Mei lifted another slice of pizza, her turquoise eyes steady as she bit into it with deliberate calm. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavor, before setting the slice back down on her plate. A faint curve touched her lips, not quite a smile but close enough to soften her sharp expression. "Hmm. Not bad. I never would have considered eating pizza before."
Across from her, Raven leaned back slightly, her Rinnegan catching the light of the lantern overhead. "So, Mei, what do you think of my proposal?"
Mei placed her hands on the table, her tone serious. "What do you think of the Bloody Mist policies against the bloodline clans? You know as well as I do that Kirigakure has more bloodline clans than any other hidden village. The very strength of our people comes from that diversity. But these policies are destroying them from within. Children may be forced to kill each other in the academy, but entire clans are being targeted as well. If you are truly proposing a sanctuary to save the children, then I want the bloodline clans saved too. They are among the most powerful shinobi in the world, and our Mizukage is culling them as though they were weeds."
Raven nodded slowly, listening without interruption. Her voice, when it came, was firm but measured. "That is possible. But you need to understand something very important. Smuggling adults is far more dangerous than smuggling children. Adults are more difficult to hide, more likely to resist, and far more noticeable when they vanish. If we bring in bloodline clans—especially adults—they will need an additional safeguard. I would place a seal upon them. Not one that compels obedience, not one that manipulates their will, but a boundary seal. It would prevent them from straying too far beyond the sanctuary's walls. It would not harm them. It would simply ensure they could not risk the safety of the children by leaving and revealing the sanctuary's existence to the outside world."
She leaned forward slightly, her tone sharpening. "I will not compromise on this, Mei. The sanctuary must remain hidden. The safety of the children comes first."
Mei's eyes narrowed, her gaze hardening. "So it would be seal-based. Not coercion, not mind control. Only a boundary to limit their movement?"
Raven inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Correct. It will do them no harm. They will eat, live, and train freely inside the sanctuary. But they cannot cross its borders. They cannot run back to the Mizukage and expose what we are doing. That is non-negotiable."
Mei tapped her fingers lightly against the wood of the table as she considered this. "Sealing jutsu is not common anymore. Much of it was lost after the fall of the Uzumaki clan. Even now, most villages hoard the fragments of knowledge they scavenged. To ask me to let you seal my people is no small request."
Raven's expression remained steady, her voice carrying quiet conviction. "I know. But I will remind you—the Uzumaki were not exterminated. Scattered, yes. Hunted, yes. But their knowledge endures. I have studied their sealing arts, and I will not misuse them. My seals will not enslave anyone. They will simply protect the children we are saving. I would stake my life on that truth."
Mei reached for her slice of pizza again, taking a slow bite before setting it back down. Her turquoise eyes flicked back to Raven's glowing gaze, assessing, weighing. After a moment she spoke, her voice lower but still sharp. "If it is only a boundary seal, then I can accept that. If it protects the children of Kirigakure—if it ensures they are not slaughtered in those graduation exams or culled because of their bloodline—then I will agree to that condition. I do not like it, but I will allow it."
Raven allowed a faint smile, though her tone remained serious. "You are surprisingly reasonable about this. Most leaders would never agree to seals being placed on their people."
Mei gave a small shrug, her expression unreadable. "You began this conversation with the promise of saving the children. I was the one who asked you to include the bloodline clans. Negotiation requires compromise. I cannot demand everything and give nothing."
Raven nodded in approval, her gaze steady. "That is very wise. You are right—this is about the children first. Any additional clans we save will need that extra layer of scrutiny. Their safety must never come at the expense of the younger ones."
Mei leaned back slightly in her chair, folding her arms. Her eyes softened, though the weight of her conviction was clear. "I have to be reasonable. If I cannot make sacrifices for the sake of the children, then I am no better than Yagura. We will do this your way, Raven. But I expect results."
Raven inclined her head respectfully. "You will have them. I am glad we can come to an agreement."
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