Chapter 14 – The One I Seek to Become Is Mizukage!
Mei Terumi stared at the boy seated before her. No matter how many times she reassessed him, her mind refused to reconcile reality with expectation. This was the man who had overturned the political balance of the Land of Water, the man who had exposed Yagura Karatachi's secrets, the one who had slain two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and bent two more to his will. A ruthless strategist, a decisive ruler, a calamity in human form. And yet, he looked barely older than a youth.
Reality left no room for denial, and that contradiction sent a faint, involuntary tremor through Mei's chest. Chiba, in contrast, appeared perfectly at ease. There was no tension in his posture, no attempt to assert dominance. He simply raised a hand, gesturing toward the seat across from him.
"Please," he said calmly, "have a seat."
Mei complied, moving with composed grace, her expression neutral. As she settled, footsteps echoed softly. Hōzuki Mangetsu and Ringo Ameyuri entered the hall, their eyes meeting hers. For a brief moment, the air stiffened. Once, they had fought under the same banner, been comrades of Kirigakure. Now, they stood behind Chiba. From the village's perspective, they were traitors; from Chiba's, they were subordinates. Mei felt the tension immediately but remained silent, her gaze returning to the young clan head before her.
The silence thickened, heavy and charged, like the pause before a blade was drawn. Then Chiba spoke-not loudly, not theatrically, but with calm, measured certainty.
"I'll be direct," he said. There was no hesitation in his voice. "What I want…" His eyes lifted to meet hers without flinching. "…is to become Mizukage."
The words struck the room like a stone dropped into still water, sending invisible ripples outward. Mangetsu's jaw tightened. Ringo's breath caught for a fraction of a second. Mei's pupils constricted ever so slightly. This was not mere ambition, not youthful arrogance, nor the fantasy of a prodigy intoxicated by power. This was intent. A declaration. A statement of inevitability.
Mei studied him carefully. His eyes were clear, unwavering-not the eyes of a boy reaching upward, but of a ruler claiming what would belong to him. For the first time since entering the hall, something stirred within her chest. Not fear, not resistance, but interest. Sharp. Unmistakable. He wasn't asking for recognition. He wasn't seeking approval. He was informing her. Her lips curved almost imperceptibly.
"…How interesting," she murmured.
Chiba did not smile wider, nor did he press further. That restraint unsettled her more than any show of force ever could. And in that moment, Mei realized something she hadn't felt in years: her heart had skipped a beat-not from attraction, but because, standing before her, was a man who might truly change Kirigakure's fate.
He went straight to the point. "Clan Head Chiba, I have come this time to invite you to Kirigakure. This is also Elder Genji's will."
Chiba's understanding was immediate. "Oh? To the Hidden Mist Village? I am merely the head of a small clan from a remote region. I fear I would hardly be worthy of such an important role."
Mei's lips lifted in a light smile. "Clan Head, you are far too modest. You were able to effortlessly kill two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, elite jōnin among jōnin. You even brought Hōzuki Mangetsu and Ringo Ameyuri, two exceptional prodigies, under your command. In terms of strength and means alike, you are unquestionably among the very best."
Hearing her words, Chiba felt a faint stir of pride. "Praise from a beautiful woman really does brighten one's mood…"
Mei's cheeks flushed ever so slightly, though she said nothing. She was a woman of contradictions: a powerful, iron-willed leader yet one who longed for ordinary love and the comfort of marriage. She had sacrificed that for Kirigakure, living with an undercurrent of quiet bitterness. One part of her remained weary from navigating the village's internal turmoil and external threats; another part still yearned for love, for companionship, for simple happiness. She had neither the time nor the energy to pursue it… until now.
Standing before this young man-so strong, so exceptional, and so unreserved in his praise-her heart stirred despite herself.
Mei Terumi cleared her throat softly, a faint flush coloring her cheeks. "Ahem… then what is the Clan Head's intention?"
Chiba asked calmly, "I want to know-if I go to Kirigakure, what exactly would I be doing?"
Mei Terumi met his gaze without hesitation. "Kirigakure faces crises both within and without. This is precisely when capable people are most needed. With your talents, Clan Head Chiba, there is much you could accomplish. At the very least, I can guarantee that you would enter Kirigakure's true decision-making circle. You would have the qualifications to deliberate over the village's future."
Chiba's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "To deliberate… but not to decide."
Mei's eyes widened. "Y-you mean…?"
Chiba nodded once. "Exactly. I can go with you to Kirigakure. But what I intend to become… is the Mizukage."
The words struck her like lightning. Mizukage. Even she had never seriously entertained such a thought. Though she had occasionally wondered whether she might one day rise to the position, reforming Kirigakure and saving its shinobi, she had never voiced it aloud. And now, before her, stood a man who dared to claim it. Truly extraordinary.
"This… this…" Mei stammered, struggling to find words. "Even Elder Genji could not decide such a matter alone, let alone me."
Chiba smiled faintly. "Is there a better candidate?"
Mei froze. Deep in her heart, there was indeed one-herself.
"Ahem… well…"
Chiba chuckled softly, reading her hesitation. "You're thinking of yourself, aren't you?"
Mei's cheeks warmed, a mixture of embarrassment and irritation. "I never said that."
"There's nothing wrong with it," Chiba said, calm and deliberate. "Those with true ability naturally seek a greater stage on which to display it. Most simply lack the courage to say it aloud." He looked at her intently, voice firm yet sincere. "I believe you are qualified as well. And you are the only one capable of competing with me for the position of Mizukage."
Her heart trembled. Seeing his youthful, handsome face and hearing those earnest words, her pulse quickened against her will.
"I…"
Ringo Ameyuri smiled lightly. "There's no need to doubt it. The clan head has truly said this before. He isn't lying."
Hōzuki Mangetsu nodded in agreement. "That's true."
Mei felt her heartbeat stir even more. "Thank you for the compliment, Clan Head. Since you are being so straightforward, it would make me seem petty to keep evading the issue." She took a deep breath. "If I said I have never thought about becoming Mizukage, that would be a lie. But for now, I don't believe my strength, ability, or seniority are enough to shoulder that responsibility."
Chiba's tone was firm, unwavering. "Do not underestimate yourself. Your strength and your capabilities have long since proven themselves. As for seniority," he continued calmly, "it is nothing more than a concept used to placate the mediocre. Only those who lack true talent need to slowly 'accumulate' so-called seniority. People like you and me are destined to shine while we are still young."
Mei Terumi was visibly taken aback. The more she reflected, the more she realized he spoke the truth.
"Then… what should we do?" Without realizing it, she had accepted his premise. She was no longer debating him-she was seeking his answer.
Chiba smiled faintly. "It's simple. All it takes is fair competition." He fixed his gaze on her, light yet resolute. "What do you say, Mei Terumi? Shall we make a wager?"
Her heart stirred. "A wager?" she asked softly, curiosity and challenge mingling in her tone.