"Consider yourselves lucky, I'll let you off this time!"
Pain Utakata ascended into the air, Mei Terumī's face was pale, her teeth clenched, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. However, she could only watch helplessly as Pain departed.
She has used every trick in the book, but she still can't defeat this powerful man.
"Damn it! How could this happen!"
Mei Terumī clutched her bleeding arm, glaring hatefully at the spot where the other person had disappeared.
Her strength has indeed reached the Kage Level, but her combat experience is still quite immature compared to Tsunade, Ōnoki, and A.
Even Jiraiya of countless battles, could only destroy three Pain puppets without information about Pain.
Even with the combined power of the entire village's ninjas, she could only destroy four Pain puppets, and they would soon be back to normal, which was truly despairing!
"Mei Terumī! How are you?"
Equally disheveled, Ao also found her way to Mei Terumī's side, looking at her condition while asking her with concern.
Upon hearing his words, Mei Terumī disregarded her image and plopped down on the ground, panting heavily.
"They're not dead. What about the casualties in the village?"
As she spoke, Qing took out a bandage from his waist and bandaged the wound on her arm, which had been inflicted by Pain's Shinra Tensei and was quite deep.
Seeing Mei Terumī, who was pale but still concerned about the village, Ao's eyes dimmed.
"Nearly half of the village was destroyed. The civilians suffered few casualties because they evacuated in time, but the ninjas suffered heavy losses..."
With each piece of news she heard, Mei Terumī's heart sank a little further; it could be said that this incident had directly dealt a heavy blow to Kirigakure.
Having just ended the Bloody Mist Graduation, they thought good days were coming, and after establishing connections with the Northern Lands, things seemed to be thriving.
But who knew that Pain's mere visit would send them back to square one?
"It was my dereliction of duty to fail in protecting the village! Especially watching helplessly as the Jinchuriki we just welcomed back was captured!"
A bitter feeling welled up from the depths of her heart, plunging Mei Terumī into deep self-reproach.
"If I were a little stronger, paid more attention to the Jinchuriki, and made the village's ninjas more vigilant..."
"No! My lord, you have done very well! This is not just your responsibility. As long as we are alive, there is still hope!"
Qing said earnestly, "Having lived to such an old age, I may not have many other advantages, but my mindset is still quite stable."
Upon hearing this, Mei Terumī snapped out of her daze and began to murmur to herself.
"Hope! There is hope as long as we are alive, yes!"
Pulling herself together, Mei Terumī this was not the time for questioning. She slowly stood up from the ground.
"Immediately provide aid to the wounded and tally the number of casualties..."
As expected of the first female Mizukage of Kirigakure, she quickly adjusted her state and carried out the rescue work in an orderly manner.
At the same time, a request for assistance was sent to the Northern Lands. Since the two sides have a cooperative relationship, the other side will certainly not refuse this kind of international aid.
Adding to the frustration was the fact that Utakata had just been redeemed by Kirigakure only to be kidnapped again, Mei Terumī feel incredibly resentful.
If she hadn't known that the enemy this time was the Akatsuki, she would have thought that the Northern Lands was behind it all.
Feeling cheated Mei Terumī naturally wanted to get her money back, so she immediately sent a message to Northern Lands.
Pakura did not hesitate after receiving the message. The cooperation between the two villages was still in its honeymoon period, so he would naturally meet this request.
Just like Earth in its previous life, terrorist attacks are not the responsibility of one country or one nation; all countries should actively participate.
Soon after, Guren led Kidomaru, Sakon, Sakon and Ukon, Karin, and others to Kirigakure.
The people here are all native locals, so they can naturally represent the Northern Lands. If it were Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, or others who went there, it would probably be a bit awkward.
Meanwhile, at Mount Sumeru in the Ninja World.
"My lord, Kakashi has arrived, but it seems he's followed by a few tails..."
Hiruko, number one, two, three, and four, knelt on one knee before him, reporting the intelligence they had gathered.
Looking at the people below, Hiruko nodded in satisfaction.
"Proceed according to plan, hurry up, and don't be late!"
"Yes, sir!"
Upon receiving the order, the men immediately went to make arrangements. Hiruko also withdrew his gaze and quietly looked at the men bound to the rack before him.
These are all ninjas he has captured over the years while disguised as the Akatsuki, each possessing a unique Kekkei Genkai.
"Kakashi, I'm really looking forward to this..."
Thinking of his impending goal, Hiruko couldn't help but curl his lips upward.
In his view, Konoha was the only one Tsunade could be proud of right now, and he didn't take Jonin like Kakashi or Might Guy seriously at all.
His previous high-profile revelation of his Konoha and Akatsuki identities was a deliberate attempt to alert the enemy. Konoha was unsure whether his declaration of war against Konoha was a personal act or orchestrated by Akatsuki.
In this way, Konoha will definitely not dare to act rashly in order to protect the village; and the number of ninjas he sends to deal with him will not be large or strong.
No matter how much he schemed and plotted, he never expected that the people coming here would not only be the chosen ones, but Jiraiya!
Once Kakashi was successfully brought before her, and the ceremony was more than halfway through, Tsunade immediately activated the backup plan she had left on Kakashi's arm.
The power of the Curse Mark instantly brought Kakashi back to his senses, and he immediately broke free from the ritual.
"Kakashi... How is this possible!"
Enraged Hiruko the ritual had been disrupted, Hiruko immediately charged at Kakashi after absorbing the Kekkei Genkai of the remaining members.
However, a figure blocked his way just in time.
"Hiruko! Your plot has been exposed. Surrender now!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the Annular Solar Eclipse in the sky gradually faded, and a ray of moonlight shone on the face of the figure.
"Jiraiya! How could it be you!"
As the leader of Konoha's Anbu, Jiraiya's existence was little known. His identity was similar to Danzo of Danzo, who was both the root and the Konoha.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before him, Hiruko still couldn't quite believe that the person who had come was Jiraiya.
He was familiar because of his appearance and attire, but unfamiliar because of the marks that time had left on him, and the fact that his once white hair had now turned red, which was rather abrupt.
"You haven't caused any major problems yet. For the sake of our past friendship, come back with me! I'll plead with the Hokage on your behalf!"
Jiraiya still didn't want to harm his comrades-in-arms. Although he and Hiruko weren't as close as Orochimaru, he didn't want to watch her continue to sink!
"Go back? Hahaha..."
Upon hearing this, Hiruko burst into uncontrollable laughter, as if his funny bone had been tickled.
This scene made Jiraiya frown. None of the ninjas who defected were normal; at the very least, they were all somewhat mentally unstable.
"Go back where? Go back to be at Tsunade's beck and call? That's utterly ridiculous!"
The more he spoke, the Hiruko's face became, and the more agitated he grew.
Hiruko Sannin from a young age, but even though he was born as an ant, he had lofty ambitions! All his efforts over the years were to become stronger, so that no one could underestimate him.
He wants to tell everyone that he will one day take back what he has lost with his own hands!
Now, the person he once envied and was jealous of has not only come to ruin his plans, but also tries to persuade him to turn back and obey another partner. How could the proud Hiruko be willing to do so?
Jiraiya understood his feelings to some extent, but he still had to do what needed to be done. He had already watched a comrade go astray and didn't want Hiruko.
Just as the two were about to clash, Naruto, Sakura, and the others arrived from behind.
But before they could even ask about the situation, Hiruko took the initiative...