The next day, the entire capital was bustling with rumors, fears, and fake prophecies about the end of the world in chilling ever consuming flames and whatnot...
Rei happily and carefreely woke up, noticing Konan's bare back next to him, and remembered yesterday's night. He slightly smiled and kissed her back, making her shiver in the echo of pleasure his chakra put her body through.
He turned around and was about to leave the bed when arms locked around his neck, Konan's body pressing into his back and her chin ending on his shoulder.
"Don't leave. Stay in bed." She purred in a moan. Rei could feel the expectant shivering of her body but tapped her arm appeasingly.
"Not today, Konan. We have an appointment with Mikado." He reminded her. He knew if they started their 'second' round, Konan and he wouldn't stop for hours, most likely ending up as a quivering mess of goo incapable to go anywhere.
"He can wait a day... or four." Konan whined as she trailed kissed on Rei's neck. "Pretty please?" She whispered into his ear.
"Nope."
And received a flick to the forehead, making her unhand Rei and flop on her back. Her body was sprawled on the bed, completely showing all of her womanly parts as she released an annoyed sigh.
"I have a gift for you, Konan. Don't wanna wait!" Rei noted as he stood up, about to dress.
Konan perked up. They never gave gifts to each other. It was unnecessary. They had each other! What more could they give to the other than themselves? But her curiosity was certainly piqued!
She stood up and with a whirl of papers, she was clothed. Her tell-tale blue-rosed black kimono and skirt were on her. Life became easier when she learned how to make her paper imitate clothes!
Konan spun on her heel leaning forward, giving Rei a proper view of her cleavage.
"So? What are we waiting for? I am ready." She told Rei with bemusement.
"Cheeky little minx." He exasperatedly exclaimed, half-naked, about to pull his pants up.
...
They sat in the office of the chief merchant of the Biri-Biri company, Karubo Sazaro. The people were looking at them funny when they entered and they even had a few problems with the receptionist. Thankfully Karubo showed up and so here they were.
In front of them was a final financial accounting. They didn't ask for it but Karubo delivered it either way. After all, this was they were the biggest share-holder.
Konan made a few paper clones to check things up and every time some small inconsistency was found, they informed her. So far, four people were already sacked for minor embezzlement as Karubo sat opposite Rei with sweatdrop while both watched Konan buried in papers upon papers of financial statements, cutely chewing on her lower lip.
It was only an hour later she heaved a sigh and nodded to herself.
"Rei. Make more seals that could sustain paper clones. I will leave four more to do this work and help with seals." She determinedly told Rei.
Konan was pissed, alright. The money that was stolen, no matter how little, belonged to Rei!
Rei calmly put a teacup onto the table as he looked at Konan.
"That's half of the reason we are here. I need you to dismiss the previous clone. We both know you got better at them so the one stationed here is inefficient. People will also get suspicious if the seal mistress of Biri-Biri Company was unaging. You are also getting closer and closer to the look of the adult paper clone. I want you to create four completely different-looking paper clones."
Konan nodded and with a slight focus, four 'people' appeared behind her. All it took was a slight tweak to the coloring and rearranging of the paper in the clone.
Rei smiled and pulled out four seals.
"These are better than the sets of six seals I used previously. More efficient. Do put them in the chest area."
Konan did so and the clones were now self-sustaining. Just then Konan-alike walked inside and approached Konan. It dissolved into paper and entered Konan's body, only six slices with seals were left on the table.
"I wonder, would I be able to take that seal inside of myself?" Konan mused as she saw that it can power up her paper clones. She could change into paper so why not herself?
"Well... it could." Rei nodded and Konan's eyes shone. "But as you know I am making something better for us."
"You are working on it since we became chunin... that's two years." Konan rolled her eyes.
"I just don't want any accident to happen again." Rei chuckled dryly, making Konan come closer and sit in his lap.
"Fine, I will wait." She kissed him.
"Good girl." Rei patted her head, making her shudder in pleasure as she heard him call her that.
They stared at each other with a tender gaze as they held the other in their embrace.
While Rei and Konan acted all lovey-dovey, Karubo could only awkwardly listen with his eyes averted.
Why is it always me?... He shed manly tears of bitterness but kept his mouth shut. He knew interrupting them would bring Konan's patented death glare upon his feeble frame! His death was imminent! Only a sound away!
Thankfully, he was saved when a knock resounded on the door, getting Rei and Konan out of their sickly sweet world.
"Ah... it's here!" Konan exclaimed and made a water clone to open the door.
Sigh, I will never get used to this. ... Kurabo dejectedly thought as he watched the water from the cup on the table flow out and form into the appearance of Rei.
The clone took a package from the employee who delivered it and put it on the table in front of Konan before dissolving into water, flowing back into the cup.
Konan was interested. It was quite a big square box. She looked all around it, still sitting in Rei's lap.
"Open it." Rei expectantly nudged her back.
Konan took it into her hands and opened the box. She saw... a fan.
She reverently took it into her hands, carefully in fear of damaging it. This was the first gift she ever received from anyone. Her heart fluttered, gazing upon it as a small smile tugged on her face. This was the gift Rei gave her. Her smile widened into a sincere full smile. The fan was already the most precious possession of hers.
She took it into her right hand and noted it was as long as half of her forearm. She unfolded it and her eyes instantly widened fondly at the sight. The fan was mostly watery-blue and had a decorative painting on it. From the upper part, droplets of dark-blue gentle rain fell towards the handle. There was a painting of a blue flower in the center. The same she usually folded from the paper as decoration into her hair. Around the flower was protectively circling a suiton dragon coming from the lake underneath the flower as both were showered by the rain, absorbing it.
Konan didn't need an explanation to understand what the flower or the dragon signified. As for the rain... they were called Downpour, weren't they? A smile tugged on her lips.
"Do you feel it?" Rei patted her head, getting her out of her thoughts.
"Yes. I am happy." Konan timidly lowered her head to cover her blush.
"Not that." Rei chuckled, kissing her hair.
Konan tilted her head. Indeed. There was something different about the fan...
"It is a tessenjutsu fan from the Land of Wind." Rei told Konan. "I asked for a miniaturized version. With your Wind affinity, you don't need to carry a huge fan. The skeleton is made out of the best quality chakra metal and the fan is from special paper for tessen fans. Getting this paper was a backbreaking endeavor as it is a national secret of the Land of Wind and Sunagakure."
"Yes, yes! Just this small fan cost a fortune!" Karubo huffed only to squirm down when both Rei and Konan gave him a glare of death promising untold suffering.
Konan was grateful. She would cherish the fan forever. She put the strap of the fan around her wrist, fastening there.
Rei watched her playing with the fan as her expression showed elation and kissed her shoulder as his arms snaked around her torso, resting on her stomach.
"I love you Konan." He whispered to her, making her blush again.
Konan could only bite her lower lip as she nodded timidly. That instant, she promised to herself that she would become the best tessenjutsu practitioner in the world. She would make Rei proud!
Rei, ignorant of the resolve he ignited in his lover, just happily trailed kisses on Konan's shoulder and the nape of her neck. Both again happy in their own
Return To Kiri
--
Rei and Konan leisurely walked through the gates of Kirigakure, hand in hand as they enjoyed the humidness of the village. It wasn't really the feel of home but they did come from Ame no Kuni so the humidness was something very familiar and pleasant to them.
Just as they headed towards the guard outpost to show their documents, an ANBU landed in front of them, staying on one knee.
"Lord Mizukage is summoning you, Rei-sama, Konan-sama." The man respectfully said and disappeared with water shunshin.
Rei and Konan might not be recognized by many chunin or even jonin but they DID spar with the Seven Swordsmen of Kiri on a regular basis. That coupled with the fact that ANBU had to memorize the entire Bingo Book and the 'exchange of information' aka rumors of whatever non-classified happens in the office of Mizukage. Yeah, the entire ANBU force was familiar with Rei and Konan as masters at chakra manipulation who can use their elemental chakra during sex.
What! The respect was not due to being able to use superb Jutsu or being two of only five S-rank shinobi of Kiri. Not at all... it was all due to the perverted ANBU female who passed out with a nosebleed during the briefing after their first time!
Both Rei and Konan could only wryly smile as they started their leisure walk towards the Kage Tower. They were sure the Mizukage was awaiting them. Hmm, let him wait then, no~?
...
Both Rei and Konan stood in front of Mizukage in his office, having a stare-off. Neither side spoke as the air grew heavy. The atmosphere intensified and one could almost hear the hearts of ANBU beating.
'Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum'
So it went as The Mizukage glared with narrowed eyes at casually standing Rei and Konan, still holding hands. His eyebrow was twitching as he drummed his index finger on the table, his lips scowling.
"You... is there really nothing you would like to add to your report, heeh?" The Mizukage grit his teeth.
"No." Both Rei and Konan chorused calmly.
"Konoyaro..." The Mizukage bit out when he saw that neither Rei nor Konan wanted to add anything to their report and released a long insufferable sigh.
He took a deep breath to recollect himself.
"I see." He impassively stated and looked at the file on his table.
"So... you two didn't encounter any blue tornado made of fire reaching the sky, bringing a literal storm of ice to the capital city, huuuh?" Mizukage asked as he intently peered at Rei and Konan.
"No." Both Rei and Konan again chorused calmly.
"I see..." The Mizukage stated plainly.
"I suppose that neither of you saw any missing-nin capable of... I don't know... destroying cities during your visit to the capital, haah?"
"Nope, not that we know of." Rei shook his head and Konan nodded eagerly.
"Hmm, good. Security nowadays is really good, isn't it?" The Mizukage asked with an exaggerated nod. "A person is walking on the street and doesn't have to fear sudden storms or tornadoes of fire. Really good." He said in mock-satisfaction. "It's not like the capital city would be suddenly hit by a hailstorm, is it? Surely not when two of my strongest ninja are in the city..." He trailed off mockingly and the stare-off continued.
"I am sure it is a coincidence." Rei nodded assuredly.
"Coincidence." Konan added as she bobbed her head.
The Mizukage's eye twitched.
The ANBU were now choking on suppressed laughter in their hiding places.
"So... you are saying it was not you who completely destroyed a whole street in the capital, covered it in a shitton of ice. So much, in fact, it is still not melted even after days. It was surely not you who sent a shitton of wind that almost toppled down buildings... Oh, and damaged the Daimyo's castle, by the way. The entire castle garden was destroyed, too... Millions of Ryo worth of plants down the drain... Now I wonder, who could have been responsible for that, hm?"
"You surely are not responsible for scaring the populace by making the skies BURN, of all things, right? When the witnesses speak of a blue-haired woman and pale-haired man kissing each other in the middle of the street it all happened... That was surely not you, now, was it, riiiight?" The Mizukage glared with a frown. He could feel the start of migraine as the two decided to be 'forgetful'.
"When you say it like that..." Rei trailed off awkwardly as he scratched his cheek.
"Yes..." The Mizukage expectantly leaned forward with a hopeful look.
"We may have seen a missing-nin or two." Rei seriously added.
"Or two." Konan nodded.
"Right." The Mizukage deflated. "I am sure you did."
"Pray tell, how did that missing-nin or two look like. You don't want to tell me it was a male-form of Tsunade Senju, the best medic of Konoha, kissing with female-form of Dan Kato, the candidate for Hokage position, do you?" The Mizukage quipped in sarcasm.
"Well..." Rei started.
"Yes?" The Mizukage sweetly smiled.
"Depends... is Dan Kato still alive?" Rei quipped.
"No. No, he is definitely NOT ALIVE! NOT FOR YEARS!" Mizukage's smile fell as he stood up barely holding himself from screaming at tearing his hair off. After a while of panting, he just powerlessly flopped back into his chair.
"Moreover, according to our spies, Senju despised Kato." He muttered to himself.
"Well... in that case the missing-nin was..." Rei's eyes darted all over the office but then he shrugged in 'whatever' motion. "...pink."
"...and fluffy." Konan added helpfully.
"Long ears too." Rei smiled.
"Long, long. With buck teeth." Konan nodded.
"Eh? That's wrong... that was the bunny we saw in the zoo, Konan, wasn't it?" Rei looked at Konan.
"Hmm? We are talking about that, are we not?" Konan put her finger on her chin in mock-confusion.
"I give up. Seriously. I fucking give up." The Mizukage helplessly leaned into his chair and took his smoking pipe out. "Now... what do you two geniuses recommend I should report to the very concerned and utterly pissed off Daimyo, hm?"
Only silence greeted him.
"Nothing, hm? What about you, the four already-blue-from-choking ANBU on the ceiling." He looked up, just in time to see three of his ANBU fall onto the ground and start rolling in laughter. The fourth was still desperately sticking to the ceiling with his chakra, also rolling in laughter.
The Mizukage looked at casually smiling Rei and Konan with a fed-up deadpan look.
"Well... I would personally say that the assailant had a mask." Rei's face turned to seriousness and Mizukage face-faulted onto his desk.
"Hmm... I see. Continue." The Mizukage waved his arm around uncaringly.
Fuck this shit, I should start looking for a successor. I am not paid enough for this... The Mizukage frowned as he straightened up and started chewing on his pipe.
Maybe he could use his bullshit affinity? He was a ninja, after all. Making up stories was common in his line of work! And the current Daimyo wasn't the smartest fish in the pond too. Hmm, that could work...
"Just give me something GOOD. I am really not interested in being blamed and getting our funding cut, alright?" He pleaded.
Rei nodded and gave a sweet wide Cheshire grin.
Uh-oh, this will be utter bullshit the size of Konoha's Hokage Monument, alright... Mizukage internally thought as he saw Rei's wide smile.
Ah, here we go. Rei's going to get nasty... Konan mentally deadpanned.
"Well. As I said, the assailant had an orange swirl mask with only one eye. He was quite a cheerful dude too! Called himself Tobi and whatnot. He liked to say that he was a good boy, alright! Right nutter, I say!" Rei laughed. "He wore a black coat with red clouds and was singing about Dawn or whatever! He wanted to put his eyes on the moon too so he fired himself there with jutsu... hence the sky-reaching tornado! Sigh. Some of us just do believe they can fly." Rei sadly shook his head.
Both Konan and Mizukage stared at Rei with an open mouth as Mizukage's pipe fell onto the floor.
"That's..." Konan started but then her eyes looked at the shocked Mizukage. "...the truth." She nodded stoically, her expression completely blank even though her body was slightly shaking.
"You know what?" The Mizukage drawled lazily. "Why not? Sure. I will report exactly that." He shrugged, not giving a damn anymore.
"You may go... I won't say job-well done though."
--
Read this if you find CH39 disappointing.
I read a few comments (And a one-star review of a dude who even at this point thinks Rei and Konan are Konoha shinobi... damn, that floored me, to be honest) and I found out I might have messed up in the ch39 and my writing might have been easily misunderstood.
Now... for a clarification. Rei did NOT destroy The Capital nor did he kill anyone else other than the young master and his goons. Sure, he caused damage but didn't kill.
He also did NOT use the jutsu because he meant it. He wanted to deal with it peacefully and only due to the trash coming out of the Young Master's mouth, he flipped and subconsciously used his strongest 'vermin-wiping' Jutsu. The entire build-up of his 'illogical' fear of Young Masters was leading to this scene where he forgot all reason for a second.
That scene might have been a bit forced but it is IMPORTANT. I am giving you small hints into Rei's uniqueness right there.
Mizukage's Schemes.
Few weeks passed since their mission to rescue the prince and receiving a huge paycheck. Since then, Konan practiced at least three hours in tessenjutsu and Rei was usually sitting there, cheering her on as he trained in something or thought about seals... or just ogled her body.
Moving on! This was not a day like that. Today, Konan was alone as Rei was returning from buying more chakra ink for his fuinjutsu. The kind that was high-quality. He could have created his own but... why bother when there was a store for it?
He was walking around the corner when suddenly a six-years-old looking boy tightly clutching a loaf of bread ran straight into him. Rei could have evaded, of course, but that would send the boy rolling in the ground somewhat painfully. This way, the boy only flopped on his ass.
Rei noted the loaf of bread on the ground and sighed. He was about to speak to the still dazed boy when an old man with a ponytail suddenly shrieked.
"There you are, you thief!" The man came towards the boy and gripped him by his short red hair as he gave him a good lashing, not listening about the boy's wailing.
The old man then threw the boy into the mud, flipping his ponytail in disgust. Rei could see the boy reaching towards the bread covered in mud as his eyes hopelessly and intently watched it in hunger. The old man snorted and took the bread before the boy could reach it.
"That's not yours. Be glad that I won't report you for stealing!" He harrumphed and walked away with a huff.
Rei watched, somewhat bewildered.
Since when did Kirigakure gain its own 'Naruto'? ... He thought as he saw the contempt in the eyes of the people passing around.
As Rei pondered about it, the boy sat up, sobbing. Rei could hear the loud grumble from his stomach and realized it must have been days since the boy had a meal. With a sigh, he took the boy by the collar of his torn tattered clothes and put him on his feet.
"Well... I bumped into you, making you get caught. Ah..." Rei waved his hand from side to side, trying to dissuade the fearful look the boy gave him when he saw the hitai-ate. "I can at least buy you lunch for that." Rei eye-smiled. "Come on..."
He left, dragging the bewildered kid by his arm.
...
Rei watched as the kid gorged himself on the food. He awkwardly scratched his cheek.
Don't they feed him or something? ... He wondered.
"Hey, kid, you orphan, right?" Rei asked as he watched him lick the plate.
The boy ashamedly looked down and nodded.
"Don't they feed you there?"
The boy looked like a deer in the headlights and closed his eyes in fear, quivering in his seat but didn't answer.
"Ah, whatever. Eat your fill." Rei just shrugged. Konan was training so he had nothing better to do. A little charity wouldn't hurt, now, would it?
Rei just sat there, watching the boy until he finally stopped eating.
"Tha-thank you." A very soft voice entered Rei's ears. He smirked and ruffled the hair of the boy.
"Haha, so you can speak, after all!" He nodded and then looked seriously all over the boy.
Bruised. Malnourished. Sunken cheeks. Dull auburn hair. Pale as a ghost. Tattered dirty clothes...
"Here." He gave the boy a paper with his address. "If you find yourself hungry again, come by."
Rei decided he would help the kid. It was not like anyone would be able to steal from his apartment since his security contained many of his seals and he was loaded. Paying for food for the kid wasn't really all that difficult for him. Biri-Biri company earned him millions of Ryo per month since it had its branches all over the elemental nations by now. Every capital city had a branch.
And who knows... maybe I would get a follower outta it? Hah... He almost choked on laughter at that ridiculous thought. As if he ever allowed a dude to follow him!
...
The Mizukage office:
Mizukage sat behind his table with his hands clasped in front of his face.
Opposite him was a woman sitting in common clothes. The only tell she was a shinobi was how she held her body.
"Jonin Rukimi. This is the first time we are speaking with each other since I assigned you 'that' mission." The Mizukage amiably started.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama. Three years to be exact." Aika Rukimi leaned into a slight bow.
"I must say... it was almost back-breaking to persuade other clans to stop trying to tan my hide because of it." He chuckled, making the woman smile wryly. "Report." He lightly said, taking his tea into his hand.
"Yes. Four years ago, when you took two-years-old Mei Terumi and threw her into the orphanage, she had a happy childhood. As per your orders, that changed when I was assigned to act as the matron of the orphanage." The woman stoically droned out. "I subtly estranged her from other kids, and she swiftly became the target of bullying."
"Hm." The Mizukage hummed. "Her mental state?"
"She is... doing well. There are no signs of a mental breakdown... yet." The woman unsurely answered. She knew she was picked because of her past in the Seduction Corps. She was ruthless enough to slit the throat of a child and good psychiatrist so she could keep any and all mental trauma non issue for later. Well, as much as it could be made into a nonissue. She was sure the treatment the girl is going through will mold her and stay with her for the rest of her life. She just won't be mentally impaired due to Aika's 'care'. "But she is, no, WILL break if we continue this route."
The Mizukage heard his jonin conclude.
"I see. Hmm. The problem is the rumors, after 'that' incident... how is the girl herself taking it?"
Aika groaned, yes... that. Neither of them planned for that to happen but it certainly did help the plan. Aika decided to not do anything with it and let it run its course.
"Ah, she is more withdrawn. Never talks to anyone. This made the bullying intensify. The kids even go as far as stealing her food, making her sleep on the floor, and beating her. Seriously... this batch would do fine shinobi, at least morally." Aika snorted sarcastically and rolled her eyes. As if any of these twerps had enough guts to be shinobi. They could only gang up on a weak malnourished girl.
"Hmmm, a loner, then. Well... no wonder. Just as we wanted." The Mizukage took a file from his table. "After the first day of the academy, Mei Terumi's chakra was unlocked. She kissed the cheek of her best and only friend in the entire orphanage and her bloodline acted out due to the inability to control her chakra. Mei Terumi watched as her best friend slowly died in agony while her face was being slowly melted by Mei's Kekkei Genkai... you wrote."
"Yes. It was a brutal and painful death lasting minutes. Mei watched every second of it and blamed herself."
"Well, normally she would be trained since three to prevent this happening." Mizukage shrugged. "But making her even more isolated helped us. Especially since the girl already had her first kill."
Aika nodded and opened her mouth when the door flew open and inside casually strode an old man with a ponytail, holding a muddy loaf of bread.
"Ah... Sandaime-dono, you really can pick a distasteful mission for retired ol' me, haha!" The old man laughed.
"Well, it had to be someone undetectable, Kouhei-sama. Since your chakra coils were destroyed..." Mizukage smiled and slightly inclined his head in respect.
"I am nothing but a civilian in the senses of the ninja." The old man waved his hand jovially. "Geez, what did you do to that orphan. It was as if you starved the kid."
"We did." The Mizukage told the elderly man who raised an eye-brow with a frown. The Mizukage nodded at the woman to introduce herself.
"I am Aika Rukimi." The woman stood up and gave the elderly man a small bow. "It's an honor to be in the presence of the brother of the first Mizukage, Kouhei-sama."
"Sure, sure. Just get on with it." Kouhei grumbled in annoyance.
"Well... reporting. I beat that bony little girl somewhat fiercely but damn did it hurt my knuckles." The old man grumbled. "I am sure I cracked a few ribs too but the girl has a high pain tolerance, I must say."
The Mizukage winced slightly while Aika was completely impassive. It was not like he wanted Mei to suffer but his plan would be marginally harder without her being a loner and abused.
"But..." Kouhei stopped momentarily. "The civilians are talking. They are starting to get afraid of her due to rumors and from what I gathered, she is being beaten by some of them. When the clans find out..."
"Thankfully the Yuki and Hozuki clans agreed with this plan and persuaded the leaders of other important clans. I wouldn't try to 'threaten' a clan with their own fortune if I didn't have the support of other clans." The Mizukage interrupted, shrugging. "We need Rei and Konan bound to Kiri since they are two of our five S-rank ninjas. The clans at least understand that much."
Kouhei nodded. He didn't like the endgame and certainly, the betrothal contract was stretching the authority of the Mizukage thin and dangerous. But it had merit. The girl will be an anchor around the leg of Rei and with Rei, Konan will follow. They will stay in Kiri. All this mission had to accomplish was to make them feel at least some fondness for the girl.
"My brother would be proud of you, kid." Kouhei told him with a grim expression. "This is positively evil. To think you would give her the Terumi estates only if she gave birth to two of his children. You pulled all stops." He shook his head.
"Yeah. Sadly, the plan is not completely foolproof as I can't really hold back the bank accounts from Mei as the bank won't give a shit about me being the Mizukage. But she will be told of those only upon her eighteen birthday." Mizukage smiled.
"Or if she gets pregnant." Kouhei nodded. "It is kinda disgusting to have this talk about a six-year-old girl." He chuckled and got a shrug in response. They were shinobi. They did worse. "The problem is... yet again the civilians. She is a girl. I wouldn't want this plan to crumble due to her being raped by some sick drunkard."
Kouhei had a valid point, the Mizukage agreed. That may help with her being more subdued... or completely break her. But it might crack any and all future interaction with Rei. The Mizukage was trying to make her depend on him. Not make her afraid to be in the same room as him or despise all males.
"Yes. I will probably make Ringo Ameyuri 'suggest' him taking the girl in, giving her an empty bedroom. Or I will straight out order it for the 'safety' of the last Terumi." The Mizukage shrugged. "It will maximize the interaction between them."
"And then, when she is older and Rei likes or even loves her... you will spring up the betrothal on them." Kouhei smiled.
"Not if they decide to have an intimate relationship with each other without finding out." The Mizukage dismissively waved his hand around. He hoped to not use it and let it be buried somewhere in the archive. If the girl started to have sex with Rei without his intervention it would be smashing!
"A precaution, then." Kouhei nodded. Both knew what they did was for the good of their village. Someone capable of having and wielding three chakra natures at the age of eleven, being S-rank at thirteen due to 'destructibility' of his Jutsu of all things...
There were various categories of S-rank ninja. But getting that rank for wide-scale destructive Jutsu was a serious feat. Only Onoki with his Kekkei Tota and the third Kazekage with his Kekkei Genkai were the most famous examples currently and both had the power to destroy vast areas easily.
Both Mizukage and Kouhei wanted to see what kind of monster Mei Terumi would bring on this world if her two Kekkei Genkai mixed with Rei's three natures and natural genius.
While the two influential men talked, Aika quietly listened. It was her job to make this work and she was ordered to make sure that Mei Terumi will love the village despite the hatred. It was a tiring job but she did well, making the girl miserable in the shadows while in the light she was her sole supporting pillar, always repeating 'if you become a respectable Kiri-nin, you will be loved'. She had to make sure the girl would want to serve Kiri with half of her soul and that she would latch on Rei with the other half, keeping him in place. It was a delicate job... sometimes, even she wondered why she accepted it.
Unknown to the trio, under the furniture, a few inconspicuous papers with listening seals 'overheard' the entire conversation.
In Rei's and Konan's apartment, in their spare bedroom, a paper clone of Konan suddenly punched the floor from sheer rage, cracking it as the killing intent spread through the street. It took at least five minutes until the clone finally calmed down and went to report to Rei and the real Konan.
Counterattacking The Schemes 1
The very next day Rei and Konan found themselves in the orphanage where Mei was residing. Rei was gripping Konan's hand, making sure she won't go ballistic upon meeting the 'bitch', as she put it yesterday, who was helping in the scheme against her Rei!
Konan glared at everything in the room with her impassive stare. It made Rei proud and weirded out at the same time at this ability of hers. To appear utterly bored and impassive but actually show that she is completely enraged. For the first time, Rei saw how cold fury looks like.
They had a long debate yesterday after the clone reported its findings. They both were baffled. Sure, the Mizukage did it very cleverly. They knew he was smart and really didn't think he would try the exact same thing as he did with Ringo just in other colors and under a pseudonym.
His influence would appear to be minimal on the entire thing as at most five people were a part of the scheme and other than them, only clan heads knew about it.
In their talks, Rei told Konan he was interested in Mei. Not romantically, of course. That would make for a good mental case to be interested in a kid you met only once. He was interested in her potential. To be honest, most crushes he could have had... he remembered he loved Hinata's character... disappeared after all these years. He would still very much like to meet these char-, ahem, people. He would also like to swat Naruto on his head for being a naive idiot. Yup... he was a true fan! The kind that would beat that insufferable idiotic shit to death for not becoming smarter during the entire series!
Sigh, but he digresses. These feelings were somewhat dulled. He was interested in Mei because of her two Kekkei Genkai. Two in one body. That was almost impossible since genes usually merged or one dominated the other. Her two sides of the family were in such a synergy they created two Kekkei Genkai. It was a curious thing.
It all led them to this moment. They decided to make it easier on the Mizukage and adopt the girl, right? Well, if she will be pushed onto them anyway, why not make their influence prevalent? They might be forced to take her in but neither Rei nor Konan would suffer the fate of getting to like her and then having to leave her behind because of her overt love for the village. They knew it would happen with Ringo and it wasn't a very nice feeling. Both Rei and Konan somewhat got to like her but knew well she would pick Kirigakure over them if she had to choose. That's why Rei was not teaching the girl his best Raiton Jutsu for kenjutsu.
Konan had it easy. She was starting to feel fed-up with Mizukage. She understood he must protect the village and whatnot but right now, he was actually doing his damnedest to make Konan blow this village to smithereens. She didn't like her Rei to be schemed upon!
As for the little girl herself... if she was really as interesting as Rei said, Konan didn't mind taking her in. She would make the girl into a proper wife-material, yet! Konan was not as naive as to think that a decade of living together would not make the girl fall in love with Rei! Un, impossible!
And since Rei had a good impression of the girl and the girl had real potential, if she grew into a beauty, Konan wouldn't mind giving her a hand. But the girl will become vicious and loyal only to Rei if she wants to stay anywhere near them! That Konan promised to herself.
Rei only cluelessly waited for the matron to finish the paperwork. He had not yet any clue of Konan's already forming training plan for little Mei. Alas, history was set to repeat himself. As he saved Konan in her darkest hour and unknowingly created a fierce yan-, fuuuu, better not say the word! The same way he was now saving Mei. Or, at least, that's how it would look like to the girl. Konan would make sure of that!
Aika Rukimi was flabbergasted when Rei and Konan came in the morning, willing to adopt Mei Terumi. She never expected such luck. The Mizukage wouldn't even need to persuade them to raise the girl! While it made a few problems since the girl was not yet completely indoctrinated into being loyal to the village... she would let these worries to the Mizukage. The girl will probably make a few 'friends' that will make her see the 'light' shortly. It was not Aika's problem anymore. She was only giddy at the fat paycheck she would receive for job-well-done! With a joyful hum, she filled the paperwork and... Mei Terumi was now adopted by Rei and Konan Yotsuba.
...
Aika dragged Mei into the room where Rei and Konan waited.
Both Rei and Konan noted the tattered torn clothes on the bo-, uh, girl. Her auburn hair was so short it was hard to recognize the little creature as a girl. Her green eyes were completely dull, almost lifeless with big black circles under then and the girl was unhealthily thin and small. Her skin was pale... well except the visible purplish, almost black bruises marring her skin.
When Mei's eyes landed on Rei they regained a bit of light. She remembered the kind man who fed her yesterday and with a blush, she timidly looked towards the ground, wondering what he was doing here. She was dragged from her bed by the matron. Yesterday she was beaten by the older kids for being bad so she couldn't sleep from the pain. She was dead tired and barely swayed on her feet.
"Mei-chan~." The matron started and Rei was instantly in 'uh-oh' state of mind as he recognized the fake sweet and kind voice. "These two, Rei and Konan Yotsuba decided to adopt you."
Mei's eyes widened and teared up. She meekly nodded. She was still afraid. The people didn't like her and she feared being adopted. She thought she would be beaten by the people adopting her! But... the man was kind to her, right? He wouldn't hurt her, right?
"Thank you." She quietly whispered as was expected of her after the matron squeezed slightly her shoulder, coincidentally pressing on one of her worst bruises, making her wince.
Konan was coldly glaring at the matron. She saw that it was no coincidence. Rei sighed and walked closer to Mei.
"Yo. So we meet again, kid." He grinned and hugged her.
Mei stiffened. She was never hugged. Tackled to the ground, maybe. But hugged. She couldn't help but be frozen at the warmth it made her feel. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she leaned into the hug, pushing her small head into Rei's shoulder.
Konan looked at the matron.
"That will be all." She dismissively stated, making the matron open her mouth but she swiftly shut it. Well, being dismissed might have hurt her ego but why bother complaining? Her job was done. Aika just left with a huff, heading straight to the Mizukage's office to report.
Rei heaved Mei up into his arms and left
The trio arrived at the apartment and Mei was told to sit behind the table in the living room with Konan while Rei was making ramen for them in the kitchen.
Mei wasn't very comfortable around the blue-haired girl. She was looking at her weirdly. Like matron.
Konan smiled at the awkwardness of the girl. She reached her hand towards the girl, making her stiffen and close her eyes. Konan didn't care and ruffled Mei's hair.
Mei snapped her eyes wide at the gentle touch and found herself enjoying it.
"Be a good girl and we will have no problem." She heard the blue-haired girl tell her in a gentle but firm voice.
Good girl... Mei thought that she could at least try. She timidly nodded with a blush.
"Don't worry." The blue-ha-, Konan, yes that was her name, Mei remembered.
"I will teach you how to be a good girl." Konan continued cooingly as she leaned closer to her and patted her head.
Rei entered with a tray of three bowls of hot, steaming ramen and saw a weird sight. Konan smiling devilishly at the determined Mei while Konan patted her head in 'my precious' kind of Kakashi-like way. His eyes couldn't help but instinctively trace a few escape routes as he felt a shiver run down his spine.
In the end, he steeled himself and approached the girls with a smile, putting the food on the table. He saw that Mei instantly looked at the big bowl of noodles while gulping hungrily. He put the first bowl in front of the girl who raised her head, her eyes meeting his and he could see a spark of adoration. He could only sigh to himself. It was so easy with children. No wonder the villages started to train their ninja during childhood and made them listen to hours per day of patriotic drivel. Because that was exactly what the first two years of the academy were about. Indoctrination of children to loyalty.
He saw Mei watch the ramen with want in her eye but the girl didn't dare to touch it. Rei tilted his head.
"Ah!" He understood. "You may start eating, Mei-chan." He smiled at her.
Before he even finished the girl was inhaling the noodles. Rei quickly stopped her hand, making the girl stiffen.
"Slow down. You will choke on it. Nobody will take it from you." He quipped in bemusement, letting Mei's hand only when she nodded embarrassedly. Rei smiled and continued. "Don't be afraid to ask for more."
He knew the girl would want more. He was a master at suiton and very good with katon and temperature manipulation! What! Jutsu were not only good for fighting! Cooking was a viable way to use them too!
Especially since he could make the food full of chakra this way. Elemental chakra. With his proficiency, he could add his katon and suiton chakra into it, making it actually beneficial instead of harmful to Mei. It will certainly help her own katon and suiton chakra nature, if only ever so slightly. He also added a bit of nature energy into the ramen so Mei will stop being so tired and malnourished.
Rei would never do something like this for Ringo. He liked Ringo. She was his baka-deshi. But she was not loyal. Not as much as he would like her to be. But with Mei, he didn't need to worry. He was not as naive as to not know Konan's plan for the girl. But he was not about to do anything about it. He knew that under Konan's care, Mei would shortly be a... he hoped not zealot or fanatic... he would need to have some positive input on the girl to prevent that. But he knew Konan's 'education' would make the girl loyal only to them. And he knew she would be subtle enough to make Mei appear like a good little ninja of Kiri.
Sometimes, Konan could be scary.
They finished eating as Mei ate her third bowl of ramen with an embarrassed blush.
"Well, some ground rules." Rei told the girl, making her straighten up.
"We are often on missions so you will stay alone here." Rei told her and Mei nodded. She was alone her entire life. Nothing new. Seeing it, Rei continued. "Therefore you will have to learn how to cook and clean up after yourself."
Rei didn't tell the girl there will always be paper and water clones looking after her. He would make sure the girl puts her all into learning the basics of household chores. Well, not like there was much to do. His seals did ninety-percent of these automatically. But cooking will be a very beneficial skill in the girl's future ninja career.
Mei was bewildered. Someone actually wanted to teach her. She smiled slightly, her heart happily fluttering.
"Thank y-"
Before she could finish, a knock resounded on the door.
Rei sighed and stood up. He approached the door and as he opened them, he could see an ANBU who gave him a scroll and disappeared. Coming back to the table, Rei opened it.
"Well, the Mizukage is summoning us." He quipped in amusement, his eyes sparkling. Both him and Konan knew what this was about. "Well, be a good girl Mei," Rei started, not seeing how Mei's eyes brightened. "and stay here." Rei took out a few slices of paper. "You can practice the sticking exercise. We know the academy already started teaching you."
Konan created a paper clone.
"My clone will instruct you." She said merrily, ignoring Rei's deadpan stare.
With a sigh, Rei gave up and both him and Konan disappeared in shunshin, leaving only determined Mei with a smirking paper clone that sat next to Mei and it's smirk widened.
"Well, Mei-chan, first..."
...
In the office:
Rei and Konan walked in and did the usual greeting.
"I will be blunt Rei-kun~. Why did you adopt Terumi-chan?" The Mizukage curiously asked. This was not in his plan. While it was a good thing for his plan, the timing was too... precise.
"Felt like it." Rei shrugged. "I met her yesterday and saw Konan in her."
"Yes. I also could see my past self in the girl." Konan nodded with a slight smile. "I was a homeless orphan in Ame before Rei took me in."
The Mizukage didn't know that. He smiled to himself. Maybe his suspicions were unfounded, after all, and it was all caused by a sentiment.
"Well, as you know, Terumi-chan is the last of her clan..."
"Are you going to bar us from adopting her?" Rei amusedly asked, knowing well that was far from the truth.
"No, no. I am happy to have two capable ninjas raising her!" He put his clasped hands in front of his face and got serious. "I just want you to teach her how to use her elemental chakra and Kekkei Genkai."
"Hmm, you ask a lot." Rei smirked. "In that case, I want her as my second apprentice. We both know Ringo is low-jonin level already so keeping her a genin is an insult to her skill."
"You want a six-year-old as your apprentice?" The Mizukage blinked. "I can't approve that. She must go through the academy curriculum."
And its indoctrination plus a bonus... Mizukage thought to himself.
"Oh, Nah. I just want her after she graduates from the academy. Do that and we have a deal. We both know you want her to be strong for Kiri but if I am to teach her, she will be mine. My apprentice. My teammate. Mine. She will become a permanent part of my team."
The Mizukage was stumped. Rei was not asking for Mei as an apprentice. He was asking for her as a ninja. If he agreed, sure, it would make his plan surefire success with enough time. But it would be agreeing to Mei belonging to Rei as a ninja. The very same as Konan. He had no delusions that Konan is not really a Kiri shinobi and certainly not his. She was more of a property of Rei. At least, that was the not sugar coated way of looking at it.
Rei asked for a lot. But then again... with their guidance, Mei would become an S-rank in the future. Heck, Ringo Ameyuri was going to become S-rank with enough time.
Sigh, I will have to put extreme focus on making Mei loyal but... The Mizukage mulled over it.
"Sure. Mei Terumi will belong to you, Rei. You may do whatever with her." The Mizukage nodded. "But I want you to make an S-rank ninja for Kiri from her. Don't forget she owns the whole famous Hot Springs of Kiri. She is an important girl. If you want her, treat her well."
Rei shrugged in acceptance and almost gagged as he heard 'important' and 'treat her well'.
He knew that he basically asked for kunoichi Mei, rather than adopted a kid. The Mizukage just gave her to him. He could make the little girl into child labor and nobody would care as long as he justified it by 'The Mizukage gave her to me'. Not to count numerous worse things he could do to her. But this was reality. The shinobi belonged to the village. They were its property in a way. Only the really strong shinobi could look at the Mizukage and openly sneer at him or rebuke him. Because they were strong. Because they were an asset the village couldn't afford to lose. Because they were a threat. Because they could. A small six-year-old orphan from an extinct clan? Her only protection was the other clans and their 'interests'. If Rei didn't come to Kiri, Mei would live a pampered life, her head would be filled with ideas of marrying into some other clan that would acquire her wealth and bloodlines this way and the grandeur of serving her country.
"Don't worry. We will raise her 'very' well." Konan gave a wide sweet full smile with delightfully narrowed eyes as she put a great emphasis at the word 'very'..
Suddenly, the Mizukage didn't feel all that good about this little plan of his...
Few weeks have passed since Mei started living with Rei and Konan.
Konan and Ringo were in a clearing, doing the usual three areas exercise. Ringo was getting stronger faster and faster as her senses and speed were trained and her strength increased bit by bit every time Konan's doton-hardened paper slices hit her. Konan wasn't just swinging them at her. She was precisely targeting the sets of muscles that needed to be put under pressure. Ringo was very grateful when she found out how effective this training was for her.
Still, she didn't manage to reach Konan yet. She once reached the third area and was jumping in joy but then out of nowhere a flood of the river was released from the papers, washing Ringo all the way back to the start. She would grumble for days after that.
While Konan spent time training Ringo, Rei was with Mei.
Ringo was quite uncomfortable around the younger girl. She was used to being the one taught by Rei but eventually accepted it. She knew her time in Rei's team was coming to its end as she was already informed about her upcoming promotion. Getting chunin rank meant her being put under the tutelage of the Kiba wielder to be his successor. It was disheartening but it was her dream.
As for Rei and Mei... Mei was liking Rei a lot! He was kind to her and patiently taught her. He didn't beat her when she didn't get the thing done in one try! He...
Well, let's just say that Rei was getting creeps by the rising adoration he saw in the girl's eyes. He cursed himself for letting her stay with Konan's clone. He came home from the Mizukage's office and the girl was droning about being a 'good girl'! Ugh.
That night, he and Konan had a very heated and very sweaty debate on raising young children. A debate he sadly lost...
Moving on!
Rei decided to teach Mei properly. He started small with tree-walking and water-walking after she managed the paper-sticking exercise. He had to give it to the girl, she was determined and a prodigy. It was obvious why she would become the Fifth Mizukage in canon. In just a week she managed tree and water-walking. Yes, Rei was there with her every step of the process, always sensing what she did wrong and corrected her. He would not be a jerk like Kakashi and just say, do it. It was counterproductive.
Then, after she managed these exercises he found out the girl had suiton, doton, and katon chakra natures. Well, obviously since she had Futton and Yoton.
(Author Note: Futton - Boil, Yoton - Lava, Futon - Wind)
Rei decided to start with Futon. Something the girl didn't have a predisposition for and even her canon self didn't know. He somewhat remembered Mei Terumi in canon doing some suiton with raiton combo so she knew raiton but he didn't remember the Jutsu. But he knew canon Mei never practiced Futon. But he would be damned if a girl with Futton didn't know Futon to spread her boiling mist!
Rei also started practicing Futon alongside her. They made a game out of it. Seeing whose paper would move sooner. Well, of course, he held back and let the girl have her minute of glory and joy. Rei usually watched Mei as she always slightly stuck her tongue out while focusing and thought it was cute. He kinda suspected she started to crave winning not because of the win but because of the hug, he would always give her. But then again... as long as she had the drive to practice, all was well.
After a week, again, Rei noted. Damn was Mei fast in nature training. Sure, most of it was due to tips she received from Konan who was almost master in it, nearing perfection, and from his careful and precise tutoring. But for a child of six? A child that has to go to the academy almost daily? Oh, the complaints Rei received that Mei wasn't paying attention and instead was 'fiddling' with her paper...
Rei knew that Mei would be a Ninjutsu freak. Her chakra reserves were already almost genin level. Something Rei was really jealous of as at that age, he had only civilian reserves. It was all due to years in the academy and diligent practice of the chakra circling, he found out. The exercise isn't that good and the kids don't really practice it that much but Mei was VERY diligent in it. She didn't miss even a day of practice even if she was hurting from a beating.
Right now, Rei and Mei stood opposite each other and they played with a ball. A ball made of paper, without touching it, using only futon chakra to keep it afloat. It wasn't powerful but it propped the ball up after every burst that created a very weak uplifting wind. If the ball wasn't made of light paper, it wouldn't even raise an inch. But it was training a fine control of futon.
Mei loved the exercise as she always laughed when she managed to 'outplay' Rei and he 'missed' the timing, letting her win only to heave her into his arms into a hug.
...
Rei walked into the bedroom they gave to Mei and saw Konan sit across Mei behind a table.
"...this?" Konan pointed at a paragraph in what Rei recognized to be Kiri academy book.
"It is supposed to spur awe and make us think we can also reach greatness if we stay loyal to Kiri." Mei stated and Konan nodded. Just then she saw Rei and smiled.
"Mei. Looks like the diner is ready." Konan pointed in Rei's direction, making Mei perk up and run into Rei's waist for a hug.
Rei stroked Mei's short hair and forbade her to cut and ushered her out of the room.
"Go eat, Mei. I have to talk with Konan, kay?"
Mei nodded and left the room as Rei sighed, sitting in the exact same spot Mei was a moment ago. He leaned towards the book and cringed.
"The Heroics of Second Mizukage?" He raised his eyebrow at Konan.
"I am teaching the girl to recognize indoctrination." She shrugged. "She had her first kill and it was pretty gruesome. Behind that happy kid that loves hugs is already a killer. She is mature enough."
"I am not admonishing you." Rei rolled his eyes. "Merely curious."
Konan bit her lower lip and took a deep breath.
"I know you love Ringo." She stated with a grimace, making Rei look at her intently, patiently waiting for her to continue. "Maybe not entirely romantically but you are way past just liking your energetic baka-deshi."
Rei slowly nodded. There was no need for lies between him and Konan.
"I also know you would never let her get closer to you because we both know she is Kiri-loyalist to the core. She would betray us in due time."
Rei again slowly nodded. Again the truth. Konan sparred, taunted, and probed Ringo enough to know the core of her personality, aspirations, and loyalties.
"But I see your interest in Mei's bloodline and talent. I won't let her go the Ringo-route. She WILL be loyal to us if we are going to teach her. I dunno if she will love you that way when she is older. I don't even know if you will see her that way. But I know I am not just letting her be and hope for the best." Konan huffed and crossed her arms. "I already made that mistake with Ringo because I didn't like her intruding in our alone time. If I acted, she could be here in my place, teaching Mei while we could have been making out in our bed!"
"Sure. Do what you think is best." Rei's lips stretched into a smile as he chuckled and leaned closer, kissing Konan. "I love you and trust you to do what you believe is best for me. Always will." He gave her another long kiss. "We should go and eat our diner."
They happily took a hold of the other's hand and went into the kitchen. Mei was surely lonely, eating alone