Kuro's Day Off

Mist Village Mizukage Aide Office

"Ughhhh, I can't take it anymore, I feel like I'm going to die!!"

Looking at the mountain of documents on his desk, he slammed his head against the surface in anguish, letting out a dull, desperate thud.

"I was so stupid, really. Why did I have to be so brain-dead and form an alliance? Now I've created so much work for myself."

There's the revision of the alliance agreement with Konoha, the detailed planning for the establishment of the Odd Jobs Agency, and the reform plan for the Ninja Academy... It's endless, there's just not enough work!

Kou murmured, his voice trembling with a hint of tears:

"I really don't want to work. I just want to go home, lie in bed and sleep for three days and three nights, then drive my Super Thunder Susanoo and chase through the entire Ninja World..."

Kou buried his face in the cold tabletop, muttering to himself, while raising the hand still holding the pen and mechanically pulling open the drawer beside him, preparing to take out a bag of snacks to comfort his fragile heart.

However, the scene that came into view made him shudder.

The drawer was completely empty.

Those limited-edition potato chips and Anko cakes that he had carefully stockpiled and arranged neatly according to flavor and expiration date have all disappeared.

Looking into the empty drawer, my vision went black.

In just 0.01 seconds, his brain had already identified the criminal.

The motive was sufficient, the time was ample, and the method was extremely consistent with the person's consistent despicable behavior!

"Damn Kenji!!!"

Kouchu sprang up from his chair, ready to storm into the Mizukage's Office and use a single blast of Magatsuhi God to send that most deserving-to-die person in the entire Ninja World to the Pure Land ahead of time.

Obito Uchiha, all he sees is Lin, right? Fine! Your wish will be granted!

You inherently evil Uchiha Runtu, I'm sending you to see Rin right now!!

However, just as he stood up, brimming with rage, a familiar sound of footsteps clearly reached his ears through the heavy door of the office.

Kou's eyes narrowed, and he instantly sat back down in his office chair, his face, which still held a hint of murderous intent, instantly transforming into a gentle and harmless expression.

He then laid out a document that he hadn't finished reviewing in front of him, adopting a focused posture as if he had been working diligently there for a long time.

(P. S.: I quickly turned off the TV and pretended to be doing my homework diligently when I heard my parents' footsteps coming home.)

With a crisp knock, the office door was slowly pushed open.

"Excuse me."

Mei Terumi walked into the office quite naturally, carrying a thick stack of documents.

Her gaze swept across the spacious office with a questioning look, and she asked softly with slight hesitation:

"I think I heard some strange noise outside the door just now. Do you have any clue, Kong?"

"There was no sound. If there really was any strange noise, how could I not hear it?"

Koko stopped writing, looked up at Mei Terumi, his gentle eyes filled with innocence and confusion:

"It must be your imagination."

Mei Terumi tilted her head, a hint of confusion still lingering in her eyes, but looking at Kotoko's gentle face, which was flawless at all times, that doubt quickly vanished without a trace.

"Hmm~ I've probably been too busy with work lately, and I'm having auditory hallucinations."

She raised her hand and rubbed her temples, speaking softly with a hint of weariness in her voice.

Kou nodded repeatedly, letting out a long sigh of relief.

"That was close, we almost gave ourselves away."

While cursing the culprit, Lao Tu, in his heart several times, he fixed his gaze on the thick stack of documents in Mei Terumi's arms.

My heart, which had just relaxed, trembled slightly again.

Kouchi stared expectantly at Mei Terumi, cautiously probing in a soft voice:

"Mei Terumi, what's that stack of documents you're holding...?"

"Ah, these are the documents I've already processed."

Mei Terumi looked at the stacks of documents on her desk and said with a smile:

"I noticed you have a lot of work to do, and I thought it would be too much for you to handle alone, so I took the liberty of taking some work to try."

As she spoke, she gently placed the documents she was holding next to the pile of unfinished documents on the desk, and scratched her cheek somewhat embarrassedly:

"I'm sorry, I started your work without your permission."

"No, that's not true!!"

"Thank you so much, Mei Terumi!!"

Looking at the stack of documents neatly arranged by Mei Terumi in front of her, she fought back tears that almost spilled from her eyes and said gratefully:

"Having you by my side is truly wonderful!!"

"Seriously, you're exaggerating."

Hearing Koko's heartfelt praise, Mei Terumi blushed slightly.

Under her expectant gaze, Kou picked up the stack of documents she had processed and began to examine them carefully.

The handwriting on the paper was beautiful and meticulous, and every calculation of the data was flawless. Even the details of cross-departmental coordination and cooperation related to the "Odd Jobs Agency," which he was most worried about making mistakes, were sorted out in an orderly manner.

As he flipped through the document, the caution in his eyes quickly turned into genuine surprise.

Mei Terumi stared nervously at Kokoro, and cautiously asked:

"H-How is it? Is there anything you did wrong?"

"... No."

Kou slowly shifted his gaze from the document and carefully gave his evaluation:

"It's handled exceptionally well; it requires absolutely no modifications and can be implemented directly."

Even if I handled it myself, I couldn't have done it any better!

"I have to say, she truly is a woman destined to become the Mizukage..."

He sighed inwardly, then looked at Mei Terumi and sincerely praised her:

"I never expected you to do this. You're really amazing, Mei Terumi!"

Hearing Kou's generous praise, a blush rose on her cool and beautiful face.

Mei Terumi suppressed a smile and nodded at Kokoro with a forced smile:

"After all this time learning from you, if I haven't made any progress, then I'd really be a fool."

Hearing this response, Kou seemed to suddenly recall some interesting past events, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of mockery appeared in the smile at the corner of his mouth:

"Speaking of which, it seems that you lost the election for Reformist Faction leader because you were no match for me in handling official duties."

You looked so unwilling to accept it back then, your eyes were red, and you looked like you were about to cry.

"That happened so many years ago!!"

Mei Terumi's face instantly turned bright red:

"I was only eighteen back then, it's normal to have a competitive spirit!"

"So now, can I consider stepping down and handing over the reins to a more capable person?"

"After all, you've now surpassed me in the only area where I can still excel."

Koko spoke in a half-joking, half-serious tone, smiling as he looked at Mei Terumi:

"To become the Mizukage as a Reformist Faction leader, and lead Mist Village to a brand new future—wasn't that your dream?"

"Seriously, what time is it? Stop teasing me."

Mei Terumi muttered something under her breath, then turned around, walked slowly to the window, and cast her gaze at Kirigakure outside.

Looking out of this window, you can see the dilapidated houses that were once decayed and ruined during the Mizukage era, but have now been renovated, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.

On the Training Ground that were once stained with the blood of children, several children who had just finished school were chasing after a ball.

The Mizukage Building across the street, which once symbolized Blood Mist and fear, now appears somewhat dimmed by the reflection of this auxiliary building.

My dream...

Mei Terumi looked down at Mist Village now, gently placed her hands on the windowsill, and softly whispered:

"It's already been achieved."

Looking at her back, which appeared exceptionally gentle against the backdrop of the sky outside the window, a faint smile slowly crept onto his lips.

I don't dislike people like Mei Terumi, who possess great power and genuinely strive for the happiness of the vast majority of ordinary people.

Whether viewed from her own perspective or from the perspective of the vast majority of Mist Village, Mei Terumi is a leader worthy of great respect.

Even if one day I eventually have to leave Mist Village, this strong-willed woman will surely be able to adjust herself immediately and lead Mist Village to a brighter future...

This is the conclusion I can be certain of, having spent four years with her day and night.

Just as Mei Terumi through the window with a look that even he himself didn't realize was filled with admiration, the tall, slender figure who had been looking out at the Mist Village street scene suddenly spoke slowly.

"Hey, Kong, how about we take a day off?"

"... Huh? On vacation?!"

Kou raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at the workaholic standing by the window who considered the future of Mist Village his top priority and had almost never asked for a break in the past four years. He couldn't help but feel quite surprised.

"Yes, a vacation!"

"If you keep burying yourself in work like this, you'll slowly forget what real life is really like."

Mei Terumi turned around, her emerald green eyes appearing exceptionally bright and gentle.

She stretched out her slender, fair hand towards him, and a radiant smile bloomed on her cool yet mature face:

"We should take a good look at our home, our... Mist Village, every now and then."