Konoha Notes

Chapter 289 Tea and Ice

How long has it been since she last left the village?

Mei Terumi's memories are somewhat hazy. Being valued brings more than just benefits; people like Yagura Karatachi are controlled, making even the village's high-ranking ninjas less safe.

But, no matter how tense things were, three years had already passed.

Zabuza's challenge was meaningless; he didn't know what the village truly needed, nor did he understand the current state of the ninja world.

But Mei Terumi only had a vague understanding of all this. She couldn't find an answer in the village, even though she told her companions in the village that those who accepted her would make the village completely different from the past.

But for the village, for the ninjas.

She didn't have an answer.

"Please allow me to pay for this, Shuji-kun."

When she met Shuji, Mei Terumi's attitude was more polite than it had been three years ago, even showing a hint of solemnity. After the formulaic negotiations of the match schedule, she invited Shuji to speak privately before he got up, and then chose this quiet tea room.

After taking her seat, she was the first to express her willingness to pay the bill.

"While it's certainly good to save some money, Miss Terumi, I hope what you want to say isn't too complicated."

"If it were a bribe, this amount would probably not be enough."

Mei Terumi smiled slightly: "Although I know that Shuuji-kun is making a statement in this way, it seems that Shuuji-kun is more casual than he was three years ago."

"Hmm..." Xiu Si pondered for a moment before saying, "Maybe it's because I've gotten a few years older, or maybe it's because I've gotten used to my current life."

"Isn't it because you're someone carrying expectations, someone who's fighting on the battlefield, that you've chosen a less serious attitude?" she said with a smile. "I've heard of such things before."

“Probably, I really don’t need to maintain my dignity in public anymore with such a serious attitude,” Shuji replied.

After the waiter served the tea and snacks, he quietly withdrew.

Mei Terumi picked up the teapot and gracefully poured tea for the two of them. The sound of hot tea being poured into the cups was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

"Three years ago, I learned a lot from Shuji-kun, which made me wonder. When I couldn't find the answers in the village, I hoped to get help from you."

Shuji frowned: "Your words are making me increasingly uneasy."

"What is a ninja to Shuji-kun?"

Mei Terumi looked down at the tea in her cup and asked.

"...That's quite a broad question." Despite saying that, Shuji relaxed a bit and picked up a snack.

Hmm... the sweetness is very restrained, which is good.

"Don't the ninjas of Kirigakure have an answer of their own?"

Mei Terumi nodded: "Yes, that's probably in line with the general opinion in the ninja world."

"Ninjas are tools; ninjas are beings who endure everything for the sake of their goal."

"Does Ms. Terumi Mei have a different opinion?"

The female ninja gently swirled the teacup in her hand, gazing at her reflection in the clear tea. "To sacrifice everything to complete the mission, to endure everything for the village... As someone followed by other ninjas, I cannot offer them a different answer."

"Even if I tell them that the future will be very different from the present."

Xiu Si rubbed his fingertips together, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and cleared his throat.

"I have no real insights to offer you, so this meal for Miss Terumi Mei is probably a waste of time."

Although Mei Terumi was somewhat disappointed, she simply smiled and said, "No, exchanging ideas privately with the heroes of Konoha is already a gain in itself."

"I cannot make hasty judgments about a concept that cannot be simply judged as wrong—such as enduring and striving for a goal."

"As for whether ninjas are tools... Miss Terumi, haven't the ninjas of Kirigakure already made their choice through their actions?"

Mei Terumi paused slightly. "They chose to follow you because they believe that the direction you point to is the path to a better future."

"All I can say is this kind of nonsense." Shuuji picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "If you don't mind, I have another round."

Mei Terumi did not respond immediately: "Shuji-kun's answer is very similar to the elder's."

"That's why some people call me an old-fashioned person, Ms. Terumi Mei."

He stood up and walked to the door, placing his hand on the doorframe: "The answer you seek lies in the hearts of those ninjas who are willing to believe in you and follow you."

"Coming to me for advice is like seeking the truth from the blind."

“Next time,” Shuji said as his last words, “I’ll pay for the tea.”

The tea room fell silent once more, save for the lingering aroma of tea and the solitary Mei Terumi. She lowered her eyes, gazing at the shimmering reflection in the cup, remaining motionless for a long time.
-
People tend to have more and more problems as they get older, and even after passing through what is considered adolescence, some problems are still unavoidable.

For example, the fact that he always conducts diplomacy in private.

For example, you've already had a cup of tea, but now you need to stuff an ice cream into your stomach.

"Hmm... Miss Samui, although your name means 'cold,' isn't this portion of ice cream a little too generous?"

"This is a return gift for Mr. Shuji."

The female ninja from Kumogakure sat under the sunshade of an open-air ice cream stand in the arena area, pushing a cup of dessert piled with three spheres in front of him. The cup in front of her was much smaller.

"A formal meeting request can't just be for the sake of returning a gift, can it?"

“Because Mr. Shuji always makes a habit of talking to me about village matters in these situations,” Samui said. “So, this is also a return gift.”

"As for official business, please enjoy your ice cream first."

Shuji sighed and picked up the wooden spoon. The sweet cream melted on his tongue, dispelling the slight bitterness of the tea.

"Does Yunyin have any suggestions for this joint martial arts exercise?" He cut straight to the point.

Samui did not continue to make things difficult for him.

"Lord Raikage acknowledges that the Five Villages Alliance has a brighter future, but the current tournament format can no longer unleash the full potential of this alliance."

"specifically is?"

"It's mainly about commercial revenue." She pointed to the crowd around her. "Konoha's current arena can no longer attract more tourists. Even if it's expanded in the future, it will still be far from enough to accommodate the huge population of the ninja world."

"so what?"

Samui didn't reply, but simply watched Shuji quietly. The Konoha Jonin lowered his head to deal with the enormous mountain of ice cream.

She finally spoke up: "The competition format needs to be changed."

Shuji stopped what he was doing.

"The tournament format has changed... Previously, Sunagakure and Iwagakure were only required to join, and negotiations on revenue sharing and rule details were just a formality. But the core tournament format has been altered..."

“Isn’t this exactly what Mr. Shuji mentioned?” Samui gazed at him. “To embrace the future of the Union.”

“This is no longer something that can be settled by a few envoys negotiating back and forth,” Xiu Si said.

"Yes. Because this requires deep cooperation among the five ninja villages, and the most direct and efficient communication methods."

Outside the sunshade, the noise of the crowd seemed to suddenly fade away.

Shuuji, with a wooden spoon in his mouth, said, "The Five Kage Summit."

“Exactly.” Samui nodded. “This is Raikage-sama’s wish. He also hopes… that an agreement can be reached with Konoha beforehand.”

(End of this chapter)