Time gradually passed.
Another hour went by before Kirigakure's ten thousand-plus shinobi finally arrived.
Seeing the scene before her, Terumi Mei immediately ordered the Mist Village troops to rest where they stood.
"Mizukage."
The Raikage and Ōnoki nodded to her, then told her what had happened earlier.
"I see..."
But Terumi Mei was clearly distracted, her gaze repeatedly drifting toward Wuye and Kaguya.
Especially Kaguya...
She remembered the scene when Kaguya had left. She hadn't expected Kaguya to return now.
Then Wuye... would there still be room in his heart for anyone else... would there still be room for her...
Terumi Mei stood there in a daze.
Just then, Wuye raised his eyes toward her.
"Watch out!"
Ōnoki and the Raikage shouted almost at the same time, startling Terumi Mei badly.
"What are you doing?" she asked, baffled.
Nothing happened. Wuye merely smiled at her before withdrawing his gaze.
Ōnoki and the Raikage: "..."
Why did the two of them get threatened, while nothing happened when it came to Terumi Mei?!
"Mizukage, how about your Mist Village takes the lead in attacking?" Ōnoki suddenly suggested.
Terumi Mei folded her arms. "No. It would be better to wait until Sunagakure arrives."
And so, the Valley of the End fell into another awkward stalemate.
On one side were two people chatting and laughing calmly; on the other were fifty thousand shinobi silent with fear. The contrast was bizarre.
The Sunagakure shinobi forces did not keep them waiting long. Half an hour later, the sound of countless bodies cutting through the air came from the southwest.
The Raikage and Ōnoki perked up. "They're here."
Gaara led the way, with Temari and Kankuro close behind. More than ten thousand Sand Village shinobi soon arrived before the Valley of the End.
Before Ōnoki or the