Chapter 145

"Ryosuke."

"Lord Fourth."

Terumi Mei covered her mouth with a small hand, murmuring in a daze.

"No need for such formality; you should still call me Captain Ryosuke."

Mizunuki Ryosuke shook his head slowly, smiling as he spoke softly.

As he spoke, he took a look at Terumi Mei before him.

Two years ago, because Mizunuki Ryosuke succeeded as the Fourth Mizukage, the original Ryosuke Squad was naturally disbanded on the spot.

The three members of the squad had each developed their own paths after leaving, but because of their status as "old subordinates of the Fourth," all three were doing quite well in the village.

Terumi Mei had now shed her status as a Chunin and been promoted to Jonin.

A sixteen-year-old Jonin was entitled to the title of "genius" anywhere, and coupled with her personal relationship with Mizunuki Ryosuke, the village had never been stingy in its cultivation of Terumi Mei.

Now, Terumi Mei was a captain leading subordinates to complete missions.

Two years had passed, and Terumi Mei had also shed her original greenness, gradually revealing a mature charm of her own.

At sixteen, one could already vaguely see a hint of the mature and sexy charm Terumi Mei would possess in the future.

For Terumi Mei, the disbandment of the squad had caused her heart to feel lost for a very long time.

At the same time, after the squad disbanded, Ryosuke held a high and powerful position as the Fourth Mizukage, making it naturally harder than ever for someone of Terumi Mei's status to see him often.

From that day on, Terumi Mei's goal became to one day earn the qualifications to stand by Ryosuke's side.

And in the young girl's heart, an inexplicable emotion had been hidden away, with no opportunity to confess it to Ryosuke.

Seeing that Ryosuke's attitude had not become distant, Terumi Mei felt a warmth in her heart; she suppressed her inner excitement and spoke slowly to Ryosuke.

"Captain Ryosuke, you are..."

Terumi Mei looked at Ryosuke's attire, seemingly puzzled as to why he would appear here.

"Haha!!"

"Isn't it already after work? Even the Mizukage needs to rest."

Ryosuke chuckled and said, his humorous words also making Terumi Mei reveal a hint of a smile.

The sixteen-year-old girl had initially blossomed with feminine charm, and Terumi Mei, who already possessed a cold and elegant aura, smiled so freely that it was like a hundred flowers blooming at once.

But suddenly, Terumi Mei seemed to think of something and quietly hid the few books she had just obtained behind her back.

At the same time, a suspicious blush appeared on her pretty face.

Terumi Mei's small movements naturally could not escape Mizunuki Ryosuke, but when Ryosuke noticed the titles of the books, the corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably.

Of course, Mizunuki Ryosuke did not expose Terumi Mei's small actions.

After all, although he didn't know why Terumi Mei would read such books that damaged his personal image, perhaps it was curiosity? Or perhaps out of a woman's gossiping spirit?

But to be caught by the person involved while reading such books—if exposed, wouldn't Terumi Mei die of social embarrassment on the spot?

Of course, Mizunuki Ryosuke was naturally not without embarrassment himself.

"By the way, Mei."

"Haven't you been going on missions lately?"

Ryosuke casually found an excuse to change the subject, showing an awkward but polite smile.

"No, no!"

Terumi Mei waved her hands hurriedly and explained the reason: because someone in her squad had not yet recovered from their injuries, her squad was currently in a period of recuperation.

Subsequently, Terumi Mei took a deep breath, seemingly gathering her inner courage, and spoke softly to the Ryosuke before her.

"Captain Ryosuke..."

"That..."

"Since you're already off work..."

"If you're not busy, could we have a meal together?"

Terumi Mei looked at Mizunuki Ryosuke with expectant eyes, swallowing her saliva repeatedly due to excessive nervousness.

As the current top authority in the Hidden Mist Village, the people who wanted to invite the Fourth Mizukage to dinner could line up from the door of the Mizukage's office to the main gate of the Hidden Mist Village.

Ryosuke pondered for a moment and finally agreed to Terumi Mei's request.

"Of course."

After all, he hadn't really spoken properly with Terumi Mei in two years, and Ryosuke thought quite highly of this future "Fifth Mizukage."

Building rapport in a timely manner would make it easier to exploit her later, right?

The two prepared to leave the book stall immediately.

Because the secret art "Idle Dispersal" on Ryosuke had not been lifted, the ordinary book stall owner did not pay attention to Ryosuke's appearance.

In his mind, he had subconsciously filled in a "John Doe" face for Ryosuke.

Instead, seeing the "big customer" who had been picking for a long time preparing to leave without a word, the book stall owner became anxious.

"Hey, miss!"

"You've been picking for a long time, at least buy one!"

"This book, 'The Maiden's Secret Technique: Make a Man Fall in Love with You in One Look!', is definitely suitable for you!"

"I guarantee that after you read it, you'll take down that young man beside you in no time!"

"And this book, 'The Mizukage's Secret Biography: The Story That Must Be Told Between the Fourth and the Mist Anbu Chief!', I saw you looking at it for a long time too! Buy one and take it back to read!"

The book stall owner shouted at the departing Terumi Mei.

Upon hearing this, Terumi Mei's body trembled as if struck by lightning, and her face turned frighteningly red.

Not only Terumi Mei, but Mizunuki Ryosuke beside her also looked embarrassed.

Ryosuke looked at Terumi Mei with increasing strangeness.

A perfectly fine girl, why did she start reading these things? No wonder she wasn't married even in her thirties in her previous life...

Not mentioning Ryosuke's inner monologue.

The next second, Terumi Mei, who had already died of social embarrassment on the spot, ignored everything, grabbed Mizunuki Ryosuke, and ran.

The moment Terumi Mei's small hand made contact with Ryosuke, a strange feeling stirred in Ryosuke's heart.

Ryosuke did not resist but let Terumi Mei pull him forward.

Behind them.

"Hey! Miss!"

"Really, what kind of people..."

"If you're not buying, don't buy, why are you running..."

The book stall owner said, cursing and grumbling.

On the other side, Terumi Mei felt the warm touch coming from her hand, and the bright red color on her small face became even more vivid.

But for some reason, Terumi Mei still held Ryosuke's hand tightly, with no intention of letting go.

Finally, the two ran far away.

Only then did Terumi Mei let go of Ryosuke's hand with a guilty conscience.

But because everything had been exposed by the book stall owner, the embarrassed Terumi Mei didn't know what to say.

"Hahaha, the weather is nice today."

At this time, it was Ryosuke who first changed the subject.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"I know an izakaya that's quite good! Captain Ryosuke, let's go there!"

Terumi Mei also reacted instantly, saying with a guilty conscience while bearing a flushed face.

"Good, no time like the present, let's go!"

Ryosuke used a smile to cover up his inner embarrassment and then responded.

The two then walked side by side toward a street in the Hidden Mist Village.

A passerby looked up at the overcast sky and finally shook his head helplessly.

Sigh, young people...