Mei Terumi's Move

The waves suddenly rose higher.

The nearshore reefs were swallowed by the rising waves, and a few loose stones clattered as the seawater crashed against them.

"Can you feel it?"

Rondo's eyes flickered, his brows furrowed slightly, and his expression turned solemn as he spoke in a deep voice.

He was tall and thin, wearing a gray-white Anbu uniform, with a stern face. He was one of the Mist Ninja guides who had led Sakura Haruno and the others to this area of the sea not long ago. After parting ways with Sakura, they retreated to the nearest coastline to wait for Sakura Haruno and the others to return from their battle.

"Huh?" Chōjūrō was taken aback. He quickly crouched down and pressed his ear to the damp rock, listening for a moment before exclaiming excitedly, "That's... the sound of battle! They've started fighting?"

"That's right, I sensed Sakura Haruno's Chakra from a great distance." Rondo nodded slightly, his expression grim, and said coldly, "To be able to sense her fighting at this distance..."

He gazed at another, even higher wave in the distance, which looked like a white line approaching from afar. He then pulled Chōjūrō up from the ground, his heart trembling slightly.

As a ninja with fairly keen senses, he could clearly feel the girl's turbulent Chakra fluctuations.

As turbulent as a storm, as vast as the ocean.

Even from such a distance, it still made his heart pound and left him deeply shocked!

These unusual waves are clearly the aftermath of a battle.

What kind of Water Release could create such lingering effects at this distance?

"I felt it too," Chōjūrō said, his face showing the same shocked expression.

Although he wasn't slow-witted, he wasn't a sensory ninja, so he was the kind of Ninjutsu fluctuation that Chōjūrō could sense... Realizing what this meant, Chōjūrō gasped sharply.

"This is..." he said bitterly, "Kage Level strength?"

Sakura Haruno... if I remember correctly, she's even older than him. The difference between people is truly enormous!

Rondo's eyes flickered, but he didn't answer.

He could somewhat understand Chōjūrō's feelings. This seemingly shy and insecure boy actually had a desire to become stronger, which was probably why he cared about such things!

But to be honest, comparing himself to that extraordinary young woman was not a wise choice. She was simply too strong. Rondo thought to himself, his mood subtly bitter. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Rondo would have found it hard to believe. That girl's strength... was probably even stronger than the current Mizukage Mei Terumi! Moreover, the two boys traveling with her were also quite impressive in strength.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl from a neighboring country is stronger than everyone in their Land of Water and Kirigakure! Is this laughable? Is this shameful? What has the village been doing all these years? How did Kirigakure, once teeming with talented individuals and producing countless powerful warriors, fall to such a state?!

If the Kekkei Genkai Yuki and Kaguya were still alive, if the Seven Mist Ninja Swordsmen were still intact, if Kisame hadn't defected... how could the village have fallen into such a weakened state?!

How hateful!

"Take a good look, Chōjūrō," Rondo suddenly said, his voice dry and harsh. "See how a ninja from the Land of Fire can wield our signature Water Release Ninjutsu with such mastery!"

He turned and glanced at Chōjūrō, who looked like a big boy, his eyes filled with a strange meaning.

Rondo is no longer young. Whether Mist Ninja can rise again under Mei Terumi's leadership depends on whether the new generation of young people can live up to expectations!

"Yes!" Chōjūrō suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder, quickly bowed, and solemnly replied.

A moment later.

The intelligence gathered by Rondo and his buddy was transmitted back to the village using Secret Technique of the Mist Ninja.

The Barrier Team is located in a secluded underground building in Kirigakure.

Mei Terumi, along with the Mist Ninja elders and Anbu guards, are gathered here, awaiting news.

"So," Mei Terumi said solemnly after listening to her subordinate's report through her earpiece, "Sakura Haruno has already started fighting with Akatsuki members? Who is her opponent?"

"Based on the intelligence shared by Konoha and the Chakra aura sensed, there's a 70% chance the opponent is Akatsuki's White Tiger, codenamed 'Messenger South'."

"Where are Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki? What about the rest of Akatsuki?"

"Judging from the Chakra perception, Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki are approaching two mysterious figures with enormous Chakra fluctuations... Hmm, the Intelligence Division believes these two are the Akatsuki duo who fought Chojuro earlier. In addition, a blurry, subtle but incredibly large Chakra reaction is approaching Sakura Haruno at an extremely high speed; it is very likely the leader of Akatsuki, Pain himself."

A ninja used Barrier Ninjutsu to project information as a pattern into mid-air, explaining it to Mei Terumi. The map that appeared in mid-air showed that the battlefield was divided into two parts, and a fierce battle was about to break out.

"Four people? Akatsuki has come out in full force this time..." Mei Terumi narrowed her eyes, examining the map, and said coldly.

"Qing, can you see them?" She turned her head and looked at a man wearing an eye patch beside her, then asked.

Qing shook her head slightly, looking apologetic. "No, this distance is too far."

"Hmm..." Mei Terumi touched her smooth chin, pondering for a moment.

"Then, it's time for me to take action."

Mei Terumi removed her Mizukage hat, her eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Wait..." The elder of the Mizukage, an old man whose teeth had all fallen out, reached out his withered, trembling arm and grabbed her. "Lord Mizukage, where are you going? It's dangerous outside...!"

"Elder," Mei Terumi, her eyes softening with respect as she looked at the most respected elder of Mist Ninja, "I'm going out to support my comrades in Konoha."

Even though Kirigakure's strength has plummeted and it's hard to find a decent top-tier fighter, Mei Terumi and the Mist Ninja still have their pride.

"We cannot stand by and watch the people of Konoha fight for our village while we, the Hidden Mist Ninja, hide like turtles in the safety of our village's barrier. Not only will doing so cause our village to lose its moral standing and standing in future alliances and coalitions, but more importantly, if we set a cowardly example now, our next generation, and the generation after that... will forever lose the courage to face powerful enemies!"

Mei Terumi's eyes were firm, and she answered without hesitation.

If she were merely a ruthless politician, letting Konoha and Akatsuki fight to the death Mist Ninja from the sidelines might have been the best short-term option for Mist Ninja. But Mei Terumi saw further ahead. Just as that woman didn't hesitate to send her disciples and village elites to help Kirigakure, when she realized that Konoha might be in a tough fight, Mei Terumi didn't hesitate to go to their aid as well.

This magnanimity is perhaps the reason why she was able to grow into the Mizukage.

"Then go, Lord Mizukage!" The elder nodded in response, a smile spreading across his face, which was wrinkled like a chrysanthemum.

Mei Terumi nodded.

She casually shoved the Mizukage hat into Ao's arms. "Akatsuki's fighting power is all focused on fighting for the Three-Tails, so the village should be safe after I leave. But still, be careful... Ao, the village is in your hands while I'm gone!"

Mizukage gave Qing a meaningful look, then patted him hard on the shoulder, forcefully suppressing the words that Qing was about to say.

"That's an order, Qing!"

"Yes, Lord Mizukage!" Qing replied in a deep voice, the light straw hat in his hand suddenly becoming incredibly heavy.

"Then, the rest of you, guard the village and follow Ao's orders..." Mei Terumi turned around gracefully and waved her hand, "Takiichi, Takiji, follow me into battle!"

With a few swift movements, Mizukage and her two guards transformed into three afterimages and disappeared into the hidden basement.

Mei Terumi's actions can be described as decisive.

Upon receiving reliable intelligence, they made a judgment and launched an operation.

However...

Halfway out of Kirigakure and about to enter that sea area, Mei Terumi suddenly stopped.

"I didn't expect that Akatsuki would send out not just four people this time, but five... They really think highly of us!"

The woman snorted coldly, her tone sarcastic and expressionless.

Standing before her was a man wearing a black cloak with red cloud patterns.

His face was stern, his figure tall and powerful. He stood silently on the ground, his Chakra fluctuating subtly yet powerfully.

"I'm sorry, this road... is closed." the man said calmly.

Mei Terumi's lips curled into a cold smile, "What if I insist on going?"

He fell silent, then gently closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, those dark, bright eyes had turned an eerie, scarlet red.

The Sharingan... Mei Terumi's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Dare to block my way," she licked her lips, her fingertips unconsciously pressing against them, "My heart has melted..."

"Uchiha Itachi!"