Wind on the Left, Lightning on the Right, Moving as He Willed!

Just as Kiyohara and Kakashi briefly exchanged words and prepared to carry out a decapitation tactic, a surge of chakra far stronger than before suddenly erupted from within the dense mist!

A surge of chakra far stronger than before suddenly erupted from within the dense mist!

"Water Release: Water Dragon Whip!"

The next moment, several long whips formed from highly compressed streams of water lashed at Kiyohara from different angles within the mist.

These water whips were not only incredibly fast, but their impact was enough to shatter rocks with ease.

"Hm?"

Kiyohara twisted aside and dodged.

He got a clear look at the newcomer.

She seemed to be around his age, but she had long, curly reddish-brown hair, emerald-green eyes, and creamy pale skin.

Even her features and every movement carried an inexplicable allure.

Combined with Kirigakure, those physical traits, and her masterful Water Release, a name instantly crossed Kiyohara's mind.

Mei Terumi!

The future Fifth Mizukage, a super genius with the two Kekkei Genkai of Scorch Release and Boil Release!

She had actually taken part in this attack as well?

"This mist is still a bit troublesome..."

Kiyohara frowned.

Since that was the case, he fought Mei Terumi with his ninja sword while constantly tossing Shuriken from his ninja tool pouch as he moved.

Watching Kiyohara's movements, Mei Terumi occasionally used her water whips to knock the Shuriken flying in every direction.

Within the dense mist, visibility was extremely poor for both sides.

However, these Kirigakure ninja had undergone special training and were better able to adapt to this environment.

"Hmph, throwing Shuriken..."

Mei Terumi was about to form hand seals. Watching Kiyohara dodge in such a sorry state, she had already lost most of her interest.

She had thought he was a rare handsome man. What a pity—he was all looks and no substance.

After fighting for so long, all he could do was evade.

That was the weakness of sword-wielding ninja. Relying solely on basic swordsmanship made it difficult to contend against long-range ninjutsu.

Before Mei Terumi could finish her hand seals, Kiyohara hooked his fingers first, as though forming seals. The air suddenly carried the smell of scorching.

Fine threads, almost impossible to detect, gradually tightened and appeared across the battlefield.

Because of the dense mist, these threads were even harder to notice. Even Mei Terumi had not realized that so many threads had appeared while she was not paying attention.

Sss...

A lock of Mei Terumi's curly hair was sliced away by a taut copper wire.

These were specially made copper wires as well. Aside from the two ends, the middle sections had been deliberately sharpened.

As a result, this technique could easily injure its own user with the slightest mistake.

"How...?"

Mei Terumi frowned and raised her pretty face to inspect her surroundings.

To her astonishment, she found that a net-like structure had already formed around her without her noticing.

"How is that possible? Don't your wires get tangled?"

Mei Terumi's eyes widened, utterly baffled.

In such a short time, he had used Shuriken to weave a net around her.

That meant Kiyohara had planned for every single Shuriken, even the ones she had knocked away!

The ninja before her was not even an Uchiha, so how could his Shuriken control be this strong?

"Kakashi, don't come any closer."

As Kiyohara spoke, his fingers curled inward once more.

The threads tightened, drawing the net closed ever more tightly.

A moment later.

Crackling arcs of electricity spread inward along the copper wires, swiftly engulfing the shocked Mei Terumi.

Lightning Release: Shuriken Lightning Induction!

At the same time, Kiyohara formed hand seals again.

He slammed a Lightning Release ninjutsu down at the ground.

Lightning Release: Ground Flash!

Electric arcs flickered across the ground, slithering forward like venomous snakes.

After doing all that, Kiyohara infused Wind Release chakra into the currents.

This was the effect of Wind Release: Gale Palm.

This ninjutsu could also enhance Wind Release chakra attached to ninja tools.

At that moment, wind and lightning intertwined, causing the Shuriken's power to surge once more. Fine cracks even appeared on the Shuriken's surfaces.

Wind on the left, lightning on the right—moving as he willed!

"Kirigakure ninja, how will you deal with this?"

Kiyohara smiled faintly as he looked at Mei Terumi, whose face was clearly showing distress.

This combination sealed off every route she could take, both in the air and on the ground.

Alarm bells rang furiously in Mei Terumi's mind!

The copper wire net, flashing with blinding lightning, was rapidly contracting, while electric arcs also raced toward her across the ground.

The interweaving wind and lightning had formed a killing trap!

There was nowhere to dodge!

"Damn it!"

A trace of gravity flashed through Mei Terumi's emerald-green eyes.

She had originally intended to defeat her opponent with pure Water Release and keep her trump card hidden, but Kiyohara had opened with a chain of attacks, completely disrupting her plans.

Faced with this potentially fatal composite ninjutsu attack, she could no longer afford to conceal her strength.

"Scorch Release: Lava Monster Technique!"

Mei Terumi parted her red lips, and a thick, magma-like liquid mixed with intensely acidic chakra erupted violently from her mouth!

Mei Terumi spat!

This was not ordinary Water Release, but her unique Kekkei Genkai... Scorch Release!

Sizzle!

Pungent white steam instantly rose alongside the sound of corrosion.

The highly viscous acidic liquid met the contracting lightning-infused copper wire net and the Lightning Release: Ground Flash racing up from the ground.

The instant the electric arcs touched the liquid, they were rapidly dissolved by its powerful corrosiveness!

Under the erosion of Scorch Release, the copper wire net melted at a visible rate.

The sharp aura brought by Wind Release chakra was likewise blocked by the overwhelming viscous liquid.

However, Kiyohara's chain attack was no trivial matter. Especially after being amplified by Wind Release: Gale Palm, Lightning Release's penetration and destructive power had risen to another level.

Though the liquid Mei Terumi had hastily spat out successfully blocked most of the fatal attacks,

the remaining lightning and wind pressure still broke through the liquid's defenses and struck her body.

"Urgh!"

Mei Terumi let out a muffled groan. The clothing on her arms and shoulders was torn apart, while her creamy skin was cut by the wind currents, leaving her looking rather disheveled.

She panted heavily, her eyes filled with shock.

If she had not used her Kekkei Genkai in time, that attack would have either killed her or left her severely wounded!

This civilian ninja... his methods were unbelievably troublesome!

"To think you forced me to use my Kekkei Genkai..."

Mei Terumi looked at the still-calm Kiyohara ahead of her, and not a trace of contempt remained in her heart.

"Mei Terumi, fall back!"

Just as Mei Terumi steadied herself and prepared to form hand seals again, intending to use a more powerful ninjutsu to regain face, an urgent shout came from behind her.

It was Ao!

He had been concealed nearby all along, observing the battle with a Water Release ninjutsu similar to the Crystal Ball Technique.

When he saw Mei Terumi forced by Kiyohara's trap to use Scorch Release just to barely hold on, even suffering minor injuries, he was horrified and could no longer stand by.

She was Kirigakure's genius.

They had only brought her out this time to temper her. Nothing could happen to Mei Terumi.

Ao stepped between Mei Terumi and Kiyohara.

"Ao!"

Mei Terumi was unwilling to accept it, but she also knew she had indeed fallen behind just now. If Ao had not called out in time, she might have acted rashly again.

"So you finally came out on your own..."

Kiyohara swallowed a Military Ration Pill.

As long as they found a way to deal with the ninja interfering with the Byakugan, with Jonin-level fighters like Hyuga Ginka and Hyuga Nobuhiko—

if everyone attacked together, could they really fail to take down Ao?

When would he fulfill his final wish?

Today!