Back then, when Uchiha Yusuke received the first letter Mei Terumi sent him, he was genuinely stunned—
And more than a little speechless.
The contents of the letter were basically Mei tearing into him from top to bottom—criticizing him, calling him awful—
While stubbornly declaring that she would never forgive him, and that Yusuke had to take responsibility for what he did back then.
Yusuke could only stare at it, expression blank.
From that day onward, Mei would send letters every so often.
And every single one of them would "kindly" remind him that he had to marry her—
Otherwise, she would march straight into Konoha herself.
...
At this moment, Mizukage Mei Terumi was still lost in her own delusional little world, completely ignoring everyone else.
Chōjūrō looked awkward and could only try again.
"Mizukage-sama? Mizukage-sama…!"
"Hm? Oh, it's Chōjūrō," Mei replied absentmindedly. "What is it?"
Chōjūrō: "..."
"Mizukage-sama, I have something very important to report."
"Oh, fine. Say it," Mei said casually, though she still looked listless.
What could possibly be more important than the letter I sent Yusuke-kun?
Damn it—he still hasn't replied after all this time. Where did it go wrong?
Mei was still obsessing over it.
Chōjūrō took a breath.
"It concerns Konoha. According to our scouts, Konoha's Hokage—"
"Wait!"
At the word "Konoha," Mei sat up straight instantly and cut him off.
The gloomy, lethargic look on her face vanished as if it had never been there.
"Chōjūrō, what did you say? Something about Konoha?"
Chōjūrō nodded.
"Yes. Konoha's Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—"
Mei cut him off again.
"I'm not interested in that right now. I want to know whether there's news about Yusuke-kun—cough, cough…"
"Ahem. I mean… whether there's any news about the Uchiha Clan Head."
Chōjūrō and Ao exchanged looks.
Then Chōjūrō answered honestly.
"There's no information about that lord, Mizukage-sama."
Mei's shoulders sank in disappointment.
"Fine. Continue. What happened to Konoha's Third Hokage?"
"He's dead."
"—Huh?!"
Mei blinked in shock.
"The Third Hokage? Sarutobi Hiruzen… that old man is dead?"
Mei knew very well that Uchiha Yusuke and the Third Hokage had never gotten along.
And since Mei was hopelessly infatuated with Yusuke, she naturally had no fondness for Hiruzen at all.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama," Chōjūrō confirmed.
Mei's eyes immediately brightened.
"Then who's Konoha's new Hokage? Is it Yusuke-kun—cough…"
"Is it the Uchiha Clan Head, Uchiha Yusuke?"
Chōjūrō shook his head.
"We don't know for sure yet. But based on what our scouts reported, the new Hokage will most likely be chosen between that lord of the Uchiha Clan… and Senju Tsunade."
Hearing that, Mei's heart quietly leapt.
If Yusuke-kun becomes Hokage… wouldn't I have even more chances to meet him?
As fellow Kage, for the sake of each village's prosperity and development—
Meeting now and then to discuss cooperation between villages, sitting together to negotiate mutual progress…
Wasn't that perfectly normal?
Mei was extremely satisfied with her own "brilliant" reasoning.
"Chōjūrō," she said decisively, "issue an order. For the development of our village, we will fully implement a policy of peace and openness."
"I've decided that we will establish formal relations with Konoha and pursue deep, friendly cooperation."
"For that purpose, I will personally go to Konoha to attend Yusuke-kun's—cough…"
"To attend Konoha's Hokage inauguration ceremony."
Mei spoke with an utterly righteous expression—like she was doing it purely for the village.
In her heart, though, she had already decided that Uchiha Yusuke would definitely become the next Hokage.
"Eh…?"
Both Chōjūrō and Ao were stunned.
"Mizukage-sama," Chōjūrō hurriedly said, "forming relations with Konoha is a major decision. Shouldn't we consider it more carefully, and discuss it thoroughly before making it official?"
Ao nodded as well.
"Besides, we don't even know who Konoha's next Hokage will be."
"And Konoha hasn't sent us any invitation to their inauguration ceremony. If we go over without notice, it may be inappropriate…"
They both tried to persuade her.
Normally, when a village held a Kage inauguration ceremony, they would send envoys to invite the other villages.
Only if relations were unusually good would a Kage-level figure attend in person.
Otherwise, a representative would be sent—symbolic attendance, nothing more.
But when it involved Yusuke-kun, persuasion was useless against Mei's lovestruck brain.
Her expression was firm.
"Enough. I've decided."
"I'm doing this… for the revival of Kirigakure."
"Chōjūrō—go investigate the exact date of Konoha's Hokage inauguration ceremony. I will attend on time."
"Handle the arrangements."
...
Back in Konoha—
Lights had begun to glow as evening settled in.
At the Uchiha residence, the lively hot pot gathering had finally ended.
Kakashi, Uchiha Shisui, Might Guy, Gekkō Hayate, Nono…
One by one, they all took their leave.
The only ones still at Uchiha Yusuke's house were Yugao, Anko, Tsunade, and Kurenai.
Uzuki Yugao supported the drunken, rowdy Mitarashi Anko to the entryway, preparing to leave.
Yusuke's Western-style house simply didn't have enough rooms.
Aside from the master bedroom, there were only two guest rooms.
So Yugao—still sober—could only be "wronged" into taking Anko home first.
"Hey—hey, who are you?! Yusuke, what are you doing hugging me?! Trying—trying to take advantage of me?!"
"L-Let go! I-I won't—won't ever fall for you, you womanizing bastard!"
Anko mumbled nonsense, completely unable to tell east from west.
Yusuke's face went dark.
Despite her bold, brash personality, Anko's alcohol tolerance was laughably low.
The type who got drunk the moment she touched a drink.
And her drunken behavior was even worse.
Even while being supported by Yugao, she kept shouting that she wanted to keep drinking.
Muttering that they still hadn't decided a winner, that she hadn't lost, that she wasn't leaving…
The classic case of being terrible, yet addicted.
Hearing Anko's drunken rambling, Yugao felt even more embarrassed.
Still, she supported Anko and prepared to head out.
"Yusuke-sama, I'm leaving first," Yugao said softly.
Yusuke nodded.
"Mm. Be careful on the way."
Hearing those warm words, Yugao couldn't help looking at Yusuke, her eyes filled with affection.
The feelings she'd suppressed for so long suddenly surged beyond control.
Meeting Yusuke's gaze, Yugao blurted out impulsively—
"Yusuke-sama… can I call you 'Yusuke-kun' too, like Kurenai and the others do?"
Seeing the intense hope in the girl's eyes, the emotion burning there, Yusuke found it hard to refuse.
"…You can."
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