Wind on the Left, Thunder on the Right, Moving at Will!

Just as Kiyohara exchanged a few brief words with Kakashi and prepared to execute the decapitation strike, a surge of Chakra, far more powerful than anything felt before, suddenly erupted from within the thick fog!

Within the dense mist, a surge of Chakra, far more powerful than anything felt before, suddenly erupted!

"Water Release: Water Dragon Whip!"

The next moment, several long whips formed from highly compressed water lashed out at Kiyohara from various angles within the fog.

These water whips were not only incredibly fast, but the impact force they carried was enough to shatter solid rock with ease.

"Hmm?"

Kiyohara dodged to the side.

Kiyohara caught a clear look at the newcomer.

She appeared to be roughly his own age, with long, curly auburn hair, emerald-green eyes, and fair, smooth skin.

Her facial features and every movement carried an inexplicable charm.

Combining the location of Kirigakure, these physical traits, and her masterful use of Water Release, a name instantly flashed through Kiyohara's mind.

Mei Terumi!

The future Fifth Mizukage, a super genius who possessed two Kekkei Genkai: Scorch Release and Boil Release!

She was actually participating in this ambush as well?

"This fog is still a bit of a nuisance..."

Kiyohara frowned.

Since that was the case, he fought Mei Terumi with his ninja blade while constantly shifting his body, throwing shuriken from his ninja tool pouch as he moved.

Mei Terumi watched Kiyohara's actions, occasionally using her water whips to swat the shuriken away in all directions.

Inside the thick fog, visibility was extremely low for both sides.

However, these Kirigakure ninja had undergone special training, making them better adapted to this environment.

"Hmph, throwing shuriken, are you..."

Mei Terumi prepared to weave hand seals, losing interest as she watched Kiyohara dodge in a flustered manner.

She had thought he was a rare handsome man, but it was a pity he was all show and no substance, merely a pretty face.

After fighting for so long, he could only dodge.

This was the drawback of a sword-wielding ninja; relying solely on basic swordsmanship made it difficult to contend with long-range Ninjutsu.

Before Mei Terumi could finish her hand seals, Kiyohara flicked his fingers first, as if weaving a seal, and a burnt scent suddenly filled the air.

Some imperceptible thin wires gradually tightened, appearing on the battlefield.

Because of the thick fog, these wires were even harder to detect, and even Mei Terumi hadn't realized that so many wires had been set up while she wasn't paying attention.

Sss...

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

These copper wires were specially crafted; aside from the ends, the middle sections were intentionally sharpened.

Therefore, this technique carried the risk of injuring oneself if one was not careful.

"How is this..."

Mei Terumi frowned, lifting her pretty face to observe her surroundings.

She was stunned to discover that, without her realizing it, a web-like structure had formed around her.

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

Mei Terumi widened her eyes, feeling utterly bewildered.

To weave a web around her using shuriken in such a short amount of time meant that Kiyohara had planned the trajectory of every single shuriken, even the ones she had swatted away!

The ninja in front of her didn't even have the surname Uchiha, so how could his ability to manipulate shuriken be this strong?

"Kakashi, don't come near here."

As Kiyohara spoke, he curled his fingers inward again.

As the wires tightened, the cage net contracted further.

A moment later.

Sparkling electric arcs surged along the copper wires, quickly engulfing the surprised Mei Terumi within.

Lightning Release: Shuriken Lightning Induction!

At the same time, Kiyohara wove hand seals once more.

He slammed his hands down to unleash a Lightning Release technique.

Lightning Release: Ground Flash!

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

After finishing all this, Kiyohara injected Wind Release Chakra into these electrical currents.

This was the effect of Wind Release: Gale Palm.

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

At this moment, the intersection of wind and lightning caused the power of the shuriken to surge once more, to the point where cracks even began to appear on their surfaces.

With wind on the left and lightning on the right, they could move according to his will!

"Ninja of Kirigakure, how will you deal with this?"

Kiyohara looked at Mei Terumi, whose face clearly showed distress, and smiled slightly.

This combination could be said to have sealed off all of Mei Terumi's escape routes, both in the air and on the ground.

Alarm bells rang in Mei Terumi's heart!

The copper wire mesh, flashing with blinding lightning, was rapidly contracting, and arcs of electricity were also darting across the ground beneath her feet.

The intertwining of wind and lightning had formed a lethal trap!

There was nowhere to hide!

"Damn it!"

A flash of gravity crossed Mei Terumi's emerald green eyes.

She had intended to resolve the opponent with pure Water Release to keep her trump cards hidden, but Kiyohara had started with a combo right from the beginning, completely disrupting her plans.

Facing this fatal composite ninjutsu attack, she could no longer afford to hide anything.

"Scorch Release: Lava Monster Technique!"

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

Mei Terumi had unleashed it!

This was no ordinary Water Release, but her unique Kekkei Genkai... Scorch Release!

Hiss!

A pungent white mist instantly rose, accompanied by the sound of corrosion.

The highly viscous acidic solution met the contracting lightning copper wire mesh and the Lightning Release: Ground Flash surging from the ground.

The moment the electric arcs touched the solution, they were rapidly disintegrated by the highly corrosive liquid!

Under the erosion of the Scorch Release, the copper wire mesh melted at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The sharp aura brought by the Wind Release Chakra was also blocked by this overwhelming, viscous solution.

However, the power of Kiyohara's combo was no small matter, especially after being amplified by Wind Release: Gale Palm, which pushed the penetration and destructive power of the Lightning Release to a new level.

Although the solution Mei Terumi spat out in her haste successfully blocked most of the lethal attack, the residual lightning and wind pressure still broke through the defense of the solution and struck her.

"Ugh!"

Mei Terumi let out a muffled groan; the clothing on her arms and shoulders was torn, and her fair, lotus-root-like skin was scratched by the wind currents, leaving her looking somewhat disheveled.

She breathed heavily, her eyes filled with astonishment.

If she hadn't used her Kekkei Genkai in time, she would have been dead or severely injured by that strike!

This commoner ninja... his methods were truly troublesome!

"To think he could force me to use my Kekkei Genkai..."

Mei Terumi looked at Kiyohara, who remained calm in front of her, and no longer held even a shred of contempt in her heart.

"Mei Terumi, stand back!"

Just as Mei Terumi steadied herself and prepared to weave signs again to use a more powerful ninjutsu to regain her footing, a sharp shout came from behind her to the side.

It was Ao!

He had been hiding nearby, observing the battle using a water-based ninjutsu similar to the Crystal Ball Technique.

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

This was a genius of Kirigakure.

She was only brought out this time for training, and he couldn't let anything happen to Mei Terumi.

Ao's figure stood between Mei Terumi and Kiyohara.

"Ao!"

Mei Terumi felt unwilling, but she also knew that she had indeed been at a disadvantage just now; if Ao hadn't spoken up in time, she might have continued to act impulsively.

"So you've jumped out on your own..."

Kiyohara popped a Military Ration Pill.

As long as he could find a way to deal with the ninja interfering with the Byakugan, with the Jonin-level strength of Hyuga Ginka and Hyuga Nobuhiko.

When everyone attacked together, would they not be able to take down Ao?

When would he complete his final wish?

It would be today!