Uzumaki Kuming easily understood what the Mist Ninja Great Elder had in mind. Not only did he want to keep Mei Terumi from leaving Kirigakure, he also wanted Uzumaki Kuming to stay in the village.
For the Mist Ninja, keeping Uzumaki Kuming would come at no cost.
The only risk was that, because of Uzumaki Kuming, many of their secrets might be leaked to Konoha. But even if their secrets did get out, what could they do about it? Konoha had grown so powerful that the Mist Ninja had long since lost their ambition to expand.
Kirigakure didn't even have any Tailed Beasts anymore, and it had only a handful of strong fighters. For a village with no ambitions of expansion, even if Uzumaki Kuming leaked some intelligence, it would make little difference to the village as a whole.
The Mist Ninja could afford the risk of employing Uzumaki Kuming. And if he really agreed to stay in Kirigakure, the benefits he would bring the village would be considerable.
In the political landscape of the Shinobi World, thanks to the relationship between Uzumaki Kuming and Mei Terumi, Konoha and Kirigakure would naturally become allies. Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure would form an alliance, greatly easing the pressure on Kirigakure's borders.
What's more, Uzumaki Kuming was a terrifyingly powerful shinobi in his own right. With him stationed in Kirigakure, the village wouldn't have to worry about enemy attacks at all.
And looking further ahead, Uzumaki Kuming was descended from the Uzumaki Clan. If he and Mei Terumi had children, they would grow up in Kirigakure. Unless something went wrong, their children would surely be exceptionally talented!
"Lord Kuming, would you consider it?"
The wrinkles on the Mist Ninja Great Elder's face spread as he smiled, making him look like a blooming chrysanthemum.