Mei Terumi's Attempt at Neutrality

The Land of Water, the Kirigakure.

Unlike the previous four ninja villages, Kirigakure is nestled among archipelagos, with buildings primarily constructed from a blend of wood and coral, exhibiting a refined and elusive style. The perpetual fog is the dominant feature of the village, serving as both the best camouflage and weapon for the Kirigakure Ninja. The surrounding waters are turbulent, acting as both a natural barrier and a deadly trap.

The top floor of the Water Shadow Tower houses the office of the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi. This room features enormous floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of Kirigakure's unique sea fog landscape: the fog rolls across the sea, and distant islands and buildings appear and disappear in the mist, resembling a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Mei Terumi sat behind her desk, not wearing her formal Mizukage robes, but rather a dark blue casual outfit, her long, reddish-brown hair loosely draped over her shoulders. In her hand, she held a cup of black tea, slowly turning the cup between her fingers, the steam rising gently and blending with the mist outside the window.

Ao stood beside her, his Byakugan, which he had taken from the Hyuga Branch Family, shifting slightly as he warily observed everything around him—though he knew that the Byakugan's warning capabilities might be limited for users of Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Chojuro stood on the other side, his twin Hiramekarei already half an inch unsheathed. This shy boy never hesitated in battle.

"According to the order, it's Mist Village's turn today," Mei Terumi began, her voice languid but her eyes sharp. "Iwagakure, Cloud Village, Konoha, Sand Village... four ninja villages, four different reactions. Iwagakure is stubborn, Cloud Village is furious, Konoha is somber, and Sand Village is rational. Interesting."

"Mizukage," Ao said in a low voice, "According to the intelligence, that 'sake's' combat strength is unknown, but his Space-Time Ninjutsu is extremely troublesome. Neither Iwagakure's Dust Release nor Cloud Village's Lightning Release could capture him. We..."

"We don't need to keep him." Mei Terumi interrupted Ao, taking a sip of her black tea. "Mist Village's choice is clear: neutrality. At least on the surface."

She put down her teacup and looked out the window:

"The Bloody Mist Era has just ended, Mist Village needs time to recover. We don't have the strength to participate in a war of this scale, nor is it necessary. Madara Uchiha's goal is the entire world; Mist Village is just a part of it—and a remote, barren, and insignificant part at that."

Chojuro hesitated before speaking, "But Mizukage- sama, if Madara Uchiha is truly that powerful, would he really allow neutrality? Iwagakure's intelligence reports that his messenger explicitly stated 'there is no middle ground'..."

"That was said for the other ninja villages to hear." Mei Terumi's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "The Mist Village is different. We are isolated overseas, cut off from the mainland; we have natural fog barriers and waterways; our Bloody Mist Era has just ended, and the entire Shinobi World knows that the Mist Village is weak—these can all be reasons for neutrality."

She paused, then added:

"Furthermore, what Madara Uchiha needs is a 'complete' Shinobi World. If Mist Village chooses not to resist, not to cause him trouble, and even... to provide some convenience, what reason would he have to destroy us?"

Ao understood something. "Does the Mizukage mean... feigned submission? Or rather, limited cooperation?"

"It's not cooperation, it's 'survival'," Mei Terumi corrected. "The primary task of Mist Village is to survive. Under that premise, everything is negotiable."

Just then, the air in the office rippled.

Not from any door or window, but from above the aquatic plant in the center of the room. The plant's leaves suddenly froze, the ripples on the water's surface suddenly stopped, and then the space shattered like a mirror. A figure stepped out from the shattered space and landed on the water's surface without disturbing a single ripple.

He wore a red robe with black clouds on it, and a sealing scroll hung at his waist.

The Akatsuki's "alcohol" arrived on time.

Ao's Byakugan instantly locked onto its target, Chojuro drew his Hiramekarei fully. But Mei Terumi raised her hand, stopping them.

"Step back," she said calmly. "Guests are welcome."

Neji —or rather, "Sake"—looked at Mei Terumi. His Byakugan, hidden behind his glasses, silently opened, observing the Mizukage, renowned for her wisdom and beauty.

Mei Terumi's Chakra is unique: like the deep sea, calm on the surface but turbulent beneath. Her Chakra contains two distinct properties—the heat of Lava Release and the corrosiveness of Boil Release —yet they blend perfectly together without any conflict. Even more remarkable is the extreme stability of her Chakra fluctuations, devoid of any tension or fear.

This is an extremely calm and rational opponent, Neji thought to himself.

"The Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi," Neji spoke, his voice carrying, "By order of Lord Madara Uchiha, I deliver the final message."

He didn't display any weapons, didn't Hand Seals, and didn't even release any Chakra pressure. He just stood there quietly, like a statue.

Mei Terumi nodded slightly and gestured for him to proceed.

"Please speak. Mist Village... I'm all ears."

"Eye of the Moon Plan is nearing completion. The war will begin in fifteen days."

Neji's announcement was as concise as ever:

"The choice of the Mist Village: Surrender, or resist."

"Option 1: Surrender. Acknowledge Madara Uchiha as the ruler of the Shinobi World and accept the protection of the Eye of the Moon Plan. In the eternal dream, obtain peace without pain, loss, or war."

"Resistance Mist Village mean facing an army of 100,000 and the power of eight Tailed Beasts. The archipelago will be submerged, Kirigakure will be wiped off the map, and the history of the Land of Water... will end at the bottom of the sea."

After speaking, Neji waited for Mei Terumi's reaction.

Mei Terumi didn't answer immediately. She slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the thick fog and the sea outside. After a long while, she turned and looked at Neji:

"Messenger of Madara Uchiha, I have a question."

"Excuse me."

"Is the dream created by the Eye of the Moon a projection of reality, or a completely fictional world?" Mei Terumi's question was unique. "If it's a projection, will the history of the Blood Mist in Mist Village be preserved? If it's fictional, what will Mist Village become?"

This question tests the "authenticity" of Eye of the Moon Plan. It asks: Is the so-called "perfect world" a remedy for reality, or a complete lie?

Neji paused for two seconds, then answered:

"Lord Madara promises that the dreams will be 'optimized' based on the characteristics of each region and culture. The painful parts will be removed, while the beautiful parts will be preserved and enhanced."

"So, the Bloody Mist Era will be erased?" Mei Terumi pressed. "Will those who died in the Blood Mist be resurrected? Will the minds twisted by the Blood Mist return to normal?"

This time, Neji remained silent for an even longer period.

The fog in the office seemed to thicken. Ao and Chojuro watched the two facing off nervously; Ao's Byakugan even began to sting slightly—a sign of overuse.

Finally, Neji slowly shook his head:

"I don't have the authority to answer these questions. My job is simply to relay announcements."

He took out the sealing scroll, but did not unroll it immediately. He was waiting for Mei Terumi's formal reply.

Mei Terumi smiled. It was a complex smile, containing helplessness, mockery, and... a certain resolve.

"Then, please convey to Madara Uchiha: Mist Village's choice is..."

She paused, letting the words settle in the air:

"Limited cooperation."

It's not submission, it's not resistance, it's "limited cooperation".

Ao and Chojuro were stunned. Neji's eyes behind his mask also narrowed slightly.

Mei Terumi walked to the desk, took out a scroll that had been prepared beforehand, and handed it to Neji:

"This is Mist Village's official response. We will not resist, but we will not completely submit either. We are willing to cooperate with Madara Uchiha, provided that Mist Village's sovereignty and autonomy are not affected. Specific terms can be discussed in detail after the war."

This is typical diplomatic rhetoric: outward compliance but actual reservation; verbal cooperation but actual observation.

Neji did not take the scroll. His voice was emotionless. "Lord Madara will not accept this kind of 'limited cooperation'."

"I understand." Mei Terumi placed the scroll on the desk, sat down again, and picked up her teacup. "Therefore, the messenger may need to make another trip to see if Lord Madara can change his mind."

This was an extremely clever choice. It neither angered Madara Uchiha nor offended the other ninja villages. Mist Village positioned itself as an observer, waiting for the outcome to become clear before making its final decision.

Neji gave Mei Terumi a deep look. Then, he picked up the scroll and Hand Seals.

"Flying Thunder God Technique"

Space began to distort.

Silence remained in the office for a long time. The only sounds were the billowing sea fog outside the window and the soft hum of steam rising from the teacup.

Mei Terumi fell into deep thought. After a long while, she slowly put down her teacup:

"It seems this 'wine'... I wonder if it might bring me some good news."

She walked to the window and looked at the Kirigakure, which was faintly visible through the thick fog outside.

"Order: Mist Village enters 'Absolute Defense' mode. All ninjas retreat to the main island. All barriers operate at maximum power. All external passages... are closed."

"Mizukage," Chojuro asked, "Are we really not going to join the war? If the other ninja villages unite to resist Madara Uchiha, what will happen to us...?"

"If they win, Mist Village can say, 'We remained neutral and did not help Madara Uchiha,'" Mei Terumi interrupted him. "If Madara Uchiha wins, Mist Village can say, 'We expressed our willingness to cooperate and did not resist.'"

She turned to look at Ao and Chojuro, her eyes gleaming with the shrewdness of a politician:

"Survival is Mist Village's only goal right now. Everything else... we'll deal with that after we've survived."

Outside the window, the fog thickened. Kirigakure appeared and disappeared in the fog, like a phantom that might vanish at any moment.

Neji arrived at the Akatsuki base and handed Mei Terumi's scroll to Obito. Obito didn't even glance at it, immediately burning the scroll to ashes. He Neji, saying, "The sake is excellent. With the Five Great Shinobi Villages simultaneously choosing to resist, I will make them feel despair amidst hope in fifteen days!"

Neji was internally devastated. Obito had unilaterally decided that Kirigakure should resist. Damn it, what a waste of his breath and time! Mei Terumi, so full of calculations, probably never imagined that choosing neutrality and resistance would have the same effect. In Obito's eyes, there was only submission or being forced into submission; there was no third option. Neji bowed respectfully and replied humbly, "Lord Madara is mighty and powerful; the Eye of the Moon Plan will surely succeed!"

"Hahaha..." Obito let out a wild laugh.