When you realize that someone is looking at you, you are actually looking at them too.
Mei Terumi wants to change Kirigakure, she can't possibly escape the existing structure of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
During the years that Kirigakure was in seclusion, although the other major Shinobi Village had signed a ceasefire agreement, only Konoha and Sunagakure truly became allies.
Iwagakure has kept a low profile in recent years, but Kumogakure has been constantly expanding its military and collecting Ninjutsu from all over the world.
Mei Terumi chose to proactively leak some information to attract teams from various villages to investigate the Land of Water. She also wanted to use this method to investigate the attitudes of other ninja villages towards Kirigakure.
Before each team sets off, the village chief will always give them some instructions.
Therefore, by observing the behavior of the investigation teams from various villages, it is not difficult to see the attitudes of the major Shinobi Village towards Kirigakure.
The conflict between Iwagakure and Konoha was Mei Terumi had not anticipated.
The actions of both sides have actually constituted a provocation against Kirigakure.
Mei Terumi initially intended to mediate and resolve the conflict between the two villages. At the same time, she also wanted to convey a message of goodwill to Konoha and Iwagakure through this action.
However, through investigation, Mei Terumi discovered that Iwagakure's attitude was very ambiguous, and they seemed to be plotting a conspiracy.
Although Iwagakure was the one who started the trouble, they kept the Konoha people occupied instead of directly killing them.
Therefore Mei Terumi chose to wait and see, wanting to observe how far the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure would evolve, while also investigating Iwagakure's purpose.
Ōnoki is a veteran Kage, and even if he's old, he's definitely not that senile.
By attacking Konoha Ninja within the Land of Water, Ōnoki was not only challenging Konoha, but also the authority of Kirigakure.
Therefore, when Mei Terumi received the intelligence that 'the Kumogakure had also sent a large number of ninjas to infiltrate the Land of Water,' she immediately dispatched the Anbu to intercept them.
The reason given for the interception was internal turmoil in the Land of Water.
Hinata was right in judging that Kirigakure had no intention of forming an alliance with Kumogakure, but Mei Terumi would never make it that obvious.
Publicly boycotting Kumogakure is like Raikage in the face in front of everyone.
After dispatching Anbu to intercept the Hidden Cloud Village, Mei Terumi personally led a large number of Mist Ninja Village ninja, intending to arrest Konoha and Iwagakure ninja on the pretext of 'sabotaging the security of the Land of Water, ' while also investigating Iwagakure's motives for provoking Konoha.
From afar, Mei Terumi heard the explosion ahead and immediately urged, "Hurry up! Konoha and Iwagakure have already clashed."
Mei Terumi was having a bit of a headache.
If this matter is not handled properly, Kirigakure could easily provoke hostility from the other major Shinobi Village.
If it were during the Bloody Mist era, Kirigakure would have killed everyone on both sides, using bloody means to warn the Shinobi World that Kirigakure's authority was not to be challenged.
However, Mei Terumi intends to reform Kirigakure and overturn the policies of the Bloody Mist, which involves many issues.
Therefore, this conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure is also an opportunity for Mei Terumi, a chance to show Kirigakure a different side of itself to the Shinobi World.
Ao leaped to Mei Terumi's side, observing through his Byakugan as he reported, "Lord Mizukage, Konoha and Iwagakure have gone to great lengths, neither side holding back. It seems Konoha has received reinforcements... So, what is Iwagakure's purpose...?"
Mei Terumi nodded slightly, her charming eyes gazing into the distance, a hint of displeasure flashing in them.
These foreigners really know how to cause trouble!
After a pause, Qing suddenly said, "They've stopped... Iwagakure has been defeated, and they've begun their retreat!"
Mei Terumi asked in confusion, "Iwagakure... lost?"
Ao nodded solemnly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and said in a deep voice, "That girl's Chakra... it's as terrifying as Tailed Beasts!"
Mei Terumi tidied her hair and chuckled, "Is that so? That reminds me of someone."
Chakra does not necessarily mean being very strong; the key is the type of Ninjutsu one possesses.
Especially at Mei Terumi's level, Chakra is certainly a good thing, but it doesn't really prove anything.
Killing someone... as long as you can hit your opponent, one move is enough.
Qing's expression changed drastically, and she said in a panicked tone, "No! She's not the same as that person!"
Mei Terumi turned her head to look at Ao, and said with slight surprise, "What's wrong with you? Have you made some amazing discovery?"
Qing shook her head, and said solemnly, "I don't know, but..."
Mei Terumi and Ao were unaware that Sage Mode existed in the Shinobi World. Ao's Byakugan level wasn't particularly high either; at most, he only sensed something unusual when Hinata made her move.
Ao continued to observe the battle ahead, frowning as he said, "Judging from the Chakra in the other girl's eyes, that girl should be a ninja from the Konoha Hyuga Clan Konoha."
"Oh!"
Mei Terumi didn't care much about this. Although the Hyuga Clan had a great reputation, apart from the Byakugan, they were just a ninja clan specializing in Taijutsu. Mei Terumi didn't take them seriously.
'Boom boom boom boom boom—'
A deafening explosion could be heard in the distance.
From Mei Terumi's distance, several miles away, an area of several hundred meters in radius was instantly engulfed by the explosion, and the shockwave from the explosion even reached further places.
The giant trees and rocks turned to dust almost instantly, leaving the earth in ruins.
Mei Terumi suddenly stopped in her tracks, stunned, and said, "This is..."
Mei Terumi has seen wide-range Ninjutsu before, but a large Ninjutsu range does not necessarily mean strong destructive power.
Like the ' Great Waterfall Technique 'Ninjutsu, the attack range is large enough, but it can't actually kill a person. The essence of this technique is to control a large amount of water with Chakra to impact the enemy. The attack range is large, but the power is actually quite limited.
But that kind of explosion... even the ground this far away trembled violently.
'Whoosh whoosh whoosh...'
A gust of wind blew by, Mei Terumi raised her hand to block it, her expression becoming extremely serious.
"Green!"
Ao leaped to Mei Terumi's side, his expression grave, and said, "It's that Hyuga Clan ninja from earlier... According to the intelligence we've gathered, if there's anyone else in the Hyuga Clan capable of this, there should only be one!"
Mei Terumi said in a deep voice, "Hinata Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Hinata Hyuga?"
With her Mei Terumi said coldly, "Konoha actually sent Jinchuriki?"
Ao shook his head and said, "This isn't the power of Tailed Beasts; it's probably just some kind of Ninjutsu!"
This is both good news and bad news.
Hinata Hyuga's strength might be even more terrifying than the rumors suggest, given that she created such an explosion on her own.
Mei Terumi has received news that several Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Mist who defected from the village, including Momochi Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki, have died at Hinata's hands. Even Kisame Hoshigaki has fallen to Hinata. It is said that even Samehada has been lost in Konoha.
Ao turned to look at Mei Terumi, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, and said in a deep voice, "Iwagakure has been completely wiped out... Mizukage- sama, should I... excuse myself?"