Naruto: Being a Shinobi with no System But...

Passing the resolution was only the first step. How much authority this Joint Organization would hold, how many shinobi the Five Great Nations would contribute, and who would oversee each part—all of that would require slow, careful negotiation.

By contrast, the tournament reform that had originally been used as the pretext to summon the Five Kage was quietly set aside for the time being.

It wasn’t until the meeting was temporarily adjourned that the Kage finally left the stage, leaving follow‑up matters to the deputies they’d brought with them or to the officials who had been present from the start.

For Zabuza, this tedious back‑and‑forth was nothing more than a test of patience while on guard duty.

Even so, he chose to remain. Aside from the Kage themselves, everyone who had accompanied them stayed as well—including that blond brat from Iwagakure, who looked like he was about to explode from boredom.

Zabuza didn’t speak up, nor did he intend to. A shinobi didn’t interfere with comrades while they were carrying out their mission. So he simply watched, silently, while his mind struggled to chew over the unfamiliar terms that had come up again and again during the talks.

Zabuza Momochi was no fool.

But by the time the meeting adjourned, the dull ache in his head made one thing very clear: Book learning had never been his strong point.

On the way back to the Venue District, Mei Terumī was still talking to Roshi from Konoha. That woman didn’t seem tired at all. The Demon had to admit he’d underestimated her; to keep going like this at something even more mentally exhausting than infiltration or assassination…

And even now, she could still negotiate for the sake of the village with a pleasant smile on her face.

When they reached the main building of the venue, Mei still showed no intention of leaving.

Zabuza stopped a few paces away. If he walked off alone now, it might invite unnecessary speculation about the Hidden Mist’s internal affairs. So he chose to stay where he was, quietly observing as she continued speaking with the Konoha shinobi.

After a while, Mei turned to him. ”Zabuza, I still need a little more time.”

The Demon merely nodded.

”You can go back first,” Mei Terumī added.

Zabuza didn’t move.

”The Venue District is very safe.” Mei lowered her voice, but each word was clear. ”Lord Mizukage might want to know the follow‑up of the meeting. Please… go back and report first.”

What would that puppet possibly want to know?

As the thought flickered through his mind, Yagura’s words from the voyage over echoed along with it.

In the end, he chose to return to the Hidden Mist’s base.

There, Yagura was watching the Mist Genin train. He stood straight-backed, expression stern.

Yet even as he corrected their mistakes, he didn’t shout or berate them. He simply tapped the ground lightly with the staff in his hand.

After gaining a rough grasp of the current state of the shinobi world and hearing parts of the summit’s discussions, he understood what the Hidden Mist would have to rely on to maintain its presence in the future.

If he started doing this kind of thing back in the village, it would only stir up waves again in Kirigakure, which had finally settled into a fragile calm. So Yagura had chosen to do it here instead.

He didn’t expect it to bring about any great change; whatever effect it had would be enough.

So when he noticed Zabuza’s return, Yagura kept his gaze on the Genin until the Demon drew near.

”Continue training.”

With that brief order, he turned and walked into the interior of the base.

As he listened to Zabuza’s account of everything that had happened after he left, not a trace of emotion appeared in Yagura’s eyes.

After Zabuza finished speaking, the room stayed silent for five full seconds.

”The materials for the Joint Training Exercise,” Yagura said at last, ”Mei has already prepared them and placed them in the Data Room on the second floor.”

The Demon suddenly felt a bad premonition.

”Starting tomorrow, you will participate in the negotiations.”

Zabuza asked on reflex, ”What about that woman?”

”Mei will observe.”

The corners of his mouth pulled down beneath his bandages. Remembering the conditions he’d heard during the earlier talks, Zabuza actually felt his scalp tingle.

Even so, he replied, ”…I understand.”

——

Inside the main venue building, it was so quiet that a person could hear their own breathing.

Mei knew that was just an illusion.

There were at least a dozen patrolling ninja nearby. No matter how light their steps, they couldn’t slip past her senses. But for the moment, it really was only her and the man beside her walking through the dim corridor.

She watched as Roshi pushed open a heavy iron door, revealing a staircase that climbed sharply upward into darkness.

”Please.”

The Konoha jōnin’s silhouette disappeared into the shadows first. Mei walked up, looked at the steep stairs, made a quick estimate, and decided not to bother climbing. In the next instant, she used the Body Flicker—when her vision cleared, it was full of wind and open sky.

She stood on an observation deck built along the outer wall of the main structure, ringed by metal railings, the entire venue district spread out below her.

”The view is great.” Mei stepped up to the railing. The wind tugged at her long hair, the strands catching a deep brown sheen in the twilight.

”Theoretically, this place is semi-confidential,” Roshi said beside her.

”I’m very happy to have Roshi-kun leak a secret to me,” she replied, turning her head, the corners of her eyes lifting in a smile. ”Even if it’s something that shouldn’t be done.”

”It’s only theoretical. The venue is going to be expanded, and this place will be demolished soon.”

”You should have waited until after I reported this intel to the village before saying that,” Mei said, turning back to watch the sun slowly sink toward the horizon. ”Now that you’ve told me, I can’t pretend I don’t know, and I certainly can’t bring it back as my own diplomatic achievement.”

”Relatively speaking, I’ve also lost the credit for misleading a key official.”

Mei laughed, her voice scattering quickly on the wind.

She reined in her laughter, though a light, teasing note remained in her tone. ”One day, I will definitely get a real Konoha secret out of you.”

”Then you’ll need to work exceptionally hard.”

”I’ll show you how hard I can work.” She raised a fist in a playful cheer, then lowered it again. ”But before that… could you show a little mercy tomorrow?”

”After all, a newcomer will be taking my place at the negotiation table.”

”Zabuza Momochi,” Roshi said the name.

”Yes. It would be terrible if you used the chance to seize something,” she replied. ”In that case, I’d have to find a way to take it back by any means necessary.”

”Suddenly changing the person primarily responsible for negotiations—does the Hidden Mist want him to look bad?”

”No.” She shook her head, her playful air fading. ”The focus of these negotiations was never on the Hidden Mist in the first place. What needed to be decided has already been decided. What’s left are just the details.”

”Zabuza cares deeply for the village. In this situation, he’d probably rather be overly cautious than speak his mind carelessly.”

”As the one controlling the pace of the negotiations, if you don’t want him to look bad, he can protect the village’s interests at the same time.”

”…I want to give it a try.”

Mei didn’t explain further, and Roshi only nodded.

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