Awakening in the Land of Blood

Mei Terumi followed behind Gekko Hayate, her brow furrowing deeper and deeper. Konoha had first suffered through a war, and then the Nine-Tails' Attack...

As a result.

To recover and flourish like this within just a few years?

The Third Hokage's administrative capability truly could not be underestimated. Should she call him the Professor of Shinobi, the Shinobi Hero—Hiruzen Sarutobi?

There were indeed no false reputations under a great name.

Along the way, the Konoha Military Police Force members she encountered every so often only made Mei Terumi's mood heavier.

Intelligence indicated.

Was the Uchiha Clan not preparing a coup and rebellion?

The scene after scene of harmonious coexistence between the Uchiha and the Konoha residents right before her eyes made Mei Terumi, who had witnessed the entire process from the occurrence to the evolution of the Bloody Mist Village, feel a sour taste in her heart.

Even more so, it brought vigilance.

"Jonin Gekko, where are we going?"

"Jonin Terumi, we're heading to the Envoy Reception Hall. We'll be there soon."

"Are we not going directly to see the Third Hokage?"

Gekko Hayate scratched his head. "The mission I received is just like this. Please understand. When Lord Third is free, he will naturally summon you."

Summon?

Mei Terumi could not help but frown, even though she was not optimistic about this, knowing in her heart that this was a meaningless foreign visit.

An even worse scenario was that the whole thing was a conspiracy... Otherwise, Karatachi Yagura did not need to send her.

Yet Konoha's attitude still left her feeling displeased.

"Naruto, you stop right there! Today I'm definitely going to let you experience the power of the Uchiha Clan!" Suddenly, a commotion came from the end of the street.

The crowd scattered in all directions.

It revealed a grinning, silly-smiling yellow-haired kid running over at full speed with a string of mouth-watering Grilled Fish clutched in his hand.

Sasuke Uchiha ran breathlessly behind him.

He kept shouting at the top of his lungs.

Did it seem like Naruto had snatched his grilled fish? And moreover, had ambushed him during the "great operation" of graffitiing the Hokage Building, turning him into a painted cat?

"Haha! Sasuke, you can't outrun me! I'll gladly accept this Grilled Fish!"

Naruto Uzumaki ran extremely fast, not forgetting to turn his head back to taunt Sasuke as he casually popped a large piece of Grilled Fish into his mouth and tore off a big chunk.

It made Sasuke's head practically smoke with anger.

However.

Precisely because of this.

Naruto completely ignored the pedestrians ahead, crashing headfirst into someone and taking a tumble onto his backside. The Grilled Fish dropped with a smack, covered all over in dust.

Naruto froze.

He scratched his head, holding his backside and failing to stand up for a long time.

Looking up with a troubled expression, he said, "Gomen nasai, I didn't mean to, please forgive me... huh?"

Naruto suddenly froze.

The person in front of him had scarlet eyes, but they were not Uchiha. The headband worn on their forehead was not the Konoha Forehead Protector either, but instead bore four slanted, wave-like stripes...

Even more terrifying.

Eight or nine strangers were smiling with cruel expressions, as if they had run into some appetizing food?

In short.

Naruto felt their expressions were similar to how he looked when he had been hungry for a long time and saw a large bowl of Ramen.

"Naruto!"

Sasuke pushed past a blocking adult and rushed over, preparing to show this stinky brat a thing or two, but he froze upon seeing the sight.

"Who are they?"

Naruto blinked. "I don't know..."

"Brat, do you not use your eyes when you walk?"

The Mist Ninja licked his lips, his entire body trembling with excitement. "Why don't you let me dig out your eyes and eat them! A cute and innocent little kid like you must be delicious!"

Naruto was startled. "S-Sorry, gomen nasai!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply in apology.

Sasuke wore a guarded expression as he glared at these few people, instinctively pulling Naruto behind his back. This guy didn't know a single Ninjutsu; he had to protect him!

"Enough!"

Mei Terumi gave a soft reprimand. "Don't cause trouble!"

The Mist Ninja glanced at Mei Terumi with a sneer, completely ignoring her stop. Instead, he dropped his cruel and fierce gaze onto Sasuke.

"A brat of the Uchiha Clan? Hehehe..."

"What do you want!"

Sasuke wore a defensive expression, pulling a kunai out from somewhere and holding it across his chest, actually radiating a considerable amount of spirit.

"Hey!"

Mei Terumi pulled on that Mist Ninja, only to be violently shaken off as he lunged fiercely toward Sasuke, a strange "heh heh" laughter spilling from his mouth.

Mei Terumi's heart skipped a beat, her face changing drastically.

Wrong!

"Stop!"

Two voices sounded simultaneously.

One was Mei Terumi, but her mind was in turmoil for a moment and she only uttered a verbal restraint. The other was Gekko Hayate.

He appeared before Sasuke using the Body Flicker Technique.

A whip kick forced the Mist Ninja back.

With his brow deeply furrowed, he said, "Mist Envoys, to brazenly attack a child in the village—could it be that you intend to declare war on Konoha?"

"No..."

Before Mei Terumi could finish speaking, the remaining four Mist Ninjas, who had moved to surround her at some point, grinned hideously.

They suddenly raised their hands to form hand seals!

Shouting aloud, "Four Violet Flames Formation!"

Boar-Monkey-Snake-Hare-Tiger!

"Seal—!"

Swish!

Four transparent barriers burning with purple flames instantly enveloped Mei Terumi inside them.

The other four quickly dispersed, moving according to plan to create chaos in Konoha!

On the other side.

Staring at the Mist Ninja who had climbed out of the ruins with a hideous grin, Gekko Hayate sensed something was wrong and decisively grabbed the collars of Naruto and Sasuke, retreating violently.

"Hahaha! Stay behind!"

The Mist Ninja opened and closed his hands in hand seals. "Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Style Wall!"

Rumble—

Just as the Mist Ninja's Ninjutsu formed, three ANBU Ninja wearing masks suddenly appeared on the rooftops on both sides of the street, planting their hands on the ground as they landed.

Layer upon layer of earthen walls rose up.

Only to be swiftly washed away by the waterfall, raised once more, washed away again...

The two sides reached a stalemate!

"Ah—!"

"They're fighting!"

"Run—!"

Pedestrians on the street screamed as they witnessed the scene and fled in all directions.

In an instant, the surroundings fell into panic.

Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.

Mei Terumi looked through the purple flames at the four Mist Ninjas outside, gritting her teeth. "What on earth are you people?! What are you trying to do?"

"Us?"

The four Mist Ninjas exchanged glances and sneered. "We are the gravediggers of the Land of Water!"

(...)

Mei Terumi's heart sank.

The ominous premonition all along the way had finally become reality.

She had wondered along the way if her actions in governing the Bloody Mist Village had caused certain individuals secretly manipulating Yagura to use the convenience of sending her abroad to get rid of her.

Yet she had not expected...

The purpose of this group of "envoys" was simply and brutally to provoke a war!

So brutally that even with her clever brain, she could not have imagined the mastermind would be so... direct!

Mei Terumi gazed at the four Kirigakure Ninja outside the Four Violet Flames Formation and said helplessly, "It's useless. Konoha's ANBU have already arrived. Your foolish actions cannot possibly provoke a war between the two villages. The Hokage of Konoha is no fool! All of this is completely meaningless!"

One Mist Ninja sneered, "Meaningless?! No, you're wrong! War between villages doesn't need a reason, it only needs a catalyst! As long as we kill Konoha villagers, Konoha will dispatch troops and bring about the destruction of that pathetic country. Isn't this the most meaningful thing?!"

Another chimed in, "My sister died. She was only seven years old, dying at the hands of those guys whose eyes turned red with slaughter. They could kill my family without a second thought! Why can't I kill them!"

"That bloody country! It should be destroyed! Since it cannot be resolved from within, let outside warfare make it completely vanish!"

Hearing this, Mei Terumi's heart tightened. "I've been working hard! I've been trying hard to make the village better! All the suffering you've experienced will have an account settled!"

"An account?! Hahaha! No doubt in a few more days, that damned Fourth Hokage will be chopped into two halves by the Kubikiribōchō!"

"By then, everything will get better!"

"Zabuza?!"

Mei Terumi's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. “How is that possible! Zabuza is the Fourth Hokage's most loyal subordinate...”

"Hh, what a loyal subordinate... Lord Suikazan was likewise his loyal subordinate, but he ordered Kisame Hoshigaki to kill him!!!"

"Enough! Don't waste your breath on her!"

Overcome with anger, Mei Terumi lashed out with a punch to vent her frustration, but gazing at the purple flame barrier before her, she halted her movement with an ugly expression...