Momochi Zabuza undoubtedly carried cruelty and bloodshed within him.
That darkness was an inevitable scar,
the mark of a man born and tempered within the Bloody Mist.
Yet Chiba knew there was more to him than that.
Beneath the hardened exterior lay something softer, something restrained.
More importantly,
Zabuza's rebellion had never been for personal gain.
It had been for Kirigakure.
For the Land of Water.
Yes, there was resentment in his actions,
a desire to strike back at the village that had forged him through cruelty.
But at its core, what he had done was no different from what Chiba himself had accomplished.
Only the methods had differed.
As Chiba met Zabuza's unwavering gaze, he raised his hand and casually gestured.
Clank.
The restraints around the cell snapped open.
Zabuza stepped forward, the Kubikiribōchō , the Executioner's Blade , resting heavily upon his back.
Chiba turned and walked toward the exit.
Zabuza said nothing.
Without a word, he followed.
With that,
The new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were finally complete.
Samehada (Shark Skin) , Kisame Hoshigaki
Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) , Momochi Zabuza
Hiramekarei (Twinsword) , Hōzuki Mangetsu
Kabutowari (Helmet Splitter) , Hōzuki Suigetsu
Kiba (Thunder Fang) , Ringo Ameyuri
Nuibari (Sewing Needle) , Haku of the Yuki Clan
Shibuki (Blastsword) , Chōjūrō
The defining trait of Chiba's Seven Swordsmen was their youth.
Even Kisame and Zabuza were barely in their twenties.
The others were younger still.
Haku, Chōjūrō, and Suigetsu were scarcely ten years old.
And yet,
Each of them carried limitless potential.
That same day, during his first official assembly as Mizukage, Chiba publicly announced the rebirth of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
After the initial shock, the entire village erupted into cheers.
This was not merely a military declaration,
It was a symbol.
Kirigakure had been reborn.
And the name of the Seven Swordsmen would once again echo throughout the entire shinobi world.
With that matter settled,
Chiba allowed himself a brief period of rest.
Though, for a Mizukage, "rest" still meant mountains of paperwork and endless responsibilities.
That evening,
Inside the Mizukage's office.
Chiba leaned back in his chair, fatigue finally seeping into his bones after a long day.
Then,
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Mei Terumī stepped inside.
Chiba's eyes narrowed slightly.
So… you've finally come.
Their wager.
It was time to collect.
Mei entered the room, her usual bold and confident demeanor noticeably softened.
There was a faint trace of shyness in her expression,
something almost unfamiliar.
"Mizukage-sama."
"Oh? It's you, Mei," Chiba replied casually.
"Is there a matter concerning the Light Division?"
He was teasing her,intentionally.
She hurriedly shook her head.
"No… no, it's not official business. It's… personal."
"Personal?" Chiba raised an eyebrow with a smile.
"Do you and I have personal matters between us?"
He leaned into the provocation.
Mei shot him an irritated glance.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten, Mizukage-sama."
"Forgotten?" He tapped his temple exaggeratedly.
"Oh, right, right… I've only just taken office. So much has been happening."
Her expression dimmed, just a little.
"You… really forgot?"
Chiba smiled softly.
"Is it that important to you?"
"Yes," she answered without hesitation.
"Very important."
That was when Chiba stood up.
Step by step, he closed the distance between them.
"Is that so?"
"Mei Terumī… are you really that eager to fulfill our wager?"
Her breath caught.
With his face so close, her cheeks flushed instantly.
Instinctively, she tried to step back,
Only for Chiba's arm to slide around her waist, stopping her retreat entirely.
"I,I…"
Chiba smiled faintly, his voice low and calm.
"Did you really think… I'd forgotten?"
"No. I have been waiting for this moment every single second."
Mei Terumī's heart began to pound wildly in her chest.
"W-What… what moment are you talking about?"
"Mizukage-sama, I only agreed to do one thing for you…"
Chiba smiled calmly.
"I know. And aren't I doing that very thing right now?"
Mei grew flustered, her face burning as she struggled instinctively.
But no matter how she moved, she couldn't break free.
More importantly,
She didn't truly want to.
Their bodies, their faces, their lips slowly drew closer…
Inside the Mizukage's office,
The air heated instantly, intimacy igniting without warning.
"Mm…"
Mei tried one last time to resist,
And then felt Chiba's lips press against her own.
In the very next instant,
Her entire body went numb, as if struck by lightning.
A shiver ran through her, and she was completely consumed by the sensation.
…
This was the moment.
Indeed, it was long overdue.
Among everything in Kirigakure, the one person Chiba most wished to conquer was Mei Terumī.
And now that she had stepped forward of her own will,
There was no reason for him to refuse.
Warmth and softness filled his arms as he pulled her tightly against him.
Moments later, the two of them collapsed onto the Mizukage's desk.
A battle between two Mizukage had begun.
…
Time passed,how much, neither of them knew.
Mei lay exhausted against Chiba's chest, her expression relaxed, satisfied, and quietly blissful.
"Chiba… I finally fulfilled our wager."
Chiba smiled faintly.
"What wager?"
"You haven't fulfilled it at all," he added casually.
"I still haven't told you what I want you to do."
Mei froze, then glared at him, flustered.
"You clearly… did everything!"
Chiba chuckled.
"That was all you, wasn't it? I never asked for any of that. How can it count?"
Her face instantly turned scarlet.
"T-Then what else do you want from me?!"
"I'm a woman who keeps her promises," she said firmly.
"Say it. Whatever you want, I won't refuse."
Chiba leaned close to her ear and whispered,
"I want to do it again."
Mei's body instantly went weak.
But this time,
She didn't refuse.