"Kid, get up!"
The next day.
After a busy morning, Juzo returned to invite Itachi to join him for lunch.
He found Itachi still in his room, seemingly still asleep.
Juzo knocked on the door and called out loudly.
...
Hearing Juzo's noisy shouting, Itachi opened the door.
He hadn't been sleeping as Juzo assumed. Instead, he was in his room refining chakra.
"What is it? Are you already done with your work?"
Looking at Juzo, who was full of energy, Itachi replied in an annoyed tone.
"How could I be done already? But since you rarely visit, I thought I'd spend more time with you, showing you around our Hidden Mist Village and having some fun."
Hearing this, Juzo gave a bitter smile, then added something sentimental.
"Give me a break. You could just assign a ninja to show me around. You're obviously trying to slack off and are dragging me along as your excuse."
Itachi saw right through Juzo's intentions.
Juzo had often tried to rope Itachi into these schemes in the past.
...
In the end, the two didn't go out. They sent a subordinate to gather some food from the village instead.
To be fair, there wasn't much to see in the Hidden Mist Village at the moment. The place was still in recovery.
After three rounds of drinks, Juzo took out a scroll and placed it on the table.
He pushed it toward Itachi.
"Here's what you wanted."
Juzo said softly, looking at Itachi, who was gnawing on a chicken leg.
"Oh, thanks a lot."
Itachi glanced at his oily hands.
Deciding to finish his meal before handling the scroll, he thanked Juzo quietly and ignored the scroll for now.
...
"It's nothing. Besides the jutsu you wanted, I threw in two Water Release techniques for you to mess around with."
Hearing this, the sharp lines on Itachi's face softened slightly.
"Thanks."
He nodded in gratitude.
Honestly, Water Release techniques weren't a big deal for Itachi. If he were in Konoha, he could just study Tobirama's jutsu and easily become a master of water-style techniques.
At this point, Itachi didn't lack for jutsu.
Even if he encountered something impressive, he could usually copy it and use it himself.
Of course, overly advanced techniques couldn't be copied—especially those that required specific bloodline limits or other intricate conditions.
...
"Now that I have what I came for, I plan to leave this afternoon," Itachi said softly after a brief hesitation, setting down the pork leg he'd been eating and wiping his hands.
"So soon? Aren't you going to stick around and enjoy yourself a bit? The Hidden Mist Village is about to get lively—you don't want to witness it?"
Juzo looked a little surprised.
"No thanks. Just a bunch of weaklings fighting each other—what's there to see?"
After considering the scene Juzo described, Itachi refused flatly.
It didn't seem particularly interesting.
...
"Kid, you're getting pretty cocky these days. Your strength must have improved a lot, huh?"
Hearing Itachi's dismissive tone, Juzo gave him a long, meaningful look.
"Not really. I just don't find it that interesting," Itachi replied casually, brushing off Juzo's remark.
He had to get back to check if Orochimaru had made any progress with the Ryumyaku.
Though he didn't have high hopes, some things had to be seen with his own eyes.
It was too early to draw conclusions.
...
"Alright then. If this is goodbye, who knows when we'll meet again?"
Juzo didn't press further to make Itachi stay, merely sipping quietly on his drink.
"Take it easy on the alcohol—it's not good for you," Itachi said softly, watching Juzo down one cup after another with a hint of melancholy.
"This isn't just alcohol. It's more than that..."
"It's the warmth of rivers, the muddy waters we've waded through, the remedy for days steeped in darkness..."
"You…"
Itachi fell silent for a moment, wanting to say something. He started but stopped halfway, unable to come up with any witty remarks.
"If you think being the Mizukage is boring, then just quit. I think Mei Terumi is pretty good. Why not let her take over?"
Hearing the subtle bitterness in Juzō's words, Itachi decided to speak up.
"In the Shūba, this is the unaltered version!"
"Mei Terumi? Do you have feelings for her or something?"
Juzō was momentarily stunned by Itachi's words but quickly broke into a mischievous grin.
After all, Itachi's suggestion was completely unexpected.
Given that Mei Terumi was a woman, how could Itachi even think of recommending her to take over the position of Mizukage?
Could it be that even someone as composed as Itachi couldn't resist Mei's charm? Had he fallen for her? Should Juzō have a chat with Mei Terumi to help spark something between them?
Juzō's mind was flooded with ideas.
…
Naturally, Itachi had no idea that his casual suggestion had triggered such a storm of thoughts in Juzō's mind.
After all, Itachi had read the original story. He knew Mei Terumi did eventually become the Fifth Mizukage.
When he made the suggestion, he genuinely wasn't overthinking it.
But in the current uncertain situation, his words were bound to be misunderstood by Juzō.
At this point, Mei Terumi had yet to display her full potential. Satisfied with the village's progress, she didn't want it to plunge into chaos again.
She was leaning toward a more laid-back role…
…
"Mizukage-sama, the delegation from Konoha has arrived…"
Just as Juzō was about to indulge in another round of drinks, a voice came from outside the door.
"Got it. Have Mei Terumi handle the arrangements and negotiate with them."
Hearing his subordinate's report, Juzō, who had initially planned to mess with Elder Genshi again, recalled Itachi's earlier words.
He decided to give Mei Terumi a chance to prove herself and gain some exposure.
He took Itachi's words seriously, even though the suggestion seemed unusual.
Having a woman in power was extremely rare, though not unheard of. But women had to prove themselves even more capable than men in such roles.
And this wasn't just about holding power—it was about becoming the leader of an entire village and steering the fate of a nation.
…
"Let's go. Shall we see who Konoha sent this time?"
After his subordinate left, Juzō, unable to sit still, turned to Itachi and suggested they check it out together.
Itachi thought for a moment, didn't refuse, and nodded as he wiped the oil from his hands and mouth.
He picked up the scroll on the table and tucked it into his robe.
Seeing this, Juzō also stood up.
…
"What kind of people do you think Konoha sent this time? Do you think you'll know anyone?"
As they walked, Juzō asked.
While asking, he removed the hat from his head, intending to put it on Itachi, only to remember that it was the Mizukage's hat and shouldn't be misused.
Feeling a bit awkward, he put it back on.
Itachi, unaware of Juzō's thoughts, gave him a strange look. Juzō had taken his hat off for no apparent reason, only to put it back on as if he had lice or something…
…
"Who knows? Even if I recognize them, so what? Do you think they'd come all this way to pick a fight with me? This isn't Konoha. Konoha wouldn't send someone so irrational, would they?"
Itachi smiled faintly and replied casually to Juzō's question.
In his mind, he speculated that the people sent this time were likely strategic thinkers like Shikamaru's father. There was even a chance that the old fox Danzo could be among them.
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