The two arrived at the Mizukage building. Stepping inside, they found Yagura Karatachi sitting in silence, his expression heavy with sorrow.
"Fourth Mizukage-sama, are you alright?" Mei Terumī stepped forward, her voice low and laced with concern. Internally, she was still a bit anxious, fearing that what Raizen had told her might not be true. She was terrified of the possibility of losing him.
"Mei... it's me," Yagura said, looking up at her. His voice was gentle, lacking the previous mechanical coldness. Although he had been controlled, he remembered every single thing he had done and every person he had encountered during that nightmare.
Yagura's gaze was filled with shame. "I'm sorry, Mei. I've caused you all so much trouble. I am a criminal to the Hidden Mist."
"Mizukage-sama... were you really being controlled?" Hearing him say this, Mei finally had her definitive answer.
Yagura nodded. "A man with terrifying eyes controlled me, forcing me to commit countless atrocities. I am deeply ashamed! I have no right to remain as the Mizukage. Mei, from this day forward, you are the Fifth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist."
In a sudden move, Yagura abdicated his position on the spot, passing the mantle to Mei. The announcement was so abrupt that Mei was left in a state of shock.
"Mizukage-sama, this... this isn't right! I... I'm afraid I won't be able to do it!"
Seeing her nervous state, Yagura encouraged her: "Mei, I've seen your strength. You absolutely have the capability to lead the village and bring it back to life. I am a sinner; I cannot face the people anymore. Once your succession is announced, I will go into complete seclusion. Take the position, Mei. The village needs you. If it's you, I know it will work out."
Hearing his words, Mei took a breath and nodded, her expression turning determined. "I will not let your expectations down. I will lead this village toward a new beginning."
"Good. I believe in you. If there are difficulties in the future, I will still lend you my strength." Yagura nodded with relief, then turned his gaze toward Raizen. Finding no information about this man in his memory, he asked, "Mei, who is this?"
"This is my husband," Mei replied, a trace of bashfulness coloring her cheeks as she glanced at Raizen.
Yagura froze for a moment, then laughed. "Mei, you finally got married! Congratulations! I honestly thought you'd be single forever."
In the village, Mei was a figure most men feared; they were happy to be her teammates, but none dared to be her lover. He was genuinely happy to find out she had found someone while he was "away."
Mei smiled sweetly at Raizen.
"And what is your name?" Yagura asked, looking at Raizen.
Raizen stepped forward, his expression calm. "Greetings, Fourth Mizukage. My name is Raizen Uchiha."
"Uchiha?" Yagura's eyes snapped wide. He stood up instantly, staring at Raizen with a sharp, serious gaze.
Seeing Yagura's defensive posture, Raizen waved a hand dismissively. "Mizukage, don't be so tense. I'm not on the same side as the man who controlled you."
"Mei, what is the meaning of this? Why would you marry an outsider? And an Uchiha at that!?" Yagura's voice turned stern.
"Yagura, don't look at my wife with those eyes unless you want to die," Raizen's tone shifted instantly. He stared back at Yagura with piercing intensity. "The only reason you're free of that control is because I heavily injured the man pulling your strings. Do you think you could have broken a Mangekyō Sharingan's control on your own? Even a Tailed Beast is just a compliant pet under that level of pupil power."
"Don't think that just because you're the Three-Tails Jinchūriki, you can act out in front of me. If you want to go back to being a pet, I can arrange that for you."
Raizen's pupils contracted as his Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared. A terrifying pressure of chakra surged forth, slamming into Yagura.
"Raizen-kun, please don't! The Mizukage just doesn't understand the situation yet," Mei pleaded, grabbing Raizen's arm. She was worried that if he acted on impulse, a fight between him and Yagura would destroy the office.
"Hmph! For Mei's sake, I'll let it slide today. Otherwise, I'd turn you back into a puppet myself," Raizen snorted. He slowly deactivated his Sharingan and retracted his aura.
Likely deterred by Raizen's overwhelming presence, Yagura's gaze softened slightly. He turned to Mei and asked, "Tell me everything, Mei. I want to know exactly how this happened."
Mei nodded and began the story of how she and Raizen met and fell in love.
"I see... I misunderstood you, Mei. It's no wonder you were able to marry him—he was an outsider who didn't know your reputation." Yagura teased her slightly after learning Raizen shared a blood feud with the man behind the "Bloody Mist."
Raizen didn't mind the jab. He laughed, "I think Mei is incredibly gentle, nothing like the 'melting' monster everyone imagines. Marrying her is the happiest thing in my life. Actually, I should thank the men of the Mist. If they hadn't been too cowardly to approach her, I never would have had the chance."
Mei added, "I have to thank them too. Their fear gave me the opportunity to meet Raizen-kun. Marrying him is my life's greatest joy."
Yagura felt a bit overwhelmed by the sudden public display of affection. "Cough, cough!" He interrupted them to get back to business. "Raizen Uchiha, do you plan to live here in the Mist permanently, or return to the Hidden Leaf?"
"I came here to hunt Obito Uchiha—the one who controlled you. Once he is dealt with, I will stay with Mei and raise our child together."
Raizen left himself plenty of room in that statement. He said he would stay with Mei, but he didn't specify where. Naturally, Yagura and Mei assumed he meant Kirigakure.
Yagura frowned slightly. "That man is dangerous. Those eyes... they were far more frightening than what you just showed me. Are you sure you can defeat him?"
Now that Raizen was Mei's husband, and having shown strength far exceeding a typical Jōnin, pulling him into the Mist's camp would be a massive gain for the village. More importantly, it meant the Uchiha bloodline would take root in the Mist.
With Mei as the Mizukage, any children she had would naturally be loyal to the Hidden Mist. The village would gain one of the strongest bloodlines in the world. Yagura had experienced that pupil power firsthand; in the future, if the Mist had the Sharingan on their side, controlling the Three-Tails would be easy. They would never have to fear a rampage again.
Thinking of this, Yagura's gaze toward Raizen became significantly more "enthusiastic."
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