"Genji, you flatter me. You should know that the status and position I have today were not earned through my own abilities alone."
Mei Terumi had a clear understanding of her own capabilities. When the Hidden Mist Village had been at its most difficult, she had taken over as Mizukage in a crisis. Although she had carried out some reforms, merely keeping the village functioning had already been the limit.
If that man had not suddenly appeared, Mei Terumi knew full well that the Hidden Mist Village would probably still rank at the bottom among the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Forget being the supreme commander of the Ninja Alliance. Even at the Five Kage Summit, she, the Mizukage, likely would not have had much of a voice.
Almost everything she and the Hidden Mist Village possessed now had been brought by that man, so naturally, she did not dare take the credit.
"You needn't belittle yourself. Back then, choosing to accept Seiya despite his unknown origins and placing your trust in him was also your own decision.
"Besides, if someone else had become Mizukage, I don't think that boy Seiya would have devoted himself so wholeheartedly to the village."
Hearing Genji's words, a faintly bashful expression appeared on Mei Terumi's face. Seiya, on the other hand, burst into laughter. "Genji is right about that. A female Kage has her advantages.
"After all, if the Fifth Mizukage had been some old geezer, I definitely wouldn't be working this hard.
"But now, I have no choice but to work hard. Who told me the Fifth Mizukage was one of my own?"
Taking Genji's lead, quite a few other elders and high-ranking officials in the village, as well as some heads of ninja clans, began showering Mei Terumi with praise.
Perhaps some of