" Ramen? Seriously, these are the first words you say to me. Have you any idea how much stress am in, trying to locate you. "
Naruto place the ramen bowl down, and his grin slowly faded. " Why have you got to do that? " He asked.
" Is that supposed to be a question, or should I take that as a rhetorical... I see... How about this, I have a twenty meter tall golden statue, of a brat in my village. A spectacule, which important delegates, Daimyos and the Kazekage have come to behold, a testament of your deeds. Which I believed you were grateful for, " she answered with a glare.
Naruto sits back, putting his hands down unto his thighs.
" How much more gratitude must I show to prove everyone's effort over the building of the statue. All this people who have come, have not come for the statue, but to see me and how much i've grown and changed since the war. Now you must wonder why I am here, and not out there showing off myself, "
" I couldn't possibly imagine " retorts the Mizukage. " Even though I feel honored to have a statue built in my image, but the truth is I am not the reason that statue is out there. That statue, is the sweat, stress and labor of many people I have never met: they built that statue as a testament to what I have done in the war. However, I am here because the honor of that statue is not to me, but to those whom I have not known, working tirelessly day and night for the sake of peace. "
Mei Terumi stood with her feet glued to the sandals she wore, whilst she became stunned by the blond hero's philosophy.
" You're surprised that's how I felt, you must have already conceived in your mind that I am a proud brat, who is taking for granted everything that I have been granted. But I will not take the glory of something that I never participated in, added to that is the shame I find myself feeling when someone approaches me and praises me for winning the war. I mean, what exactly did I achieve on my own. "
Naruto sighs and frowns. " You were right, understanding others is not enough when it comes to the lives that have been lost in the war. I hadn't pondered this until several months back, but I did and figured many people must have still been healing from all the loss. While, I just go on with life having dealt with my losses, and made peace with the deaths of those who sacrificed themselves to get me here. "
" I didn't know you felt that way, " said Mei in a much calmer voice.
" When I saw that statue, I was filled with this wistfulness that just brought about sorrow and gladness. And after I just had to know how long it took, and when I did, I understood exactly what the statue meant. A symbol of solace, the image of comfort for those left behind, "
" That is why you knelt and bowed your head to everyone, " said the Mizukage in realization of the truth.
Naruto smiles softly. " I don't seem so petulant, now do I? ".
Mei regretted her harsh words, but yet now felt the urge to clarify an aspect of his philosophy to him.
" Even though you believe the people who worked on the statue should be honored, non of those who have come will agree to that, not even if you ask them to. The Ninja world does not regard those lacking in power. " she informed.
Naruto grins mischievously. " That is why I am here, they will not see me. If no one will honor them, I personally will, " He said.
Mei Terumi steps inside the building clicking her tongue, whilst the entrance seals off behind her, she walked leisurely towards the table and stopped.
" Are you really sure being Hokage is your dream? " Mei asks, Naruto looked at the Mizukage puzzled.
" Why do you ask? " He replied, " you don't talk or act like you want to be binded by Konoha or politics " she said.
" The Mizukage does have a point " said Kurama, ' wait really? You're kidding '. " Not really. "
" Did I make it seem that way, well that's not true. I still very much want to be the Hokage, that's my dream, it's what I have always aspired to be since I was just- " Naruto waved his left hand down to an height level, " this tall. And not going back on my words, never giving up is my Ninja way " clarified Naruto, to Mei and himself.
" If that is the case, then you can't act like this. Being all rebellious and defiant, as a leader of a hidden village, you have to think about the reputation, power, influence and safety of your village. You can't just disregard things like this, as a Kage your life's choices are limited, due to the responsibility " said Mei Terumi.
Naruto's puzzled expression morphs into a frown, placing his hands down on his thighs again, as he became reticent.
' My thoughts are getting out of hand, I shouldn't even be thinking of this. Giving up is not an option, when I've never giving up on anything- ' " don't go there Naruto. Have you forgotten already? " .
Naruto at that instant realized what Kurama was talking about, and he remembered. ' Three things have I pursued in this life of mine, you know them Kurama: being Hokage, making Sakura love me, and bringing peace to the world, the last living will of pervy sage. Now all that remains is two, I chose to give up on Sakura that she might be happy with Sasuke, whom she always loved and never stopped loving.
' I wasn't such a sore loser that I would keep chasing down Sakura, when I know the only person in her heart is Sasuke. And Sasuke who is like a brother to me, deserved to be loved as well after everything that has happened to him. I stepped aside in hopes that her love will help him heal, and I never regretted it. But this is the one goal I have kept in my heart for as long as I can remember, giving up becoming Hokage is like shedding off the past I have long cherished. '
Mei Terumi folds her arms, seeing that she had truly incommode the blond's equilibrium by what she had said, and oddly Mei felt proud of herself.
' This is a wake up call, with his priorities plain to him, and his screws back in place. He would no longer act out like he has been doing, ' she thought.
" It is not a bad thing to know your place, Uzumaki Naruto. It is better for you to accept what you have always known, than to desire that which is unknown, you may believe you can do anything. But the reality is, we all eventually become shackled by the chains of responsibility, it is both a blessing and a evil every Shinobi must embrace. "
Mei Terumi watched as Naruto became somber, and her lips twisted into a crooked line.
' With this, he will stop being a bother and just be who he always wanted to be. Accept your fate, just as I accepted mine, to forever be a single Mizukage. '
" As a little boy all I knew was the dark corners of the village, I could go nights without food in my belly, showered down with rain, freezing in winter. None cared for my well being when I needed it, so I knew my place, as a monster child whom the adults loathed, and the children despise, "
" I didn't mean it like that- ", " no I understood what you meant, Mizukage sama. As a child I was not a fool to not know my place, but when Teuchi san of Ichiraku ramen showed me care it dawned on me that not everyone hated me. It brought an unimaginable hope into the dark corners of my world.
" For the years that followed, I chased after the goal of getting the acknowledgement of the village. I wanted them to see me as a person, a person important enough to be loved and respected, I didn't want them to fear me anymore. And I knew my place to a degree I began to smile way too often, that they might never fear me. Cause I came to realize, they would fear me, if I started to think beyond what I've been taught and have taught myself with the powers I now command. "
Naruto heaves a sigh, and he lifts his head to look up at the stone ceiling.
" Since after pain, I have inherited the desire to protect the world rather than just my village. But before yesterday, I didn't quite realize the magnitude of that desire. I felt like I was being filled with a wind of purpose higher than me. Do I want to protect my village? Yes and always, my friends and people live there.
" But do I want to be shackled by the opinions of others, like I was when I was a child? No, I will just find my own way to be an unshackled Hokage " said Naruto.
Mei Terumi groans in frustration.
" You really don't want me to win this, do you. Oh well, do whatever you want. But eventually you will realize the inevitability of your choice, you still have many more years ahead of you to get acquainted with the oppressive weights of responsibility to ones Hidden village. " she said.
Naruto tilts his head towards the Mizukage, and smirks.
" You don't seem to have much faith in the savior of the Ninja world? Hmm, I thought you did the way you had proclaimed it to everyone last night, or was that just for politics. "
Mei Terumi observed Naruto's tone of voice and expression, she didn't perceive any anger.
" You seem amused by the fact, why? "
" Why not, I know a thing or two about politics. I have been studying intensely for three years in my pursuit of being Hokage, though I do find some of the contents of what I read unnerving. Either way I am neither surprised, nor offended. You are the fifth Mizukage, buttering me up is not doing too much, it's expected.
" However, I know sincerity when I see it. And every word that you have ever uttered to me since I arrived, has been nothing short of honest. So why should I take offense, when I like you " said Naruto with an unyielding smirk.
" Huh? " Uttered the Mizukage dumbfounded.
Naruto rose up unto his feet, drawing the chair back. He walked around of the chair, and stood to it's back whilst laying both his arms on it. His gaze shifted back to the Mizukage's.
" Since we are now done, with the woes of choices and politics, I think I should cook up something a lot more fulfilling than ramen: since it has now gone cold. Unfortunately, despite my unending love for ramen, my body has since working it to it's limit began to desire more than I ever was willing to give to it. Meat in particular, so would you care to join me for a hunt, I noticed some rare animals on my way here " said Naruto in a humorous level of seriousness.
Mei Terumi scrutinized him, awakened from her dumbfounded state, as she was shocked by the three words he'd spoken.
" Why? " she asked not seeing the purpose of the offer, " to eat of course. I doubt you've had anything to eat, since you said you've been stressed in the pursuit of locating me. But then, I might be wrong. So am I wrong? "
Mei Terumi scoffs. " You're a ridiculous kid you know that? ", " yeah well I'm a kid that doesn't mind crossing boundaries, as long as you are willing to cross them with me. So is that a yes, "
" Too what? " she demanded in suspicion of him, " the hunt... " Naruto trailed off with his smirk.
" Alright fine, let's go catch some rare animals, and you had best be able to cook. Unless I'll melt you: I get savage when starved, " " hmm, I'll keep that in mind. Mizukage sama " Naruto replied.
Following behind the Mizukage, Naruto abdicates the building, and Mei stayed back for a moment, sealing the windows and entrance close.