Mei Terumi: Do You Know How Hard This Has Been for Me?

"I've never tried using the Mangekyō Sharingan to control a Jinchuriki or a Tailed Beast."

Listening to the commotion drawing closer, Itachi suddenly thought of this issue.

"You don't need to use your Sharingan. We ordinary people can just lend a hand. Have faith in the strength of Kirigakure's own ninja."

Shirozumi waved a hand. "Never mind whether you can control Yagura. Even if you do, the most likely outcome is that Kirigakure's people will switch from attacking him to attacking you."

Their main purpose in coming to Kirigakure in the Land of Water was the Land of Waves, as well as establishing connections for future development with the Akatsuki Organization and Amegakure.

Even if Shirozumi and the others had not come, Kirigakure could have resolved this on its own.

As for Yagura, he truly was a pitiful man.

From his conversation with Naruto, it was clear that Yagura was not someone bloodthirsty or fond of killing.

Among Jinchuriki, he could even be considered one of the sunniest.

Yet according to the records, Yagura had not started the Blood Mist, but he was the one who had carried it forward.

This meant that before Yagura had been controlled by the Masked Man, Obito, he had already been under Madara's control.

That also explained why Madara, in the scheme he had set up against Obito, could so easily control Kirigakure's Three-Tails and have Kirigakure's ninja hunt down Kakashi and Rin.

If Madara had controlled Yagura and issued the orders, then it was no mystery.

And if that was the case, it was not difficult to explain why Yagura, this so-called "perfect Jinchuriki," could be controlled by Genjutsu.

According to what Killer B said later, perfect Jinchuriki were immune to Genjutsu, as though they had two consciousnesses within one body.

If a Jinchuriki fell under Genjutsu, the Tailed Beast could simply help dispel it.

Yagura was different.

He had been controlled before becoming a Jinchuriki. Later, the Three-Tails was first controlled with the Sharingan, then sealed inside him.

Two beings controlled by the Sharingan would naturally not come into conflict, thus creating the conditions for a "perfect Jinchuriki."

It was simply a tragic situation.

At this point, it became clear why Shirozumi had not allowed Uchiha Itachi to use the Sharingan to control Yagura and then help him dispel the Genjutsu.

Because once Yagura was controlled by Itachi, the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beast would no longer be under the same control.

Once Yagura woke up, with his originally sunny and cheerful personality, discovering that he had done so many twisted things would make his mentality collapse in an instant.

In the better scenario, he would kill himself to atone, or remain calm but soon die of depression.

Otherwise, his consciousness would be directly overtaken by the Three-Tails' Chakra, and he would go berserk.

No matter which outcome occurred, Kirigakure would see it as them having killed Yagura.

Besides, given Itachi's physical condition, the only time he used Susanoo while alive, he immediately dropped dead afterward.

Other people spent mana when using skills; he spent his lifespan.

It would be hilarious if they got Itachi killed ahead of time.

"Ha! We're finally here! Everyone, give it everything you've got! Water Release..."

Kirigakure's ninja finally leaped out of the forest.

One after another, they formed hand seals in midair, drawing upon the seawater and unleashing Water Release.

Now it was clear why they had rushed this way.

Water Release ninja could only bring out their greatest strength where there was water.

The stronger ones could produce water themselves.

Those who were weaker, or less skilled with Water Release—even the future Sixth Mizukage, Chojuro—could only use Water Release after Gaara drew up groundwater.

These Kirigakure ninja had gradually moved the battlefield toward the shore precisely to narrow the gap in strength.

Yagura would also grow stronger by the sea, but compared to him, there were more of them, so their overall increase would naturally be greater.

"Ao, check it. There shouldn't be any villagers nearby, right?"

"There aren't... wait. No villagers, but there are two unfamiliar ninja... uh, probably one ninja. He's very powerful. As for the other one, he's strange, but he has no Chakra."

With his Byakugan activated, Ao swept his gaze across the coast and noticed Shirozumi and Itachi.

"I'll keep an eye on them. Ao, coordinate with the others and help Lord Fourth Hokage dispel the Genjutsu as quickly as possible."

Tap.

Mei Terumi, her reddish-brown hair falling to her waist, landed before Shirozumi and Itachi with a wary expression.

"Fifth Mizukage, don't be nervous. We're here to help, and while we're at it, discuss cooperation."

Before Mei Terumi could speak, Shirozumi beat her to it.

"Fifth Mizukage? Who?"

Mei Terumi froze at his words.

Still, she understood the rest.

"Help? Cooperate? If you want to help, then stay here and don't move. If you want to cooperate, show some sincerity—tell your prospective partner who you are first."

Mei Terumi sensed that Shirozumi did not seem hostile, but she still did not lower her guard.

Meanwhile, when Itachi heard Shirozumi call her the "Fifth Mizukage" and saw her confused expression, he knew Shirozumi had done it deliberately.

It seemed Shirozumi was preparing to tell her certain things.

"Since the Mizukage has put it that way, Itachi, don't make a move. Go over there and watch. If anyone's life is in danger, step in and save them."

Shirozumi raised a hand.

"Yes."

Itachi vanished in a Body Flicker.

"Itachi? Uchiha Itachi? That S-rank Rogue Ninja from Konoha?"

Mei Terumi was somewhat startled to hear the name from Shirozumi.

After seeing Itachi disappear, she hurriedly turned to look back and found that he had indeed followed Shirozumi's orders. He did not intervene, instead keeping a certain distance from the battlefield as he watched. She immediately let out a sigh of relief.

Then she recalled Shirozumi's order to Itachi...

It was too strange.

A Rogue Ninja from Konoha was protecting the lives of Kirigakure's ninja?

And who was this person standing before her, someone capable of commanding Uchiha Itachi?

"Just who are you, sir? What is your purpose?"

Mei Terumi calmed herself and continued questioning him.

"Didn't I already say? Help, cooperation.

"As for my identity... how does this sound: a visitor from the future who wishes to change the fate of the Shinobi World, Mizukage?"

Shirozumi smiled at Mei Terumi.

"Kirigakure's Mizukage is Lord Yagura. I have no idea what you're talking about. And this nonsense about coming from the future... do you really think I'd believe that?"

Mei Terumi brought her hands before her chest and formed a starting hand seal, ready to attack at any moment.

If he was suddenly using such absurd nonsense to deceive her over something like this, then his supposed help, cooperation, and goodwill were most likely lies as well.

"Don't be so hasty. I have proof, but it's somewhat private. You'll have to promise not to get angry before I can show it to you, Mizukage."

Shirozumi took a scroll from his pocket.

"Proof?"

Mei Terumi relaxed her hands, confusion flickering between her brows.

—Could what he said be true?

"Fine, I promise you. Show me your proof."

Mei Terumi ignored Shirozumi's warning not to get angry, completely unable to understand what sort of proof could possibly make her angry.

"Alright."

Shirozumi opened the scroll and pulled out one photograph from a stack.

But instead of showing it right away, he took out a recorder as well.

Click.

Playback—

"Mmm~ handsome boy, do you know how hard it was for me back then~?"

"My opponent was the legendary Madara Uchiha, and my four teammates... hic."

"One was an old freak who'd lived long enough and could break twenty-five Susanoo apart into atoms."

"One was a crazy bastard who wasn't afraid of dying and charged through Amaterasu to chop at Susanoo with a hand blade."

"One was a crazy woman who wouldn't die even after being stabbed clean through and cut in half."

"One was a young crazy bastard who had died once, come back to life, and never slept."

"Me? I was just an older unmarried woman who could spray water..."

Mei Terumi: "..."