Sometimes...
In fact, being one of Bai Ye's women always carried a unique kind of pressure.
They feared not being strong enough to stand by Uchiha Bai Ye's side.
And the more they witnessed his true strength and influence, the more they internalized that fear.
So, they trained relentlessly, always striving to become stronger—even when Bai Ye never asked it of them.
Even if Bai Ye didn't require their power, they still pursued strength, hoping that if the day ever came, they wouldn't be mere ornaments in his life but capable warriors standing beside him.
There was no doubt about it—every woman tied to Bai Ye was a remarkable kunoichi in her own right.
Even without Bai Ye, their names held prestige across the Hidden Villages.
Yet, Bai Ye's philosophy remained constant.
Once he believed in something, he would pursue it with unshakable resolve.
That unwavering determination—firm and magnetic—was irresistible.
And Terumi Mei, the Fifth Mizukage, had been swept away by it.
Though their relationship had only become official the day before, she had already committed herself fully—both emotionally and politically.
Terumi Mei harbored no regrets.
Before the events in Kirigakure, perhaps she, like Bai Ye, had viewed their connection as transactional.
She understood she couldn't accompany him like the others, couldn't always remain by his side.
It was madness—pure madness.
But everything changed the moment Bai Ye stepped foot into Kirigakure.
Strong men attract strong women.
Terumi Mei's admiration for power had been ingrained in her since childhood.
And Bai Ye... he was a summit she could never hope to conquer.
So she chose instead to follow him, unwaveringly.
Terumi Mei was no fragile vase.
Under Bai Ye's influence and her own strength, she seized control of Kirigakure in one night.
Her decisive actions shocked the entire village.
She had not only demonstrated her capability by taking down the Three-Tails—once sealed within Yagura—but also quickly won the villagers' trust and support.
When she officially took her seat as the Fifth Mizukage, her initial decrees left Kirigakure's council stunned.
But any dissenters learned quickly—resistance was not tolerated.
Though she bore the title of Mizukage, her heart had been entrusted to Bai Ye.
Her warmth would never again be shared with others.
That very night...
Following her public commitment to rebuild Kirigakure, a news bulletin thundered across the ninja world.
"The Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure declares to all shinobi nations!"
"The following statement is to be relayed in full!"
---
Konoha – Central Square
Once the stage where Bai Ye had exposed Danzo's sins and humbled the Raikage, the plaza now lay in disarray from recent unrest.
But the shinobi delivering the message from Kirigakure cared not.
He stood tall, voice full of fervor, brandishing a sealed scroll marked unmistakably with the Mizukage's insignia.
Forgery was out of the question. No one would risk imitating the authority of one of the Five Great Nations for a hoax.
The scroll was real.
Kirigakure's proximity to Konoha via the sea allowed rapid dispatch, and the messenger had already begun his journey to other villages after delivering the scroll.
The audience was stunned.
Hiruzen Sarutobi furrowed his brow.
Why was this about the Mizukage?
Was this not supposed to be news concerning Uchiha Bai Ye?
And wait... wasn't Yagura still the Mizukage?
When did the Fifth take power?
Could Bai Ye have offended Kirigakure so deeply that they were now declaring war?
Sarutobi's thoughts spun.
Yet despite the threat of war, he saw opportunity.
If Kirigakure's internal politics were in turmoil, then any declaration—even a war cry—was toothless in the short term.
If Bai Ye had indeed alienated another village, Sarutobi's position might be salvageable.
He held his breath as the statement was read aloud.
---
"Effective immediately, Kirigakure shall offer unconditional cooperation to Uchiha Bai Ye and his personal guard!"
"Mingshan Island, a strategic island in the Land of Water, shall be ceded to Captain Bai Ye as his private domain!"
"Kirigakure invites Captain Bai Ye and his Guard to establish a base within the village, offering full logistical and military support!"
"Captain Bai Ye may form an official Kirigakure Guard Unit at his discretion!"
"The Mizukage issues a final warning—"
"Any who oppose Uchiha Bai Ye will be deemed enemies of Kirigakure!"
"All shinobi within the Land of Water are to show Captain Bai Ye the same respect afforded to the Mizukage herself!"
---
When the announcer finished, a suffocating silence blanketed the square.
Not even breathing could be heard.
Everyone had the same thought: Was this real?
Could a single man have commanded the allegiance of another Great Nation?
A village once infamous for its blood-soaked policies and brutal internal purges had just bent the knee to one man.
The same man who had already forced the Raikage into a humiliating settlement.
Yet Mizukage had gone even further.
She hadn't just offered an island—she offered her village's soul.
"Mizukage is shameless," a girl muttered, one of Bai Ye's many secret admirers.
She couldn't believe Terumi Mei had gone so far as to provide Bai Ye with a formal title in another village.
Even if Bai Ye abandoned Konoha, Kirigakure had offered him a throne.
A captain's title. A military base. An entire island.
It was no longer Konoha who defined Bai Ye—it was Bai Ye who defined Konoha.
Panic spread.
What would become of Konoha if he never returned?
The damage during the Guard's brief absence was already devastating.
Everyone knew the truth.
The Hokage was ineffectual.
They used to take Bai Ye's presence for granted, thinking he should serve the village.
But now...
They realized the village needed him.
Desperately.
Even in his absence, his influence lingered.
"Even if he is not in the village," someone whispered, "his legend remains."
Hyuga Hiashi, watching from afar, swallowed hard.
What kind of man is Uchiha Bai Ye?
While Konoha's clans scrambled for scraps of power, Bai Ye's eyes were already on the world stage.
Unseen and unheard, he had made the whole of Kirigakure submit.
And perhaps it wasn't surprising.
The Raikage had once postured boldly—then folded in shame.
Now Kirigakure followed suit.
To outsiders, it might seem like Terumi Mei had lost her mind.
But to those who truly understood—including Ao and even the Raikage—this was Kirigakure grabbing onto an unfathomable opportunity.
It wasn't a loss.
It was a desperate village anchoring itself to a god.
Uchiha Bai Ye could crush the Five Great Nations if he chose.
Who truly benefited?
Certainly not Konoha, who had tried to suppress him.
If someone like Bai Ye had been born into another village—any village—they would have already conquered the world by now.
Hiashi, once again, found himself humbled by Bai Ye's scope.
All of Konoha's leaders, clan heads included, were still consumed by petty infighting.
They couldn't see beyond their gates.
While Bai Ye...
Bai Ye shaped the entire ninja world.
True strength is when your presence alone stops wars.
When you're absent, yet no one dares challenge your will.
That was Bai Ye.
He had simply left the village for a trip with his Guard—and in that time, he'd changed the course of history.
"Is this real?" Sarutobi gasped, his face pale.
It was another crushing blow.
The old Hokage didn't want to believe it.
Couldn't believe it.
"It's real, Lord Hokage," came the answer. "The statement bore the Mizukage's seal. And so far, Kirigakure hasn't denied a single word."
Sarutobi laughed bitterly.
But before he could respond—
"Lord Hokage!" a voice rang out. "Please allow Mitarashi Anko to request Lord Bai Ye's return to the village!"
The plea echoed through the square.
This time, it wasn't just whispers.
The entire crowd of villagers and shinobi erupted in unison.
"Lord Hokage! Please ask Lord Bai Ye to come home!"
The people had spoken.
Sarutobi opened his mouth to object—but blood burst from his lips.
The pressure was too much.
He collapsed, unconscious, head slamming to the ground.
Anko acted immediately.
"Lord Third agrees! Hokage-sama has nodded!" she shouted.
Cheers erupted across the plaza.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Anko wasted no time.
With the hopes of the entire village on her shoulders, she set out to find Uchiha Bai Ye.
She would bring him home.
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