"That's wonderful. It means you're no longer the daimyo from over a year ago who knew nothing. You've now become a true ruler capable of standing on your own."
Ran scratched his head. "I have you to thank for all this. Without your guidance, I wouldn't have improved so quickly."
Xinyu shook her head seriously. "That was your own ability. I only told you how to handle affairs. All your progress came from your own hard work and training."
"The results you have now are the fruits of your efforts."
"I believe you'll become even more outstanding in the future. I hope that the next time we meet, I'll already have heard news of the Land of Whirlpools' revival."
Ran fell silent for a moment. Xinyu's blessings made him bury his feelings even deeper.
There seemed to be no need to say them aloud at all.
Seeing his expression, Xinyu smiled. "I know, you know. How you feel."
Before Ran could react, Xinyu continued, "And you should know how I feel too."
"But there are things neither of us can give up. You can't abandon your country and stay in Konoha, and I can't throw away everything I worked so hard to build and follow you to the Land of Whirlpools."
"Perhaps our bond ends here. But I'll still remember the things you once said to me. Maybe we'll have another chance to be together in the future? If you haven't married by then, that is."
Ran's heart was filled with mixed emotions. Just as Xinyu had said, they both had things they could not let go of.
This was not something that could be resolved just because one person sacrificed for the other. A truly good relationship did not require such immense sacrifice.
Whether it was Ran or Xinyu,