"Hmph!"
The girl turned her head away, putting on a show of defiance unto death. Worried that Uchiha Mai might actually kill her subordinate, though, she stole a sidelong glance at him.
That single glance seemed to last ten thousand years. The instant their eyes met, her consciousness sank into those deep purple eyes, unable to escape.
Genjutsu. Uchiha Mai had used Sharingan Genjutsu.
In those deep purple eyes, so different from an ordinary Sharingan, three black tomoe spun rapidly, joining into a pattern resembling the Tencent News logo.
Powerful, mysterious eye power flowed through his gaze, planting a suggestion in Mei Terumi's mind: you care deeply about your subordinates.
The girl had already been worried about her subordinates' safety. Now, under the Mangekyō Sharingan's mental suggestion, her inner defenses crumbled in an instant.
"I—I can tell you, but you have to promise not to hurt me or my three teammates."
"Agreed."
Uchiha Mai nodded slightly and raised his right hand in pledge. "I swear on my character and the honor represented by the Uchiha name that, as long as you answer my questions honestly, I'll spare your lives.
"Of course, that only applies to today."
Mei Terumi bit her lip. Only today. That made sense. If they met on the battlefield another day, they would still be enemies.
Only today was good enough.
"There are four thousand ninja in total launching the surprise attack on Konoha."
Mei Terumi explained, "We're just a reconnaissance squad traveling at the very front of the main force.
"Behind the reconnaissance units is an elite squad led by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Including the seven themselves, it has more than twenty jonin.
"That unit exists specifically to deal with top-tier fighters like you.
"Behind the elite unit led by the Seven Swordsmen is the