Uchiha Minamoto paid no attention to such minor details. He simply gazed calmly down at Mei Terumi, who was still kneeling on the ground.
Mei Terumi took a deep breath.
"If I become the Fifth Mizukage, what will I need to do?"
"What you need to do is very simple."
The corners of Uchiha Minamoto's mouth lifted slightly.
"Whatever I tell you to do."
Mei Terumi's mouth twitched.
This guy really was... awful!
"I don't want to be a puppet Mizukage, much less anyone's marionette."
Kneeling on the ground with her head raised, Mei Terumi spoke firmly.
"If all you want is someone to help you control Kirigakure, you've picked the wrong person.
"I, Mei Terumi, have never been the kind of woman who lets others push her around."
"..."
Looking at Mei Terumi now, Uchiha Minamoto couldn't help the twitch of his lips.
"Um, the ground's cold. Why don't you stand up before we talk?"
Mei Terumi's resolute air instantly faltered.
A moment ago, only her face and neck had been red. Now a pink flush spread over every inch of her skin.
Humiliating... this was too humiliating...
Mei Terumi scrambled to her feet.
But the movement left her chest and breasts exposed.
Uchiha Minamoto's eyelids twitched violently.
"Your clothes!"
Didn't she know the rule that stripping meant certain death?
Right now, Mei Terumi wished desperately that she were an Earth Release Ninja rather than a Water Release Ninja.
Then she could dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it...
After a flurry of heaving curves.
Mei Terumi finally straightened her clothing, becoming the poised, spirited Kirigakure Elite Jonin she had been at the start.
"Now, enough nonsense."
Uchiha Minamoto looked irritably at the young single woman opposite him, who had been pent up for too long.