Yes, the Hokage

“Interesting.” Feng Lan chuckled lightly. “Is she really that busy, or is she dying? Does she think she’s Pavlov?”

The others naturally didn't get the joke, but Feng Lan turned directly to Kisame: "Fifth Mizukage, your mission under Suigetsu Hozuki was to slaughter your comrades. Why are you still doing this now that you're Mizukage?"

Kisame's shark eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins; this was his lifelong sore spot and Achilles' heel: "Shut up!"

"Lord Mizukage!" Ao was so frightened that he immediately ran over to stop Kisame, fearing that Kisame might impulsively pull out Samehada and cut down Fenglan.

Feng Lan remained unmoved and went straight to the point: "If you still want Terumi Mei to live, tell me where she is."

Kisame's gaze sharpened: "You can save her life?"

“Of course I can.” Feng Lan glanced proudly behind her. “Don’t forget that there’s a golden light behind me.”

Although Minato was unaware of what had happened, he immediately rallied support for Fenglan: "In diplomatic matters, Fenglan's words can represent Konoha."

It can be seen that Kisame and Ao are both hesitant. Of course, they don't want Mei Terumi to die, but they don't dare to easily trust Feng Lan. You should know that it was this devil who forced Kirigakure into the current situation and forced Mei Terumi to sacrifice herself.

Allowing Mei Terumi to live would likely come at an even more devastating price, a price that the newly established Kirigakure would be unable to bear.

The atmosphere froze for a moment. After a few minutes of stalemate, Kisame stepped aside and said, "She's on the top floor of the tallest building in the village."

"Lord Mizukage!" Actually, Ao breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Kisame's words, but as the Mizukage's advisor, he still had to express his opposition.

"No need for further words. I will bear all the consequences." Kisame's answer was firm and resolute. "The Village of Bloody Mist has already forced me to sacrifice too many people who were unwilling to sacrifice. Now that it is the new Hidden Mist Village, if we still have to rely on sacrificing our comrades to maintain our survival, how is it any different from the past?!"

“Not bad, quite the backbone.” Feng Lan, unusually, didn’t let his squinty smile creep in. “Then let me tell you, I’m protecting Terumi Mei. Even the Sage of Six Paths can’t take her away. I’m telling you.”

After saying that, he pushed the door open and walked out. The people in the room subconsciously wanted to follow, but Feng Lan threw them back with one sentence: "I am enough on my own. In particular, you are not allowed to touch Minato. Otherwise, when you return to Konoha, you will copy all kinds of long and difficult sentences a hundred times."

"cut."

Minato's lips twitched, and he reluctantly sat back down in his seat: "This guy really turned his wedding into a diplomatic incident."

He knew that Feng Lan must have gone to propose. It wasn't that the golden retriever was particularly smart, but that Feng Lan currently knew only these two women in Kirigakure. Since it wasn't Pakura, it could only be Mei Terumi.

From a protective standpoint, although Minato didn't know what Mei Terumi had done, once she married Fenglan, she would be a member of Konoha. All the crimes she committed in Kirigakure would naturally be covered by Konoha, and he would be there to protect her. If all else failed, he could simply take the couple and run away with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

The only thing that made the golden retriever regretful was that he couldn't go over and eavesdrop. He was really curious about what kind of tone and attitude Feng Lan would use to propose.

……

After that great battle, the tallest building in the village was only about three stories high. Mei Terumi sat in a chair by the window, listening to the sound of the tide, and quickly processing documents.

She dared not stop, not only because of the lack of time, but also because stopping would uncontrollably contemplate death. No matter how resolute she was in her heart or how certain she was on her lips, Mei Terumi was still just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.

No matter how righteous she was, what young girl in her prime would willingly die like that? She kept numbing herself with work, afraid that her emotions would collapse. In the situation she had planned, she was to be executed as a rogue ninja in front of everyone, and she absolutely could not show the slightest expression of grievance or resentment.

So Mei Terumi became even more engrossed in the documents, oblivious to everything else, and didn't even notice the door being opened.

Only when footsteps sounded did she turn her head and reply without looking up, "Is that Qing? Come and take a look at this part, I'll tell you how to handle the follow-up..."

"Ah, you don't need to teach me this, it's a piece of cake for me."

Mei Terumi's pen suddenly stopped: "Feng Lan?"

She didn't look up when she uttered those two words, because the emotional turmoil in that instant made her eyes slightly moist. This was something Mei Terumi wouldn't allow. She absolutely couldn't show weakness in front of this demon, otherwise Kirigakure would face even more cruel plunder and exploitation.

I cannot show weakness, nor should I be afraid of him. We are both about to die; what is there to fear?

After a few seconds, Mei Terumi held back her tears, adjusted her voice, and looked up: "Why are you here?"

"Well, there are many reasons, but based on your answer, they can be roughly divided into two categories: confirming that you can continue to be used by me, or..." Feng Lan leaned against the window without any politeness, "to send you off on your final journey."

Chapter 172 Proposal

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds before Mei Terumi spoke casually, pretending to be calm: "As expected, you can't hide anything from me."

"Rather than saying you couldn't hide it from me, it's more accurate to say you never intended to hide it in the first place," Feng Lan said calmly. "If even Pakula could see the anomaly, how could I not?"

“She did improve very quickly. If only I had… Sigh!” Mei Terumi sighed, no longer trying to revisit the past, because it was pointless. “So, what did you mean by that just now?”

“Let me sort it out.” Feng Lan didn’t answer her question, but instead began to do what she was best at: calculating. “What can your death bring to Kirigakure? A brilliant and spotless Mizukage, a relatively united village, and a united front against Konoha… that’s about it.”

Mei Terumi didn't answer because she felt that Feng Lan was setting a trap for her, and it would be easy to fall into it if she spoke rashly.

Feng Lan didn't wait long and quickly continued, "But how likely do you think these things are to develop the new Kirigakure into the glorious future we dream of?"

He scoffed, "Although the people are united, the remnants of the Blood Mist Village still exist. The four great nations are eyeing you covetously from the outside, and even the surrounding smaller countries are probably itching to make a move. I see no possibility of your continued existence other than relying on Konoha. And once you rely on Konoha..."

Feng Lan pointed at himself in a very irritating way: "Do you think that with Qing and Kisame, they can stop my encroachment on Kirigakure?"

Mei Terumi understood this principle perfectly well. When Yagura was still alive, Fenglan was the only hope she could hold onto, but after Yagura died, he became the biggest threat to the new Kirigakure.

The reason is that Feng Lan is too good at subtle and peaceful evolution. Looking at the entire Five Great Nations, even Onoki and Hiruzen Sarutobi have never shown this ability. Look at Amegakure, and then look at Pakura... The most terrifying thing about this man is that he always leaves room for maneuver in his actions, always makes you feel that you still have hope, and thus completely manipulates you.

She could even imagine that after her death, all the struggles and resistance of Kirigakure would be easily dealt with by Feng Lan as if it were a joke. In the end, the villagers would begin to believe in the Will of Fire, begin to demolish the Mizukage Rock and rebuild it as Minato Namikaze. Finally, Feng Lan would casually install a puppet to take the throne, and the entire Kirigakure would completely become a vassal of the Land of Fire.

“We don’t necessarily have to rely on Konoha.” Mei Terumi took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm and not panic. “Kirigakure also has the advantage of terrain.”

“The advantage of location.” Feng Lan laughed again. “The advantage of location is not enough to offset the inherent weaknesses of Kirigakure. I’m not even comparing it to the other four great nations. Just compared to Kirigakure during the Yagura era, do you have any Jinchuriki? Compared to the previous generation, does your Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have any advantage except for Kisame? How many Jonin are left in your resistance?”

"Of course I admit that Kirigakure and Amegakure are different. You still have resources, money, and people. Given enough time, you can still train a group of excellent ninjas to stand on their own. The problem is... whether others will give you that opportunity."

Feng Lan snapped his fingers: "You know Kong Ninja, right?"

"What happened to the Sky Ninja?" Mei Terumi had been involved in the battle with Kirigakure, and her understanding of the Nine-Tails' Night was limited to what Pakura had revealed.

"Konoha defeated the attacking Sky Ninja, and I followed the clues to their base, where I obtained a large amount of flying equipment. The village has already begun research and mass production." Feng Lan smiled maliciously. "And to be honest, even if they don't mass-produce it, if I directly airdrop a hundred elite troops here, plus the Akatsuki here, can you withstand it?"

Mei Terumi tightened her grip on the pen, but she still didn't speak. This time, it wasn't because she was afraid of being tricked, but because she was speechless.

"Are you planning to take action against the new Hidden Mist Village?" A few minutes later, she finally asked this crucial question, her voice trembling slightly as she could no longer control herself.

"Of course not, that would be very detrimental to Konoha's image in the ninja world." Feng Lan shrugged. "I'm just giving you a heads-up, telling you that while Kirigakure's geographical advantage is unique, it's not enough to make up for your weaknesses."

As he spoke, he even picked up the documents and began to correct them on his own. Mei Terumi was shocked and tried to stop him, but Feng Lan pointed out several shortcomings and even how Konoha could intervene and help.

This is an internal affair of Kirigakure, and Feng Lan's handling of it so carefully can only prove one thing—he had planned this step a long time ago, and the current situation in Kirigakure is exactly as he predicted.

Upon realizing this, Mei Terumi froze, unable to imagine how she could fight against Fuuran, whether she lived or died.

Soon, Feng Lan finished reviewing all the documents and sorted them out into three sets on the table: "Even you are struggling to handle these things. If Qing takes over hastily, problems will soon arise."

"So..." Mei Terumi roughly grasped Feng Lan's purpose, "You want me to live?"

“That’s right,” Feng Lan said frankly. “You are more useful alive than dead. Although your reputation has declined somewhat, the prestige you have accumulated within Kirigakure, your personal involvement in ending the Blood Mist Village, and your insight into the fact that the deal between Konoha and Kirigakure was actually to benefit me are all irreplaceable assets.”

“A high-ranking member of the Fog Village who is already deeply bound to me is far more valuable than a newcomer who needs to be won over again.”

“That’s impossible.” Mei Terumi interrupted him. “I have to die right now, otherwise Kisame won’t be able to hold onto his position. Even if I survive and can provide support from behind the scenes, Kirigakure’s situation will be terrible. When the second internal strife breaks out, there won’t be any external pressure; Kirigakure will disintegrate from within.”

While Fenglan's description of the various possibilities after his death was certainly despairing, Wuyin was at least united internally, and there was still about a 5% chance that they could rise again.

If I don't die, the Hidden Mist Village will definitely fall into internal strife and disintegrate. Because of the huge casualties of the resistance army, the anger of signing the unequal treaty has nowhere to be vented. It won't be long before it erupts, because the villagers have been suppressed by the Blood Mist Village for far too long.

"So, I have to die... understand?"

Even though Mei Terumi tried her best to hold back, her last few words trembled, so Fenglan naturally used them to her advantage: "But you don't seem to want to die."

"Me!" Mei Terumi bit her lip, trying to refute the other party, but no matter what she did, she couldn't say the words "I want to die," not only because of her feelings, but also because the words were completely unconvincing.

“Nobody really wants to die.” After a moment, she could only change her words, “But I… have to die.”

Pakura was forced by the village and its higher-ups to accept death no matter what choice she made, so she had no choice but to "voluntarily" die. Mei Terumi, on the other hand, had no choice but to die, otherwise the village would cease to exist.

"Then, what if I ask you... to live?" Feng Lan's voice rang out again at this moment.

"You?" Mei Terumi looked up at him. "Why? Is it simply for personal gain?"

“A person who uses their beliefs as a weapon is an asset worth preserving for a long time. It would be too boring to let you die on the altar of self-sacrifice.” Feng Lan chuckled. “You can die cleanly, letting Kirigakure fight for that one in ten thousand chance; or you can live a filthy life, using my power to fight for more benefits for the village.”

"What's the method?" Mei Terumi had calmed down by now. "Do you have a way to ensure my survival without the internal conflicts within Kirigakure erupting?"

"Yes," Feng Lan answered decisively with a single word.

“The specifics,” Mei Terumi took a deep breath, “and the price I have to pay.”

She knew Feng Lan all too well. Anything you got from him came at a price, and what you paid would far exceed what you received. Yet, even so, he still attracted a huge following.

Therefore, Mei Terumi defines him as a demon, a demon with endless means to tempt people into making contracts with him.

"Marry me."

"Huh?!" Mei Terumi's mind went blank for a moment, unsure how to react. "What did you just say?"

"Did you not hear me clearly, or do you not believe it?" Feng Lan smiled faintly. "In that case, I'll repeat it again: the method and the price you have to pay are the same, which is to marry me."

Mei Terumi fell into a long silence. She had clearly heard what Feng Lan said, but her brain still needed time to process it all. She had to carefully and seriously analyze how much of the other party's proposal was sincere and how many conspiracies were hidden in it.

She subconsciously stared at Feng Lan's face, which was still so ordinary it was almost repulsive, but at least... it didn't have that creepy squinting smile.

"Are you serious?" After a long pause, Mei Terumi finally asked.

“Even I wouldn’t joke about my life’s most important matter,” Feng Lan replied calmly.

"So this counts as a marriage proposal?"

You can think of it that way.

“Then you are truly the worst proposer.” Mei Terumi began to change the subject. “No romantic moonlit walks, no warm candlelight dinners, not even a ring… To be honest, you yourself don’t really fit my criteria for a partner.”

She wasn't really trying to belittle Feng Lan, but rather to use this method to break her opponent's defenses. If she couldn't maintain her composure, she might reveal more of her true inner thoughts for her to assess. After all, her heart was already in turmoil from the marriage proposal, and she couldn't calm down in a short time.

Since I can't calm down, I might as well drag the other person into the chaos.

Chapter 173 Kiss

"Of course I know that."

Unfortunately, Fenglan wasn't buying it. Besides, he knew from the plot that he wasn't Mei Terumi's type. The reason this beautiful woman was so eager to get married in the original work was because she had too high standards for her partner and was too busy with work to have time for him, which is why she ended up alone.

"You still proposed knowing that?" Mei Terumi let out a short laugh, a laugh that was somewhere between self-deprecation and mockery. "You don't think I'm that kind of easy woman, do you?"

“Of course not,” Feng Lan said calmly. “But I’ll offer something that will replace romantic evenings, candlelight dinners, and engagement rings, and I’m sure you’ll like it.”

"Hmph, hmph~" Mei Terumi tried her best to create the aura of a haughty young lady. "Tell me about it."

"First, I previously said I wanted all the bloodline limit ninjas from Kirigakure, but now I can just ask for some of the children."

Mei Terumi's heart skipped a beat at the first sentence the other party said, but she quickly perked up: "The surviving adult bloodline limit ninjas were inspired by Kisame during the war, and the possibility of them joining your Konoha is extremely slim."

"Secondly, I can make considerable concessions in free trade, such as fair trade, paying tariffs as usual, and you can question the ninjas and intelligence personnel who come and go, but you still have no right to stop them."

Mei Terumi's mouth gaped open, and she even forgot to refute.

"Third, after the Three-Tails is reborn, not only will I not send anyone to cause trouble, but I will also have Nagato lead the Akatsuki organization to help Kirigakure capture it."

Mei Terumi originally intended to use Feng Lan's conditions to negotiate, but after hearing these three points, she remained silent and looked at Feng Lan. Feng Lan also stared at her quietly, and neither of them spoke.

Only after the last rays of the setting sun had sunk below the horizon, and the room was dark enough to conceal her expression, did Mei Terumi say, slowly and deliberately, "Are you serious?"

"I will not use the terms I have rejected as bargaining chips."

"Was it worth it?" Mei Terumi's voice choked with emotion. "Was it really worth it, just for me?"

She fully understood Feng Lan's plan: by becoming his wife, she would gain protection from Konoha, and then vigorously promote the idea that Feng Lan had made concessions in the treaty between the two countries because of her. Even if some people in Kirigakure thought she was an outsider who sold her body for profit, no one could deny her contribution.

In this way, since the treaty is not so unequal, the internal strife in Kirigakure will most likely not occur, and Mei Terumi can still live, even as an advisor to Kirigakure. The "filth" that Feng Lan mentioned is nothing more than some contemptuous insults behind her back. In an era where everyone in the ninja world is a successor of the will of dominance, there is really nothing to care about. She is not as fragile as Konoha's White Fang.

“Since I proposed, it’s because I think it’s worth it,” Feng Lan replied calmly. Mei Terumi could only see his general outline, but she couldn’t tell what his expression was.

The room fell eerily silent again, but then a series of crackling sounds rang out. Under the cover of darkness, Mei Terumi cried uncontrollably, large tears falling onto the table.

Fortunately, the lights were off, otherwise she didn't know what kind of expression she would have to show when facing Feng Lan.

Mei Terumi was a smart woman. She knew that he chose her because she was useful; she knew that he saved her because she still had value; she knew that he married her because a marriage alliance was more reliable than a treaty.

But she also knew that he could have ensured her survival in other ways: he could have faked her death, made her live in seclusion, made her change her name... just like the pass and money he had given Pakula.

Fenglan chose marriage because she respected her own will and beliefs. Only by getting married could she legally stay in Wuyin and continue her unfinished work.

She wouldn't interpret this as love, but she also couldn't simply categorize it as exploitation; it was a profound and complex, unclassifiable sense of connection.

"These past few days, a ridiculous thought has been popping into my head." After a long pause, Mei Terumi stopped crying and slowly spoke in a nasal voice, "I've been thinking about what Fuuran will think of me after I die. Will he think I did the right thing?"

"Isn't it absurd? You've actually become the last person I want to gain approval from."

“That’s not because I’m that important to you.” Feng Lan spoke from the darkness, her voice still cold and composed, “but because I’m the only one who has seen her plan from beginning to end and given my evaluation. Everyone is against your plan of self-sacrifice, even you yourself. So you crave someone to praise you, to acknowledge you, and to tell you that your death was right and worthwhile.”

"Otherwise, not only would they have to sacrifice themselves for the village, but they would also be branded as rogue ninjas and cursed by thousands after their deaths. Even for a ninja, that would be too cruel."

"Then tell me..." Mei Terumi's voice held a hint of expectation, "Was my choice correct?"

“If I thought your choice was right, I wouldn’t be here,” Feng Lan said calmly. “You promised to cooperate with me to reap the benefits. If you die, who will cooperate?”