Chapter 102: To Tell the Truth
After the Third Mizukage died, the higher-ups squabbled over the Mizukage's hat for a long time, and in the end, no one claimed the seat.
A Jinchuriki named Yagura was pushed to the forefront.
The Fourth Mizukage is about to take office officially.
Kitahara Kaede doesn't care who becomes Mizukage.
He only cares about one thing.
With Yagura in power, it won't be long before Obito controls him.
By then, the knives of the Blood Mist will only be sharpened faster.
Mei Terumi possesses Lava Release and Boil Release.
After the Mizukage takes power, she will either be a weapon held in his hand or a thorn to be removed.
She needs a strong enough backer.
Until then, what Kitahara Kaede can do is push her higher.
...
"Let's go."
Kitahara Kaede followed.
During this time, Kitahara Kaede and Ao had gone on four missions together.
Two A-rank reconnaissance missions, one B-rank interception, and one joint sentry removal.
This time the teammate was different.
Bald head, Ninja hat, brown robe.
Bi.
Kitahara Kaede hadn't dealt with him before, but had heard bits and pieces during his partnership with Ao.
Bi was Ao's former partner, who later followed Elder Genji and worked behind the scenes for years.
Such people don't easily appear on field duty lists.
But since Bi had come, Kitahara Kaede didn't ask much.
...
As the mission wrapped up, the three of them crouched in an abandoned outpost outside the border, waiting for nightfall to evacuate.
Kitahara Kaede leaned against the corner and closed his eyes.
Ao and Bi sat on the other side, their voices kept very low.
Both thought he was asleep.
Bi spoke first.
"Genji recently had me organize a batch of files on young Ninjas."
Ao hummed in response.
Bi continued.
"There's a Chunin named Mei Terumi with dual Kekkei Genkais. She's completed several missions well over the past half year, and Genji has inquired about her several times."
Two seconds of silence.
Ao asked.
"To what extent did you investigate?"
"Training records, mission performance, people she usually contacts."
The conversation broke off there.
Kitahara Kaede didn't open his eyes.
Genji.
In the original story, he made few appearances, but each one was decisive.
Mei Terumi being able to take the Mizukage's hat was ultimately his decision.
This old man survived until the end under the high pressure of the Blood Mist era and sat firmly in the position of Elder; he lacked neither political intuition nor patience.
Now that Yagura hasn't officially taken power yet, he is already keeping an eye on the younger generation.
Mei Terumi had entered his field of vision.
A bit earlier than expected.
What Kitahara Kaede needed to do was simple.
Don't block the way, push along with it, and don't use too much force.
...
The evening of the second day after returning to the Village.
By the river, under the crooked tree.
A new layer of straw was added to the mouth of the cat's nest.
The cat lay inside napping.
Mei Terumi crouched nearby, her fingertips slowly stroking along the cat's back.
Kitahara Kaede stood two steps away.
"Someone might come looking for you soon."
Mei Terumi's hand stopped.
"Who?"
"Someone from the Hidden Mist higher-ups."
She looked up.
The eye revealed beneath her bangs looked at him.
"You've done well on missions this past half year, and news of your Kekkei Genkai has spread; it's normal for someone to be paying attention to you."
Mei Terumi's brow furrowed slightly.
In the Hidden Mist, being noticed by those above is not necessarily a good thing.
"What should I do?"
"Go see them. Speak less, observe more. Answer what is asked."
Mei Terumi nodded.
Kitahara Kaede crouched down and placed the last of the dry rations from his pocket at the mouth of the cat's nest.
"But if he asks for your thoughts on the Village."
He paused.
"Tell the truth."
Mei Terumi was stunned.
"Tell the truth?"
"If the other party asks directly, they'll be able to tell if you're lying. People who can sit in that position don't lack the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood."
Mei Terumi stared at him for several seconds.
"How do you know he will definitely ask?"
Kitahara Kaede stood up.
"You're not the only one who wants to change this Village."
He didn't say anything more, turned around and left.
Mei Terumi crouched in place, watching his back disappear into the twilight.
The cat stretched a paw out of the nest and placed it on the back of her hand.
She lowered her head and stroked the cat's head.
Tell the truth.
She remembered those three words.
...
Three days later.
In the Village, Gonbe stopped Mei Terumi.
"Elder Genji wants to see you. Now."
She glanced at him.
Short brown hair, brown jacket, no Ninja tools hanging at his waist.
"Lead the way."
Gonbe turned and walked ahead without saying another word.
Mei Terumi followed behind, passing through several narrow alleys.
The two turned into the side door of the Hidden Mist Administrative Building and went up to the second floor.
Gonbe stopped in front of an office and pushed open the door.
"Go in."
He stayed outside.
Mei Terumi stepped inside.
The room was not large, and the furnishings were simple.
A desk, a few chairs, and a pot of half-withered greenery on the windowsill.
An old man sat behind the desk.
Bald head, wrinkled face, eyes closed.
A yellow snake-head cane rested by his hand, his fingers resting on the snake's head, motionless.
Mei Terumi stood still at the door.
Genji did not speak.
Ten-odd seconds passed.
There was the sound of wind outside the window, and the withered leaves of the plant swayed.
The old man sat there like a rooted stone.
Mei Terumi realized one thing.
He was watching how she handled the silence.
She didn't make a sound, nor did she move.
After a few more seconds, that aged voice finally rang out.
"Sit."
Mei Terumi walked over and sat on the chair opposite.
"Your name is Mei Terumi."
"Yes."
"Regarding the recent missions, the higher-ups' evaluation of you is not low."
"Thank you, Elder."
Genji nodded, not elaborating.
He asked her a few questions.
What tricky situations she had encountered during missions and how she handled them.
Which formation she felt most comfortable with when coordinating with different teammates.
What she thought of the current situation around the Village.
Mei Terumi answered them one by one.
Genji's eyes remained closed throughout.
After listening to each sentence, he would remain silent for a moment before asking the next one.
Mei Terumi thought the conversation was almost over.
Genji suddenly changed direction.
"When you graduated from the Ninja Academy, how many people in that class were eliminated?"
"Thirty-seven people, twelve survived."
Genji's finger moved slightly on the cane.
"Do you think there's any problem with that set of assessments?"
Mei Terumi's fingers tightened slightly, resting on her knees.
This question.
In the Hidden Mist Village, the graduation exam was an ironclad law.
Classmates killing each other, survival of the fittest.
To question it was equivalent to questioning the very Foundation upon which the entire Village stood.
Tell the truth.
His voice rang in her head once more.
"Yes."
Genji didn't move.
Mei Terumi took a breath.
"Making students kill their companions kills more than just people. It's trust."
"Ninjas will need to form teams, cooperate, and leave their backs to those beside them. If they are taught to be wary of each other and kill each other from the first day they enter school, no matter how strong the survivors are, they will never learn true cooperation."
The room fell silent.
Genji's closed eyelids twitched.
After a long time, the old man picked up his cane and slowly stood up, supporting himself.
"Go back."
Mei Terumi rose, bowed, and turned to walk out of the office.
Gonbe was no longer in the corridor.
Walking out of the office building.
She didn't know if she had answered correctly.
But it was the truth.
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