The Great Hero Uchiha

Just like the door in front of them that could be opened with a gentle push, what stopped them was not the door, but everyone's own heart.

The marshal wanted to walk over and push open the door to check the situation, but the closer he got to the door, the heavier his body felt.

It wasn't that he was worried about being attacked by Mei Terumi; it was that he didn't want to face that fact.

Just as Hozuki Mizuki had said before, if Hozuki Mizuki remained out there in unknown circumstances, everyone would still have a lingering hope. Now that the office door was not open, everyone would still have that lingering hope. The reason the office was so quiet was because the Fifth Mizukage, Hozuki Mizuki, had skipped work again.

Although the probability is small, it doesn't mean it's impossible, right?!

Before long, the Mizukage Building had gathered a large number of people, all of whom were high-ranking members of Kirigakure, including members of the Hozuki clan.

But the door still hasn't been opened.

It wasn't just because Mei Terumi was blocking the office door and would attack anyone who tried to open it; it was because no one wanted to face this situation.

Otherwise, let alone Mei Terumi blocking them, even if a Jinchuriki stood in front of the door, they wouldn't be able to stop these people.

Gradually, everyone's attention turned to the marshal.

The marshal sighed inwardly.

"That's enough, move aside."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "If you keep acting like this, there are some things you'll have to face."

Mei Terumi stubbornly shook her head.

With mixed feelings, the marshal gave the order to those around him.

"Take her away."

The current head of the Bamboo Clan sighed and stepped out from the crowd.

"I'll do it."

The head of the Taketori clan came to Terumi Mei's side.

"Get out of the way."

Mei Terumi shook her head, but this time she didn't remain silent; instead, she spoke up.

"I can……"

Even as he said this, his outstretched arm trembled.

Simply pushing open this door seemed to have exhausted all his strength, and his gaze immediately fell on Hozuki Mizuki, who was lying on the chair as if asleep.

Everyone who witnessed this scene remained silent.

After a moment, Mei Terumi finally spoke.

"Is that alright now? You see, Lord Mizukage is just asleep... Yes! Just asleep."

Everyone hopes so.

however……

At such close range, no one could hear Hozuki Mizuki's breathing or heartbeat, so the answer was quite obvious.

Mei Terumi is completely deceiving herself right now.

Looking at Hozuki Mizuki's serene expression, Mei Terumi recalled the words Hozuki Mizuki had said earlier.

Everyone dies eventually, and I'm luckier than many others. At least I've achieved my dreams now, and I didn't die on the road to them.

He brought warmth to Kirigakure, but now he is gradually growing cold.

P.S.: Chapter 1

250. Forgive me this time.

The marshal remained silent for a long time before breaking the silence, speaking in a choked voice.

"Go and get ready!"

After a moment of stunned silence, everyone began to take action.

He paused for a moment, then said to the others, "Inform the Fourth Hokage! Tell him to come back as soon as possible to see the Fifth Hokage off on his final journey."

"Stop joking!!"

What are you all doing?! What are you preparing?! What are you arranging?!

There's a limit to jokes.

Didn't I already say...?

The Mizukage is just asleep!

The marshal sighed, "Enough! Mei Terumi... stop talking..."

"He's just asleep, like always. You all know that the Fifth Mizukage always slacks off and sleeps in his office, right? He's always been this lazy. Yes, I admit, it's a bit much, but he's always used his power to protect the village. Why are you saying he's dead—"

He was just asleep.

As usual, I'll take a short nap and wake up soon.

The marshal began to speak.

"No one thinks he's slacking off. Everyone knows he's just pretending to be lazy to cover up his injuries."

He paused for a moment, then continued to add.

"Face reality!! The Fifth Mizukage is dead."

"Impossible, he's not dead! He's just asleep! He'll wake up in a bit!"

The marshal addressed the rest of the group.

"Take her away."

Dragged away by the Anbu, Mei Terumi wanted to resist, but her body was powerless—no, she couldn't muster any strength in her heart.

Although she was unwilling to admit it, she knew very well in her heart.

The Hidden Mist Village is not as weak as the Hidden Sun Village. Not only does it have the successor, the Sixth Mizukage Mei Terumi, but the Fourth Mizukage is also still alive. Therefore, it has not concealed the news of the Fifth Mizukage's death from the outside world.

As the news gradually spread, the entire Hidden Mist Village was immersed in an atmosphere of sorrow.

There were sobs, some soft and some loud, all over the place.

Mei Terumi stayed at home, hiding herself in a corner, curled up and crying like a child.

She has only experienced such a breakdown and crying twice.

The first time was when she was five years old and received news of her parents' death; it was her best friend who helped her get through it.

The second time was during the graduation exam when she had to kill her best friend with her own hands. If she didn't, one of them would be killed by the examiner. Her friend gave her the chance to live.

After experiencing these two events, she never shed another tear, no matter what happened. She lived a strong life on her own and never thought she would cry for anything again.

It wasn't until this moment that she realized she hadn't changed at all.

He's still that cowardly crybaby.

That stubborn coward who refused to admit he was timid and pretended to be strong.

……

Uchiha Miyuki glanced at Terumi Mei secretly, then shook his head with mixed feelings.

If possible...

He didn't want things to become so sad, but continuing like this would only make things more tragic.

I don't know how to face Mei.

Responding to the other party using a false identity?

Once she did that, Mei Terumi not only sacrificed her youth but also her entire being. However, when the truth was finally revealed, it only made her more devastated and desperate.

It's easy to deceive someone for a while, but it's incredibly difficult to deceive someone forever.

Putting aside other issues, just the fact that they actually got together and had a child would bring the risk of being exposed, and not having a child would also be a kind of torment.

Not to mention that marriage itself is built on deception.

All of this was torture for both of them.

……

The funeral preparations lasted a week, not to make it a grand affair, but to await the return of the Fourth Generation and others.

The marshal stood before Hozuki Mizuki's tombstone.

"Hozuki Mizuki was a great water spirit who dedicated his life to the village."

He deeply loved every companion around him and treated everyone in the village as family. Therefore, until the last moment of his life, he dedicated himself to protecting everyone in the village. He showed us with his actions that love can indeed become a person's weakness, but only those who understand love can become incredibly strong.

His body will rest here forever.

But his spirit will be inherited by us, his family, and will live on forever in our hearts, helping us through every most difficult moment in the future.

Despite his frail and aged body, his voice reached every corner.

The Fourth Mizukage murmured sadly.

"You've become the shortest-serving Mizukage after all, really... I thought the next time we met would be at your wedding with Mei Terumi! How did it turn out like this... Really... Couldn't you have just held on a little longer? At least waited for me to come back so we could all have a drink together!?"

Mei Terumi only mustered the courage to arrive at the scene when the funeral was almost over.

She desperately wanted to deny it all.

Hide away and avoid facing it all.

But it still came in the end. She allowed herself to be belittled and ridiculed as a coward, but she couldn't let Hozuki Mizuki be ashamed because of it.

No one can be allowed to say it—

Hozuki Mizuki chose a coward, a child who never grew up and always cried.

Mei Terumi offered flowers to Hozuki Mizuki.

"I know you hate sadness and don't want to see us cry because of it, but look, I'm not crying! I'll greet every day with a smile from now on."

She said she would stop crying, but she couldn't hold back her tears.