NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: CHAPTER 7
"You killed Shizang?!"
The Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish and Raiga Kurosuki glared at Yuto, their expressions dark and menacing. Zabuza Momochi's absence was impossible to ignore, and their fury simmered beneath the surface.
Terumi Mei stepped forward, unyielding. "Why didn't you two say anything when that bastard tried to kill Yuto?" she snapped, her sharp eyes like a hawk's. "If you two still want to fight, I'll gladly play with you both."
Her tone was sharp and commanding, far from the teasing, clingy attitude she often displayed around Yuto. When her "brother" was threatened, she was all business, and her presence radiated authority.
Yuto groaned internally. Ah, the damn Brocon again…
"Terumi Mei, we represent Mizukage-sama!" the Pufferfish and Raiga barked back, their faces contorted in irritation.
To be berated by a young kunoichi in public was a blow to their pride, especially given their status as elite shinobi of Kirigakure.
Before tensions could escalate further, Yuto stepped forward with a calm expression, raising a hand to interrupt. "Don't worry about her, I'll—"
Smack!
Yuto sentence was cut off as Terumi Mei's hand landed sharply on his rear, loud enough to echo across the clearing.
"Stupid brother!" she scolded, ignoring the shocked looks of their audience. "Call me sister! This is the second time I've told you, and don't you dare call me by my name again!"
Yuto face turned pitch black with embarrassment. "You damn woman!" he hissed, his voice barely contained.
"Ugh, I'm helping you so much, and you still yell at me?" Terumi Mei tilted her head, feigning hurt. "Hmph, stinky brother."
Yuto ignored her antics, turning back to the Pufferfish and Raiga with a sigh. "Let's not get carried away. I'm from Kirigakure, too. Killing Zabuza wasn't my intention."
He motioned to the sea beyond the cliffs. "But you saw it yourselves—he got washed away. The ocean is vast and unpredictable. If he happens to encounter sharks… well, that's out of my control."
The two swordsmen exchanged a look, their expressions unreadable. Without a word, they turned and rushed toward the beach, clearly intent on searching for Zabuza.
"Well, they're persistent," Yuto muttered, shaking his head.
As the swordsmen disappeared, Terumi Mei leaned in close, her voice soft and teasing. "You handled that well, little brother," she said, but in Yuto ears, her words carried a distinctly mischievous undertone.
"I've underestimated you, haven't I?" she added, her eyes glinting as if she were reevaluating him. "So, you're not just a pretty face after all."
Yuto shot her an annoyed glance. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Terumi Mei's smile widened. "Oh, come on. You've always had that delicate, porcelain-doll look ever since we were kids. Not that I'm complaining—it made it fun to pinch your cheeks. But I thought you were just going to rely on your looks forever!"
Wayne sighed deeply. "I knew this conversation was going to take a weird turn."
"But…" Terumi Mei leaned even closer, her tone suddenly curious. "Brother, is that why you're so awkward around women? Were you dumped by some kunoichi and now you're afraid of girls?"
Yuto flinched. "Stop spouting nonsense!" he snapped, waving her off. "The Pufferfish and Raiga are gone now—can't you stop causing trouble?"
Terumi Mei folded her arms, her expression suddenly serious. "Trouble? I'm here to protect you,"
"What?!" Yuto stared at her in disbelief.
"That's right," she said firmly. "From now on, I'll be moving into your place to make sure no one attacks you in the middle of the night!"
"There's only one bed in my house!" Yuto protested, his voice rising in alarm.
"What's the problem?" Terumi Mei's arm suddenly hooked around his neck in a casual chokehold. "I don't mind sharing. It's good to be close, right?"
"I mind!" Yuto exasperated voice echoed into the distance.
Yuto face twitched, a storm of black lines running across his forehead. "We're siblings," he reminded, his voice laced with exasperation.
Terumi Mei didn't even look up, absentmindedly responding, "It's fine. It's on the table."
"If Uncle finds out about this," Yuto warned, "he'll break your legs for sure."
"Let him try," Terumi Mei replied with a pout. "That idiot wouldn't even notice. Besides, if he found out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were after you, he'd definitely send me to protect you anyway."
Yuto sighed. He couldn't argue with that. Ever since he could remember, Terumi Mei had been relentlessly hovering over him, whether he wanted her protection or not.
"I'll never mess with your collection, by the way," Terumi Mei said, patting her chest confidently. "No need to worry about that."
Yuto gave her a skeptical look. "You can sleep on the floor," he said flatly. "There's no room on the bed."
Terumi Mei gasped, feigning shock. "Bastard! I'm your sister, and you're making me sleep on the floor?"
"You said it's fine to rough it, right?"
"Brother," Terumi Mei's voice turned sly, "if you want to make it up to me, we could 'deepen' things."
Yuto froze, narrowing his eyes. "Deepen? Deepen what?"
"Oh, you know," Terumi Mei teased with a mischievous grin. "All that stuff you've got in your stash—don't you ever think about applying it to real life?"
Yuto face flushed as he quickly turned away. "You're unbelievable."
After a few more jabs from Terumi Mei, Yuto finally fell silent. The more she spoke, the more nonsensical she became, and he wasn't sure if she was teasing him or serious.
But as her words faded into the background, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. Deep down, there was someone he cared for—a girl whose memory lingered in his heart, though their lives were worlds apart.
"Don't worry," Yuto murmured to himself, his resolve firming. "I'll meet Kurenai Yuhi again someday. Even if it's years from now, even if she marries Asuma and has a kid, I'll have my chance."
His mind settled on the image of Kurenai from their brief encounters, her crimson eyes burning like embers in his memories.