The next day, soft golden rays of morning sunlight seeped through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm glow over the dimly lit room. The scent of lingering embers, sweat, and something undeniably masculine clung to the air, mingling with the faint floral fragrance of the silken sheets.
Mei Terumi stirred beneath the luxurious quilt, her naked form barely concealed by the fabric that clung to her curves. A dull, almost pleasant ache spread through her body—a tangible reminder of the night before.
A night that had shattered all expectations, where she had surrendered herself entirely to a man who had come out of nowhere, claimed her with a dominance that left her breathless and disappeared just as suddenly.
A soft groan escaped her lips as she stretched, her muscles protesting the movement. Her body still remembered—no, craved—the overwhelming touch of the mysterious stranger, the way he had left no part of her unexplored, no inch of her skin untouched.
Still half-asleep, she reached out instinctively, expecting to find warmth beside her. Instead, her fingers brushed against empty sheets.
She blinked, her brows furrowing as she patted the bed, searching. The fabric was cool. He was gone.
Mei's emerald eyes snapped open, and she shot up, ignoring the soreness that protested against her movements. Her gaze darted around the lavish room. The air still carried his intoxicating scent, but there was no trace of him. The discarded sake cups, the half-drunk bottle of soju, and the torn remnants of her kimono were all that remained.
A deep frown marred her beautiful face.
"That bastard…" She muttered, pushing her tousled auburn locks back. "He really left without a word?"
For a moment, she sat there, stunned. Her fingers clenched around the sheets as something unfamiliar curled in her chest—disappointment.
Mei Terumi was a woman who had conquered enemies and was about to lead an entire ninja village. So, how could she just let her man slip away like that?
Just as she was about to summon the ANBU to track him down, her sharp eyes caught something—a small folded piece of parchment tucked under the empty soju bottle.
Her heart gave an involuntary flutter as she reached for it, her fingers trembling ever so slightly.
The parchment was rough, a little crumpled, as if it had been written in haste. Her emerald eyes scanned the words, her breath hitching.
I've fulfilled your wish. You should be happy now. But I'm not the type of man to stay tied to one tree… I wander where I please. Don't bother searching for me—when fate calls for it, I'll come to you again. To remind you of last night. To tame you again.
After all, you're mine now.
—Alex ❤️ ꩜
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, a chuckle—a soft, velvety sound—escaped Mei's lips.
It started slow, but soon, amusement danced in her eyes, laced with something more dangerous.
Possession.
She traced the last symbol absentmindedly before frowning.
꩜
Her fingers ran over it again. Something about it felt… familiar.
Her sharp gaze snapped toward the discarded black cloak on the floor. The fabric had been carelessly thrown aside in the heat of passion, but now, in the cold light of morning, she noticed something that had gone ignored in the night.
The back of the cloak bore a faint, yet unmistakable spiral crest—the mark of the Uzumaki Clan.
Her breath caught.
An Uzumaki…?
Her fingers curled around the parchment as realization dawned. That unnatural stamina, the raw power in his touch, the way he had whispered forbidden words in her ear as if he knew every dark desire she never dared to speak—everything suddenly made sense.
Mei licked her lips, her pulse quickening.
"So that's how it is…" She murmured, pressing the letter against her chest, right over her still-racing heart.
A wicked smirk curled at her lips. An Uzumaki, huh?That just made things even more interesting.
The legendary clan was supposed to be long gone, and yet, one had appeared out of nowhere—and left her wanting more.
Her emerald eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and obsession.
He thought he could just walk away?
She traced the spiral on his cloak, a predatory glint flashing in her gaze.
"You'll come back to me, huh?" She whispered, lips curving into a knowing smirk.
She kissed the note before tucking it inside her kimono, right between her breasts.
"Then I'll be waiting, my master."
After all, a predator always finds its prey.
----
Far from Kirigakure, at the very edge of the Land of Water, Naruto stood atop a towering cliff, overlooking the mist-covered village he had just left behind.
The salty ocean breeze tousled his golden hair, carrying with it the lingering scent of last night—a night of conquest, a night of pleasure, a night where he had left his mark on none other than the Mizukage herself.
His lips curled into a smirk as he stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders with satisfaction.
"That was fun," He mused, his voice laced with amusement. "Mizukage-chan sure is a wild one."
His body still carried faint reminders of her—nail marks raking across his back, bruises from her desperate grip, and the scent of her lingering on his skin. She had fought him, resisted him, and in the end… surrendered completely.
He had claimed her. And he knew she was the kind of woman who wouldn't take that lightly.
"She's probably plotting ways to capture me already," He chuckled to himself, knowing full well that Mei Terumi was not the type to let a man like him just slip away.
But there was no time to dwell on last night's conquest. He had bigger things to set in motion.
Naruto's expression shifted, the amusement in his eyes darkening into something far more dangerous—cold calculation.
With a sharp exhale, he formed a hand seal.
A puff of smoke erupted beside him, revealing a perfect copy of himself—his Shadow Clone.
The clone stretched his arms, rolling his neck before flashing a cocky grin.
"So," The clone started, his tone light, but his eyes sharp. "We finally doing this?"
Naruto smirked, nodding. "Time to set the bait."
Without hesitation, the clone's body shifted and warped—his golden locks darkened into a deep snow white, his whisker marks faded, and his bright blue eyes turned into a piercing shade of scarlet. His entire posture and aura changed, becoming rougher, and more chaotic. His clothes followed suit, morphing into a ragged black cloak.
In a matter of seconds, Naruto Uzumaki was gone—replaced by a man who did not exist.
A rogue shinobi.
A ghost with no past, no clan, and no loyalties.
Jack.
The persona Naruto had crafted for one sole purpose—to attract the Akatsuki's attention.
"You know what to do," Naruto ordered, his voice now carrying a dangerous edge.
The clone, now 'Jack,' cracked his neck, his grin widening.
"Stir up trouble, make the Akatsuki notice me, and get recruited. Easy."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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