[Sponsored] Chapter 77: We can be Friends

[This chapter is proudly sponsored by "Sukhman Singh." Please join me in expressing your thanks in the comments! If you're interested in sponsoring a chapter, consider joining the Patreon.]

The cruise ship docked, and the crowd jostled to disembark.

Naruto and Karin were the last to step off.

"It seems there aren't any extra ninjas," Karin said, standing on her tiptoes to survey the surroundings.

On the dock, only two ninja squads were present—one maintaining order and the other on routine patrol.

There were no other temporary deployments specifically meant for them, which surprised her.

Naruto had become quite a formidable figure.

At the borders of the Land of Fire, even a slight approach to those smaller countries would make their ninja villages tense up immediately, with some even raising battle alerts.

Yet, the Mist Village had made no preparations whatsoever?

"We're just tourists," Naruto said softly as he walked ahead. "After all, the Mist Village is still one of the Five Great Ninja Villages; they're confident in their own strength."

Karin caught up, still puzzled by the Mist Village's attitude. It was better without those ninjas around, making the journey more enjoyable.

Their destination was clear—they were heading straight to the Mist Village without any stops.

As they neared the village, the two stopped in their tracks.

"I might have spoken too soon," Karin murmured as she looked ahead. "It's not that they didn't prepare; they just did it differently."

At the village entrance stood a female ninja with long reddish-brown hair, dressed in a strapless gown.

Beside her was a stern-looking male ninja with "talisman" ornaments hanging from his ears, his right eye covered by a tightly wrapped eyepatch. He was Ao, the leader of the Mist Village's Anbu.

Beneath his eyepatch was the only remaining Byakugan outside the Hyūga Clan.

From a kilometer away, he had already detected Naruto.

"Terumi Mei-sama," Ao said gravely, "Uzumaki Naruto has arrived."

"How does he look?" Mei asked.

The Byakugan possessed the ability to perceive chakra within the body, providing a direct gauge of a person's strength.

Ao swallowed nervously. The pressure from merely observing him made his voice tense. "His chakra is as vigorous as a tailed beast's—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the protective mechanism of the talisman hanging from his right ear suddenly activated, twisting and expanding as it clung to his eyepatch.

But in the next second, with a crack, it shattered.

Ao quickly turned his head, diverting his gaze and covering his right eye, a few streaks of blood seeping through his fingers.

"Ao!" Mei gasped, her hands readying chakra.

"Terumi Mei-sama, the Byakugan is fine!" Ao responded urgently. "It's my insight that Uzumaki Naruto detected."

Mei retracted her chakra.

"Is this how the Mist Village welcomes tourists?" In that instant, the blond and red-haired pair appeared before them, their tone and demeanor gentle.

Mei smiled as she locked eyes with Naruto. "You're no ordinary tourist."

"I apologize on Ao's behalf."

"He tends to rely too much on his abilities and uses them subconsciously."

Naruto nodded and replied with a polite smile, "Thank you for the welcome."

He was about to step into the village.

"Wait," Mei called out.

Naruto turned to look at her.

"Rather than you two exploring the village alone, how about having a guide?" Mei bowed slightly, her tone sincere. "Whatever your purpose, wouldn't it be more convenient to communicate directly with the Mist Village?"

Over the past six months, Naruto had grown considerably taller, now just half a head shorter than Mei.

His expression remained calm. "I don't mind, but... who are you in the Mist Village?"

"You could say I'm the acting Mizukage," Mei replied after a moment's thought.

She was currently the leader of the village, handling all major and minor affairs.

But strictly speaking, she wasn't officially the "Mizukage" yet.

The current leader of the Mist Village was the Elder Genji. Without his approval, even with the authority of a Kage, she couldn't be called the "Mizukage."

"A Kage?" Naruto studied her. "Does the Mist Village's Kage have that much free time?"

Mei shook her head slightly. "There are plenty of people to handle village affairs."

"But not just anyone can be your guide."

Naruto agreed, "Then I'll be relying on you for the next little while."

"Naruto, I'm in your care," Mei said with a dazzling smile, her laughter resounding like a tinkling bell.

Karin glanced at her, then looked down at herself, only to find her gaze landing on her shoes.

She couldn't help but click her tongue in irritation.

Mei seemed to hear this and smiled even more brightly.

Ao apologized to Naruto once more, expressed his gratitude, and then swiftly departed.

Mei led them into the village.

The Mist Village wasn't as prosperous as Konoha. In fact, it was even less so than some of the more flourishing towns in the Land of Fire.

"This village has been through some difficult times," Mei explained. "It's only in the last few years that it has started to recover."

"But it still can't compare to the countries on the mainland."

"In a village like ours, could you tell me why you came, Naruto?"

Naruto looked at her, accepted the local snack Karin had bought from a street vendor, and nodded slightly. "I wanted to see what the Mist Village and the Land of Water are like, and how they differ from the Land of Fire and Konoha."

"I also wanted to ask the Mist Village for something."

Terumi Mei's heart skipped a beat, and her expression turned serious.

As expected, there was an ulterior motive.

But what could he be after?

She remained silent for a moment, then smiled slightly and said, "I really tried to think about it just now, but I can't figure out what in Mist Village could catch your eye."

Mist Village was once very powerful.

There were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and two Jinchūriki.

But now...

Nearly all of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have defected, leaving only one sword behind, and even that in the hands of an underdeveloped prodigy. The Six-Tails Jinchūriki has also defected, vanished without a trace.

The Three-Tails is barely still under the village's control, but the position of its Jinchūriki has remained unfilled.

The current Mist Village is at the bottom of the "Five Great Nations."

It's only because the Land of Water is surrounded by the ocean and nearly isolated from the world, with natural barriers protecting it.

Otherwise, it would have long been engulfed by war, divided, and devoured by the other four great nations.

"About twenty years ago, the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed overnight." Naruto continued with a smile, "Did Mist Village have a hand in that?"

Terumi Mei sized up Naruto and nodded slightly. "Yes, that did happen."

At that time, she was around the same age as Naruto is now, so she experienced it firsthand.

But what does he mean by bringing this up?

"I believe Mist Village should return what once belonged to the Land of Whirlpools to me, a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan." Naruto made a proposal. "What do you think?"

Terumi Mei's heart eased. "So you came for something that belonged to the Land of Whirlpools?"

"Then I'll have someone prepare it."

She disappeared in an instant and quickly returned.

She did not mention the outcome, but continued to show Karin and Naruto around Mist Village.

In a meeting room within the Mizukage building, five Jonin were seated.

In the center was an elderly man, bald and nearly toothless.

"Terumi Mei-sama has sent word that Uzumaki Naruto's purpose is to retrieve items belonging to the Uzumaki Clan from us," Ao spoke, revealing the newly gathered intelligence.

One Jonin frowned. "Is he demanding it, rather than offering to trade?"

"Let Terumi Mei negotiate a trade!" Another older Jonin said forcefully, "He thinks he can take it without offering anything in return?"

He was interrupted before finishing his sentence. "Don't forget, his surname is Uzumaki."

Again, they repeated, "His surname is Uzumaki."

It's quite reasonable for an Uzumaki to ask for Uzumaki property.

"Have Terumi Mei spar with him and test his strength," someone suggested thoughtfully. "If he's as strong as rumored, giving it to him to gain a powerful ally isn't a bad idea."

"But if he's just average, then..."

Many others agreed.

If he's strong, make friends. If he's weak, there's no need to worry.

Ao shook his head. "I disagree."

The other Jonin looked at him in surprise.

"You haven't interacted with Uzumaki Naruto," Ao's tone was heavy. "What you think is a test might be seen as a provocation by him."

"If Terumi Mei-sama wins, that's great. But if she doesn't, he won't see it as a mere sparring match, and we won't be able to control the outcome."

Some frowned, others scoffed.

Ao raised his hand, placing it on his eye patch. "I greeted Uzumaki Naruto with Terumi Mei-sama at the village gates."

"I merely used the Byakugan to observe his chakra, and he retaliated, injuring my eye."

"A strong person has their own dignity."

The other Jonin fell silent.

"Genji-sama, what do you think?" A Jonin carefully asked the elderly man at the head of the table.

The old man holding a serpent-shaped wooden staff spoke in an aged voice. "Let Terumi Mei decide."

"She will lead the village in the future."

"We haven't interacted with Uzumaki Naruto, so it's better to trust her judgment than to make hasty decisions."

Ao stood up. "Genji-sama, I will prepare the items Uzumaki Naruto requested."

Genji nodded.

An hour later.

Terumi Mei had just finished showing Naruto and Karin around the Mist Village Ninja Academy.

An Anbu member appeared, respectfully holding a pile of scrolls.

"It seems the items are ready," Terumi Mei smiled. "Shall we find a place to sit and talk?"

Naruto nodded in agreement.

They sat down in a restaurant.

As soon as they were seated, Terumi Mei waved her hand, and the Anbu placed the scrolls in front of Naruto. "This is all the heritage of the Land of Whirlpools that our village possesses."

"History, knowledge, records..."

"I had them bring everything out."

Naruto pushed them toward Karin. "That was quick. I thought it would take more effort."

"It's not worth making an enemy out of a powerful ninja for something that doesn't belong to us," Terumi Mei said softly, glancing at the pile of scrolls without a trace of reluctance.

Besides, over the past twenty years, most of this has been thoroughly studied. Even if not fully understood, there are backups.

"We can become friends," she concluded.

Naruto smiled. "We should be able to become friends."

Terumi Mei took a deep breath. "I'll be straightforward—Mist Village has a request."

"Whether you agree or not won't affect our friendship."

"But I hope you'll at least listen."

Naruto nodded. "Go ahead."

~~~

Terumi Mei-sama is a bit long. Let me see, Terumi-sama should be ok but the author did it like that. Maybe he will correct it later. I'll come back once I found out. (Never found again)