"Mmm… this is delicious too."
Mei stepped out of the barbecue restaurant, now holding several skewers of three-colored dango purchased from a nearby sweets shop. As she savored the treats, a blissful expression spread across her face.
The food here in Konoha is so good. I can't help but feel envious of the ninja here.
However, despite her enjoyment, Mei couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. After all this time, she still hadn't met a man who truly caught her eye.
It seems that even in Konoha, someone like Uchiha Mirai with such exceptional looks is a rare find.
Strolling through the streets while snacking, Mei's eyes suddenly lit up.
At a street corner, she spotted a familiar figure.
"Uchiha Mirai!"
At the sound of her voice, Mirai turned around, his gaze meeting a woman in a flowing blue dress, her auburn hair styled in elegant waves. She was rushing toward him with an excited expression.
Noticing the ninja headband around her neck, Mirai's brows furrowed slightly.
"A ninja from Kirigakure?"
Catching the confusion in his eyes, Mei smiled warmly.
"Ah, I almost forgot to introduce myself. I'm Mei Terumi, a kunoichi from Kirigakure. I'm here in Konoha with the elders of my village to negotiate terms regarding war reparations and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
Mirai's eyes widened slightly in recognition.
So that's why she looked familiar… Mei Terumi.
At this stage, Mei radiated youthful energy, completely different from the mature and commanding aura she would have in the future.
Still…
If fate brings us together, she might be a useful pawn. Having her manage Kirigakure on my behalf in the future isn't a bad idea.
"Hey… do you always stare at women like that?" Mei teased, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Mirai shook his head.
"I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
"How you ambushed me on the battlefield."
Mei chuckled and waved dismissively. "Oh, don't worry about that. On the battlefield, it's kill or be killed. Besides, you're fine, aren't you?"
Mirai snorted lightly before turning toward the direction of the Uchiha compound.
"Follow me."
"And why should I?" Mei muttered under her breath as she reluctantly followed. "What a cold man…"
Still, curiosity got the better of her. As they walked side by side, she glanced at him.
"By the way, why didn't you participate in the negotiations with my village? With someone as strong as you involved, it would be easy to secure better terms for Konoha."
"Negotiations don't interest me," Mirai replied nonchalantly. "Even if Konoha received no reparations, it wouldn't matter to me."
Mei stared at him, dumbfounded.
What's with this sudden magnanimity? On the battlefield, he wasn't exactly merciful.
"You almost killed me with one punch, and now you're saying you don't care about reparations?" Mei asked incredulously.
Mirai glanced at her briefly. "Villages, whether Konoha, Kirigakure, or any other, don't mean much to me."
That response left Mei utterly speechless.
She had met many ninja with perspectives beyond their clan, but someone who disregarded the significance of villages entirely? This was a first.
"No wonder someone with such power has such an alluring presence…" Mei said with admiration before rolling her eyes. "But that's just nonsense you can tell to gullible people."
Mirai turned to her, his gaze sharp. "What do you mean?"
Mei smirked. "Don't play dumb. Everyone knows the Uchiha clan isn't exactly popular in Konoha. The Hokage probably barred you from participating in the negotiations, right?"
"Of course not," Mirai replied calmly.
"Yeah, right. You can't seriously believe all villages are the same, can you?"
Mirai chuckled. "Why not?"
"It's absurd!" Mei exclaimed. "Fine, enlighten me. Why would you think that?"
Stopping in his tracks, Mirai looked her in the eye.
"Because in the future, I will unify the entire shinobi world. It doesn't matter which village someone belongs to, they'll all fall under my rule."
Mei was stunned into silence.
Unify the entire shinobi world? What kind of delusion is this?
Even Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha couldn't achieve that. No matter how strong Mirai was, could he truly surpass those legends?
Still processing his declaration, Mei narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "You'd better give up on that dangerous idea. If you don't, I'll stop you—no matter the cost."
Mirai shrugged, unfazed.
"What do you think of Konoha?" he asked, abruptly changing the topic.
Caught off guard, Mei hesitated before replying, "It's prosperous. The quality of life here is enviable."
Mirai smiled faintly. "If the shinobi world were unified, prosperity like this could be shared. Villages wouldn't need to fight over resources, and every place could thrive."
"And no more wars?" Mei muttered, momentarily lost in thought.
"Yes," Mirai said. "A unified world means peace. The conflicts we've endured would become a thing of the past."
Mei frowned. "Your vision is admirable, but achieving it would cost countless lives. Do you even realize how much blood would be spilled?"
Mirai's expression darkened slightly. "Far fewer than the lives lost in the three great shinobi wars combined. Sometimes, death is the price of change. Destruction precedes rebirth."
Those words struck a chord, shaking Mei's worldview. She had never considered such a perspective.
Seeing her conflicted expression, Mirai gave her time to process before speaking again.
"Current systems will always breed darkness. Even Kirigakure isn't immune."
"When your village succumbs to that darkness, come find me. I'll reshape it into something better."
"And if I don't?" Mei challenged.
"Then my offer expires before I attack Kirigakure," Mirai replied casually, walking away without another word.
Mei stood rooted in place, grappling with the words of a man she now saw as both terrifying and intriguing.
A complete madman… but perhaps the most dangerous one the world has ever seen.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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