Mei Terumi narrowed her eyes slightly, but she sensed no hostility from Otsutsuki Toneri. That, at least, put her somewhat at ease.
Otherwise, Kirigakure in its current state could not withstand these people causing trouble.
"I hear your village is currently changing its policies and actively recruiting shinobi. Would you be willing to accept the three of us, Lady Mizukage?" Otsutsuki Toneri asked with a gentle smile, his eyes flickering slightly.
Yet his casually spoken words struck Mei Terumi and Ao hard.
This child-did he mean...?
Mei Terumi and Ao were both mature, steady people, yet at that moment, they stared at the smiling Otsutsuki Toneri with blank expressions.
But they soon recovered, and wild delight rose in their hearts instead.
Kirigakure was far too fragile now! It no longer had any truly powerful fighters holding the fort. Although Mei Terumi was exceptionally talented,
everyone, including her, understood that her current strength was still far too immature compared with the other Kage.
If these three people before them truly joined Kirigakure, however, they could fully ensure that the village survived this most difficult period!
"Are you... serious?" After that burst of delight, Mei Terumi slowly calmed her surging emotions and asked Otsutsuki Toneri solemnly.
Although she did not know why the three Otsutsuki Toneri would choose to join Kirigakure, that did not matter at all in Mei Terumi's eyes.
Yagura had already nearly ruined Kirigakure. Kekkei Genkai users had all but disappeared, and the village's major clans had suffered devastating losses.
Kirigakure now had nothing left for outsiders to covet.
"Of course~" Otsutsuki Toneri replied softly, his lips curling into a faint smile.
Of course I'm joining Kirigakure. It's my future base~
It's... my Kirigakure!
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Chapter 61: Genin, my ass! First update
At his words, Mei Terumi covered her small mouth in delighted surprise, excitement sparkling in her emerald eyes.
She felt incredibly lucky today!
The fact that Konoha and Kumogakure had jointly issued warrants for Otsutsuki Toneri and Otsutsuki Quxian spoke volumes about their strength!
As for the last of them, the beautiful woman with beige-brown hair, although Mei Terumi had never heard of her, judging by the unnerving sensation she gave her,
she was certainly no weakling either.
Most importantly, all three of them were still very young!
That meant Kirigakure's future was already assured!
"Kirigakure would absolutely welcome you!" Ao was considerably more composed and prudent, after all. Seeing that Mei Terumi was too excited to speak, he hurriedly welcomed the three Otsutsuki Toneri.
He thought the same way Mei Terumi did. Although he did not know exactly why these three wanted to join Kirigakure, the village's situation could not possibly get any worse.
Whatever the case, the three Otsutsuki Toneri joining would give the Mizukage's faction in Kirigakure a tremendous boost.
"There's no need for that. However, before I join Kirigakure, I'll need Lady Mizukage to agree to a few conditions." Otsutsuki Toneri shook his head, then smiled gently at Mei Terumi.
From her reaction, he had already roughly guessed Kirigakure's current situation.
Otherwise, when he so abruptly announced that he wanted to join Kirigakure, this newly appointed Mizukage, barely past twenty, could never have become so excited that she could not speak coherently.
Unless his joining now mattered enormously!
Otherwise, alongside delight, Mei Terumi and Ao's initial reaction should also have included doubts!
That was inevitable. Just like the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, who greatly hoped Otsutsuki Toneri would join Konoha,
ensuring Konoha's peace for decades to come.
But on the other hand, Otsutsuki Toneri's origins were so mysterious that he also worried about inviting a wolf into his home!
Of course, that was simply human nature: wariness toward strangers.
Mei Terumi and Ao's reactions, however, were somewhat strange. There was only excitement, with no doubt.
Or perhaps they had doubts too, but had completely cast them aside. The three of them joining mattered far too much.
"Please, go ahead. As long as it's something I can agree to, I certainly won't hold back." Mei Terumi calmed herself slightly at his words and spoke with a radiant smile.
This did not surprise her. Rather, Otsutsuki Toneri having reasons for joining put her more at ease.
Her mood at that moment could be described as thoroughly bright.
"First, Quxian and I are currently wanted by Konoha and Kumogakure. I'm sure you're aware of that, Lady Mizukage. So if I join your village, I'll need your village to resolve those two warrants and any consequences arising from them."
Otsutsuki Toneri smiled, then raised one finger and spoke calmly.
The warrants made little difference to him, but since he had decided to join Kirigakure, they had become something of a nuisance.
They would make carrying out some of his future plans less convenient.
"...Please rest assured about that. Once you join Kirigakure, you'll be one of us. Naturally, we'll resolve this for you." Mei Terumi fell into brief thought at his words, but Ao spoke first from beside her.
Most of the people on each village's S-rank wanted lists were actually shinobi from other villages or missing-nin from their own. However, Kirigakure was also one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
As long as they were willing to pay a price, getting Konoha and Kumogakure to withdraw the warrants for Otsutsuki Toneri and Otsutsuki Quxian would not be difficult.
Mei Terumi might not understand this, but Ao understood it perfectly. After all, he was a veteran who had survived the Third Shinobi World War.
"Second, for personal reasons, I don't wish to become too entangled in mundane affairs, so I don't need a position. But I would still like you to inform Kirigakure's senior leadership of my existence, Lady Mizukage, to avoid misunderstandings."
Otsutsuki Toneri nodded, then raised his second request.
He had no interest in controlling Kirigakure. As far as he was concerned, controlling Mei Terumi would suffice.
As long as Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, obeyed his every word, he could take over their nest with perfect legitimacy!
"Certainly. That isn't an unreasonable request. But joining Kirigakure as a shinobi is a basic requirement. What shinobi rank would you like, Toneri?"
Mei Terumi considered it briefly, then nodded with a bright smile.
Otsutsuki Toneri's words suited her perfectly. This boy, who looked not even ten years old, truly had an excessively mature mind.
But what he had said eased one of her concerns: he had no taste for power!
Such a person could not be better!
"Genin, then. Genin will do." Otsutsuki Toneri thought for a moment, then curled his lips into an inscrutable smile.
Konoha would have two Genin in the future who could beat Kage Level opponents senseless. That was rather interesting.
"Quxian will be the same as me. As for Yugito, please make her a Jonin, Lady Mizukage." Otsutsuki Toneri then glanced at Yugito and smiled at Mei Terumi.
Yugito had originally been a Jonin of Kumogakure, but after following Otsutsuki Toneri, she had thrown away her Kumogakure forehead protector.
Now was a perfect opportunity for her to become a Jonin of Kirigakure instead.
"Genin... All right, if that's your decision, Toneri..." At his words, both Mei Terumi and Ao looked somewhat strange.
Then Mei Terumi gave the gently smiling Otsutsuki Toneri an odd look and agreed with difficulty.
Genin, my ass. With two Genin like you, how are other villages' Jonin supposed to survive?
Mei Terumi could not help inwardly complaining. Although she could not sense Otsutsuki Toneri and Otsutsuki Quxian's precise strength,
the chilling dread that suddenly rose within her whenever she probed the two made one thing very clear.
These two children were little monsters, plain and simple!
Genin...
That was a little too real...
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Chapter 62: Absolutely outrageous! Second update
"Thank you, Lady Mizukage. My presumptuous requests must be causing you trouble, mustn't they? I'm truly sorry." Otsutsuki Toneri's lips curled into a faint smile as he gave Mei Terumi a small, graceful bow.
His delicate, adorable face, paired with his snowy white hair and white sage robes, made him look like an exquisite doll.
Surely no one could dislike such an adorable, well-behaved, polite child.
At least, the way Mei Terumi looked at Otsutsuki Toneri had now changed completely, becoming much brighter.
At that moment, she had only one impulse: to pull Otsutsuki Toneri into her arms and thoroughly squish him!
"No need to be so formal. You really are handsome, Toneri~ I imagine countless girls will fight over you in the future?" Still, Mei Terumi forcibly suppressed that thought. Otherwise, it would have been far too rude.
But she still could not help offering a compliment. Otsutsuki Toneri's looks were simply too outstanding.
"You flatter me, Lady Mizukage. Appearance is nothing more than a shell." Otsutsuki Toneri smiled faintly and shifted his gaze toward the lake.
Mei Terumi's gaze made him somewhat uncomfortable. It was far too aggressive.
If he were a little older, he would definitely make her behave, but he was only seven now...
He could not do anything. That was a problem.
"You really are... But are those your only two requests? If there's anything else, feel free to ask. Your big sister can agree to anything you want~"
Mei Terumi's eyelid twitched at his words. She felt rather helpless with this excessively mature boy. Could they not have a proper conversation?
But she soon adjusted her mood, smiling and winking at Otsutsuki Toneri with a distinctly teasing tone.
She was in an excellent mood now, so she could joke around too.
After all, the three Otsutsuki Toneri had joined at just the right time.
This way, even without the Three-Tails, she could suppress those ambitious old fossils in Kirigakure.
Those who grew old without dying were a scourge. It was time to clear them out!
Kirigakure needed a brand-new order to rise from the ashes! Those old fossils belonged in the ground!
Before you continue