This was too much. This was simply going too far.
Almost every Mist ninja could hear the unspoken challenge in the young Hokage's words. For this brat, Naruto Uzumaki, to be so arrogant on their home turf... Did he think he was the God of Shinobi?
A smile returned to Naruto's face as he looked around at the Mist ninja. "Sorry," he said, his tone anything but. "Was there something inappropriate about what I said?"
"Everything was—"
"Shut up!" Mei Terumi cut off her subordinate with a cold voice. She turned to Naruto, plastering a fake smile on her own face. "Lord Hokage, you became famous at a young age. In Konoha, many ninjas respect you, but the atmosphere here in the Mist is a bit different..."
"Is that so?" Naruto scanned the area, then his gaze landed on Torune Aburame. "Hmm, Torune, how do you think the Mist and Konoha are different? I'm quite curious."
Mei's forced smile tightened. Does he have to ask someone else? This brat is just looking for trouble! The Mist Village and Konoha were different in every way imaginable.
Torune was silent for a moment before slowly reaching up to take off his glove, revealing a hand teeming with nano-sized poisonous insects. He spoke in a low voice, "Lord Hokage never allows his subordinates to be sacrificed. That's why Konoha doesn't need to hang white memorial banners like the Mist Village does."
"You insolent—!"
"How dare you! Are you looking to die?"
"Lady Mizukage, let's kill them!"
Clearly, Torune's words had enraged the Mist ninjas. Compared to Naruto's veiled insults, this guard in the small glasses, wrapped tightly from head to toe, was mocking them directly.
"Lord Hokage... did you come here just to provoke the Mist Village?" Mei Terumi clenched her fists. She was still smiling, but anyone could see the fury simmering just beneath the surface.
Naruto was initially surprised by Torune's directness. It seemed the boys from Root had a common trait: they wouldn't just follow a superior's order without question, they would also carry it out to the best of their ability.
Of course, as a competent superior himself, he couldn't be like Danzo and just dump the problem on his subordinates.
The young Hokage smiled and waved a dismissive hand, noticing his own guards were tensing up. "Alright, alright, we're just kidding..."
The ugly smile on Mei's face didn't fade, but her voice grew colder. "Joking about such things isn't something a ninja from one of the five great villages should do. You should apologize for what you've said."
"Wait..." Naruto interrupted her. "Lady Mizukage, is the problem with what I said, or is the problem your assumption that I have a good personality?"
"..."
At that, the Mist ninjas behind Mei could no longer hold back. With a rasp of steel, they drew their swords.
"Stop!" The smile completely vanished from Mei's face, her anger finally on full display. "Lord Hokage," she said in a deep voice, "the Mist Village does not welcome you. Please leave. Now."
She couldn't take it anymore. If this brat dared to say one more word, she would risk the entire future of the Mist Village to defend its dignity. He was just a Hokage. If she had to kill him, she would.
"Okay."
To her surprise, Naruto simply nodded and turned to leave with his guards. But as he reached the village gate, he paused and looked back. "I can take this as you refusing my goodwill, right?"
Mei's eye twitched. This Hokage's skin is unbelievably thick! You march into our village, insult everyone, and then call it 'goodwill'?
She gritted her teeth. "If you are referring to mediating the war between us and the rogue ninja, then we appreciate the thought, Lord Hokage. But you don't need to concern yourself with our affairs."
"I am talking about mediating the war," Naruto said, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture. "Since you insist on continuing the conflict, then for the sake of peace and stability in the Land of Water, I have reason to..."
"Lord Hokage!" Yamato quickly grabbed Naruto's arm and whispered urgently, "Before we left, Lord Second sent word that we were just supposed to go through the motions. He has another plan!"
"..."
Naruto gave Yamato a questioning look. Torune, Sai, and the other guards all shot Yamato pitiful glances. After a moment, Naruto blinked at him with wide-eyed curiosity. "Eh? Captain Yamato, are you protecting Lord Second? I always thought that as my guard captain, you were protecting me."
"..."
A chill went down Yamato's spine. For some reason, he suddenly thought of the two guard units Naruto had already dismissed.
It's over. He's going to fire me too. But as a Konoha ninja, how could he stand by and not remind the Hokage when he was about to make a huge mistake? This Hokage was only thirteen, after all. A bit young, and somewhat unreliable.
Yamato suddenly understood why those other two units were dismissed. It seemed their Lord Hokage was a tyrant who couldn't take advice.
But thinking that was one thing; he still had to try and explain. He scratched his head awkwardly. "Lord Hokage..."
"No need to say more," Naruto said, waving a hand. "After this mission is over, I'll have you transferred back to the ANBU."
Yamato's heart sank. So I'm officially fired? But I've only been his guard for less than a week!
"Alright," Naruto said, his tone shifting. "Now for the important business."
A golden chakra cloak flared to life around him. In his palm, a pitch-black ball of chakra swirled, pulsing with heart-stopping power.
Seeing this, Mei immediately grew vigilant. "Lord Hokage," she said coldly, "any action you take now could bring the disaster of war to Konoha."
"Don't worry, it's just a warning," Naruto said lightly. He leaped into the air and hurled the Great Rasenringu far outside the Mist Village. "I'll be visiting Zabuza Momochi at the rogue ninja camp later. One week from now, I will be waiting at the Land of Water's daimyo residence. I look forward to seeing you again, Lady Mizukage."
BOOM!
In the distance, the Great Rasenringu slammed into a lake. A colossal wave erupted into the sky, and the water instantly overflowed, surging rapidly toward the Mist Village.
Mei's eyes widened. She looked down as the rushing water submerged her knees. If that attack had landed inside the village, half of it would have been completely destroyed.
This brat came here to show off his power!
Though Mei didn't know Naruto's true purpose, alarms were ringing in her head. He was definitely not on their side. He wouldn't have threatened them like this otherwise.
The brown-haired woman's knuckles cracked. "I'll be there. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer at that time, Lord Hokage!"
"Don't worry, you'll all be very satisfied." A smirk played on Naruto's lips. "Because making everyone satisfied—especially myself—is my entire purpose for coming to the Land of Water."
"..."
Mei's mind went blank.
How can the leader of a great ninja village be such a hoodlum?
-----
Bonus:
Mei: I want to kill Naruto Uzumaki. Do you know any good assassins?
Zabuza: I'm an assassin myself...
Mei: You're no good, you're too trash!
Zabuza: ...
Mei: What's wrong?
Zabuza: Nothing. There's an organization on the continent called Akatsuki. Why don't you consult them? The fee is a bit expensive.
Mei: No problem. I'm the Mizukage, I have plenty of money.
One week later.
Zabuza: Your face... why does it look like you got beaten up?
Mei: Damn!
Zabuza: Why are you swearing?
Mei: I asked them how much it would cost. They said their leader didn't want the job. I told them I could add more money...
Zabuza: And then?
Mei: Then some blue-haired woman asked me for 600 billion explosive tags' worth of money!
Zabuza: What the hell, are they broke?
Mei: Yeah, that's what I said too.
Zabuza: So, you got beaten up?
Mei: ...