After sending Hoshigaki Kisame away, Ryosuke bowed his head again and resumed the work before him.
It had to be said—after becoming Mizukage, Ryosuke finally realized how overwhelming the daily workload of leading a large shinobi village truly was.
Fortunately, having experienced the relentless "996" work culture in his past life, he maintained an exceptionally high level of efficiency.
After finishing the official documents on his desk, Ryosuke glanced at the clock and nodded in satisfaction.
The hand was pointing directly at the "6" mark—right on time. Not a second more, not a second less.
Overtime? That was simply out of the question.
Poof!
The Mizukage, clad in his imperial robe, sitting behind the office desk with hands folded, suddenly dissipated into a wisp of mist.
A Shadow Clone.
Seriously, in an era where the Shadow Clone Technique existed, who would still come to work in person? (manual dog head)
Just as Ryosuke's Shadow Clone disappeared—
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sharp, urgent rapping on the Mizukage's office door indicated that the visitor knew all too well about Ryosuke's strict "on-time departure" policy.
When knocking yielded no response, the door swung open.
A pale-haired, strikingly androgynous young man stepped inside. His gaze swept over the empty office, and he sighed, shaking his head.
He lifted his head to glance at the clock on the wall—the hand had only just nudged past "6." No more than a minute had passed.
"This guy…"
Hozuki Mangetsu muttered under his breath, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
But soon, his lips curled into a knowing smile—he was already accustomed to the Fourth Mizukage's elusive habits.
As the leader of Kirigakure's Anbu, Mangetsu had come to discuss important matters. However, seeing that Ryosuke had already vanished, he decided against pursuing him further.
After all, it wasn't an urgent matter—just another report in his routine debriefs with Mizukage-sama.
Ryosuke's usual response?
"Handle the small stuff yourself. Don't bother me."
Mangetsu never took those words at face value. Rather, he saw them as a sign of trust.
Over the past two years serving as the head of Anbu, he and Ryosuke had developed a seamless working relationship. Mangetsu had come to respect the Mizukage's strategic mind and leadership.
And in those two years, Kirigakure had undergone a drastic transformation.
Not only had the village's overall strength recovered from the chaos of Yagura's reign, but it was now thriving.
Ryosuke's internal reforms balanced the interests of the major ninja clans while creating opportunities for civilian-born shinobi to rise through the ranks.
Both shinobi and civilians enjoyed a vastly improved quality of life.
With increasing clan support, Kirigakure's medical system had been refined, even leading to the establishment of a dedicated Ninja Hospital—staffed by elite medical-nin trained in advanced Yang Release techniques.
Within the village, a new generation of formidable shinobi had emerged: Hoshigaki Kisame, Momochi Zabuza, Terumi Mei, Ringo Ameyuri…
Each of them would undoubtedly become pillars of Kirigakure's future.
As a shinobi of the village, Mangetsu took pride in these changes.
Though Ryosuke often appeared to be nothing more than a "nine-to-six salary thief," Mangetsu knew how much effort the Mizukage had poured into the village's resurgence.
Since Ryosuke wasn't around, Mangetsu casually tossed a stack of reports onto his desk before turning to leave.
Handle it myself? No chance.
Even minor issues deserved Mizukage-sama's personal attention.
Chuckling to himself, Mangetsu exited the Mizukage's office.
—
Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of Kirigakure, a young man concealed beneath a wide-brimmed hat shivered suddenly, as if someone had just spoken ill of him.
Lifting his hand, he pulled back the veil of his hat, revealing a strikingly handsome face.
With his Shadow Clone handling "work," Ryosuke had far more freedom in his daily routine.
The trivial matters were left to his clone, while he focused on broad strategic planning.
He delegated tasks, provided "spiritual encouragement," and painted a bright future for his subordinates—fueling their motivation under the guise of a "996" work ethic.
Then, with everything in place, he delegated some more…
Cough.
Anyway, as a leader, subordinates existed for a reason.
Back to the present—after leaving his Shadow Clone with the grunt work, Ryosuke hadn't simply relaxed. Instead, he had been dedicating his time to developing new secret techniques and further strengthening his abilities.
After all, a Kage's personal strength was the cornerstone of their rule.
Over the past two years, Ryosuke had created several powerful trump cards, though he had yet to showcase them.
Today, however, was his self-assigned "rest day."
Normally, Ryosuke would take this opportunity to patrol the village—ostensibly to catch lazy shinobi in the act.
Oh, wait. No. He meant to assess the livelihoods of Kirigakure's people through 'undercover visits'.
Because as the saying went—the dam of a thousand miles can be destroyed by a single ant's nest.
Even the smallest issues could snowball into disasters if left unchecked.
Of course, this wasn't just an excuse for a casual stroll.
With a well-practiced motion, Ryosuke adjusted his hat and leisurely blended into Kirigakure's bustling streets.
Curiously, despite his status as Mizukage, no one seemed to take notice of him.
It wasn't a coincidence—nor was he using a Hiding in Mist Technique.
Secret Art: Subtle Presence Dispersal.
This was a technique Ryosuke had developed by accident. When activated, it suppressed his presence, causing people's eyes to unconsciously slide past him—ignoring his existence unless they actively searched for him.
Wandering through the crowd, Ryosuke's gaze occasionally flickered with amusement as he observed his people.
Then, suddenly, something caught his eye.
Not far ahead, by a small bookstand, stood a familiar figure.
Curious, Ryosuke discreetly approached.
At that moment, a stunning young woman with long chestnut-brown hair was frowning at the books in front of her, clearly struggling to make a decision.
She looked to be in her late twenties, her pale, flawless skin accentuated by striking eyes—one of which was partially concealed beneath her lengthy bangs.
A look of intense concentration furrowed her delicate brows as she studied the titles before her.
"A Woman's Guide to Seduction—Make Him Fall for You Instantly!"
"Confessing 101: How to Win His Heart Without Regret!"
"The Secret Life of the Mizukage—Inside the Fourth's Mind!"
"Land of Water's Most Eligible Bachelors—Who Do Women Want to Marry Most?!"
The last book's cover featured none other than… Mizuki Ryosuke himself.
After a long moment of deliberation, the young woman finally came to a decision—
Why choose one? Adults buy them all.
With a determined glint in her eye, she reached for her wallet.
Just then, a firm yet gentle hand rested on her shoulder.
Her body tensed instantly, reflexes honed through years of ninja training preparing to retaliate.
But then, she caught a glimpse of the ring on the hand's finger.
Her breath hitched.
"…No way…"
Her heart skipped a beat—then another.
Surprise. Shyness. Panic. Excitement.
A whirlwind of emotions flooded her mind.
"Long time no see, Mei."
Terumi Mei turned.
And there he was—the man who had occupied her thoughts for far too long.
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