I’M A MIST SHINOBI IN NARUTO

In the original timeline, Terumi Mei became Mizukage after Yagura's death, a position she earned after years of service and the eventual fall of Yagura's oppressive rule. But judging by Yagura's attitude today, Yutorealized his path was far more treacherous.

Unlike in the original, where Terumi Mei's rise to power seemed inevitable, Yutocould feel the walls closing in around him. His growing defiance and Yagura's hostility made conflict unavoidable. A grim thought crossed Wayne's mind—if pushed too far, he might one day snap and kill Yagura himself.

Yagura, oblivious to Wayne's thoughts, dismissed them with an air of indifference. "You're dismissed," he said curtly, issuing an implicit eviction order.

Yutoand Terumi Mei left without protest, the tension lingering in the air. On the way home, even Terumi Mei was unusually quiet, her usual playful demeanor replaced with somber reflection. Though troubled, she wasn't oblivious—Yutoneeded time to process the information Yagura had dropped on him.

When they finally arrived home, Terumi Mei quietly brewed a cup of tea for her younger brother. Handing it to him, she watched as he drank it in one gulp, his expression softening for the first time that evening.

"It's good," Yutoremarked, savoring the warmth of the tea.

"What are you going to do now?" Terumi Mei broke the silence, her tone steady but filled with concern. "Whatever you decide, I'll support you."

Yutopaused, caught off guard by her unwavering support. He turned to look at her, his gaze lingering as if seeing her in a new light.

"Hmph, what's with the staring? Just now realizing how beautiful your big sister is?" Terumi Mei teased, puffing out her chest dramatically in a mock display of pride.

"Misunderstanding," Yutoquipped, smirking. "I'm just staring at my personal cheerleader."

"Shut up!" Terumi Mei rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. Deep down, she wondered if there was some truth to his words.

Wayne's expression turned serious. "I've made up my mind. I'll play along with Yagura's games for now, but I will not forgive Konoha if Yagura's words about my parents are true. Blood of the Uchiha or not, my parents' deaths demand justice."

He paused, his gaze sharp as it settled on Terumi Mei. "And you, sister."

"What about me?" Terumi Mei asked, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

"You need to work harder in this battle."

"What? Why?!" she demanded, incredulous. "It's better to keep my head down and just play it safe. The more I do, the more stable Yagura's position becomes. Why should I help him?"

"To build your own future," Yutosaid calmly. "You'll need the recognition to position yourself as the Fifth Mizukage."

Terumi Mei froze, her eyes widening in shock. "What are you talking about, Wayne?" She reached out, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Are you feverish? Talking about me becoming Mizukage, of all things…"

Yutoshook his head. "I'm serious. You saw Yagura's attitude today. He's suspicious of both of us, and I can't promise I'll hold back if he keeps pushing me. If the day comes where I kill him, you'll need to step up. Things will be much better for both of us with you as Mizukage."

The sudden hostility in Wayne's voice made the room feel icy, and Terumi Mei instinctively swallowed hard.

"You're… you're serious about this?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Wayne's expression darkened. "That all depends on Yagura. If he leaves me alone, fine. But if he keeps pressing me, I won't stand for it."

The room fell silent, the weight of Wayne's words sinking in. Terumi Mei didn't know what frightened her more—Yagura's growing paranoia or the cold conviction in her younger brother's voice.

The cold gleam in Wayne's eyes flickered dangerously.

"Yagura controls all of Kirigakure's power. Killing him won't be easy—don't do anything rash," Terumi Mei said, her voice laced with worry. She was genuinely afraid Wayne's impulsiveness would lead to disaster.

Yutosmirked faintly, a mysterious glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, I might not even need to act. Someone else could deal with him for me."

Wayne's thoughts wandered to Uchiha Obito, the masked man who would soon infiltrate Kirigakure. According to what he knew, Obito would use his Sharingan to place Yagura under a genjutsu, plunging the village into an era of tyranny. It seemed inevitable that Yagura's reign would meet a tragic end, but Yutoknew he had to tread carefully until then.

"Do you want to be Mizukage?" Yutoasked suddenly, his gaze shifting back to Terumi Mei.

Caught off guard, Terumi Mei hesitated. "I… I don't think so, at least not right now. I'm just a girl." She pouted slightly, deflecting the seriousness of the question.

"Then you're finished. You'll never have my respect."

"What?! Why not?"

"I don't like 'salted fish' girls," Yutosaid bluntly, crossing his arms. "I need someone strong. If you're not willing to fight for something, how can you protect me?"

Terumi Mei coughed awkwardly, her pride stung. "Ahem… Well, I forgot to mention—being Mizukage has always been my dream! Really!"

Yutocouldn't help but laugh at her sudden change of tone. "That's not what you just said."

"What can I do? I don't have anyone to back me up," Terumi Mei admitted with a wry smile. "But if you're willing to support me, I'll give it everything I've got. Who knows, maybe a simple bicycle could turn into a roaring motorcycle!"

Her determination, though playful, sparked a hint of amusement in Wayne's otherwise serious demeanor.

"Get ready. We leave early tomorrow morning," Yutosaid as he stretched, his tone final.

Terumi Mei leaned in with a mischievous smile. "There's only one bed at home. Let's share it."

"Fine," Yutoreplied, surprisingly agreeable this time.

"Long live!" Terumi Mei exclaimed, punching the air in triumph. Had her brother finally stopped being so dense?

That night, Terumi Mei clung to Yutolike an octopus, draping herself over him without a second thought. Wayne, lying stiffly on the bed, stared at the ceiling. His once-calm heart, untouched for over a decade, now stirred with unfamiliar emotions.

"She's impossible," he muttered under his breath. Still, he wrapped an arm around her waist like old times, though it felt far less innocent now. As his breathing slowed and returned to normal, he eventually fell into a deep sleep.

Terumi Mei, however, opened her eyes, her expression both suspicious and frustrated.

"Nothing? Seriously?" she whispered to herself, glancing at the boy who lay beside her, utterly unmoved. "Am I not attractive enough?!"

She let out a quiet sigh of defeat, listening to Wayne's steady breathing. It felt oddly soothing, like a lullaby, and soon her own sleepiness crept in. Shifting closer, she rested her head against his chest, finding the most comfortable position she could.

Within moments, both of them were asleep, their breaths mingling softly in the quiet of the night.