The Kirigakure camp.
Inside Mei Terumi's Tent.
Shinji glanced at Mei as she brewed tea for him with practiced grace. The whole thing felt a little surreal. "This evening, I'll coordinate with the Konoha forces and help stage a decisive victory for you. In full view of both armies, you'll use Lava Release to kill the former Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan—Uchiha Fugaku. There'll be nothing left of him. That will establish your authority among the troops on the front line."
"Once you control the ninja forces, you control everything. Mei Terumi, remember this: power over the village comes from command of the army."
Mei said nothing. She merely poured Shinji's tea with a gentle expression, looking less like a ruthless ninja than a devoted wife.
"..."
Shinji took the tea, feeling distinctly uncomfortable.
He half wondered whether she had poisoned it...
He shook his head, took a sip, and continued. "Kirigakure has already been thoroughly purged. Return to the village with a great victory, and you'll naturally be welcomed as a hero..."
"Word will spread throughout the Shinobi World that Zabuza Momochi and Hozuki Mangetsu of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist assassinated the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura."
"You can issue an S-rank wanted notice and put a bounty on them across the entire Shinobi World."
"Then taking the Mizukage's seat will be perfectly natural."
"..."
Mei listened to Shinji go on and on.
She felt dazed. She couldn't understand how her relationship with this damned brat had somehow turned into this.
Enemies? No.
Partners? Close, but not quite.
Allies?
That sounded nice...
But it wasn't true.
Their strength was nowhere near equal.
Their strange situation reminded Mei of certain wealthy merchants' secret private lives. Her cheeks warmed despite herself...
A flicker of humiliation and resentment rose