Naruto: Reborn with the Template System

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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A small, quiet town in the Land of Water, the kind of place where no one asked questions.

Terumi Mei, disguised with the Transformation Technique, sat on the clinic bed with bandages wrapped around her arms and legs. The town doctor had finished a simple treatment, but her body was still weak and worn.

According to Mei, she was now the most wanted person in all of Kirigakure, possibly the entire Land of Water. In a small town like this, revealing her true identity would be suicide.

As soon as the treatment was over, Mei stood up, ready to leave.

"Yagura's men will be chasing me. I can't stay in one place for long," she said urgently.

But Guts waved her off casually. "They won't come."

Terumi Mei blinked. "...Huh?"

She stared at him, confused. With how ruthless the current Mist was, it was insane to believe they'd give up the chase.

But after seeing the raw power Guts had unleashed, she couldn't bring herself to argue.

In the end, she chose to believe him.

Guts's confidence wasn't baseless.

He'd sensed it, using Observation Haki...during the battle. Some of the Mist assassination squad had remnants of White Zetsu chakra clinging to them. A few even slipped away underground using Earth Style.

They were going to report what happened.

And once he...Obito learned Guts was involved, there would be no pursuit.

Not because Obito was afraid of a fight.

But because he was smart.

With Kamui, Obito couldn't be caught easily. But engaging someone like Guts head-on wasn't worth the risk. He'd hide, wait. And that meant no more pursuers.

That's why Guts had already scrapped the idea of marching into Kirigakure.

Taking out Yagura directly would be near-impossible with Obito's interference.

For now, the three of them Guts, Anko, and Terumi Mei checked into a quiet inn.

Inside the room, Mei sat cross-legged on the bed, dressed in a simple robe, still wearing her disguise.

"I couldn't take Yagura's blood mist regime anymore," she admitted, her tone calm but bitter. "So I tried to organize a rebel faction. But we were crushed. It wasn't even close."

She let out a sigh. "I'm a rogue ninja now. I've got nothing to hide."

Guts leaned against the wall, arms folded. "Not surprising, after all he is the Fourth Mizukage"

'With White Zetsu gathering intel, they probably knew your plans before you even acted.' Guts thought inwardly.

'Those bastards were leaking info even during the Third Great Ninja War. Konoha took a lot of damage because of it.'

'Back then, even White Fang fell during that chaos. You think they'd let a rebel army rise quietly? No chance.'

He looked at Mei seriously.

"So... what's your plan now?"

Mei pressed her lips together. Her expression grew heavier.

"I'll keep running," she said. "But as I run, I'll try to find new allies. Build a resistance again. One day… when the time is right, I'll fight Yagura and end the blood mist once and for all."

Listening to her, Guts couldn't help but draw parallels with the anime.

She must've done the same there...evading Obito's surveillance while slowly gathering trusted allies like Ao and Chojuro.

She eventually became Mizukage not by taking Kirigakure back, but because Obito moved on. His attention shifted to the Moon's Eye Plan, and he abandoned the village.

She succeeded not because she overthrew him… but because the enemy left.

Guts narrowed his eyes. "Why not come to Konoha?"

Mei's eyes widened. "...What?"

Even Anko blinked in surprise, looking at Guts like he'd grown a second head.

Guts shrugged. "Instead of fleeing through the Land of Water alone, why not seek support from Konoha? We can form an alliance. ANBU and the village's support network can help you gather loyalists. You'll be able to organize your resistance properly and when you succeed, you'll have the backing of an ally."

He met her gaze.

"You'll return to Kirigakure as the Fifth Mizukage with Konoha standing beside you."

Mei stared at him, stunned into silence.

She finally muttered, "That's… a lot more effective than wandering the country by myself. But… why would you offer this? I've heard rumors about Konoha's so-called 'Strongest Man.' A man who doesn't care about politics or fame."

Before Guts could speak, Anko smirked and cut in, "Tch. It's because you're hot."

Pfft!

Guts bonked her gently on the head. "Idiot."

Then, looking at Mei, he added more sincerely, "If I had to explain it… I'd say I respect what you're trying to do."

That wasn't a lie.

Even if he ignored how beautiful she was, Mei had tried to spark a rebellion under Obito's control and eventually rose to lead an entire village. That kind of strength deserved acknowledgment.

"I just hate muscle-headed fools who charge without thinking," Guts added. "Compared to people like the Fourth Raikage, someone like you stands out. You're calm, cunning and you have the guts to act."

He didn't deny her charm played a part. But even without it, her willpower alone earned his respect.

"Sympathy…" Mei repeated softly.

For a genius like her, the word sympathy didn't sit well.

But deep down, she understood.

And more importantly, she recognized that Guts's plan wasn't just logical...it was the best path forward.

"I agree with your suggestion," she said at last. "Although I don't have anything to offer right now in return… If you ever need anything from me, I'll do it. No hesitation."

With that, she bowed deeply in a kneeling posture.

"Heh," Guts smiled. "Then let's move."

Traveling back to Konoha was no small task.

Water Country ports were shut down under Yagura's regime. People feared outsiders. Even more so, they feared helping fugitives.

But when Anko casually pressed Samehada's blade to the boatman's throat?

Let's just say the man's reluctance disappeared real fast.

Mei, watching this from the side, couldn't help but feel surprised.

Samehada?

She thought the blade had vanished during the Third Great Ninja War. Now it was in the hands of a younger girl who shockingly wielded it well.

It wasn't just brute force either.

She understood the blade. Tamed it.

Mei said nothing but couldn't help but think...Interesting.

When they disembarked in the Land of Fire, she tossed a fat wad of cash to the boatman, enough to live comfortably for half a year.

She may be on the run, but she still had class.

Returning to the Water Country now would be suicide. The Bloody Mist era had made sure of that.

A few days later, the trio arrived at Konoha.

Without waiting for an official summons, Guts took them directly to the Hokage's office.

Tsunade, mid-paperwork, raised an eyebrow when the door burst open.

Guts gave a brief explanation, who Mei was, what she'd done, and what she planned to do.

With everything laid out so neatly, even Tsunade couldn't find a reason to say no.

Though...

There was one thing that bugged her.

This so-called "future Fifth Mizukage" standing in front of her was too damn pretty.

The kind of pretty that rivals her.

And more importantly...she and Guts were already getting along way too well.

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