A Mother's Knight

Part 33

Mei stared at Naruto for a couple of minutes, trying to figure him out some more. What the Godaime Hokage had said about him and Temari had intrigued her. She had known that he was a meticulous person with a mean streak of plots. Nevertheless, Tsunade's words had given her the idea that Naruto only allowed things around him to happen if that was what he wanted. If he didn't want certain things, then he would make sure that it didn't happen.

This was a new twist to the plot. She already suspected he was manipulative in his ways. The Godaime Hokage had admitted as much. She had even gone as far to suggest that she had no control over what Naruto did.

Mei slightly shook her head as she gathered her thoughts. "Why did you cancel your marriage with Temari? I understand the background and the reason for the marriage."

Suna's participation in the invasion that led to the death of Hiruzen meant that its relationship with the Leaf would become tense if not damaged beyond repair. The marriage was supposed to smooth things over between the villages. Well, admittedly, things have progressed rather well between the Godaime Kazekage and the Hokage. Still, for the long-term future, the marriage would have dispelled any other doubts people had.

Yet, Naruto had cancelled the marriage. Why? There had to be a bigger reason on why he did it. Tsunade seemed to have the same thought, but wasn't worried or interested in knowing about it.

"You only understand the political side of things." Naruto said to Mei with a straight face. "An arrangement between Temari and I was made long ago by my mother and The Fourth Kazekage. Of course, the stipulation was different. We would only marry if we ended up liking each other. Things changed with the invasion.

"In any case, I cancelled it because it is no longer necessary. I don't need to have something over Gaara for him to think of Konoha with clear motives. Besides that, Temari does not love me. It is safe to say that these days her relationship with me is a bit tolerable.

"That isn't to say we have a problem. All is well; we just both understand that the marriage isn't necessary. When we were younger, there were a couple of things regarding life that I taught Temari. I'm sure she still retains those lessons."

Mei tilted her head to the side as she digested what the blond had just said. The Mizukage thought there was something that Naruto wasn't telling her. Sure, she could note that Tsunade had a good relationship with Gaara, but there had to be something else that made Naruto decide to cancel the marriage.

Was she perhaps just thinking too much? The Mizukage shook her head. She wasn't. There was no such thing as thinking too much when dealing with this kind of person.

"What are you not telling me?" Mei asked in a dead serious tone.

Naruto stared for a moment, a little surprised by the tone the Mizukage just used. He certainly didn't expect her to attempt to force the issue with him. It wasn't something he received with contempt; it just was a good surprise – if there is ever any.

"A couple of things." Naruto said with a shrug. He did not attempt to appear as if he was going to go into detail regarding his response. Mei didn't say anything; she waited for something that would please her curiosity.

Naruto sighed and looked up to the ceiling. How does he go about things here? He wasn't the most open person about his intensions. If anything, there was always a smoke hiding what he was really thinking. He wasn't about to say he had mastered the art of lying – there were just many things that he left unsaid.

The blond Uzumaki looked back at Mei; she was different from other people, but she was an earnest person who wanted peace over anything. She has seen many people die in the civil war that had grabbed Kiri by the throat. Could he trust her with his secrets?