Objectively speaking, with Mei Terumi's qualities as someone who possessed both Lava Release and Boil Release, making her the Jinchuriki of the Six-Tails, Saiken, was actually quite suitable.
The Six-Tails' strongest ability was creating highly corrosive acid.
For Mei, whose two Kekkei Genkai were both related to that, it was an enhancement she could easily use without needing to learn or familiarize herself with it. It would also comprehensively strengthen her own ninjutsu abilities.
After obtaining the support of Tailed Beast chakra, both Kekkei Genkai would be greatly strengthened. Together with the self-healing ability and close-combat enhancement that came with being a Jinchuriki, it would not be difficult for Mei to jump directly from elite jonin to a powerful figure among the Kage level.
The problem was who had given her that idea.
Rei could tell that Mei's feelings toward him were somewhat beyond friendship.
With Mei's slightly romance-brained personality, it was indeed possible that because she wanted to keep up with his pace of growth, or because she wanted to help him share some of the pressure at work, her head heated up and she suddenly came up with such a bold and rebellious idea.
But precisely because the two of them had not concealed their mutual affection, Rei had to treat this kind of decision even more carefully.
On the surface, it seemed to come from mutual goodwill, filled with the purity, willfulness, and courage of a girl in love.
Because Kirigakure had nearly been destroyed by the Six-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball before, calls to select a new Jinchuriki and bring the Six-Tails back under Kirigakure's control had always existed in the village after Rei took power.
The proposal submitted jointly by several dozen jonin was proof of how urgently people wished to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
Although Rei had temporarily suppressed that proposal, that did not mean that once Kirigakure's public opinion environment and social atmosphere changed in the future, there would be no need to select new Jinchuriki for the Six-Tails and the still-reviving Three-Tails.
After all, selecting a Jinchuriki was not an easy matter.
Not only was the risk enormous, but one also had to consider compatibility between the host and Tailed Beast, as well as a series of issues such as the host's own strength, personality, and interpersonal relationships.
A weak host could not withstand a Tailed Beast's chakra. Even if the Tailed Beast was successfully sealed inside them, they would not be able to display the power a Jinchuriki should have for a long time.
A powerful host, meanwhile, could endure a Tailed Beast's chakra and convert it into immediate combat strength, but it was also very difficult for them to truly reach mutual understanding with the Tailed Beast and become a perfect Jinchuriki.
For Kirigakure, which currently had a severe shortage of experts, selecting Jinchuriki from genin and trainee ninja who had yet to show promise, then quietly waiting for them to grow, clearly did not meet the demands of those Kirigakure ninja suffering from fear of insufficient firepower.
Then, if they were to choose the Six-Tails Jinchuriki from among ninja who had already displayed strength and talent, which people would be relatively suitable?
The former Mizukage candidate, Yagura Karatachi?
His strength was decent, and he had determination and resolve. In the original timeline, he had even become the perfect Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails, Isobu.
But since he had chosen the Three-Tails when both the Three-Tails and Six-Tails existed, there was no need to forcefully separate a pair that had already been proven as perfect partners and arrange a new partner for them who might not get along.
Juzo Biwa or Fuguki Suikazan, the surviving members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?
Don't joke around.
As trusted subordinates of the Third Mizukage, who knew whether that Uchiha who controlled the Third Mizukage had secretly planted some curse seal on them? Who would feel reassured letting them serve as dangerous but extremely important Jinchuriki for the village?
Other jonin who had risen to prominence during the war?
The thing most feared when becoming a Jinchuriki was hidden resentment and unease.
And if it was not voluntary, who would be willing to turn into a time bomb with no way back?
Let Rei himself also serve as the Six-Tails Jinchuriki?
Uh, if they did that, there really would be no need to consider the risk of the Jinchuriki losing control…
But with Rei's current strength, did he truly still need any Tailed Beast besides the Nine-Tails to improve his power?
…
After thinking it through, aside from Utakata, who would become the Six-Tails Jinchuriki in the original history but was currently still a brat under ten years old, only Mei Terumi looked relatively suitable to become the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
"Mei, did you come up with this idea yourself?"
After thinking to this point, Rei took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to Mei's side.
He placed his hand on the girl's still-slender shoulder and asked in a low voice.
"Ehhh? Wh-What do you mean?"
Mei had originally been secretly peeking at Rei, who had closed his eyes in thought, while thinking about how to liven up the atmosphere that had suddenly turned cold again.
But when Rei suddenly stood up and approached, then pulled her into a question with an expression as if he had figured something out, she, who had no defenses at all, was immediately startled.
Flustered and at a loss, she began stammering.
"My head is not made of wood. Do you think I could not hear what you were implying just now?"
Rei bent down and pressed his forehead against Mei's smooth, delicate forehead.
Looking at her cheeks, which had suddenly turned bright red, and her lake-green eyes full of panic, unsure where to look, he asked very seriously.
"If becoming the Six-Tails Jinchuriki is your own idea, then I will absolutely take responsibility for your sealing ceremony from beginning to end. Afterward, I will do everything I can to help you and the Six-Tails reach reconciliation, ensuring that you will no longer have any risk of being devoured by the Six-Tails."
"If you are willing, you can also treat me as your strongest spiritual support. Even if you rely on me a little excessively, that is also fine."
"But if you came up with this risky idea because you heard certain people say something… then I will have to go and have a proper talk with them."
Looking at Rei's eyes, which were so close and showed no sign of joking, Mei's originally helpless mood caused by shyness, panic, and a series of girlish emotions unexpectedly calmed down.
She worked hard to suppress the urge to keep avoiding his gaze and met Rei's eyes instead.
Then she asked quietly, "So… you are not angry, Rei?"
"Why would I be angry at you?"
"Because now that I think about it, this idea that suddenly came up after hearing your concern for Jinchuriki really was stupid… Whether it would succeed or not is one thing, but in the future I would also have to bear so much pressure and risk. Maybe I would even drag down your dream because of some strange unexpected situation…"
Mei twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers.
While regretting why she had worn Kirigakure's jonin uniform today instead of changing into something better able to show her own personality and charm, she lightly let her fragrant breath fall against Rei's cheek and pleaded softly.
"If… if possible, can you forget it? Just treat it as me suddenly losing my mind, or being placed under genjutsu or something. Do not take it too seriously… okay?"
"I refuse."
Looking at the brown-haired beautiful girl's reaction, Rei rejected Mei's request cleanly and decisively without the slightest hesitation.
"Wh-Why!?"
Mei's little face reddened.
Her speech immediately became stuttered again.
"This… this kind of embarrassing thing, I do not want you to remember it…"
"Because this is probably the first time I have encountered a beautiful girl sincerely throwing herself at me without caring about the cost, right?"
Rei narrowed his eyes.
A bad smile appeared on his face, making Mei's heart suddenly thump with unease.
"This precious first experience should definitely be written properly in my diary, saved for when I grow old and have nothing else to do, so I can take it out to appreciate and brag about, right?"
"You… you can't. You can't do that. You absolutely can't!!!"
Mei instantly grew anxious.
She raised her small, pink fist and wanted to give Rei, who was right in front of her, a grand Memory Erasure Technique.
But the enormous difference in taijutsu between the two sides allowed Rei to easily dodge her attack. He even appeared behind her with complete ease, leaned close to her ear, and breathed warm air as he said,
"I will accept all of your feelings seriously. In return, you can also treat everything I said to you earlier as the truth, Mei."
Earlier… what he said?
Mei recalled what Rei had said while looking directly at her just now.
Then her body temperature began rising sharply on the spot.
A crimson color spread from her face all the way toward the roots of her ears and down her neck.
While fidgeting uneasily and muttering unintelligible noises no one could understand, she performed the rare spectacle of steam rising from her head in front of Rei, who had already returned to his original seat.
Looking at this beautiful and youthful scene before him, Rei gently lifted the sake the restaurant had prepared in advance and took a small sip.
So this was the feeling of being liked by a beautiful girl.
Of being chased by a beautiful girl.
Of having all of youth become bright and beautiful in an instant.
A great harvest…
Surely useful for next time.
Mm.
There would definitely be a next time.
After all, my dream and my youth have only just stepped onto the right track…
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