Yes, she had died just like that, without any warning.
From beginning to end, she had cautiously kept a safe distance from her enemy. She had not even dared to rashly attempt any action. In the end, she had failed to accomplish even something as simple as buying a little time.
This was the insurmountable gulf between a veteran Kage-level powerhouse and an ordinary veteran jonin!
As she gradually realized that she no longer had the strength to break free from Death's cold, merciless embrace, what appeared before her was not fear or panic.
Instead, she saw a cute little girl with brown hair and a youthful face.
What then surfaced in her mind was the sight of her sacrificing herself and doing everything she could to buy more precious time for her students.
Even now, deep in her heart, she kept telling herself, "I'm sorry, Mei Terumi..." Her voice was filled with endless guilt and self-reproach.
"I'm afraid I really have to say goodbye to everyone this time!" With those final words, she slowly closed her eyes, bringing her brief yet tumultuous life to an end.
A mysterious and powerful force seemed to surge forth from nowhere—or perhaps it was a final flash of vitality before death—and she released an enormous amount of dense mist once more.
The thick fog surged out like rolling waves, swiftly spreading and engulfing the surrounding area.
This was the last method she could think of to protect her students.
Though her body was exceedingly weak, her concern and worry for her students' safety still drove her to do this.
At the final moment of her life, the image that kept flashing through her mind was that cute brown-haired girl running toward her.
The girl's face was lit by a brilliant smile, as lovely