Seeing Anyo's embarrassment, Mei Terumi felt a pang in her heart, but she laughed. "Just kidding. This necklace doesn't go with my blue clothes at all."
Anyo breathed a sigh of relief, stepped forward, and hugged her gently. "It's my fault. We've known each other for so long, but I've never given you anything. Give me some time to prepare. The next time we meet, I want to give you a one-of-a-kind gift."
Mei Terumi hugged Anyo tightly, savoring his scent with infatuation, and said emotionally, "All right. I'll remember that."
After they let go of each other, Anyo turned into smoke and vanished before her eyes.
Before long, Genji arrived with a large procession of the ninja still in the village. Chōjūrō and Ao stepped forward of their own accord to stand on either side of Mei Terumi as her guards.
With trembling hands, Genji passed the Mizukage Hat to Mei Terumi, formally completing the handover and entrusting all of Kirigakure to her.
Mei Terumi accepted it solemnly. "Thank you, Elder. I stake my name as Mizukage on successfully completing this Five Kage Summit."
Genji smiled and nodded, feeling that the girl had truly grown up.
A worried Mist Ninja behind him told Chōjūrō, "As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, you must protect Lady Mizukage."
"Y-yes." Chōjūrō's eyes were uneasy, his cheeks slightly flushed. Already rather shy, his confidence had hit rock bottom after Anyo's crushing lesson last time.
Mei Terumi encouraged him. "You need to have more confidence. You're very strong, or you wouldn't have been chosen as a guard during the summit, Chōjūrō."
Seeing Mei Terumi smile at him, Chōjūrō clenched his fists and worked up his courage. "Yes, I think I should do my best."
After saying that, Chōjūrō's thoughts still returned