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Sōma was a man of his word.
He didn't push Mikoto further—everyone had their limits.
What he wanted was a functional subordinate, not a broken one.
Stepping out of her room, he ran into Tayuya.
Still in her kimono, but no bamboo tube this time.
"How was the punishment last time?"
He smirked, amused.
The taunt ignited her temper.
Hands on hips, she glared up at him. "Two days? Pathetic!"
(She definitely didn't mention nearly passing out from hunger, or the embarrassing drool situation.)
"Good spirit."
Sōma nodded approvingly.
"What do you want?"
Instantly wary, she bared her teeth like a cornered animal.
"Do I really seem that terrible to you?"
A lollipop materialized in his hand. "Want one?"
"No!"
Tayuya blinked, then bristled. "I'm not a kid!"
"Adults can enjoy candy too."
He shoved it into her palm. "Eat it. Or I'll punish you again."
"Huh—?"
Before she could process that, he'd already walked off.
After a moment's hesitation, she unwrapped it.
Banana flavor.
"Tch. Like this'll win me over."
A defiant lick. "Next time, I'll kill you!"
Land of Waves
Sōma didn't leave immediately.
It was noon—perfect for a culinary exchange with Kushina.
(One hour later.)
Mizukage's Office, Kirigakure
A whoosh of displaced air.
"Must you always teleport in unannounced?"
Mei Terumī clutched her chest, scowling.
"Sorry."
Sōma shrugged, unrepentant. "No cell service in the shinobi world."
Mei's eyes narrowed.
"That jutsu… Konoha's Flying Thunder God?"
Impressive.
Most wouldn't recognize a technique that left no counterplay.
Her observational skills were sharper than he'd thought.
And despite all my 'heroic' interventions, she's still not swooning.
Interesting woman.
You've caught my attention.
"Guilty as charged."
No point denying it.
"So your 'Kirigakure-born' backstory was fabricated."
Mei didn't seem surprised—just resigned.
Between his unnatural strength and those unrecorded water jutsu, she'd suspected as much.
Ironically, Konoha—thanks to Tobirama Senju—boasted the finest water-style techniques in the world. Kirigakure had borrowed heavily from them.
But knowing the truth changed nothing.
She was indebted to him.
And if he'd wanted Kirigakure destroyed, he'd had countless opportunities.
Why bother with this charade?
Mei had learned one thing: Against overwhelming power, schemes were meaningless.
What could she do?
Kill him?
Expel the Sunshine Trade Company?
Impossible.
The former—she'd lose.
The latter—her lifeline.
A bitter pill to swallow.
"Lovely weather today."
Sōma leaned against the windowsill, grinning. "Care to accompany me to Uzushiogakure?"
"That's not an 'accompaniment.' It's a mission request."
Mei corrected him coolly.
"Right, a mission."
Her no-nonsense demeanor was a stark contrast to Tsunade's brashness.
No wonder she's Mizukage.
"For the Mizukage's personal involvement… let's call it an S-rank. Payment? Five million two hundred thousand ryō."
Chump change to him now.
Mei, however, choked.
"T-That's excessive."
Even as greed flickered in her eyes, she shook her head. "A land without shinobi isn't worth that much."
Principles mattered.
And such an outrageous sum?
Suspicious.
"Fine. One million, then."
"…Were you mocking me just now?"
Mei's eye twitched.
Slashing the price by four million in one go?
Only explanation: He was toying with her.
"You're prettier when you're not scowling."
Sōma's smile widened. "Money well spent, if it gets me new expressions."
"You—!"
Mei's fingers twitched toward a hand seal—
—before she forcibly relaxed them.
I am the Mizukage. I will not melt this insolent brat.
(Unbeknownst to her, Sōma was thoroughly appreciating the view.)
Not Tsunade-tier, but impressive.
"Let's go."
Mei smoothed her robes, all business again. "My ANBU scouted Uzushiogakure. The main threats are rogue ninja."
Sōma nodded, mind drifting to Kimimaro.
Would Mei try to recruit him?
Absolutely.
Problematic.
But judging by her tone, she hadn't discovered him yet.
Why?
Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku was unmistakable.
Unless… he hadn't fought?
Ah.
The bloodline illness.
In the original timeline, Orochimaru's resources had prolonged Kimimaro's life.
But as a rogue ninja?
No funds. No treatment.
"Three major factions," Mei continued, consulting a dossier. "The largest is surprisingly organized—led by a researcher named Honoka, specializing in summoning contracts."
Honoka?
Sōma frowned.
The name rang a bell.
Not the idol singer… Wait, a canon character?
His enhanced memory—a perk of his power growth—flashed an image:
A red-haired kunoichi from the Sea Country arc.
"Something wrong?"
Mei caught his shift in demeanor.
"No. Let's proceed."
Ruins of Uzushiogakure
A crack of displaced air.
Mei staggered slightly—then immediately noticed the hand lingering on her waist.
"I said spatial travel can be disorienting."
Sōma's tone was innocent.
"Hmph."
She brushed him off, surveying the desolate landscape.
"Efficient."
Envy flickered in her chest.
Konoha's advantages were unfair.
"After you, Mizukage-sama."
Sōma gestured grandly.
Ten minutes later, they stood before a ramshackle izakaya.
"First target."
Mei shoved the door open—
—and every head swiveled toward them.
"Well, well. What's a pretty thing like you doing here?"
A leering, unshaven man lumbered up. "Need someone to show you a good time?"
Mei's smile turned glacial.
Before Sōma could react—
"Lava Release: Dissolution Jutsu!"
Orange acid erupted from her lips.
The man dissolved mid-scream.
"R-Run!"
His companions scrambled for the exits.
Mei's next spray painted the walls in liquid death.
No survivors.
No remorse.
Rogue ninja were scum.
Even resource-starved Kirigakure wouldn't recruit trash like this.
As the last gurgles faded, Sōma knelt, etching a message into the floorboards:
"Property of Sunshine Trade Company."
"Done?"
Mei wiped her mouth, visibly refreshed.
(Sōma's earlier teasing? Thoroughly vented.)
"Next."
Abandoned Casino
Minimal resistance.
Maximal efficiency.
Two factions down.
Mountain Hideout
"They're hiding in the wilderness?"
Sōma raised an eyebrow.
Most rogue ninja flaunted their power in Uzushiogakure's lawless streets.
This was… odd.
"Let me handle this one."
He blocked Mei's path.
"…?"
Her gaze turned analytical.
His reaction to 'Honoka'…
Connected?
"I've been bored watching you work."
A flimsy excuse—but he'd already slipped inside.
Mei hesitated.
Rogue ninja were expendable.
No need to antagonize her benefactor over them.
Cave Interior
Fwoosh!
Sōma tilted his head—a kunai whizzed past.
Another attacker lunged from behind—
—only for his tendons to meet a counter-kunai.
"GAAAH—!"
Ignoring the screams, Sōma pressed onward.
Whoosh!
A wind bullet slammed into where he'd stood.
The caster—a lanky youth—collapsed under a chop to the neck.
Then—
Mist flooded the cavern.
"Kirigakure's Hidden Mist Jutsu?"
Sōma's brows rose.
Most rogues didn't have this level of coordination.
Splash!
A water dragon surged from the fog—
—only to be bisected by Raijin's Sword.
Lightning crackled as the remnants electrocuted their summoner.
Yet the mist persisted.
"More?"
Sōma's blade hummed—
—then unleashed a storm of lightning arcs.
"Watch out—!"
"Agh—!"
Bodies crumpled.
None fatal.
At the cavern's heart, six figures stood ready.
At their center—
Honoka.
White dress.
And most strikingly—
Fiery red hair.
Uzumaki.
Now Sōma remembered.
A sealing specialist from the Sea Country's Summoning Island arc.
But why here?
Timeline-wise, this was years earlier.
"Who are you?"
Honoka stepped forward, voice steady. "State your terms. We can negotiate."
Her earlier scouts had made one thing clear:
This man was beyond them.
Their last resort—Kimimaro—would die if forced to fight.
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