The night bled into morning, and the world marched on — except for Mei Terumi.

Far from the Mist Village, in a dimly lit bedroom high in the Raikage Tower, a man slept like a contented child, his face buried between the massive, soft breasts of a fair-skinned woman. Her pale skin glowed faintly in the early light, heavy curves rising and falling with each slow breath while he nuzzled deeper into that warm, plush valley, completely at peace — as if the entire shinobi world was bending exactly to his design.