Mist Shinobi ANBU Pursuit

The nights in the Land of Hot Water are filled with the faint smell of sulfur in the air, mixed with a gentle warm breeze, exuding a sense of leisure and comfort.

Two or three groups of people, arm in arm, laughed and joked freely, savoring the lingering charm of the hot spring resort.

However, there is one thing that almost everyone understands: in the Shinobi World, any kind of beauty can be shattered in an instant, because there are ninjas with extraordinary power here.

"Surrender, you rogue ninja... Mei Terumi!"

With the sudden sound, thick fog began to spread everywhere, and exclamations suddenly rose from the crowd. But after a brief moment of chaos, the civilians who were running and hiding in all directions appeared to be mixed but not disorderly, as if they had their own unique experience in dealing with such things.

Damn it!

Thick fog shrouded the area, obscuring the view even though it wasn't a jungle, thanks to the crisscrossing, interconnected streets and alleys.

Four figures wearing masks of the Mist Shinobi Anbu suddenly appeared outside the mist. They did not act rashly for a moment. They knew Mei Terumi. Everyone knew the consequences of acting rashly.

"The rogue ninja Mei Terumi is very strong, an elite among Jonin. Pair up, don't go alone..."

The leader of the Mist Shinobi Anbu instructions in a low voice, gesturing with his hands. The four Mist Shinobi Anbu Ninja each activated their Hidden Mist Technique. Several areas of mist merged together, and no one could see what was happening inside anymore.

Under the moonlight, the hot spring alleyway, with its dense fog so thick it seemed almost eerily silent, contrasted sharply with the bustling crowds that mingled in the air, creating two completely separate worlds...

"Cough cough..."

At this moment, Mei Terumi leaned quietly against a wall in the thick fog, looking rather disheveled, as if she had just gone through a great battle, but she didn't seem to have suffered any injuries.

"Hopefully... nothing unexpected happens..."

Even though Mei Terumi still had a faint smile on her lips.

Sensing the movements of the four Anbu Ninja, he made no other move, seemingly not taking them seriously. His gaze, however, seemed to pierce through the thick fog, looking in another direction.

"Clang... clang..."

The Kunai rang out, streaking through the mist Mei Terumi's figure moved gracefully like a dragon or Flower in the Mist, easily dodging these probing attacks. In return, she unleashed a series of water arrows, swiftly following the direction of the Kunai.

The four members of the Anbu concealed their figures, constantly changing positions to dodge attacks that could come at any moment, yet they continued to slowly approach Mei Terumi.

"Zheng..."

In the calm, thick fog, a soft clang of metal clashing suddenly rang out. The rope dart, gleaming like a silver dragon, stirred the fog and surged toward the Anbu Ninja.

However, the Mist Shinobi Anbu, who remained vigilant and stealthy, seemed completely unaware of the danger...

"Not good! This is no ordinary Hidden Mist Technique!"

Mei Terumi manipulated the Chakra changes within the mist, confusing the Anbu Ninja's senses. When the silver dragon appeared nearby, it was too late to dodge, and he could only barely twist his body to avoid a vital point, a blood flower still exploding in the mist.

"Chance!"

The other Anbu beside her was not paying attention to his teammate's injuries at the moment. He saw the path of the rope dart that had just landed Mei Terumi's biggest weakness and her best opportunity!

"Damn it! Why me?!"

With his thigh pierced and blood gushing out, the Anbu Ninja lay on the ground, clutching his wound tightly and quickly tending to it. He seemed used to seeing his teammates leave, sweat dripping from his forehead as he looked in the direction they had gone, his eyes filled with resentment.

Mei Terumi naturally understood that throwing the rope dart would reveal her location, but that was exactly what she wanted.

"Have they arrived...?"

As the water vapor dissipated, Mei Terumi the figures of Anbu Ninja, but by a torrent of Water Release Ninjutsu!

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Water Release: Water Release: Waterfall Technique!"

The long-accumulated Water Release burst forth with a giant wave, like a thousand horses and a thousand soldiers, carrying some mud and debris, surging and rushing towards Mei Terumi. The two water dragons rode the giant wave with increasing momentum, constantly roaring as if they were roaring in the sea.

The thick fog was instantly dispersed by the water flow. Mei Terumi frowned slightly, lightly touched the ground with her feet, and leaped into the air. The Water Dragon Bullet passed by without causing her any harm.

"Water Release ·Water Fang Blade!"

At that moment, amidst the rushing water, the Anbu Ninja, who had been lying in wait, sprang out like venomous snakes, taking advantage of Mei Terumi's lack of leverage in mid-air.

The rapidly spinning water formed a water blade in his hand, and the water beneath his feet suddenly surged into a giant wave. Using the force of the wave, he shot towards Mei Terumi's chest like lightning.

The dragon galloped past, then returned, its target locked on the purple figure in the sky.

"Phew... you're quite capable..."

Mei Terumi's lips curled into a smile, causing the three Anbu Ninja' hearts to sink.

"Lava Release: Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!"

Highly viscous and corrosive acid was continuously released from her mouth, instantly enveloping the water dragon's body. The water dragon's form suddenly collapsed, turning into raindrops that fell from the sky.

"Lava Release Kekkei Genkai..."

"Absolutely not a single speck can get on..."

The approaching Anbu Ninja, with a fleeting glance, and the intense acid from the raindrops scorching the soil, creating numerous pits, made him want to retreat.

The water blade in his hand continued to spin, but seeing the water dragon suddenly disappear, and a hint of mockery appear in Mei Terumi's eyes, the Anbu Ninja involuntarily swallowed, the pungent, acidic smell making it almost impossible for him to open his eyes...

"You chased me all the way, that's pretty impressive..."

Mei Terumi narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at the approaching Anbu Ninja. Her expression then darkened, and she lightly clasped her hands together, her gaze sweeping over the two people in the distance.

"Have you ever thought about the possibility of dying?"

"Lava Release: Lava Release: Acid Rain Technique!"

Countless dark yellow slimes began to appear in the air, and with the help of the moisture in the air, the power of the Lava Release seemed to be increasing.

One acidic clump after another appeared, bubbling and gurgling, quickly covering the entire area. No one doubted its destructive power; it would likely completely melt the area away.

The gloomy sky still had some glimmer of light, but all one could feel was a cold, emotionless gray. The sky was gradually enveloped by spheres of acid, and the clumps of acid blocked the already dim sunlight, like shadows reflected in everyone's heart.

"Help... help me!"

"What is this?! You'll die!"

"Why! This is my first time in the Land of Hot Water, why, why did this happen!"

The crowd, hiding in the distance, began to erupt into chaos. The boundless shadows extinguished everyone's hope of escape, and low, sorrowful sobs slowly began to emerge.

At this moment, in the crowd, a middle-aged man, who was constantly comforting a ragged older woman, sighed almost imperceptibly. He then patted the woman's back lightly and, amidst the puzzled and confused gazes of everyone, walked step by step towards the distant battlefield, his aura growing stronger with each step.

"Tap... tap..."

The sound of footsteps, each step carrying a strong fluctuation of Chakra, echoed into the distance, seemingly reminding Mei Terumi and the three Anbu Ninja not to act rashly.

Mei Terumi's heart stirred, and she chuckled almost imperceptibly, but her face remained calm as she continued to channel Chakra into the Lava Release ninjutsu in the sky.

Three Anbu ninjas, mixed in among them, sensed the intense Chakra fluctuations. Turning to look at Mei Terumi again, they couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines...

"Young people these days... they really have big tempers..."

"Even though she's a beautiful woman, I won't just stand by and watch you hurt innocent people..."

Wearing wooden clogs, with white hair and dressed in a kimono Jiraiya slowly walked from a distance, seemingly oblivious to the acidic spheres covering the sky above him, his eyes fixed on Mei Terumi.

Mei Terumi could sense the seriousness in Jiraiya's eyes. If she were to unleash her ninjutsu, the man before her would certainly not stand idly by.

"If Kato Osamu were nearby, he wouldn't be unaware of the battle here..."

"What the Masked Man said..."

Mei Terumi frowned slightly. Although she was very strong and had few rivals among her peers, she was still quite far behind Jiraiya.

The conversation with the Masked Man from that day involuntarily surfaced in his mind. He seemed to be constantly thinking about something, and the few remaining concerns in his eyes seemed to have turned into a desperate gamble. He looked up at Jiraiya and slowly spoke.

"Konoha Sannin Jiraiya of Konoha..."

"I never expected to see you here..."

"However, he's just a fool who talks to himself..."

Mei Terumi paused, ignoring Jiraiya's gradually darkening expression, her gaze filled with disdain and arrogance as she looked down at Jiraiya.

"Who do you think you are?!"

With Mei Terumi unleashed countless acid spheres that rained down on the earth like a torrent of stones. A hissing sound echoed across the ground as the splashed acid instantly killed trees and grass, leaving the scorched earth and a pungent, acidic odor permeating the entire area.

Damn it!

Jiraiya clasped his hands together, Chakra burst forth from his body. He rapidly Hand Seals and let out a loud shout. Countless earthen fortresses began to rise rapidly from the ground, enveloping the civilians who were still stranded nearby.

"You!"

Through the smoke and dust that blotted out the sky, Jiraiya, filled with anger, suddenly looked up Jiraiya stared intently at Mei Terumi in the distance.

A hint of suspicion flashed across his eyes— Mei Terumi stared at him with a deep, meaningful gaze, as if she wanted to tell him something.

"Is that... the Opposition Seal...?"

The gesture, hidden in the thick fog, seemed to flash by in an instant, Mei Terumi's eyes, making Jiraiya wonder if he had seen it wrong.

As far as Jiraiya knew, Mist Shinobi's training methods were much more brutal than Konoha's relatively peaceful ones. However, there was no practice of forming Opposition Seal before training and Reconciliation Seal after training. Without a doubt, if he wasn't mistaken, Mei Terumi was definitely conveying a message to him, a member of Konoha.

What was she trying to tell me?

"Could it be...?"

Jiraiya recalled the intelligence he had on the Akatsuki. As expected, someone had deliberately lured him here, and he just happened to encounter this situation.

Coincidence? Jiraiya think so either...

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the girl he was meeting for the first time. She was probably the one who had brought him here...

"The Terumi Family... the 'rogue ninja' of Mist Shinobi?"

Jiraiya roamed the Shinobi World for over a decade, experiencing all sorts of conspiracies, tricks, and open and covert attacks, Jiraiya instantly considered countless possibilities, his eyes filled with scrutiny.

"If she knows I'm investigating the Akatsuki, and she's using Akatsuki information as bait, then she must know more about the Akatsuki..."

"To choose to become a 'rogue ninja' at this time..."

With a slight narrowing of his gaze, Jiraiya seemed to have sensed something, but his expression remained unchanged. He subtly sensed the situation of the earthen fortress, and a thought stirred within him—it seemed that no one had been injured or killed, which gave him a slight boost of confidence.

"The Opposition Seal, the Reconciliation Seal... training..."

"So, you're trying to tell me this was just a realistic 'training' exercise...?"

For a moment, I didn't know whether I should be proud of my own abilities or proud of the trust others placed in me.

"Why would they set up such a display for no reason, and convey such a subtle message? Could it be...?"

"There's another person hiding here!"

Jiraiya's eyes lit up instantly. If he wasn't mistaken, the purpose of this 'training'-like 'show' was to gain someone's trust and confirm her identity as Mist Shinobi ninja from Kirigakure. And that person...

"He must be a full member of the Akatsuki!"

In the blink of an eye, with a barely perceptible gesture, Jiraiya had almost grasped the true nature of the matter, and what followed was, naturally, careful verification...

Jiraiya made his move...

Each move aimed directly at Mei Terumi's vital points...

"Truly impressive... no wonder he's one of the Jiraiya Three Legendary Sannin..."

Feeling the power of Jiraiya's attack, every punch and kick seemed merciless. Even though it was just a test of Taijutsu, it made her arm go numb. Mei Terumi felt a surge of joy, but she didn't show it on her face. Instead, she looked even uglier.

"It seems... the Akatsuki isn't a monolithic entity after all..."

Losing the battle, Mei Terumi was struck on the shoulder by Jiraiya, expending too much Chakra and spitting out a mouthful of blood. She looked a little disheveled, but her heart was filled with even more excitement.

He seemed to have developed a greater sense of anticipation for his undercover career...

Meanwhile, inside the rock fortress, Kato Osamu, sitting quietly beside her older sister, watched the two's performance with great interest.

"Mei Terumi, the power of Lava Release is truly impressive..." Kato Osamu glanced around at the crowd, who all looked relieved to have survived a disaster. He couldn't help but chuckle, his figure slowly fading away and disappearing into the crowd.

"Ren, was there a boy next to you just now?" A person behind her stared blankly at Kato Osamu as she disappeared, a hint of confusion in their eyes, and patted the woman in front of her.

"Is... is there? I don't think so..." The woman's face had a few fine crow's feet, and she looked to be in her early thirties, but she was well-maintained and had a certain charm. However, at this moment, a hint of doubt gradually appeared on her face, and her vague figure became more and more blurred after a moment of thought, and finally disappeared completely.

"Huh? What did I just ask you?"

"Ask me... you asked me... yes, what did you just ask me?"

The two looked at each other, and after a moment, as if they had only been stunned for a while, a greedy smile returned to their faces.

"I never expected that this time the easy target would be Lord Jiraiya Three Legendary Sannin..."

"That's right, Ninja Master, you're really generous..."

"His package should still be at the hot spring resort..."

The two exchanged a glance, their voices growing even lower. They pulled up their hoods and began to slowly retreat from the crowd.