The Capital of the Land of Fire.
A secluded and luxurious courtyard.
This was the residence Arashi had bestowed upon Mei.
"Ugh…"
Another violent retch.
Mei leaned against a pillar, her stomach churning even though nothing came out.
Her complexion had lost all color, frighteningly pale.
Tears gathered in her eyes from the force of the vomiting.
A maid hurriedly handed her warm water, worry filling her expression.
"My Lady, please let a physician examine you. You have been like this for days."
"No need."
Mei waved her hand weakly.
A physician?
She had already seen one.
The moment the nausea began, she had probed her own body with Chakra countless times.
No signs of poisoning.
No signs of illness.
All her bodily functions were at their peak, even more vigorous than usual.
But the constant nausea in her chest, along with the fatigue and drowsiness...
She returned to her room and dismissed the maid.
In the bronze mirror, a pale yet devastatingly beautiful face looked back at her.
Only those eyes, always carrying charm and confidence, were now clouded with gloom.
She lifted her hand subconsciously and placed it on her still-flat abdomen.
As a Shinobi, she had perfect control over her body.
Her period was over ten days late.
A ridiculous, terrifying, and yet overwhelmingly logical thought rose from the depths of her mind.
When that thought first appeared, she had already sought out a physician.
Remembering the physician's answer, Mei felt a chill surge through her and unconsciously clenched her fists, her nails piercing her skin.
The pain sobered her slightly.
It reminded her of those few nights.
To obtain supplies for the Resistance still fighting in the Land of Water, she had placed herself on that man's bed.
Only a few times.
How could it turn out like this…
Her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Anger, shame, fear… countless emotions twisted together inside her.
Who was she?
She was a Shinobi of Kirigakure, a genius who wielded two Bloodline Limits. She was Terumī Mei, carrying the hopes of countless comrades.
How could she… be pregnant with the child of the Daimyo of another nation?
For someone like her, this child was not a continuation of Bloodline.
It was humiliation.
She had traded her body for supplies, not to continue someone's lineage.
A terrifying thought flashed through her mind.
She wanted to personally end this life that should not exist.
But when her hand touched her abdomen again, the killing intent refused to form.
Inside, a life was being nurtured.
A life connected to her Bloodline.
She could feel her Chakra being subtly and continuously absorbed.
It was strange, soft, and unfamiliar.
This was her child.
That realization locked away all her reckless impulses.
Mei slid down the wall, sitting on the cold floor, staring at the ceiling blankly.
What should she do?
Get rid of the child and pretend nothing happened?
No.
She had no doubt that he would find out.
And given what kind of man he was, if he learned she had killed his child…
What awaited her and the Resistance would be retaliation far worse than death.
Give birth to it?
A child with the Bloodline of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, born in Kirigakure…
Mei trembled.
From the moment he was born, this child would be a political pawn.
He would either become Kirigakure's shame or a tool for the Land of Fire to interfere in the Land of Water.
Either way, his life would be nothing but tragedy.
Outside, the faint noise of the prosperous marketplace drifted in.
That was the Land of Fire.
Prosperous.
Magnificent.
And she, a foreign woman, was carrying an unwanted child for that exalted ruler.
How ironic.
After a long silence, Mei steadied herself and rose, returning to the mirror.
The woman in the reflection was still pale, but the fear in her eyes had faded.
She could not delay any longer.
She could not let her child be born into ignorance, only to become a sacrifice in political games.
She needed to meet that man.
She needed to know what this child meant to him.
Was it just a disposable tool, or something else?
She straightened her slightly messy robes. When she lifted her gaze again, her eyes were steady.
A sharpness only elite Shinobi possessed.
Yet beneath that sharpness was a softness she herself had not noticed.
She could sacrifice her body and freedom for her village.
But now, she had something more important to protect.
"Someone." Her voice regained its cold clarity.
A voice outside answered, "What are your orders, My Lady?"
The guard assigned by the Daimyo stood outside.
"I want to see the Daimyo," Mei said quietly, eyes fixed on her reflection. "Now. Immediately."
She closed her eyes.
In that moment, she was no longer the elite of Kirigakure.
She was simply a woman about to meet the father of her child.
No.
Perhaps, not even a woman.
Just one of many belonging to the ruler's harem.
"Yes, My Lady! I will deliver the message!"
...On the main road leading to Konoha, the Daimyo's convoy approached.
Unlike his discreet departure, this return was like a monarch's triumphal march.
At the gate, Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato stood at the front of Konoha's senior officials, waiting solemnly.
But among the crowd, the most eye-catching presence was not Minato.
It was the Uchiha Clan.
Led by Uchiha Fugaku.
After receiving the family letter, he had rushed back to Konoha immediately, just to welcome the Daimyo.
The usually strict and dignified Clan Head was dressed in formal attire today.
His normally calm face was touched with anticipation.
Behind him, dozens of Uchiha clansmen wore matching attire, the fan crest shining brightly.
The surrounding villagers and Shinobi were stunned.
When had they ever seen the Uchiha show such humility?
The convoy finally came to a stop.
The curtain of the carriage lifted.
Arashi stepped out.
He still wore simple clothing, yet the natural authority he carried was overwhelming.
The aura of a true victor, one who had personally dismantled a great nation.
"Welcome, Daimyo-sama!" Minato stepped forward and bowed.
"Welcome, Daimyo-sama!"
Konoha's Shinobi echoed loudly, their voices full of awe.
But the next second, a louder, more fervent roar overshadowed them.
"The Uchiha Clan welcomes the Daimyo!"
Fugaku and all the Uchiha behind him knelt on one knee, heads lowered deeply.
Minato and Hiruzen both narrowed their eyes.
Shinobi usually only needed to bow.
Kneeling on one knee was a retainer's salute.
Fugaku's move was not respect.
It was allegiance.
He was declaring that the entire Uchiha Clan would become loyal retainers of the Daimyo.
(To be continued.)