Naruto: Being a Shinobi with no System But...

Chapter 288 - 288: 287 - Roshi's warning to Gensui!!!

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Mei Terumī, who had said she would personally accompany and supervise him the entire time, brought Roshi to a restaurant. It wasn't inside Kirigakure but just outside the village.

The "shop" was a boat.

It was an old wooden fishing boat that had been converted into a small floating restaurant. Though not large, it was neat and welcoming. Clean straw mats covered the deck, a low table sat in the center, and paper lanterns hung all around, swaying gently in the sea breeze.

The boat was moored in a quiet bay, about a hundred meters from shore. From here, the spired buildings of the Hidden Mist Village could be seen in the distance, their outlines half-concealed by a light mist.

"So Terumī-san's way of preventing me from peeking is to take me out of the Hidden Mist?" Roshi asked.

"Ah, doesn't Roshi-kun prefer this more tactful approach?" Mei chuckled softly. "After you said he wanted to peek, I was really at a loss over what to do with you."

"So I had no choice but to bring you to this shop. This way we can host an important guest while still protecting the village's secrets."

"Next time, I'll just hide my intentions better," Roshi replied.

"That's too stingy, Roshi-kun. A man should say what he wants openly."

Mei sat down at the low table and patted the straw mat beside her. "Please, sit. There's no food in the village itself worth mentioning. The owner of this place is affiliated with Kirigakure, and his cooking is excellent."

Roshi sat across from her. The mat beneath him was spotless and smelled faintly of sun-dried straw. From inside the cabin came the sounds of cooking and the mouthwatering sizzle of fat on a hot iron plate.

"It really is a good place," he said.

"Right?" Mei propped her chin on one hand, her green eyes shining in the lantern light. "The last time you came, I reserved this place too. But the news you brought was so bad that I completely lost the mood to entertain you."

Once they had settled in, a middle-aged man in an apron stepped out carrying a wooden tray. On it were eight small bowls, each holding a different kind of seafood sashimi.

After setting everything down, he brought out a bottle of sake, bowed slightly, and disappeared back into the cabin.

Mei picked up the sake bottle, poured a cup for Roshi, then filled one for herself.

"This time," she said, raising her cup and looking at Roshi through the rim, "I made this reservation thinking, 'There might not be another chance to entertain Roshi-kun properly.' "

Roshi lifted his own cup and gently tapped it against hers. "If there really is bad news, I'll save it until after the meal."

"How mean." Even as she complained, she downed the sake in one smooth motion.

"The education in the Hidden Mist is completely different from that of the other villages. When it comes to exchanges, there will probably be more intense friction."

She lowered her voice slightly. "So before I agree to your purpose in coming here, I hope Konoha can be prepared for that—

even if it's just for Ninja Academy students."

The instructors at the Ninja Academy were still the same people. Policies might change, and the graduation ceremony might be different, but the nature of those left behind wouldn't suddenly transform.

"A reasonable amount of clashing and friction won't be a problem."

"Then the Hidden Mist has no objections."

She poured herself another cup of sake, then shot him a reproachful look.

"I finished mine properly, Roshi-kun. Just taking a sip is really too much."

Roshi glanced at her, then at the sake still sitting in his cup, and finally tipped it back in a single gulp.

Mei smiled in satisfaction, the corners of her eyes curving elegantly.

Leaning forward, she took the initiative to refill his cup. The motion brought them closer, and Roshi caught the faint fragrance of her hair.

Then she lifted her chopsticks, picked up a piece of fatty tuna belly, and set it on the porcelain dish in front of him.

"I'm quite jealous, Roshi-kun," she said. "Konoha is always able to carry out its plans."

"With great difficulty, even that stubborn Zabuza's mind has been swayed." Her gaze drifted toward the distant Hidden Mist Village, her voice growing softer. "After returning from the Five Kage Summit, I carefully reorganized the map and thought… under this new situation, perhaps the Hidden Mist can do more."

She extended a finger and traced invisible lines across the tabletop.

"Look: to the left of the Land of Water is the Land of Fire; above is the Land of Lightning; nearby is the Land of Waves; to the lower left is the Land of Tea; and to the right are many large island nations. From a global perspective, the Hidden Mist has a geographical advantage that's not inferior to Konoha—if it can shake off its past isolation and truly take part in alliances and exchanges."

Mei's eyes shone with fervent ambition.

"With the strength of the Hidden Mist, we have enough power to maintain order and support the Land of Water in becoming the best hub for maritime trade between nations. We could break free from our old shackles and no longer be confined by our small territory."

Mei raised her sake cup.

Roshi tapped his cup lightly against hers, and they both emptied them again.

The sake bottle was already half gone.

"Even though I've started making such plans," Mei Terumī's voice suddenly held a trace of weariness, "a power that brings chaos to the seas has appeared. The village is facing a threat again, and everything I wanted to push forward can only be put on hold."

She rested her cheek in one hand, the other absently turning the empty ceramic cup between her fingers.

"This counts as a secret, doesn't it, Mei-san?" Roshi asked as he set his cup down.

"Don't say such spoilsport things at a time like this, Roshi-kun."

A faint blush had already crept onto Mei's cheeks, and the alcohol left her eyes hazy, a soft mist dimming their usual sharpness. "You're not the kind of person who would do that."

Suddenly, she planted both hands on the table and leaned forward, fixing Roshi with a serious gaze.

Those green eyes were only inches from his.

"I am," she said, enunciating each word, "working hard according to what was said back then, so that when we meet again, we won't need to kill each other."

"And Roshi-kun, you who have the same expectations, would never do anything to harm the Hidden Mist just because it's looking for a path to peace."

The sea breeze picked up without warning, whipping at the lanterns. Their flames shook violently, and light and shadow flickered between the two of them. For a moment, Mei's face blurred in the alternating brightness and darkness.

Roshi fell silent.

"Such trust," he said at last, "is truly heavy."

Mei laughed and leaned back into her seat. As she moved, her long hair slid over her shoulder like a dark waterfall.

"After saying it, I feel exceptionally relaxed." She exhaled. "Pressure successfully transferred."

They clinked cups again. This time, they drank slowly, only taking small sips.

Dish after dish was brought out. The middle-aged man serving them said nothing, quietly retreating to the cabin each time he set something down.

Their conversation came and went, drifting from topic to topic without direction.

By the time the food was finished and the sake bottle lay completely empty, night had deepened around them.

Mei rose to her feet in a lazy motion.

Her blue tube-top dress swayed gently in the night breeze as she reached up to smooth her wind-tousled hair.

"It's time to go back, Roshi-kun. If we're away for too long, people will suspect I'm plotting something improper with Konoha's envoy."

"Am I staying here?"

"Of course..." Mei drew out the words, then added, "...although I'd like to say that, please enter the village. Accommodations have already been arranged."

"If you really intend to see something, please communicate with me in advance."

"After all, this place is the Bloody Mist."

Her last words to Roshi were not a warning but a reminder.

When she led him into the Hidden Mist, he understood what she meant.

The mist was thicker than before, denser even than the last time.

Roshi came to an abrupt stop.

"...In the mist," he murmured, "there is chakra."

"Did you feel it?" Mei Terumī walked ahead without looking back. "For enemies with extremely strong infiltration capabilities, this is the simplest early warning method."

"This is a new defensive measure added after your warning."

That night, the one in charge of the guard detail was Zabuza. At his side, a sensory ninja quietly reported.

"East District, no abnormalities."

"South, no abnormalities."

"A reported chakra signature has entered the village."

Zabuza finished confirming the current security status, then headed for Gensui's office, the needle sword Nuibari slung across his back.

He disliked this insidious weapon; it was too troublesome when it came to actually dealing with targets.

But among the masterless Seven Ninja Swords, it was the one that suited him best for now. The Blastsword, Shibuki, was too loud, and the Blunt Sword, Kabutowari, was too cumbersome.

If the chance ever came—for example, if he could kill Biwa Jūzō, who was confirmed to be in the Akatsuki and currently in the Land of Snow, and reclaim the Broken Sword: Executioner's Blade—he would probably switch without hesitation.

After all, becoming one of the Seven Swordsmen was only a way to make his stance clear after the Five Kage Summit ended.

He hadn't explicitly withdrawn from competing for the position of Mizukage, but he had indicated that he was willing to accept Mei's previous arrangements.

Nothing more.

Gensui's office was in an inconspicuous building beside the Mizukage Building.

Zabuza knocked, entered, handed in his report for the day, and was about to leave.

Just then, the door opened again.

Mei walked in.

Her long, deep auburn hair swayed over her shoulders, and her blue dress stood out vividly under the indoor lighting.

Zabuza's brow tightened almost imperceptibly.

He caught the scent of alcohol.

For a shinobi, drinking while not on leave—and letting the smell linger—was unprofessional.

He should have pointed it out. But after everything that had happened at the Summit, Zabuza had come to understand the parts of this job that had nothing to do with pure combat.

So he held his tongue.

He simply shifted to the side, making space toward the desk.

"Elder," greeted Gensui with a smile and a nod and then glanced at Zabuza. "Zabuza."

Zabuza returned the nod. Then he turned, pushed the door open, and stepped out.

Just before the door clicked shut behind him, Gensui's voice drifted out:

"He came personally just for the exchange student matter?"

Mei replied, "At least, that is the only purpose he has shown so far."

——

The next morning, in the conference room on the third floor of the Mizukage Building.

Gensui sat at the head of the long table, with Mei Terumī on his left.

When Rōshi was led into the room, this was the scene that greeted him.

"Elder Gensui," Rōshi gave a slight nod.

"Please, sit." Gensui gestured to the seat opposite him at the long table. "About last time—thank you for making a special trip to warn us about the Land of Snow and the Akatsuki Organization. The Hidden Mist is grateful."

"I was only doing my duty." Rōshi took the indicated seat, directly facing Gensui and Mei. "The threat is to the stability of the entire ninja world, after all, not just a single village."

"Regarding the exchange student program," Gensui said as he opened the folder in front of him, "Mei has already submitted a detailed report. In principle, the Hidden Mist has no objections. The specific details can be discussed later."

"Thank you."

"Next," Gensui's tone shifted slightly, "will this year's Joint Combat Exercise be affected by the current situation?"

Roshi answered, "The training exercise will proceed as scheduled. However, given the current state of affairs, the Bureau will dispatch additional squads to assist the host, the Land of Lightning, with security. Each village will also increase border vigilance to ensure the safety of the participating teams."

"I see." Gensui nodded. "In that case, does the list of permanent personnel the Hidden Mist is assigning to the Bureau need to be adjusted?"

"I recommend keeping the original plan. The Bureau needs professionals from every village in order to form a collective response force in an emergency."

"Reasonable."

For the next hour, the meeting sank into tedious, detailed negotiations.

They went over the personnel list, equipment loadouts, and rotation schedules for the Hidden Mist's contingent to the Affairs Bureau; how to coordinate the maritime blockade against the Land of Snow—exactly which sea zones the Hidden Mist fleet would be responsible for and how they would link up with Kumogakure and Sunagakure patrol routes; the scope and channels of intelligence sharing, which information needed to be synced in real time and which could be delayed; and even emergency support procedures for each village—what contact points to use and which ciphers to employ.

Mei spent most of the time taking notes. A thick notebook lay open in front of her, pen flying across the pages. From time to time she looked up to interject, voicing the Hidden Mist's concerns:

"Regarding the handover zones for maritime patrols, the Hidden Mist would like the handover point set in the waters off the Land of Waves. We're more familiar with the hydrological conditions there."

"As for intelligence sharing, we need to retain the right to adjust any parts that involve the Hidden Mist's internal defensive arrangements."

When the clock struck eleven and all topics on joint operations had been temporarily wrapped up, Gensui suddenly spoke.

"Roshi."

"For this visit to the Hidden Mist," Gensui asked slowly, "how many days are you planning to stay?"

"The estimate is two to three days," Roshi replied. "If you need more detailed negotiations, I can extend it."

Gensui studied him. This was only their second meeting, yet his impression hadn't changed: Roshi was a man who carried out his duties with clear purpose.

He was also thoroughly professional. Setting aside any possible entanglements of hormones and emotions that might arise among younger people… nothing they had discussed so far really warranted a personal visit from someone of his current status.

At the very least, it wasn't enough reason for him to stay in the Hidden Mist for several days—never mind the time spent on the journey.

Roshi met Gensui's gaze and held it, saying nothing for a long moment.

When he finally spoke, his tone was grave. "There's one more matter I need to inform your side about."

"Please prepare for the worst."

"According to the intelligence we currently possess," Roshi said, "Uchiha Madara's ultimate goal is to gather all the Tailed Beasts."

Gensui's eyes widened.

"And the Hidden Mist," Roshi went on, his voice cutting clearly through the silence of the conference room, "because of certain historical reasons, is likely the village he understands best—and, in his eyes, the easiest target."

"In our assessment," Roshi concluded, "the probability that your side will become their primary target is—"

"Extremely high."

"After all, he once controlled the entire Hidden Mist Village. His understanding of this village is deeper than anyone else's."