A Woman Like Snow

Early the next morning.

Mei Terumi sent someone to summon Long Ye to her office.

As expected, there's been progress in the search for the missing person.

"Snow Curtain Village?"

Long Ye read out the village from the intelligence report.

Leaning against her desk, Mei Terumi, wearing Water Shadow Hat, nodded slightly. "The intelligence department, through inquiries, has basically pinpointed her location; she's in this village."

"This village is small, but it's different in one way: it snows all year round. In terms of strength and scale, it's one of the most insignificant villages in my Land of Water. A small pirate crew could easily wipe it out."

The Land of Water is an island nation, unlike the other four nations which are plagued by rampant bandits and outlaws, but it is often threatened by pirates.

The fact that such a small village could repeatedly escape pirate attacks was clearly not due to its strength, but rather because it was weak enough that such a small village offered no profit to pirates seeking riches.

"I'm not familiar with the Land of Water, so I'll have to trouble you to find someone to take me there."

Long Ye's confidence in finding that person grew stronger.

Because a village of this size has at most a dozen or twenty households, it wouldn't be difficult to find everyone.

"No need to send anyone, I'll go with you."

Mei Terumi used her Water Clone Technique to create a clone, giving the illusion that she was always in the office. Then she used her Transformation Technique to change her appearance.

As the two swaggered out, about to leave Kirigakure, they ran into the Mizukage's bodyguard, Ao.

The eye patch on Qing's right eye was used to conceal his identity, but it did not hinder the use of the Byakugan. Upon seeing the unfamiliar face that suddenly appeared, he subconsciously activated the Byakugan.

After transforming, Mei Terumi's true form was revealed to him as if the clouds had parted.

He frowned slightly, about to stop him, but then suddenly stopped.

Long Ye and the other person ignored him, swaggered out of Kirigakure, and disappeared into the distance in a moment.

"She's still just a child. It seems she can only take things one step at a time to be a good Mizukage. However, that kid from Konoha seems to have a very close relationship with her, so we have to be careful."

"Who's that person next to the Konoha?"

A long-faced man carrying a large Kubikiribōchō suddenly walked over and asked.

Qing glanced at him. "Just do your own thing. These are none of your business."

After saying that, she ignored him and turned to leave.

"Damn it!"

The man clenched his fists, and veins bulged on his forehead.

"That bastard, just because Mei Terumi became Hokage, he climbed up to the Water Shadow Guard and dares to give me attitude. One day, I'll kill that woman and become Mizukage myself."

Whenever he thought about how he lost to that woman in the Mizukage competition, he felt secretly furious, wishing he could grind his teeth to pieces.

The Land of Water, Snow Curtain Village.

Burn her alive!

Fifty or sixty villagers escorted a girl of about twenty years old toward the Execution Platform at the east end of the village.

"I never imagined that this girl who had always worked so diligently in my shop was actually a wicked Kekkei Genkai user. Executing her was not unjust at all."

"Without Kekkei Genkai, there would be no war in this world. Kill her, and the village will be forever free from war."

Various brainwashed-like phrases rang out continuously from the crowd.

The girl they tied up was as pure and beautiful as snow. Her expression was indifferent, showing neither fear nor grief.

He has kept his possession of the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai a secret for nearly ten years.

Initially, it was because she was afraid of her enemies coming after her. In the last two years, it was because of the Land of Water's bloody suppression of Kekkei Genkai that she became even more cautious.

But just yesterday...

The intelligence department of Kirigakure came to their small village, looking for a girl who came from the "Land of Snow" ten years ago, which aroused her suspicion.

Because the person she was looking for was obviously her, although she didn't know why they were looking for her, she subconsciously felt that it was definitely not a good thing, so she planned to run away that very night.

But fate had other plans. As he fled at night, he peeked through the crack in the door and saw a ferocious-looking man raising a butcher's knife and hacking at the sleeping shop owner.

She had been working at the "General Store" for several years. The owner treated her well, never lacking food or drink, and even gave her some money every month, which was a great kindness in taking her in.

Seeing that the man was about to die, he could not restrain himself and used the Ninjutsu "Ice Spike" to pierce through the wooden door and strike the assailant.

But the man was extremely alert. Realizing he had been discovered, he didn't even turn his head and jumped out of the window to escape.

The sound of the door being broken open woke up the shop owner, who recognized the person who had used Ninjutsu through the broken doorway. After a series of shouts, the whole village was awakened, and the girl was eventually surrounded.

Few of these villagers knew Ninjutsu, so if she wanted to wreak havoc, she could easily break through the encirclement. However, she was unwilling to kill innocent people indiscriminately, and in the end, she surrendered and was tied up.

"Burn him!!"

The girl was tied to the Execution Platform, and everyone held up flat sticks, raising their arms and shouting, as if the person tied up was a heinous criminal.

"Let me do it! I know how to Fireball Technique!"

A man with slicked-back hair swaggered out.

"Fireball Technique! He can use Fireball Technique! That's amazing!"

"I recognize him. I heard he's been away for several years and just recently returned to the village. Fireball Technique are rare in our Land of Water. How did he master them? He's a genius!"

The two men, holding torches and preparing to carry out the execution, quickly retreated upon seeing the expert appear.

Heavy snow began to fall from the sky.

This scene is common in Snow Curtain Village, but the girl on the Execution Platform smiled. Snow is her favorite thing, which is why she chose to stay here.

Faced with death, she felt no fear, but simply admired the fluttering snowflakes.

"Kekkei Genkai, heinous crimes, die!"

Fireball Technique!

The man with slicked-back hair strained his neck, straining with all his might, shouting at the top of his lungs.

He clumsily completed the Hand Seals, took a deep breath, and forcefully exhaled, sending a fireball the size of a human head flying towards the girl on the rack.

A look of satisfaction appeared on the man's face.

He was the thug last night.

He had been a pirate for several years, and the only skill he had learned and mastered was Fireball Technique. Last night, he had intended to kill the shop owner and take over the shop, but this girl had ruined his plans.

"Such a beautiful woman, it would be a waste to kill her, but if I kill you, I can establish my prestige in the village, then kill the village chief, take his place, and from then on all the village's property will be mine."

The man's plan was flawless, but fate had other plans. Just as the fireball was about to hit the woman, a strange gust of wind suddenly blew it away.

The man opened his mouth wide, his expression of astonishment barely forming, when the fireball struck him.

The fire spread rapidly, burning him so badly he rolled on the ground, screaming in agony.

Seeing this, the villagers grabbed flat sticks and beat the person mercilessly. In the end, the fire was not extinguished, and the person was beaten to death.