[Discussion and observation of Kitahara Kaede in the small group are prohibited (^_-)]
"Cough, cough..."
Kakashi hurriedly rephrased his words.
"Since the Fifth Mizukage has come to visit, what brings you here?"
"Please don't keep bothering our adorable rookie Genin."
As he spoke, Kakashi hurriedly stepped between Mei Terumi and Kitahara Kaede.
"..." Kitahara Kaede tilted his head and looked at Kakashi.
"Since you are the Fifth Mizukage, I assume you came for information about the Rogue Ninja Zabuza?" Kitahara Kaede said.
Then his golden eyes fixed on Mei Terumi.
This female Hokage from the original story was somewhat different from the impression she gave in the original work.
She seemed much more proactive now.
·······
"Yes." Mei Terumi hurriedly nodded. She knew her behavior had been a little too obvious.
But she had no choice but to be obvious.
She had to appear before Kitahara Kaede quickly and forcefully. She had to leave an impression on him as soon as possible.
And the small group's goal was—three hours of attention on Kitahara Kaede every day.
So... no matter how she looked at it, he was a big shot.
Even if he had not shown it yet, he would definitely soar into the sky in the future!
The proof was that even an incredibly terrifying and powerful God of Shinobi like the First Hokage was merely a group member alongside her, tasked with paying attention to Kitahara Kaede.
Therefore...
Although the big shots in the group seemed terrifying.
But... she felt that the living Kitahara Kaede was the real big shot.
Kirigakure's reputation and strength as a major village had already collapsed. It was useless for her to be able to fight alone.
So... she might as well get close to Kitahara Kaede. Perhaps she could gain an opportunity to restore Kirigakure's prestige.
When a big sister did business... she made direct investments.
Therefore, Mei Terumi was showing her goodwill.
Of course, if she got the chance, poaching him directly would be best.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Kitahara Kaede simply went to her Kirigakure then?
The Mizukage's Kiss! (Please Support with Data)
Because of Mei Terumi's interruption and arrival, an orange-haired big sister joined Team 7 for lunch at noon.
However, unlike Kakashi, who had already been in the group for a long time.
Sasuke and Naruto were seeing someone other than the Third Hokage who was a [Kage] for the first time.
"Kage-level strength..." Sasuke stared at Mei Terumi.
However, Sasuke was still much like he had been in the original story. He had no interest in girls, so he did not know that big sisters were actually wonderful creatures.
What he cared about was her strength.
"Looks like I'm being doubted."
Mei Terumi sat blankly beside Kitahara Kaede. "Then I'll show you a little."
"Kakashi Hatake, use a Water Dragon Bullet for me."
"..." Kakashi.
He felt a headache coming on.
Whenever he heard Water Dragon Bullet now, he felt sick. Mainly because the Second Hokage's high-intensity training had left him traumatized by that ninjutsu.
Still, thanks to that training method, he had gained an extremely fast casting speed.
"Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet!"
When he first formed hand seals alongside Zabuza, he needed forty-four seals. Now, he only needed four!
"—Snake, Rat, Tiger, Dog—"
Kakashi completed the hand seals in just 1.5 seconds.
The instant he finished, a massive water dragon burst from the ground.
This was a true Water Dragon Bullet.
Even when they were not standing on water, the Water Dragon Bullet could still be formed.
"Not bad," Mei Terumi said with a soft smile.
Her alluring red lips parted slightly as her hands began forming seals.
She formed them very quickly as well.
"Water Prison Wall!"
"Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Water like ocean waves instantly wrapped around Kakashi's eighteen-meter water dragon.
Yet just as the water dragon seemed momentarily stunned, a twenty-six-meter water dragon surged up from beneath it.
It swallowed it whole.
And that was also a Water Dragon Bullet.
While forming the seals for Water Prison Wall, Mei Terumi had already incorporated the Water Dragon Bullet.
That meant... her understanding of Water Release had surpassed that of her predecessors.
"So this is the ninjutsu released by someone at Kage level—"
Sasuke's mouth fell open in shock.
"This... is so cool!"
Naruto was instantly stunned as well.
As a rookie Genin, the only ninjutsu Naruto had encountered were the Three Body Technique and Water Dragon Bullet. Now that a genuine Kage-level Water Dragon Bullet had appeared, he was immediately captivated.
Using Water Prison Wall to trap the enemy, then having the Water Dragon Bullet devour the enemy on cue.
The combination was ingenious, and its range was enormous.
Boom!
The ninjutsu ended, and the entire lawn instantly became a small lake that reached above their knees.
This was something ordinary ninja could never accomplish.
[Even when using the same ninjutsu, the range is completely different depending on the amount of Chakra output and proficiency.]
Kitahara Kaede took out a small notebook and recorded it.
"That was so cool!" Naruto immediately praised her.
"Heh~"
Mei Terumi smiled, but Naruto was not her target. She immediately moved over to Kitahara Kaede's side.
·····
Mei Terumi claimed that, as the Mizukage of Kirigakure, she had received news of a Rogue Ninja appearing in the area and had come over.
In other words, she was here to take Zabuza away.
Like the various immortals in Journey to the West coming to retrieve their pets.
She would offer a couple of apologetic words about failing to control her subordinate, then leave.
But clearly, now was not the time to let her take Zabuza away.
As a standard Jonin with tough skin and thick flesh, Zabuza still had great value as a sparring partner for Naruto and Sasuke.
So Kitahara Kaede asked her to wait at least a few days.
Mei Terumi had no objections.
However.
······
"Little Brother Kitahara, don't you plan to train your Taijutsu at all?"
Mei Terumi asked.
She was currently accompanying Kitahara Kaede as he scouted the surrounding area.
After being delayed for several days, they had already arrived in the Land of Waves.
Aside from Team 7 and Tazuna, the protected old man whose presence had been so low that he had felt like he did not exist the entire journey.
Mei Terumi, Zabuza, and his two utterly exhausted subordinates had followed along as well.
According to Zabuza, after becoming a Rogue Ninja, he had intended to strike back at Kirigakure.
But... after seeing how fierce Mei Terumi's Water Release was, he gave up.
At most, he was only at Jonin level, perhaps close to Elite Jonin.
But compared to Kage level... he was still far too lacking.
So after learning from Mei Terumi that the Fourth Mizukage was already gone, he chose to return.
For Kirigakure... that counted as another source of support.
After all, aside from Mei Terumi, the only notable ninja were Ao and Chojuro.
Thus, with Zabuza, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and wielder of Kubikiribōchō, joining them, Kirigakure gained more strength.
It would not look quite so pathetic.
And according to Zabuza, the reason he had attacked Kakashi was because he had accepted a commission after becoming a Rogue Ninja.
The employer was Gato.
Gato controlled the economy of the small fishing village, the Land of Waves. If Tazuna built a bridge to open trade, it would undoubtedly affect Gato's monopoly.
So he had arranged for Zabuza to assassinate Tazuna.
Now, after resting for a day, Zabuza still had to accompany Naruto and Sasuke in Taijutsu training. Kitahara Kaede, however, did not train with them and instead wandered freely around the Land of Waves.
They had just passed through the docks.
Unable to trade with the outside world, the Land of Waves had cheap seafood but expensive daily necessities.
Kitahara Kaede took out his notebook and wrote as he listened to Mei Terumi.
Mei Terumi had just asked why he was not training Taijutsu with Sasuke and Naruto.
"I possess Wood Release. I only need to think about unleashing ultimate moves, not study Taijutsu," Kitahara Kaede replied casually.
"You really trust me," Mei Terumi said. "Anyone with knowledge knows how precious someone capable of Wood Release is."
"So the moment they see you, they would probably want to abduct you."
Mei Terumi said.
As she said that, she noticed Kitahara Kaede glance her way.
"..." Mei Terumi.
Well.
That had actually been her idea. Her methods were simply gentler for now.
And then.
Her slender fingers suddenly brushed across a civilian's thigh. When she raised her hand again, she was already holding a kunai.
Before you continue