Mei Terumi was filled with envy at the caliber of Konoha's Ninja. This was something Kirigakure currently lacked.
After Obito Uchiha had controlled the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, and put Kirigakure through hell, the village's overall strength was now less than half what it had once been.
Large numbers of powerful Ninja had defected, and even the once-renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist could no longer muster a full roster. This bleak state of affairs was the reality Mei Terumi had to face after becoming the Fifth Mizukage.
Mei Terumi was not a Ninja who knew only how to fight. On the contrary, she was full of ambition for Kirigakure's future development.
At present, neither Kirigakure nor the Land of Water was in any position to stir up trouble in the Shinobi World. They would have to swallow their pride and befriend other countries. Only then could they weather the most dangerous period.
Having personally witnessed Isobu and Karatachi Yagura die at Shihōin Naraku's hands, and knowing full well that his strength was beyond anything she could contend with, Mei Terumi firmly proposed reaching a trade agreement with Konoha first.
Having only just become the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi had not yet had time to establish her authority. Yet immediately upon taking office, she proposed cooperating with the enemy nation that had killed their Mizukage. The wave of opposition this would unleash was obvious.
Fortunately, as the leader of a village, she did wield enormous power. Otherwise, Karatachi Yagura could never have reduced Kirigakure to its current state.
Although quite a few Mist Ninja had frequently attempted to assassinate Karatachi Yagura in secret, this was enough to show that the Mizukage's power was considerable. After all, none of them had been able to remove him openly.
With Genji, an