Fear finally appeared on Ao's face.
It was the fear of death!
If things really were as Zhou Cheng had said, and the Akatsuki dared not show themselves while he was here...
Then Ao's life was already on a countdown!
Zhou Cheng would never spare him!
"Ao, why did you rebel against Kirigakure?"
"Are you a spy from another village?"
Ao gave a bitter smile. A spy?
Ridiculous!
"You should ask our Elder Genshi!"
"He isn't the Mizukage, so why has he controlled Kirigakure for so many years?"
"He kept putting off electing a new Mizukage, yet held sole control over Kirigakure's power all these years."
"What do you think that made everyone else think?"
"Couldn't I control Kirigakure too?"
"If someone who isn't the Mizukage can control Kirigakure, then why couldn't that person be me?"
"That's why so many people joined my rebellion."
"They weren't after anything else. They were after supreme power over Kirigakure."
Ao pointed at Zhou Cheng and continued:
"If it weren't for this guy, Genji would be dead by now, and Kirigakure would have a new ruler."
"That person might have been me!"
"I could have become the second Genji and controlled Kirigakure for over a decade!"
After hearing Ao out, Mei Terumi fell silent!
So it really was about power!
She had never imagined that rule by an elder could cause such a serious problem!
"I, Mei Terumi, hereby announce that I will run to become the next Mizukage!"
Then she demonstrated both of her kekkei genkai in turn.
Chojuro appeared at just the right moment and called out loudly:
"Lady Mei Terumi is already a Kage-level powerhouse! She is absolutely qualified to become the new Mizukage!"
At those words, the entire crowd erupted!
Kage level!
Mei Terumi actually had Kage-level strength!
She had