103: Chapter 103 ProtectionThe sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, still tinged with a hint of darkness.
Several fishermen who were up early to prepare their nets suddenly froze, staring wide-eyed at the coastline.
A figure staggered out of the waist-deep seawater.
An extremely beautiful woman.
Soaked in seawater, her magnificent water-shadow robe was tattered and covered in mud and seaweed, clinging tightly to her body and outlining her breathtaking curves.
She walked slowly, each step as if she had exhausted all her strength.Seawater dripped from her disheveled chestnut hair, flowing over her pale yet still breathtakingly beautiful face, and gliding over her slightly trembling, alluring lips.
She looked up at the magnificent cluster of buildings built against the mountain behind the dock.
Embarrassment, humiliation, and a deep sense of powerlessness enveloped her like a cold swamp.
She was once one of the Five Kage who clashed with the mastermind behind this organization from afar and wished nothing more than to eliminate him.
Now, she stands before this door as a fugitive, a person seeking help.
Mei Terumi bit her lower lip, forcing herself to straighten her somewhat weak back, and took a step with her leaden legs toward the gate of the Chamber of Commerce headquarters.
Several patrolling guards spotted her and surrounded her, looking wary.
Who is it?
Mei Terumi opened her mouth, but no clear sound came out of her throat.
She had never felt so bad in her life.
"I.I want to see.Naruto Uzumaki."
His voice was hoarse and intermittent.
The guards exchanged glances, clearly recognizing the Fifth Mizukage, a figure renowned throughout the ninja world, but they hadn't expected him to appear in this way.
The news spread quickly.
Terumi Mei and the others were in great turmoil, just as they were preparing to force their way in.
The main hall of the Chamber of Commerce slowly opened, and Naruto's sleepy voice came from the other side of the door.
"Let her come over."
The guards stepped aside and bowed respectfully: "President!"
Naruto, dressed in comfortable and loose casual clothes, slowly walked outside the door.
Mei Terumi walked awkwardly toward Naruto, her soaked clothes still dripping water.
She tried her best to straighten her back, striving to maintain the last shred of dignity of the water's reflection.
Naruto leaned against the door frame, looking like he had just woken up.His arms were crossed in front of him, and his gaze was unabashed as he slowly looked Mei Terumi up and down.
The path slowly moved upwards from her muddy boots, past her tattered clothes, swept over the slight rise and fall of her breath from embarrassment, and finally settled on her face, which, even in its disheveled state, could not conceal its stunning beauty.
His gaze lingered a little longer, especially on the corners of her mouth and her beautiful eyes, which were now misty and stubborn.
Beautiful, truly beautiful.
Even in her current state of destitution, her mature womanly charm and sex appeal remain undeniable.
Her disheveled appearance exuded a unique allure, especially her lips, which always carried a hint of reproach, now tightly pursed, making her even more captivating.
Mei Terumi felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, as if tiny electric currents were crawling across her skin.
She felt as if she had been stripped bare under a spotlight, her body burning.She instinctively wanted to avoid his gaze, but Shuiying's pride forced her to hold her neck still and meet his eyes, her fingertips clenching tightly inside her sleeves.
"Tsk, isn't this our esteemed Fifth Mizukage?"
Naruto finally spoke, his tone more teasing than respectful, "What wind blew you to my little temple?And you've ended up.in such a sorry state?"
He took a few steps forward and stood in front of Mei Terumi, looking down at her slightly upturned face, which was covered with water droplets.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside the dock!
A dozen or so figures dressed in the uniforms of the Hidden Mist Dark Guard and wearing masks appeared one after another at the entrance of the dock, exuding a murderous aura!
The leader was none other than the ANBU captain who led the pursuit and killing of Terumi Mei last night!
"President Naruto Uzumaki!"
The Dark Guard Captain's cold voice came through the mask, "We are under orders from the Hidden Mist Elder Council to hunt down Terumi Mei, a major criminal suspected of treason for assassinating Elder Yuan Shi!Please do us a favor and hand her over to us!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere on the dock instantly became tense!
The guards reacted swiftly, with more than a dozen figures appearing from various directions.Tie Zhou, expressionless, leaped and landed at the forefront, forming a standoff with the Mist Shadow Anbu.
Tensions were high between the two sides.
All eyes were focused on Naruto and Mei Terumi in the center of the arena.
Mei Terumi froze, her heart pounding in her throat.
Would he hand himself over, just to avoid offending Kirigakure?
Naruto seemed oblivious to the commotion nearby, and also to the blades pointing in his direction.
His gaze remained fixed on Mei Terumi's face.
Then, under the astonished gazes of everyone, including Mei Terumi, he slowly raised his hand, reached out, and gently pinched Mei Terumi's smooth chin.
A delicate, cool sensation reached my fingertips.
Mei Terumi trembled violently, as if struck by lightning!
Having lived all these years and held such a high position as the Water Shadow, when had she ever been treated so lightly?
A sense of humiliation surged within her like lava, burning her cheeks red, and her beautiful pupils instantly filled with a mist of shame and indignation.
She tried to break free, wanted to slap him, but her head still tilted slightly upwards in response.
At this moment, the one who can decide her fate is the young man in front of her with a playful look in his eyes.
"Tsk, she really is pitiful to look at."
Naruto seemed oblivious to the anger and humiliation in her eyes, even applying slight pressure with his thumb, with a nonchalant complaint.
"The water shadow hidden in the mist came to me and said he wanted to see me."
"Following behind them was a group of secret agents shouting and ready to fight."
He leaned slightly closer, looking directly into Terumi Mei's tearful eyes, his voice low and captivatingly magnetic, cold yet realistic.
"I can indeed protect you."
"Can also help"You investigate the truth you seek.
"but..."
He paused, then slightly raised his finger, causing her to lift her head even higher.
"Why did I get myself into such big trouble?Hmm?"
"Even though Kirigakure is in chaos now, it is still one of the five great nations of the ninja world.For you, it would be a bit unnecessary for me to completely break ties with Kirigakure."
His gaze, almost tangible, swept over the corners of her slightly reddened eyes.
Tell me, Mei Terumi.
"What is your value."
Why should I, for your sake, shoulder this enormous trouble?
Each word was like a cold little hammer, striking Mei Terumi's taut nerves.
value?
She was once the Mizukage of Kirigakure, a powerful figure with two bloodline limits, and a being that neighboring countries feared.
But now, besides these scars and the filth that can't be washed away, what does she have left?
Tears finally broke free and silently streamed down her beautiful eyes, dripping onto Naruto's fingers.
She looked at the man in front of her, at the calculation in his eyes.
She knew he was pressuring her, forcing her to abandon all her pride, to admit her situation, and to offer up the "value" he valued.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were still moist, but also held a hint of resolute determination.
Her voice was choked with emotion, yet her thoughts were clear and coherent.
"I…I can serve you."
"My Lava Release and Boil Release techniques, my combat experience, my knowledge of Kirigakure and even the entire Land of Water.can all be used by you."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying, and still didn't reply.
Mei Terumi's fingernails dug deeply into her palms, almost piercing her skin.
She paused, meeting his scrutinizing gaze, her cheeks flushed, her voice even lower, carrying an unspeakable shame, and an unavoidable despair:
"And.me.myself."
After saying that, she seemed to have all her strength drained away, and even her standing appeared somewhat unsteady.
Naruto stared at her quietly for several seconds.
The smile on his face slowly faded, and a glint of light flashed deep in his eyes.
Then, he let go.
He straightened up a bit and faced the Mist Shadow Anbu, who were still locked in a stalemate.
His loud shout, filled with an air of domineering confidence, echoed throughout the entire port.
"I've stayed."
"Go back and tell your council of elders that Terumi Mei is now a member of my Apocalypse Merchant Guild."
"If they want to fight or kill, let them come directly to me, Naruto Uzumaki."
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