Raizen looked at Mei Terumī in astonishment. He hadn't expected her to be so forward so suddenly. Watching the heat in her eyes, Raizen was internally jubilant—he hadn't expected things to go this smoothly.
"So, man? Want to consider being with this Queen?"
Mei's gaze remained locked on him, intense and unblinking. Raizen, however, shook his head. If he agreed too quickly or looked over-eager, it would trigger her suspicion. Mei was a woman destined to become the Fifth Mizukage; her mind wouldn't be simple. Her outburst now was a mix of her quirky personality and her genuine love for handsome men.
"Why?" Mei bit her lip, her eyes wide with confusion. "Am I not beautiful enough for you?"
Raizen smiled gently. "Miss, we've only just met. We know nothing about each other. What you're saying is a bit abrupt—I'm not mentally prepared. Let me think about it."
Mei's face lit up with hope. "How long do you need? I'll wait!"
The men in Kirigakure were terrified of her power and kept her at arm's length, leaving her single for over twenty years. Now that she'd finally met an outsider who perfectly matched her aesthetic standards, she wasn't about to let him slip away. If she missed this chance, she feared she'd be alone forever.
"Let's spend some time together first," Raizen suggested.
"What's your first impression of me then?" Mei leaned in, her eyes sparkling with interest. The more she looked at his face, the more perfect he seemed.
Raizen laughed. "Good. You're very direct. I like girls who speak their minds—they're usually honest and kindhearted."
"Really? You really think I'm a good girl?" Mei's eyes shone with joy. Finally, a handsome man who appreciated her!
Determined not to lose him, Mei spent the entire morning at Raizen's stall, eagerly helping him sell goods. At noon, after the inventory was cleared, she followed him back to the inn and stayed until evening, leaving only when it was absolutely necessary.
As Raizen sat in the hotel lobby later that night, a drunken man sat across from him. "Hey brother... you're an outsider, right?"
Raizen nodded and placed a bottle of wine in front of the man. The man's face broke into a wide grin. "Generous! Since you're such a good sport, I'll give you a piece of advice."
"Please, elder brother. I'm listening," Raizen said.
The man looked around warily before leaning in close. "Brother, don't fall for Mei Terumī. She's beautiful, sure, but she's lethal."
"Oh? Why is that?" Raizen asked, curious to hear the local reputation of his target.
The man took a swig of wine. "Mei is great as a teammate—she makes you feel safe. But as a lover? There's no safety at all. She's a woman who can melt anything. If she gets angry, watch out, or she'll turn you into a puddle."
"Is it really that terrifying?" Raizen chuckled.
The man shuddered. "Once, a guy tried to flirt with her improperly. She melted him right down to the bone on the spot."
"That scary?" Raizen feigned shock. He knew about her Boil Release (Futton)—it could indeed dissolve organic matter. But he wasn't afraid. Even if they had a fight, he could use the Flying Thunder God to escape. He certainly wouldn't end up as a pile of bones.
Over the following weeks, Raizen continued to set up his stall, and Mei showed up every single day to help. As time passed, the tension between them grew more and more ambiguous. Eventually, the sparks ignited.
Having tasted the sweetness of their first encounter, Mei became completely obsessed. She practically sequestered Raizen in the inn for half a month before they finally emerged.
A month later, during a meal, Mei suddenly felt nauseous. A trip to the hospital confirmed the news: she was pregnant. She couldn't wait to tell Raizen.
"This is wonderful, darling!" Raizen exclaimed, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Raizen-kun... let's get married!" Mei nestled into his chest. "I want to get married right here in the Mist, and we can live here together, okay?"
"Of course," Raizen agreed. With the Flying Thunder God, he could easily travel between Konoha and Kirigakure.
The news that Mei Terumī was getting married spread through the village like wildfire.
"Who is this guy? Is he suicidal?" "I heard he's a foreign merchant. Poor fool doesn't know what he's getting into." "He's a hero! He's taking the village's biggest danger off the market!" "Let's drink to him! Now we handsome guys can walk the streets safely again without worrying about being melted!"
The single men of the Mist celebrated the news with reckless abandon. Raizen, watching the commotion from his window, found it hilarious. Handsome guys? he thought. With faces like yours, Mei wouldn't have given you a second look anyway.
That night, Mei was tender and affectionate. "Raizen-kun... love me well!"
It was another night of bliss.