Departure, Infiltration Plan for Kumogakure

Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!

Mei Terumi had already formed Hand Seals when Ye Liangnai was blasted away.

Thus, the instant Ye Liangnai landed, two cone-shaped jets of water pierced toward him.

Bang!

This time, Ye Liangnai was unable to dodge. He raised his blade before his chest and was sent flying heavily.

But just as Mei Terumi chased after him to attack—

Ye Liangnai transformed into a mass of lightning that enveloped Mei Terumi as it attacked.

It was a Lightning Release attack method transformed from the Lightning Clone Technique.

Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave!

Bright lightning coiled around Mei Terumi's body like lightning snakes.

Yet she instantly collapsed into a puddle of water, then reappeared behind Ye Liangnai and launched a Fragrant Foot strike.

Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar Wall!

But Ye Liangnai remained calm. Two blinding pillars of lightning rose from the ground, blocking the path before him.

Whoosh!

Mei Terumi did not confront the lightning defense head-on. She vanished from the air in a flash.

But the moment she reappeared, she heard Ye Liangnai say, "Binding Flow Karma Curse!"

A triangular curse mark rapidly crawled across Mei Terumi's body.

Mei Terumi felt her ability to move become sealed.

When did I get hit by his Sealing Jutsu? Mei Terumi was shocked.

Then she thought, Could it have been the instant I knocked him back just now?

If that was the case, then Ye Liangnai's mind was truly quick.

Lightning Release: Thunder Array!

Ye Liangnai's voice came again, interrupting Mei Terumi's thoughts.

A patch of pitch-black clouds appeared above Mei Terumi's head.

A great amount of lightning gathered within them, making even Mei Terumi feel threatened.

"Not bad, Little Ye! I didn't expect you to remain this strong even after changing your fighting style!"

"However, a technique like this can't do anything to me!"

A vast surge of Chakra erupted from Mei Terumi's body, and she broke free of the curse marks' control.

The instant the lightning crashed down, she formed Hand Seals and spat out a Water Wall Technique, blocking the lightning.

"Little Ye, I won't give you a chance to ambush me!"

While Mei Terumi defended against the lightning, Ye Liangnai had already closed in. His long blade flashed with startling Cold Light as it stabbed toward her.

Mei Terumi's Hand Seals shifted rapidly as she said, "Water Release: Giant Vortex Water Release!"

Bang!

A mass of water appeared before Ye Liangnai, and from it shot an enormous arm that violently knocked him flying.

It was so fast that he had no chance to react.

"Urgh!"

Ye Liangnai felt as though his breastbone was about to break. Blood rushed up his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Little Ye, it's not over yet. You can't let your guard down!"

Mei Terumi's voice came again. Her cheeks swelled as she said, "Water Release: Water Wave!"

A tremendous wave of water directly swallowed Ye Liangnai.

It was so powerful that he could neither resist nor respond in time.

Unable to control his body at all, Ye Liangnai could only drift with the current, slowly losing himself in the water!

"I lost."

The water soon dispersed, and Ye Liangnai climbed up from the ground in a miserable state.

The moment Mei Terumi got even slightly serious, he lost. The gap between them was anything but small.

"To possess this kind of strength when you've only just mastered Lightning Release ninjutsu—you truly are impressive, Little Ye!"

"Now, only opponents at jonin level or above can pose a threat to you. That lets me rest a little easier!"

"You need to be even more careful once you reach Kumogakure. Remember, don't expose your identity, understand?" Mei Terumi instructed, patting Ye Liangnai on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Sister. I'll be careful! You need to stay safe too. Take care of yourself, and don't let Yuan Long trick you!"

"Let's both work hard during this time. In half a year, we'll begin taking control of our own fates and build New Kirigakure!"

"Oh, right, Sister. Suikazan Fuguki can't be trusted. You absolutely must not reveal anything to him, and you can't let him notice anything either!"

"If you don't have the energy, you can ask Kisame Hoshigaki to help keep an eye on him! He's someone trustworthy!"

Hearing Ye Liangnai's warnings, Mei Terumi nodded to show that she understood.

Seeing this, Ye Liangnai turned and left the training ground, setting out for his destination, Kumogakure.

Kumogakure!

"This time, don't let anything go wrong again!"

"Otherwise, Kumogakure will have a hard time recruiting outside talent!" the Fourth Raikage instructed the group of Cloud Ninja below him.

"Understood!"

The Cloud Ninja answered in unison before vanishing in flashes.

"Yura of Kirigakure, whether your defection is genuine or false."

"Either way, I'll first get some information about Kirigakure from you!"

"If you can pass Kumogakure's test, then we'll talk. I'll certainly treat you as a loyal subordinate!"

"If you fail, I lose nothing."

"After all, I'll have obtained information about Kirigakure from you. And before you earn my trust, you'll be monitored so closely that you won't be able to take a single step or do anything!"

The Fourth Raikage was no fool. He would not blindly accept someone from Kirigakure simply because they claimed to be defecting.

He had his own plans and calculations!

"Through this fellow named Yura, I can also learn more about the recently famous White Cold Light!"

"That man is a potential threat worth watching, just like the Yellow Flash of old!"

"Though he certainly isn't as troublesome as the Yellow Flash, Konoha values him so highly that he must possess something extraordinary!"

On the road through the Land of Lightning!

"Faster, move faster! Pick up the pace! Not a moment can be wasted."

"If we miss out on talent again like last time and fail the mission, you and I will have no face to return and see Lord Raikage. We might as well die to atone for it!"

"So keep your spirits at their highest! Success is the only option—failure is not allowed!" the leading Cloud Ninja Anbu captain shouted sternly.

"Yes!!"

The Anbu answered solemnly, their voices carrying a trace of determination.

At a place near the Land of Clouds, a group of Mist Ninja surrounded a young man with short silver hair, their faces cold as they spoke.

"Give it up, Yura. You have nowhere left to run. You'd best surrender obediently!"

"Betraying Lord Mizukage is a capital offense. Come back with us and beg Lord Mizukage for forgiveness. That way, you may still have a chance to live!"

"Do you think that after coming all this way, I'd still go back with you?"

"Going back would only lead to death anyway. As a ninja of Kirigakure, how could I not know the consequences of betraying the village?"

"Give up on persuading me to surrender, everyone. Today, I only have two paths to choose from!"

"Either I die in battle, or I successfully wait for Cloud Ninja reinforcements and join Kumogakure. Other than that, I have no way out!"

Needless to say, the silver-haired young man was Ye Liangnai.