Knock, knock, knock...
Once again, someone was knocking at the door first thing in the morning.
Shinji came out looking furious, his hair a tangled mess. "Kid, you really must have a death wish!"
He had come back after dumping Uchiha Sasuke at the hospital yesterday, and he assumed Sasuke had woken up and come to pester him again.
But when he opened the door and saw his visitors, he was genuinely surprised.
"We meet again, Shinji." His old acquaintance Hozuki Mangetsu greeted him with a smile.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
Utterly surprised, Shinji even poked his head outside to check. Yes, this was Konoha, not Kirigakure, so why were Mei Terumi and Hozuki Mangetsu here?
It was just too strange.
"Why can't it be us? And don't forget your position. You're the consultant I personally hired. Weren't you always saying in your letters that you wanted to see me? Why do you seem a little unhappy now?"
Mei Terumi smiled, her eyes narrowing.
Oh, no!
Killing intent!
Shinji keenly sensed the change in Mei Terumi's mood and hastily laughed it off. "Of course not! I'm just surprised, that's all. So, have you finished dealing with everything in Kirigakure? You actually had time to come all the way to Konoha. Did something major happen?"
Mei Terumi glanced at him. "Are we going to stand here talking?"
"Oh, come in. Please, come in. It's a mess inside, so sit wherever you like."
The moment she stepped inside, Mei Terumi regretted it.
"It's a mess inside" had not been modesty or politeness. It was the reality right before her eyes!
The table was covered in dirty dishes and trash, while unfinished snacks and clothes and pants lay scattered across the floor.
Sit wherever she liked?
She certainly would have to,