in disgust. This stuff tasted even worse than the military rations pills.
"Bitter? Then close your eyes, pinch your nose, and gulp it down in one go. There's no room for you to be picky right now."
She really was a pampered young lady. Didn't she realize where they were?
Looking at Seisuke, Mei Terumī gritted her teeth. Couldn't this person say something nice and comfort her?
But she wasn't a picky person either. She gulped down the medicine. Although the hot herbal medicine had a terrible taste, it made her feel a bit better after it went down her throat.
Seisuke then handed her a coconut and said, "Here, take a sip to get rid of the bitterness."
"Okay."
She took the coconut and took a sip of the coconut juice. The bitterness in her mouth was immediately dispelled.
Feeling much better, Seisuke said at this time, "Take a nap later and work up a sweat. You should recover soon. By the way, how did a ninja like you catch a cold and have a fever?"
Mei Terumī gave him a weak glare and said, "Ninjas are also human. And we were both soaked in water for a long time. Why are you okay?"
"Maybe I have a better constitution?"
As soon as he woke up, he used his meager chakra to evaporate the seawater on his body, while Mei Terumī's clothes were still wet and sticking to her body.
Come to think of it, did I wake up too late and miss something?
What a pity!
While feeling regretful in his heart, he looked at the roasted meat by the fire, picked a piece that seemed ready, and handed it to her, saying, "The taste should be okay. Eat it and then go to sleep."
Taking the roasted meat skewered on a peeled branch, Mei Terumī thanked him, then blew gently on the heat and said, "Is it really okay for you to take care of me like this? We're from enemy forces."
"You saved my life, so of course I have to repay you. Besides, it would be a pity if such a beautiful girl like you died. Also, the village doesn't know I'm here. They probably think I've been captured or killed by now."
"You're really optimistic." She took a bite of the roasted meat, her eyes lit up, and she said, "It tastes great."
"Of course. Although it's just simply seasoned with sea salt, adding a little does make a difference."
"Yeah, it's not bad. But it's not as delicious as the food cooked by my family's chef."
"Ah, you really are a young lady. Us common folks have never had such luxury. But let me tell you, Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha is absolutely amazing." He picked up a piece of meat, blew on it, and then started eating, saying, "Ah, I really want to go back and have Ichiraku Ramen."
Mei Terumī asked, "Does it taste that good?"
"It's really good. I want to eat it even more at a time like this."
"I also want to try it."
"If there's a chance in the future, when you come to Konoha, I'll take you to try it."
"In the future..." She shook her head and said, "Let's talk about the future later. The war isn't over yet. Besides, Konoha won't welcome me, a person from Kirigakure."
"The war will end sooner or later. Rather, the question is whether Kirigakure will open up after the war."
Kirigakure was in a state of isolation, with its own people killing each other. If it weren't for the Third Mizukage holding things together, Kirigakure might have already descended into chaos.
Mei Terumī's face stiffened. The characteristics of Kirigakure were known throughout the ninja world. The cruel and bloody policies made life difficult for Kirigakure's ninjas. Even during the war, it was better than being in the village.
"Your Kirigakure..."
He swallowed the meat and said, "Kirigakure should open up and integrate with the world. Isolating itself will only lead to stagnation."
Hearing this, Mei Terumī's eyes lit up, and she nodded in agreement. "You're right. Kirigakure should open up, but the village won't do it."
She didn't say more. After all, it was Kirigakure's internal matter. What was the point of talking about it with Seisuke, a person from Konoha?
Seisuke picked up another piece of meat and said, "Kirigakure will open up sooner or later, and the opportunity lies with you."
"Me?" Mei Terumī looked at him in confusion. Seisuke said, "With two Kekkei Genkai, from a big clan, plus your talent and popularity, you have a high chance of becoming the Mizukage. That guy from the Hozuki clan and the one from the Kaguya clan probably didn't accept you at first, right? But seeing how they call you Lord Mei now, they've been convinced by you. If it's you, Kirigakure will surely thrive."
"I'm not that great." Mei Terumī felt a bit shy, and her heart was pounding. It wasn't because of Seisuke himself, but because of his words. The position of Mizukage...
"However, before that, the Third Mizukage will have to die, and oh, the Fourth too."
As soon as Mei Terumī heard this, she got angry and shouted, "You Konoha brat! You're probably hoping our Mizukages will die, aren't you?!"
Seisuke said casually, "Just as an example. If the Third Mizukage dies in this war, the one to succeed him definitely won't be you because you're too young. It will be someone else. Then, if you want to make a difference as soon as possible, the Fourth Mizukage has to die. Otherwise, even if you become an old woman, you won't become the Fifth Mizukage."
It seemed... there was some truth to that.
"Why not the Fourth?" She had given up hope on the Third Mizukage. He was more conservative and wouldn't take risks with the village, always implementing a conservative policy.
Seisuke glanced at her and said, "He'll focus on the village itself rather than diplomacy. If I'm not wrong, Kirigakure is in chaos. It can't even maintain internal stability, let alone external relations. He'll spend a long time rectifying the internal affairs. Don't count on external changes."
Not to mention that later, the Fourth Mizukage would be controlled by Obito and mess up Kirigakure.