Stunning Terumi Mei

Upon hearing these words from Terumi Mei, the powerful auras radiating from the several figures in black faltered for an instant.

After a brief silence, the man standing at the forefront of the group—a powerhouse whose strength reached the level of an elite jonin, bordering on Kage-level—the one Terumi Mei addressed as Kisame, finally spoke.

"Terumi Mei, you are truly worthy of being the youngest genius Kirigakure has seen in hundreds of years. Not only do you possess two different Kekkei Genkai, but your intellect is so sharp that even the Fourth Mizukage fears you, ultimately dispatching us to assassinate you in secret.

For this alone, you, Terumi Mei, are the undisputed Fifth Mizukage Successor!

It is a pity, however, that the Fourth Mizukage has issued a kill order against you. Surrounded by the five of us with no reinforcements to save you, even with your Boil Release and Lava Release, you are doomed to die!"

Kisame opened his mouth, revealing a set of sharp, shark-like teeth that glinted with a cold light. Their hardness and sharpness were enough to make one's scalp tingle just by looking at them.

Although Terumi Mei knew Kisame spoke the truth and that she was indeed no match for five opponents who were at least jonin-level, she refused to lose her nerve. Besides, given the current situation, the fact that the enemy had resorted to a multi-person ambush was proof that they were deathly afraid of her true strength!

A mocking smile curled the corners of Terumi Mei's lips. Her alluring eyes flashed with disdain as she parted her cherry lips slightly.

"Hmph, enough talk. Kisame, and the four of you remaining, if I manage to survive this and return to Kirigakure, I will expose your actions to the public and let everyone in the village know of Yagura's atrocities!

Openly sending men to assassinate the Fifth Mizukage Successor—even if he is the Fourth Mizukage, he shall not escape unscathed. This time, I will make him pay the price.

I refuse to believe that once I unite all the major and minor clans that support me, along with the neutral factions currently watching from the sidelines, Yagura will still be able to sit comfortably in the seat of the Fourth Mizukage!"

As her voice fell, a chilling murderous intent appeared on Terumi Mei's face. Even amidst such lethal intent, her exquisite features possessed a unique, captivating allure.

However, while Terumi Mei had boldly voiced her thoughts without much concern, in the current situation, with Kisame and the other four eyeing her like tigers, this was a grave mistake.

Upon hearing Terumi Mei's murderous declaration, Kisame's body stiffened. He realized that if they could have returned safely after hunting her down before, they were now no different from rogue ninja.

The final veil between the two sides had been personally torn away by Terumi Mei.

With that fig leaf gone, the position of Kisame and his men became incredibly precarious. If they let Terumi Mei leave here alive and return to Kirigakure, it would not be her who died, but the five of them!

Thinking of this, Kisame, who had previously intended to hold back slightly due to Terumi Mei's brilliant talent, realized after hearing her words that they no longer had any path of retreat.

Either kill Terumi Mei and return to Kirigakure safely, or let her escape by some stroke of luck and face her frantic retaliation, forcing them to defect from Kirigakure and walk the path of rogue ninja to the very end!