The Dawn Shipping flight formation in the sky stood in stark contrast to the tense, sword-drawn Kirigakure ninja on the ground.
Gonbei's face twisted with agitation and fury.
He could not understand why Mei Terumi and Chojuro were obstructing the only method that could save the village.
In his view, against a weapon from Konoha capable of destroying heaven and earth, only power on the same level as a Tailed Beast offered even a sliver of hope.
How could they lose their heads over something like this?
"Mei Terumi! Have they scared you out of your wits?" Gonbei roared. "Release the Three-Tails, and at least we can fight them to mutual destruction! Are you going to stand by and watch Kirigakure's legacy end in our hands, to be ruled by Konoha like stray dogs?"
"Mutual destruction?" Mei Terumi did not yield an inch. "Gonbei, look carefully! The net will not break, but the fish certainly will die! And all the fish at that!"
As she spoke, she pointed toward the forest that had been turned into scorched earth in an instant, then toward the intimidating aerial formation and the massive flying fortress overhead.
"Can't you see that kind of power? Release the Three-Tails? Never mind whether the weakened Mizukage-sama can bear it— even if the Three-Tails does emerge successfully, the destruction it causes will strike back at us first! By then, Konoha will not even need to lift a finger. We'll be destroyed by our own savior first!"
Mei Terumi's words were like icy water, dousing the hearts of many Kirigakure ninja whose minds had been clouded by rage and fear.
They raised their heads slightly to look at the disciplined, well-equipped force in the sky, then recalled the strike from moments ago, a blow comparable to a natural disaster.