Alliance and Farewell, Terumi Mei's Private Dowry

The Water Country, the Kirigakure.

Naruto stayed here for five whole days.

For five days, Genji personally arranged for him to stay in the top-floor suite of the Mizukage Estate, with a 24-hour rotating team of maids serving him tea, water, and snacks from morning till night, treating this "distinguished guest from Hidden Leaf" like royalty.

Naruto's assessment of it was -- "It's alright, it'll do."

During the day, he took Haku to explore the ninja tool district and medicine shops throughout Kirigakure, buying and taking whatever they could, and putting it all on the Mizukage Building's tab.

Tayuya followed behind, acting as a laborer, carrying boxes of packed rare materials and Hidden Mist specialty ninja tools, her face radiating cuteness.

"Master, this is already the seventeenth big box today!"

Tayuya gritted her teeth and carried a wooden box, half her height, onto the carriage.

Only seventeen boxes?

Without turning his head, Naruto picked up another excellent-quality Hidden Mist short sword, twirled it in the light, and said, "This sword is pretty cool, wrap it up for me too."

Bai stood half a step to his side, her lips pursed, a smile in her eyes.

That's just Naruto's style—when he's on someone else's turf, he treats their things like his own.

What truly astonished Genji and Chojuro was what happened every evening.

Terumi Mei would appear at the entrance of the villa on time.

Her long, chestnut-red hair was styled back into a bun. She changed out of her Mizukage battle robe and into a simple, casual kimono, her sash tied neatly.

When Opening Gate, her expression was calm and composed, as if she were returning to her own home.

Are you tired from shopping today?

That's always the first thing she says when she walks in the door.

Then she would personally brew tea, urge Naruto from the sofa to the dining table for a meal, and massage his shoulders and back afterward. Occasionally, Naruto would take the opportunity to grope her, causing her ears to burn red. She would grumble and curse, but her body wouldn't flinch.

The magnificent Fifth Mizukage.

In this house, she was nothing more than a young wife serving her husband.

When Genji first witnessed this scene, he almost lost his balance on his cane.

The second time, he was smarter—upon seeing the Mizukage heading towards the villa from afar, he immediately turned around and led his men to take a detour of three streets.

If you can't see it, pretend it doesn't exist.

Day four.

Mizukage's Office.

Terumi Mei pushed a thick file in front of Naruto.

"This is the agreement between Hidden Leaf and Hidden Mist."

She sat upright, striving to maintain the decorum expected of Mizukage. "I've already stamped it with the Mizukage's seal. Take it back and show it to Tsunade. Once she stamps it with the Hokage's seal, the matter is settled."

Naruto flipped through two pages and raised an eyebrow.

The treaty was extremely generous—it included provisions for military intelligence sharing, joint operations, open trade routes, and the exchange of ninjas. There was even a secret supplementary agreement that the Hidden Mist Fleet would have priority in responding to the Uzumaki Clan's orders.

"That's quite a realistic piece of writing."

Naruto closed the file, leaned back in his chair, and said, "But the conditions inside aren't going to benefit your Kirigakure at all."

Terumi Mei lowered her eyes, her fingers unconsciously stroking the tabletop.

"It won't do Kirigakure any good."

Her voice was very low, "But it's good for me."

He paused.

The more successful you are in Hidden Leaf, the more at ease I feel.

Naruto stared at her for three seconds, then suddenly smiled.

He stood up, walked around the desk, leaned down, and lifted up Terumi Mei's chin.

His face was reflected in his emerald green eyes, with a hint of red at the corners.

Don't worry.

He ran his thumb across the corner of her lips. "Your man has never backed down from anyone."

The morning of the fifth day.

The official road outside Kirigakure.

Three carriages were ready to depart, their roofs piled high with cargo boxes compressed using Sealing Jutsu.

Bai sat in the first carriage organizing the supplies list, Tayuya leaned against the shaft of the second carriage, yawning.

Naruto stood by the roadside, his hands in his pockets.

Terumi Mei stood two steps in front of him.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, enveloping her tall figure in grayish-white vapor.

Her chestnut-red hair swayed gently in the sea breeze, and the emotions hidden deep within her turquoise eyes were impossible to conceal.

Be careful on the road.

She spoke, her tone restrained.

"Um."

There was a few seconds of silence.

Terumi Mei took a step forward, reached out, and grasped Naruto's wrist.

Her hands were cool, but her grip was tight.

If you encounter any trouble in Hidden Leaf...

She looked up and stared directly into his eyes, her voice steady as if giving a command, "Send me messages anytime. Our Hidden Mist fleet, the Anbu, and our intelligence gathering forces—they're all under your command!"

Naruto smirked. "Lord Mizukage, are you going to be my chief steward?"

"Shut up."

Terumi Mei glared at him, her ears already turning red.

She released her grip, took out a palm-sized sealing scroll from her sleeve, and placed it in Naruto's hand.

The scroll's outer casing is engraved with the national emblem of the Water Country, Sealing Jutsu technique is extremely precise.

"What is this thing?"

Terumi Mei turned her face away, her gaze falling on the distant sea.

"Half the money in the Kirigakure's treasury..."

Naruto stopped moving.

"There's also a huge list of the rarest and most powerful ninja tools and medicinal herbs."

Terumi Mei's voice trailed off, as if she were talking to herself, "Consider it my... secret stash and dowry for you. Take it and spend it however you like. If you need more, just ask me."

The sea breeze seeped into the gap between the two.

Naruto looked down at the scroll in his hand, then looked up at the woman in front of him who had given him half of the national treasury as pocket money.

He suddenly burst out laughing.

It wasn't the kind of cunning, wicked smile, but a genuine smile, tinged with surprise and satisfaction.

"Terumi Mei."

He called her name.

She turned around.

Naruto grabbed her waist and kissed her passionately.

It wasn't a test, it wasn't flirting.

It was a declaration of sovereignty made openly and honorably in front of the Genji, the Anbu, and all the people in the farewell procession.

Terumi Mei froze for a moment, her hand gripping his collar trembled twice, but she ultimately didn't push him away.

After a long while, Naruto released her and rubbed his thumb against her lips, which had been kissed red.

"Just wait patiently."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable certainty.

"Once I've sorted out all those messy things in Hidden Leaf, I'll find a grand sedan chair and come to marry you in style."

Terumi Mei clutched the hem of her clothes, her lips moved slightly, but she didn't say anything.

He simply nodded.

The carriage wheels turned, rolling over the wet, muddy road, slowly moving away from the area of Kirigakure.

Bai lifted the car curtain and glanced at the receding Mizukage Building, then at Naruto sitting opposite him with his eyes closed, seemingly resting.

"Naruto."

She spoke softly, "Terumi Mei... is truly good to you."

"That would definitely be good."

Naruto opened one eye, tossed the scroll containing half the national treasury in his hand, and said, "After all, she's my wife."

Tayuya leaned out of the car behind, her expression complicated. "Master, how many wives have you had?"

"That's not enough."

Naruto tucked the scroll into his pocket, closed his eyes again, and lazily smiled, "Far from it."

The carriage traveled onto the main road leading to the Land of Fire. The sea breeze gradually weakened, replaced by dry and warm inland air currents.

In Naruto's mind, the system notification sounded precisely on time.

[Top Secret Diplomatic Mission "The Water Country's Absolute Submission" - Successfully Completed!]

[Task rewards are being calculated...]

[Note: Multiple high-potential targets have been detected with abnormally high activity levels in the direction of Hidden Leaf. Host is advised to expedite the return journey.]

Naruto's lips curled up slightly.

Hidden Leaf.

He's back.

This time, he brought back something that would make everyone reconsider the weight of the name Naruto Uzumaki.