Naruto: I, the villain template, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 16 The Enviable Red-Haired Kid (Seeking recommendation votes and monthly tickets at the beginning of the month)

It was early morning, and the night was deep.

The torrential rain had subsided considerably, and only a thicker fog could be faintly seen rising.

Another massive, entirely black ship emerged from the river mist and gradually came to rest in the harbor.

The woman on duty at the port merely glanced at the ship from a distance, seemingly recognizing its owner, and gave it a casual smile. She didn't even approach to question or inspect it, and simply let it pass.

But just as the woman was about to leave, she heard a shout coming from the boat.

"Sudden rain!"

The woman called "Sudden Rain" stopped and turned to look at the two figures approaching from a distance.

Especially after seeing the girl with her short legs running towards him.

The woman instinctively opened her arms.

"Auntie Sudden Rain! Hug me!"

Puff! Puff!

Xiao Yu jumped straight into the woman's arms and rubbed against her, burying her little face in her softness and whining sweetly in a childish voice.

"Huh! Shiratsuyu?"

A gentle smile appeared on the woman's face. She looked up at Meiyu approaching and asked in surprise, "Meiyu-kun, didn't you go to buy supplies? Why are you back so soon?"

"Sigh, we ran into a group of river pirates halfway there, what bad luck!"

Mei Yu stopped, scratched her head with a憨厚 (honest and simple) smile, and sat down next to the woman in a very familiar manner. She said in an envious tone, "Speaking of which, your life is really carefree."

"A woman like me, unwanted by anyone, can only drift through life like this." The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, seemingly mocking herself, but her gaze towards Mei Yu held a hint of resentment.

"...Do you have time now?"

Mei Yu scratched her head, hesitated for a moment, and then, as if she had made up her mind, suggested, "How about we go grab a drink? I'm friends with the owner of that newly opened izakaya next door; their food and sake are really good."

Upon hearing this, the woman raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by his initiative today, and asked jokingly, "Is today some kind of holiday? I remember, your and Xiao Shiyu's birthdays aren't today, are they?"

"I just got a lesson."

Mei Yu sighed, recalling the conversation on the boat.

"Excuse my bluntness, but as far as I know, Ling Zheng has been gone for three years."

Yun Chuan said with great pity, "Perhaps for reasons I don't know, Xiao Shiyu had a nightmare last night and kept calling for her mother. Later, I woke her up, held her in my arms, and told her a story before she fell asleep."

"No need to be so polite. After all, Xiaoyu is really cute and well-behaved, and I like her very much. But sometimes, her maturity makes my heart ache. If I remember correctly, she is only three years old this year."

"So you died at the hands of river pirates... Is that so? It's truly a pity. However, although it's a bit presumptuous of me to say such things, for Shio-gure's sake, I still hope you can get through this."

"...Wait a minute, what exactly is my image in your eyes?"

"Don't treat me like some guy who deserves to be hanged from a lamppost. I consider myself a leader of high moral character who cares about his subordinates, don't I?"

"I've told you many times that, as long as it doesn't affect the overall situation, you can choose your own life."

"Of course, of course. When I really need you, I won't hold back either. In fact, you should be prepared to be woken up by me while you're in my arms. I hope you won't complain then."

Yun Chuan's troubled expression still lingered in his ears, causing Uncle Mei Yu to shake his head and chuckle.

He quickly came to his senses and looked at the woman in front of him.

This woman who had been waiting for him for three years, the woman who had been waiting for him day and night at the port.

He already knew the answer, didn't he?

"Oh no! I really saw right through you, hahaha!"

Mei Yu laughed and scratched her head, looking at the bewildered woman in front of her. She reached out and took her hand, saying, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

For a moment, the woman was stunned. After she came to her senses, a bit of color returned to her originally pale face.

"So, even the oblivious Plum Rain Guy can be so presumptuous!"

She subconsciously made a sarcastic remark about Mei Yu, but didn't shake off Mei Yu's hand.

The two looked at each other, and the atmosphere gradually became ambiguous.

Only when she heard a faint laugh did the woman snap out of her daze and pull her hand away, blushing as she looked at the girl who was secretly laughing in her arms.

"So, can I start calling you that from now on?" Xiao Shiyu blinked and said with a smile, word by word, "Aunt Zhouyu, no, I should say, Mom."

Upon hearing this, the woman's face turned even redder. She put on a fierce expression, pinched the girl's chubby cheeks, and said, "Yes, from now on I'm a wicked stepmother! You'd better be prepared!"

After saying that, she looked at Meiyu, who was smiling to the side, and said in a seemingly calm manner, "Meiyu-kun, I'll take Xiaoshiyu to change into some clean clothes first. Please excuse me for now."

She stood up, took a step, but then suddenly stopped, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "If you can, please thank Lord Yun Chuan for me. Otherwise, I don't know how much longer I would have to wait to hear you say those words."

Watching the two figures, one big and one small, gradually disappear, Mei Yu subconsciously pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. The smile on her face gradually faded and then turned somber.

"The Land of Rain, the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, the Land of Water, the Land of Fire, the Land of Whirlpools, the Land of Thunder... War, that detestable war, is coming again."

He is old.

They are too old to work on the front lines.

His only daughter also lacked any talent to become a ninja.

"Although Lord Yun Chuan has given us the opportunity to choose a way of life that suits us, and although I don't want my daughter to choose the most dangerous frontline work, but..."

As she pondered, Mei Yu suddenly sighed, "The thought of dying in bed instead of pursuing peace, and my daughter not being able to take over my responsibilities, makes me feel a little resentful."

As he pondered, large raindrops pelted his fingers holding the cigarette.

He snapped out of his daze, looked up at the still overcast night sky, and then turned to look at the room from which he could faintly hear laughter and playful banter.

After a moment's hesitation, Mei Yu put the cigarette back in her arms and a smile returned to her face.

Yes, war, the despicable war...

However, in order to protect everything that we have worked so hard to have, we can only keep going. Otherwise, we will only end up like we did three years ago, watching helplessly as everything is taken away and our complete and beautiful family is torn apart.

In order to give his daughter the opportunity to choose her own path in life, and to achieve the noblest of goals, he and his accomplices were willing to use the most despicable means.

Even if that despicable tactic is a form of war they despise!

Mei Yu believes that all the old friends gathered around Lord Yun Chuan have this awareness.

"By the way, speaking of which, Lord Yun Chuan also brought back a red-haired brat before."

He suddenly recalled a striking red color that had left a deep impression on him, narrowed his eyes slightly, and muttered to himself, "I wonder if the children I brought back this time can match that little guy in terms of talent?"

That little guy whose talent in both ninjutsu and assassination was so good that it was enviable and even made people jealous.

That red-haired brat who was fortunate enough to be bestowed a surname by Lord Yun Chuan.

(End of this chapter)