"You killed Loquat Tenzo?!"
The missing Loquat Tenzo had everyone on edge. Xiguashan Pufferfish Ghost and Black Hoe Lei Ya fixed Wayne with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Why didn't you both say something when that scumbag was about to off Wayne?" Terumi Mei snapped. "If you two want to tangle, I'll show you how it's done!"
Despite her greasy, clingy antics and a reputation for unpredictable behavior, even the threat of a gun couldn't soften Terumi Mei's sharp, hawk-like gaze—especially when it was aimed at Wayne.
Wayne muttered under his breath, "Ah, you damn brocon!"
"Terumi Mei, we represent Mizukage-sama!" the duo declared in unison, their faces paling. After all, coming from Kirigakure was no small matter—and here they were, provoked by a young girl with the nerve to point her nose at them.
"Don't worry, Terumi Mei," Wayne said, stepping forward and clearing his throat before adding in a low tone, "you… crack—"
Before he could finish, Terumi Mei smacked him hard on the backside. "Stupid brother! Call me 'sister' next time—don't ever use my name again!"
"You damn woman!" Wayne's face flushed as he fumed, "I'm trying to help you here, and you're still stabbing me in the back, you stinky brat!"
Terumi Mei tilted her head in mock indignation while Wayne, ignoring her antics, turned to the two. "I'm from Kirigakure too—killing Loquat Tenzo wouldn't have cut it."
"But you saw him being swept into the sea," they protested.
Wayne's gaze drifted toward the endless waves. "The sea is boundless; encountering sharks is inevitable. Some things are simply beyond control."
"We'll explain everything to Mizukage-sama," they insisted before dashing toward the beach—no doubt off to rescue people. Without Loquat Tenzo's mystic powers, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen would be rendered powerless.
A soft, almost lascivious voice whispered in Wayne's ear. "Brother, didn't your sister look down on you before?" Terumi Mei's bright eyes scanned him as she teased, "So you're not all about your looks, huh?"
Wayne, blessed with his parents' fine genes, had grown into a delicate, almost porcelain-like figure. He'd been the target of Terumi Mei's playful pinches since childhood. As he matured, not only did he keep his charm, he even became more handsome—undeniably the flower of Mist Shinobi Village. Yet, Terumi Mei's interest wasn't in courting other girls. Instead, she spent her days hovering with her loyal sidekicks, Huangshu and Huangman.
"Brother, have you ever been dumped by a scumbag and now fear women?" she asked, a curious lilt in her tone.
"Could you cut the crap?" Wayne waved his hands in disgust. "Get out of here—the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish and Black Hoe Leiya have already left."
"That can't be! What if they attacked in the dead of night?" she retorted.
"And besides," Wayne continued, "I've decided to move in from today—24/7 protection for my dear brother!"
Terumi Mei shot him a serious look. "But there's only one bed in our house."
Wayne shook his head. "So what?"
Without warning, Terumi Mei hooked her arm around his neck. "At least let me share the bed—I need to squeeze a bit, or else I'll be wronged!"
"I'm already wronged enough!" Wayne grumbled, his head throbbing. "We're siblings, remember?"
"On the bed," she replied absentmindedly.
"Or else Uncle will hear and break your leg!" Wayne warned, already picturing an orthopedic clinic.
"If you don't tell him, I won't say a word. Besides, if he learns you're being targeted by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he'll definitely send me to guard you," Terumi Mei pouted.
Wayne was rendered speechless. After all, this was the same guy who'd spent years dodging her relentless shadowing.
"Don't worry—I'll never mess with your precious Huangshu and Huangman!" she patted them affectionately.
"Why not sleep on the sand? Oh no—better set up a proper floor," she added with a teasing tone.
"You idiot! I'm your brother—you're letting me set up the floor?" Wayne snapped.
"You said it was a watch!" she countered.
"Brother, if you want to be thorough, go ahead," she continued.
"Thorough? What does that even mean?" Wayne asked.
"Tell me… what do your Huangman and Huangshu look like? Do you even know how to fight?" she prodded.
After her endless barrage of random words, Wayne fell silent. The more she talked, the less sense she made. Deep down, even though Wayne harbored feelings for another girl, fate had him tangled in the wrong circumstances.
"Don't worry," Terumi Mei whispered reassuringly, "there's still a chance to see Red Yuhi again. It's been over ten years since she married Asuma and had a child—our chance isn't gone."
Indeed, the girl capturing Wayne's interest was none other than Konoha Village's dazzling Red Yuhi.