The Job's Done-Time to Collect

The Water Country, forty-seven miles northwest of Kirigakure.

As dawn broke through the clouds, Genji led thirty elite members of the Hidden Mist Anbu to their destination, their feet glistening with morning dew.

Then everyone stopped in their tracks.

The Anbu Captain at the front removed his mask.

It wasn't to see more clearly—the expression beneath the mask could no longer hold up.

There was no fortress in front of us.

There was no entrance, no passageway, and no three-ton steel gate.

Instead, there is a perfectly circular sinkhole with a diameter of more than one mile.

The pit walls were as smooth as a mirror.

The surface of the rock, after being scorched by high temperatures, solidifies into a translucent glassy substance that refracts an eerie amber luster in the morning light.

White smoke was still rising from the bottom of the pit, and the heat was rising, making it look like a pot that had just boiled from a distance.

There were no bodies.

There wasn't a single one.

Four hundred people, along with the entire military fortress that had been excavated since the time of the Fourth Mizukage —vanished.

Genji stood by the pit, leaning on his cane, and blinked his cloudy old eyes three times.

Then he turned to look at Terumi Mei beside him.

Terumi Mei didn't look at him.

She stared at the edge of the sinkhole on the other side.

There was a person standing there.

His short, golden hair swayed slightly in the morning breeze. His left hand was in his pocket, and his right shoulder was slumped over, his posture as relaxed as if he had just woken up and was out for a stroll.

He was completely clean.

There was no blood.

There is no ash.

Even the wrinkles in her clothes made it look like she'd just taken them out of the closet.

Naruto sensed her gaze and turned his head away.

Across an abyss large enough to swallow an entire village, those azure eyes found her precisely, and a smile played on their lips.

"You're late, Mizukage."

The sound wasn't loud.

But in the quiet wilderness at dawn, every word was crystal clear.

"I've taken care of all that trash for you."

Terumi Mei's throat bobbed.

Thirty elite Anbu service all turned to look at her.

Beneath every mask lies the same expression.

Could this really have been done by a twelve-year-old kid?

Terumi Mei ignored them.

She took a deep breath and walked quickly along the edge of the pit towards Naruto.

The military boots made a soft "crunching" sound as they stepped on the vitrified rock.

They grew closer as they walked.

The closer you get, the clearer you see—the boy stands in the morning light, even his breathing is steady.

It was like taking a walk.

It was like I just went out to throw out the trash.

Terumi Mei stopped three steps in front of him.

Its emerald green eyes scanned the area from top to bottom.

No injuries.

There wasn't a single opening.

"You... you weren't hurt at all?"

She was stunned for a moment when she said it.

The barely concealed concern in his voice made her want to bite her tongue off.

Naruto tilted his head, looking at her expression, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

He beat up hundreds of people in one go.

He pulled his left hand out of his pocket and stretched his shoulders. "I used too much strength; my legs are killing me."

As he spoke, very naturally—extremely naturally—he reached out his right hand and put his arm Terumi Mei's waist.

The palm was placed in the perfect spot.

The narrow curve at the waist of his battle robe was firmly held by his five fingers.

Terumi Mei's body stiffened.

It's not fear.

The heat coming from my waist was too intense.

That hand was like a piece of iron just pulled out of a fire; it could burn into flesh even through clothing.

"You--"

"Quick, help me up."

Naruto spoke with an air of self-righteousness, leaning half his body against Naruto's, "I single-handedly took down over four hundred people, and not a single person even offered to help me up. Mizukage- sama, you're really not being fair!"

Terumi Mei's ears turned bright red from the bottom up.

She tried to push him away.

The hand was raised.

But the moment I touched his chest, beneath my palm were firm, evenly proportioned, and powerful muscle contours.

The heat penetrated his clothes, as if a fire was burning inside him.

The hand didn't go out.

Instead—somehow—she put her arm around his shoulder.

It looked like he was helping her up.

Terumi Mei told herself that she was just helping him up.

"Alright, let's go."

She turned her face away, her gaze fixed on the distant treetops. "When we get back, I'll have a doctor give you a thorough check-up—"

"No need for a doctor."

Naruto brought his mouth close to her ear.

A warm breath brushed against his ear, carrying the clean yet exuberant body temperature unique to a young man.

"Mizukage, you can take care of me yourself."

Terumi Mei stopped in her tracks.

My heart was pounding like a drum in my chest.

She turned her face sharply to the side, her jaw clenched into a line, and her voice was forced out through clenched teeth. "Don't push your luck..."

Oh, right.

Naruto seemed not to hear him, his tone suddenly becoming nonchalant, "You haven't forgotten what you promised me yesterday, have you?"

Terumi Mei caught her breath.

Yesterday.

"If you can really sort everything out in one night—you can call me whatever you want in private."

She regretted it.

She truly regretted it.

But the words have already been spoken.

The words spoken by the dignified Fifth Mizukage--

Naruto stopped in his tracks.

Terumi Mei was forced to stop as well.

The two were face to face, so close that she could count the number of his eyelashes.

In his azure eyes, the hunter's satisfaction and greed surged.

So--

His right hand slid up her waist, his thumb lightly brushing against her jawline.

"If I call you 'wife' now, will you accept?"

Thirty paces away.

Genji leaned on his cane, watching the two men's retreating figures.

Qing, wrapped in bandages, stood to the side, her only remaining right eye bulging out of its socket.

"Genji... Genji, look!... Lady Mizukage, she... she was actually... by that brat..."

"Shut up."

The Genji didn't even turn his head.

"But--"

"Stop talking nonsense."

The old man was silent for three seconds, then sighed.

"... Let's go back and prepare our new house for the wedding."

Edge of the sinkhole.

Terumi Mei's chin was held by his fingers; she couldn't escape or avoid it.

The emerald green eyes finally met the azure blue.

My heart rate reached a critical point.

She opened her mouth.

Then--

A ship's horn suddenly sounded on the distant sea.

It's the morning signal from Hidden Mist Port.

Terumi Mei jerked her face away as if burned, pulled herself out of his grasp, and quickly walked back.

They walked as fast as if they were fleeing for their lives.

"We'll talk about it when we get back!"

His voice was incredibly hoarse.

Naruto stood there, watching the dark red figure almost run away.

Her high ponytail swayed in the morning breeze, revealing the bright red nape of her neck.

He smiled.

He put his hands back in his pockets and followed.

His pace was neither too fast nor too slow.

--Why are you running?

--They can't escape.

The system notification sounded in my mind right on time.

[Detected change in the target "Terumi Mei's " affection level: +5. Current affection level: 95 (Willingly surrendering - just one step away).]

[Hint: The target has entered the final stage before the ultimate bond is triggered. It is recommended that the host fulfill their promise tonight to trigger the bond critical strike.]

Naruto twisted his neck.

Ninety-five.

Tonight.

Tonight.

He looked up at the gradually brightening eastern horizon, and the smile on his lips deepened.

--The Mizukage of the Water Country must taste good.