The door closed behind the trio that entered their assigned room and Rei swiftly touched the wall, causing seals to spread through the room, securing it while destroying any surveillance device or Jutsu.
With room secured, silence spread through the room and Rei awkwardly looked at Ringo who had a very telling frown on her lips. Her discontent became almost palpable the second they entered the room and she made sure Rei knew it due to her discreet but intense stare through the entire negotiation.
Ringo knew it wouldn't do to show any form of surprise at Rei's exclamation that he wanted her to become the Fifth Mizukage. Discontent would be even worse than surprise and as such, she simply set her expression into a cold facade and used years of her training to relax the tension in her body and erase any kind of body language that could give her away. She was simply happy she didn't have to talk during the negotiation of terms.
But now the tiring talks were over and she was locked in a secured, sound-proof room with Rei. Ringo's eyes gazed into Rei's and her lips opened, "What the hell was that?"
Rei sighed, knowing he owed Ringo a proper explanation. It couldn't be easy for her to stay indifferent during the hours he negotiated a satisfactory deal with the clan heads. Especially since they were talking about her responsibilities, limitations, and rights once she became the Mizukage and didn't even ask her about her opinion.
"Sorry, Ringo," Rei started, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "but the opportunity was simply far too good to not go for it. I could only choose between you and Mei, and you know how Mei is. She wouldn't be able to get past the first week of being Mizukage without blowing the entire Kirigakure up and calling it an accident."
"Yes! You know how I am, Ringo." Mei teasingly interjected from her bed where she laid with her hands supporting her chin as she stared between Rei and Ringo with great interest.
"You shut up." Ringo snapped at Mei, letting her anger briefly show before she took a deep breath.
It had to be said, Rei was using Ringo's love for him in his favor. He knew she couldn't really argue against him. Mei, however, wasn't so lucky and if she kept talking, she would become an apt scapegoat for Ringo to relieve her stress. Then again, Rei definitely didn't think the Resistance would appreciate having their hideout leveled to the ground.
"Mei, stay quiet." Rei stated, not averting his eyes from Ringo.
"Okay," Ringo took another calming breath and slowly sat down on the side of her own bed. "I would like a more in-depth explanation."
Rei wryly smiled and walked towards Ringo. He sat next to her on the bed and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him. Only when he felt her relax and lean into his body did he start talking in a calm and soft voice, "I came here expecting many things based on Konan's intelligence. I expected leaving without making any deal which would mean pulling things from the shadows to get things done. I expected a contract of trade agreement highly favoring us. I expected benefits for Yozora. And I expected many other things." Rei noticed Ringo's eyes becoming a bit restless so he decided to go straight to the point, "More importantly, I expected the negotiations to last a few days, hence I would have time to ease you into the idea. Well, that obviously didn't work since the second I saw exactly how much the clans wanted to end the war and how stingy they were about it..."
"You pounced on their greed to get the ball rolling." Ringo nodded in understanding. "But I don't want to be Mizukage. I love you, I love forging, I love swords... I can't do paperwork all day or lead a damn village! I have to agree that Mei would be utterly useless in such a position," A loud 'Hey!' sounded from Mei's general direction, "but I am not much better. If you want me to do this, I can. I will even with great reluctance stop my forging since I won't have the time for it." Ringo's expression showed exactly how painful saying those words were to her. Forging became her hobby after they settled in Uzushio but by now, it was her lifeline not unlike being one of the Seven Swordsmen was her lifeline in her youth. "But even then, I don't think I can do a great job at it. This is Konan's niche. This is something Tsunade was trained for. But me? I am a killer, Rei, not an administrator and definitely not a leader material." She added, lowering her head on Rei's shoulder in resignation.
Hearing Ringo out, Rei chuckled. It was so like her to accept whatever fate he presented her with without any questions. Her assassin training really shone through in this aspect of what made Ringo, Ringo.
"Ah, don't worry. That's what the negotiations were for." Rei playfully said with a knowing smirk, causing Ringo to become confused whereas Mei's eyes bulged out as she burst into almost hysterical laughter.
Enjoying the change of atmosphere from gloomy and resigned to a cheerful one once Mei's laughter filled the room, Rei simply sat back, contently hugging the confused Ringo who was slowly working out the meaning of his words as he caressed her hair.
Few seconds passed and Mei was still giggling, trying to stop herself in vain when astonishment appeared on Ringo's face, "You... The entire time you accepted the terms the clan heads set up. It seemed that as long as I become the Mizukage, you care not if I am but a figurehead without any real power over the village. The talks lasted only a few hours and a deal was struck. Normally, something like this would mean days of arguing but you were oddly accommodating, only asking for some privileges and advantages for me that clans were happy to give. It was all on purpose, wasn't it?" Ringo finished, still in a bit of disbelief.
It wasn't as if Rei threw the negotiations. He secured a LOT of advantages for Ringo. But from the political perspective, he might as well make her into a political eunuch. Once she became the Mizukage, the deal struck today would strip away most of her power over the village. Which also translated into way fewer responsibilities for Ringo.
"You played them!" Mei almost wheezed from her spot on her bed. "The pricks probably think how brilliantly they outsmarted you and secured themselves help for the rebellion for no cost while also getting more power in the village afterward all the while you got exactly what you wanted from the deal!" She snickered, punching the pillow in giddiness.
Rei smiled, lowering his head slightly to look at Ringo who was leaning on his chest, "Yes... Making sure Ringo doesn't have to deal with the bullshit of being Mizukage was the least I could do for her since I asked her to take the position." Rei said and suddenly could feel Ringo's arms affectionately tightening around his waist. Leaning forward, Rei softly pecked Ringo's lips. "Plus nobody ever said you have to stop forging. Did you already forget we can teleport? All you will have to do is send a shadow clone to Kirigakure every morning and you are free to stay holed up in your forge all day." He shrugged with a mirthful smirk.
Really, the clan heads grabbed more power for their clans and by doing so, they inadvertently took the responsibilities upon themselves. But... "As for you being reduced to a powerless figurehead? That doesn't matter at all. The important part is you holding said position." Rei said before turning towards Mei, "Tell me, Mei, what is Ringo?"
Ringo furrowed her brows, thinking about the answer. She felt a bit stupid for not being able to answer instantly but Rei simply reassuredly squeezed her. He asked Mei because he knew Ringo would take a long time to get the answer since she would have never considered it from the necessary point of view.
"She is an SS-rank ninja." Mei instantly answered, knowing what Rei meant. After all, she had enough bruises from all the sparring against Ringo to get such a thing thoroughly hammered into her brain. Especially since Ringo found a way to counter most of her techniques. Ringo didn't have a special bloodline or some other kind of advantage. She was all about pure kenjutsu with Lightning Release Mastery. "It won't matter if you are a political figurehead, Ringo. Not when you have the power to level the entire village alongside its occupants. The clan heads have no clue what SS-rank means. They probably still see you as someone they could get easily rid of as they do with problematic S-rank ninjas." Mei shook her head in amusement.
"Yes..." Rei took over, "Might makes right only applies once one is so much stronger than others that it is not even a fight. That's why Hashirama and Madara could single-handedly change the way of life of the ninjas from the entire continent by just making their own village. Kirigakure never saw first-hand what it means to be an SS-rank. They produced some pretty strong S-rank ninjas but there is a massive difference between S-rank and SS-rank. Hence, once you give Yagura a beat-down of a century, it wouldn't matter what is written on some paper as the limitation of your power over the village." Rei said in a smooth voice.
"You want to take over Kirigakure through me." Ringo understood.
"Not really." Rei light-heartedly denied, "I simply want to have the option to take over Kirigakure at any given moment. After all, Mizukage is a lifelong position unless you decide to retire. And with the nature energy packed into you and your bijuu... you will live a VERY long life. Just lucky that the clans so readily volunteered to take care of the responsibilities for you, eh?"
"Now that's positively evil." Ringo said as her lips curled up in amusement, "Somehow, I don't think becoming Mizukage is such a bad thing anymore."