"Lord Mizukage, Lord Seiya..."
"Lord Seiya, it's only been a short while since we last met. Why do you seem somewhat different from before?"
"Lord Mizukage too. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but why do you suddenly seem so much younger and more beautiful?"
As they walked through the streets of the Hidden Mist Village, pedestrians and ninja alike greeted Seiya and Mei Terumi with great enthusiasm when they saw them.
Although Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, was a woman, everyone had witnessed her abilities and achievements over the past few years.
Because of the bloody policies of Fourth Mizukage Yagura, the Hidden Mist Village's strength had already fallen to the bottom among the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Even the Village of the Bloody Mist's reputation had caused most people in the Land of Water to seek out other ninja villages for Quests rather than come to such a dangerous place as the Hidden Mist Village.
Ninja needed to eat too. Whether a ninja village prospered depended on the number and strength of the ninja within it.
Training ninja required vast amounts of resources and time. Without enough quest resources, there would be insufficient income.
Without income, they could not continue cultivating outstanding ninja. This vicious cycle had once made the Hidden Mist Village's financial situation even worse than Sunagakure's, despite Sunagakure's harsh environment.
But ever since Lady Mei Terumi succeeded to the position of Fifth Mizukage, with Lord Seiya assisting her from the side, everything had instantly changed.
Not only had the Mizukage and Lord Seiya retrieved several lost ninja swords during their trip, but this time, they had also returned with immense wealth and even gained Konoha's friendship.
The people of the Hidden Mist Village had also heard that part of the wealth Lady Mizukage and