The secret battle between two women!

Tōka's dispelling of the Summoning Technique signaled a retreat, Sound Four immediately dispelled the Four Violet Flames Formation upon seeing Tōka's retreat signal.

The purple light curtain that enveloped the Forest of Death receded like a tide, revealing the azure sky once more, with fluffy white clouds drifting by, as if everything had returned to peace.

That's not actually the case...

In one corner of the Forest of Death, the earth collapsed, and a chasm cleaved the Forest in two.

From the edge, Tōka looked down at the scene below. Jiraiya and Naruto had used the Reverse Summoning Technique to escape; they must have gone to Mount Myōboku.

Although they knew where Naruto was, Tōka didn't know the exact entrance to Mount Myōboku.

"This kind of thing can be left to Black Zetsu." The thought flashed through Tōka's mind, and he immediately noticed Sasuke in the crevice of the rock.

His eyes suddenly lit up, and a sly, Fox- like smile crept across his lips.

"Sasuke, it seems you've been abandoned again!"

Sasuke, Dust-Covered, was crawling out of the collapsed ruins when he heard Tōka's words. Sasuke's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly looked up and glared fiercely at Tōka.

Tōka's words were like a thorn in his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Itachi will always be Sasuke's obsession, but now Jiraiya has chosen to leave with Naruto, leaving him behind...

Tōka stared into Sasuke's eyes, his crimson pupils consumed by endless negative emotions.

Good eye; perhaps this choice was the right one.

Tōka shook her head helplessly and chuckled, "Don't look at me like that. We're not enemies; we're just temporarily on different sides."

At this moment, Sasuke was like an abandoned little animal, his mind overwhelmed by a jumble of emotions.

There is fear of the unknown world, loneliness of being left alone, and anger of being hurt again.

Itachi's image suddenly appeared in Sasuke's mind.

The night he least wanted to remember flooded his thoughts.

Itachi's words seemed to echo endlessly in Sasuke's ears, and all his emotions transformed into an obsessive hatred in Sasuke eyes!

"Can you give me power?" Through the crack, Sasuke stared intently at Tōka, even though he knew he was making a deal with a demon.

So what? As long as I can gain power, I'm willing to sell my soul.

Tōka really liked Sasuke's eyes, the eyes that were desperate for power, the eyes that were staring at him without blinking, just like now.

Why do you want to gain power?

The alluring, enchanting Demonic Sound reached Sasuke's ears, eroding the walls of his heart and planting a Seed of evil deep within him.

"To kill Itachi? Jiraiya?"

Or... Naruto?

Sasuke asked himself the same question: Why... just to kill Itachi...?

"Kill that man!" A moment's hesitation did not change Sasuke's mind; he said it with a firm and resolute voice.

Sasuke's answer was expected.

Tōka smiled faintly, pursing her lips, offering no further explanation, only vaguely stating, "When you gain the power, you will also gain the answer."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tōka stretched out his palm and grabbed suddenly, and a terrifying force of attraction immediately emanated from his palm.

The earth shifted and the rock layers crumbled.

Sasuke's body felt light, and with a whoosh, he was pulled straight out.

Bang!

As soon as Tōka changed his seal, the two of them instantly turned into a cloud of smoke and exploded, then disappeared from the spot.

After everyone had left, Sakura, still in shock, finally came to her senses and stared blankly at the spot where Sasuke had disappeared.

He screamed in terror...

"Sasuke!!"

The high-pitched, piercing sound pierced through the Mountain Stream, startling the birds perched in the nearby Forest, which flapped their wings and flew rapidly into the sky.

Then, the Forest of Death fell into a deathly silence.

Konoha, Hokage Building.

Tsunade stood at the window, looking at the ruined village, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. She silently leaned against the windowsill, and the room became unusually quiet.

Knock knock knock!

A slow, deliberate knock sounded, followed by the sound of someone pushing the door open and entering.

Tsunade quickly turned around and saw a group of people, led by Kakashi, filing in, making the empty room suddenly feel crowded.

When she saw the last figure walk into the Hokage's Office, Tsunade's pupils constricted sharply.

"Lord Hokage, I have some information..." Kakashi noticed Tsunade and, just as he was about to step forward, he took a step to the side.

Kakashi stepped aside from the Mizukage Mei Terumī, saying, "Let the Mizukage- sama speak to you personally."

Mei Terumī paused for a moment, then walked confidently forward until she stopped in front of the desk. Shizune, the Hokage's assistant, immediately moved a chair over and placed it behind Mei Terumī.

Kakashi waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave for the time being.

After a while, the room fell silent again, with only the Hokage of Konoha and the Mizukage of Kirigakure sitting across from each other at the table.

"Kakashi has already given me the general information. Do you have anything to add, Mizukage- sama?" Tsunade glared at Mei Terumī with obvious displeasure, her tone filled with anger.

Within Konoha, the turmoil in all other places did not cause as much damage Mizukage alone.

Mei Terumī's Boil Release and Lava Release destroyed many buildings, but that was secondary.

Most importantly, she tied down most of the Anbu Ninja, indirectly causing the losses to escalate in various places.

"I'll only apologize once. I came here to tell you some information, but if you don't want to listen, that's fine too!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Mei Terumī stood up as if to leave.

She was also a strong-willed woman; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to forcefully unify the vast and chaotic Kirigakure.

Mei Terumī apologized for the losses suffered by Konoha, but she would never say "I'm sorry" a second time.

Moreover, this incident can be considered an "internal" matter of Konoha, Mei Terumī felt that she was the one who was most frustrated!

Seeing Mei Terumī walk to the door, she reached out and grasped the doorknob.

Tsunade knew that if she didn't speak up soon, the conversation would end there. Her face darkened, and she loosened her grip on her lip.

"You didn't make this special trip just to give me a hard time, did you?"

Upon Mei Terumī paused in her actions, seemingly realizing that she had acted too impulsively. Dealing with that guy was no longer a matter for her alone, or rather, for the entire Kirigakure.

Joining forces with Konoha and Sunagakure Shinobi, victory is assured!

Stay calm, stay calm...

Mei Terumī took two deep breaths, repeatedly reminding herself that this was a major event for the village and she couldn't act on her own whims.

A moment later, Mei Terumī looked up at Tsunade. Although she didn't intend to leave, she didn't want to lose the initiative like this.

"You want to know information about Tōka?"

"Information about Tōka?!" Tsunade narrowed her eyes, and the moment she saw Mei Terumī turn around, she was completely relieved.

To become the Kage of Kirigakure, one must be no fool!

Turning away was merely a ploy to force her to speak, to put her at a disadvantage, and to seize the initiative.

Even though she knew Mei Terumī's intentions, Tsunade was still furious. What kind of time was this? How could they still have time to play these games?

"Hmph, Tōka's intelligence?"

Tsunade snorted coldly, looking at Mei Terumī with a mocking expression.

"You think you know more detailed information than Konoha? Tōka has been in Konoha for over ten years!"

Upon hearing this, Mei Terumī was not angry. Instead, a slight smile appeared on her face. She pulled over a chair, plopped down, and crossed her long, beautiful legs.

His confident demeanor made Tsunade suppress the sarcasm on her lips.

The silence is also a covert confrontation between the Hokage and the Mizukage, a contest of momentum, perseverance, and who can remain more composed.

In the end, Tsunade was defeated.

The turmoil in Konoha has just been stabilized. Have all the enemies lurking in the Forest surrounding the village withdrawn? Is the village truly safe now?

Rescuing the wounded, rebuilding houses—a whole host of troublesome matters awaited her attention.

"What do you know? Or rather, what happened to you?" Tsunade didn't have time to waste with Mei Terumī, and she broke the silence first.

It has been confirmed by Mei Terumī Inoichi Yamanaka that Terumi Akira was hypnotized by Tōka's Genjutsu; otherwise, Kakashi, as the Anbu Captain, would not have allowed the Mizukage and Tsunade to stay.

Tsunade said that intentionally, to anger Mei Terumī.

Only anger can throw a person into a state of panic, and only a panicked Mizukage will reveal more information.

"Don't try to provoke me with such words!" Mei Terumī was an extremely strong-willed person, and being controlled by Tōka's Genjutsu was a disgrace to her entire life!

"Just ask me anything you want to know about Tōka's Six Harmonies Divine Technique!"

"Six Harmonies Divine Technique?" A look of surprise flashed in Tsunade's eyes.

The records in Konoha only mention Tōka's Kekkei Genkai, All-Killing Ash Bones, and his very strange Genjutsu abilities.

Seeing Tsunade's surprise, Mei Terumī couldn't help but sneer, "The Six Harmonies Divine Technique is Genjutsu, but it's not an ordinary Genjutsu!"

This isn't just ordinary Genjutsu? Could it be Kekkei Genkai?

Tsunade placed her fists on the table, waiting for the Mizukage to continue.

"Just as you thought, it's Kekkei Genkai." Mei Terumī's gloomy face seemed to drip water.

Ao, a member of the Kirigakure's Shadow Guard, once received the Byakugan from the Hyuga Clan on the Battlefield, which was then transplanted into his own eye as a trophy.

Or perhaps it's because Ao isn't a pure Hyuga Clan Bloodline, which weakens the Byakugan's power, but it's still not something that ordinary Genjutsu can control!

Moreover, Tōka didn't seem to intend to hide the Six Harmonies Divine Technique. During the encounter in the Forest, he revealed many secrets about the Six Harmonies Divine Technique.

"Kekkei Genkai of the Genjutsu type? Add the All-Killing Ash Bones, wouldn't that be two Kekkei Genkai?" Even though she had already guessed it, Tsunade was still shocked.

"I also have two Kekkei Genkai, haven't you already seen them?" Mei Terumī was not satisfied with Tsunade's reaction.

As the Hokage, one should be able to remain calm and composed in the face of any situation.

Even if Mount Tai collapses before you, you will remain calm and composed!

"It's different." Tsunade bit her nail and shook her head slightly.

Mei Terumī's Boil Release is a fusion of water and fire Chakra Nature Transformation, while Lava Release is a fusion of earth and fire Chakra Nature Transformation.

However, Tōka's ability is different. What two Chakra Nature Transformation are combined to create the decaying, All-Killing Ash Bones?

What are the characteristics of that Genjutsu Kekkei Genkai?

Tsunade vaguely remembered that there was once a glorious Genjutsu clan in the village, which was on par with the Uchiha Clan — the Kurama Clan.

After the Kurama Clan awakens their Kekkei Genkai, they possess the Genjutsu ability "True Illusion".

What about Tōka's Genjutsu? Is it a power to enhance mind control and manipulate the enemy?

Finally, Tsunade pulled herself together, looked up at Mei Terumī again, and said with a serious expression, "Please tell me everything that happened in detail!"

Mei Terumī's eyes narrowed, and after seeing Tsunade's serious expression, she swallowed back the words she was about to say.

She seemed to realize that things might not be as simple as she thought, and that the secret to defeating the enemy was to obtain their intelligence.

Mei Terumī recalled the encounter that day.

"Let's start with the story of chasing Kirigakure, the Rogue Ninja from Kirigakure Zabuza Momochi from the Land of Water..."

After leaving the Forest of Death, Tōka led Sasuke directly into Konoha. Naturally, Tōka used a simple Transformation Technique to change their appearance and clothing.

Even so, Sasuke, walking behind, was still terrified.

He opened his mouth several times as if to speak, but in the end, the two walked through two streets without Sasuke asking a question.

"Just say what you want to say. Hesitating doesn't sound like you." Tōka, walking ahead with his back to Sasuke, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.

Sasuke was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, only then realizing that the two of them had spent some time together and understood each other's personalities to some extent.

Although he was doing D-rank missions during that period, Sasuke felt very fulfilled.

Unconsciously, a silly figure appeared in Sasuke's mind. He was startled and quickly shook his head to shake off the messy images in his mind.

"Is it appropriate for us to stroll around the village like this?" Sasuke glanced around before asking in a low voice.

He spoke softly, but Sasuke knew that Tōka's strength was enough to hear him clearly.

"What are you worried about?" Tōka stopped and turned around, grinning. "Let's not even talk about them not being able to find me."

Even if they find out it was me, so what?

So what if we found it?

So what...

Tōka's last words kept echoing in Sasuke's ears, lingering like Demonic Sound.

Yeah, so what?

Even the legendary Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, was no match for Tōka; he didn't even engage in direct combat before trying to escape.

In Konoha, who else could possibly keep him here?

At this moment, Sasuke's gaze towards Tōka changed. This was the strength of a true powerhouse, the power he had been pursuing!

Only those with enough strength to crush everything else.

Five Great Nations? Ninja World?

Where in the world can't I go?!

"Oh? It seems you understand something, but our trip to Konoha ends here." Tōka raised an eyebrow and glanced at Sasuke, then suddenly raised his Sword Hand Seal.

Bang!

Transformation Technique deactivated!

Tōka revealed his true form, Sasuke stood quietly behind him, completely ignoring the strange looks from the surrounding Konoha Ninja.

As S-rank Rogue Ninja of Konoha, Tōka's portrait had already spread throughout the entire village.

Moreover, Konoha had just stabilized, and the villagers were either hiding in their homes or in Shelter. Those walking on the streets were mostly Konoha Ninja.

Tōka ignored the countless gazes directed at him from all around, simply watching the purple-haired beauty hurrying towards him.

"Anko, I've finally found you!"