Chapter 19: The Pink Purse and a Stroll Through the Village
Since he could not recall it, Chōjūrō decided not to dwell on it. He quickly walked up to Terumi Mei and spoke in a low voice.
"Lady Mizukage, the elders already sent someone…"
Here he stopped, choosing not to say more.
Terumi Mei's eyes flickered, and her face revealed a troubled look. She could already picture what awaited her when she met that old man again.
Turning to Yuto, her tone carried a hint of respect as she began, "Lord—"
"You go ahead if you have matters to attend to. I'd like to take a look around Kirigakure."
Yuto waved his hand, cutting her off mid-sentence, his voice casual.
Chōjūrō's eyes widened in shock. This was the second time he had seen someone interrupt the Mizukage so directly.
The last shinobi who had dared to do that was still bedridden at home.
He shivered at the thought of what might come next. But when he looked again at Lady Mizukage's face, he froze.
Not only was she unoffended, but her expression carried respect—and even faint reverence.
Not even when speaking with the elders had she shown such deference. She had even flipped the table on them before.
"Shall I send someone to guide you, Lord Yuto? And about your identity, should we…"
Terumi Mei's gaze was filled with admiration as she asked softly.
"No need. I plan to reacquaint myself with Kirigakure personally. As for my identity, inform the village's high-ranking shinobi. They will have their hands full soon enough. But do not let the common people know just yet."
Yuto thought for a moment, then spoke lightly.
It was not that he wished to hide from civilians. But even in peacetime, the great villages spied constantly upon one another.
News of his return would send shockwaves across the shinobi world.
Given Kirigakure's current strength, if the other four great villages moved against them, the result would be annihilation.
As for Orochimaru, Yuto was not concerned. Having witnessed his power firsthand, that man would not be foolish enough to provoke him.
Unifying the shinobi world required not only overwhelming strength but also manpower. Defeating every enemy meant nothing if he stood alone afterward.
Unification truly was a troublesome task. Yuto could not help but mutter inwardly.
Hearing his words, Terumi Mei's eyes brightened. She nodded firmly, then turned to head back into the village.
But just then, a light cough sounded, making her halt in her tracks.
"Ahem… could you lend me some money for now?"
Yuto looked at Terumi Mei a bit awkwardly.
She blinked in surprise, then a faintly amused look flashed through her eyes. So, Lord Yuto was not as stern as he seemed after all.
Though she thought this inwardly, her expression remained respectful. She quickly pulled out a small purse from her robes and placed it in Yuto's hand.
Chōjūrō stared in disbelief. Before he could react, Terumi Mei grabbed his arm and, with a leap, sped toward the village.
"Now, tell me everything that has happened."
Ao gave Yuto a respectful bow, then quickly followed after her.
Watching the three leave, Yuto chuckled softly. From the way Ao and Chōjūrō behaved, it was clear enough—Terumi Mei was managing her role as Mizukage fairly well.
Lowering his gaze, Yuto looked at the purse in his hand. Pink, decorated with a chibi animal, it brought an odd look to his face.
He had not expected the seemingly mature Terumi Mei to use something so girlish.
———
On a street in Kirigakure.
Yuto strolled along, a skewer of fish balls in one hand and a cup of hot tea in the other, a satisfied smile on his face.
The street was not as bustling as he had imagined, though there were still plenty of passersby and merchants calling out their wares.
He moved with the crowd, glancing around at the sights and stopping to buy whatever foods caught his interest.
Compared to his era, Kirigakure had changed greatly. There were even buildings resembling tall towers now.
Yet, through his brief observations, Yuto noted the village's population had not grown much.
He suspected this was tied to the policies of the Fourth Mizukage during the time of "Blood Mist Village."
At that thought, a deep killing intent flickered in his eyes. Uchiha Obito—when he met that man again, he would make sure to give him "special attention."
Yuto's feelings toward Kirigakure ran deep. Whether it was the comrades who had fought at his side, or the civilians who had borne hardship to support them, all of it was a bond he treasured.
"Haruna, slow down! Don't bump into anyone!"
A helpless voice came from up ahead.
Weaving through the crowd was a little girl, no more than five or six, hopping along playfully as she darted toward Yuto's direction.
Every few steps she turned her head back, sticking out her tongue mischievously.
Suddenly, she tripped on a protruding stone and pitched forward.
"Haruna!"
A panicked cry rang out. In the crowd, a girl of about sixteen or seventeen rushed toward her in alarm.
But though the distance wasn't far, the busy street slowed her down. By the time she reached her, Haruna would already have hit the ground.
The child squeezed her eyes shut in fear. Yet after a long moment, she realized she had not fallen.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself nestled safely in the arms of an older boy she had never seen before.
(End of Chapter)
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44