Kisame Hoshigaki had led the Vanguard Force in routing Konoha's Anbu.
Karatachi Yagura had even captured the renowned "Copy Ninja," Kakashi Hatake, alive.
That was certainly good.
But for Mei Terumi, it was not good at all.
The greater the losses Kirigakure inflicted on Konoha now, the harder future negotiations would become.
Mei Terumi had come to seek cooperation with Konoha, not to make an enemy of it.
If Kirigakure fought its way right to Konoha's doorstep.
Mei Terumi was not even sure what state she would find the "Light of Konoha" in.
After all, anyone stabbed by an enemy on their own doorstep would hardly sit down calmly to chat with that enemy.
"Lady Mei."
Ao hesitated, but still asked the question that had lingered in his mind for so long.
"Do you think... Uchiha Minamoto will really come?"
There was another question he left unspoken-
If the man really came, would he actually help Kirigakure?
By any normal reasoning.
Kirigakure had just killed so many people from Konoha.
As Konoha's Hokage Advisor and the Light of Konoha, what reason did Uchiha Minamoto have to help an enemy?
"I don't know."
Mei Terumi's answer was so blunt that Ao froze for a moment.
"We've already sent Konoha a signal. Whether he comes is up to him. If he doesn't..."
Mei Terumi did not finish.
If Uchiha Minamoto did not come, what was she supposed to do?
Mei Terumi did not know.
The only thing she knew for certain was that she had no way back.
From the moment she decided to tip off Konoha, she had effectively betrayed the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura.
If the plan was exposed.
All that awaited Mei Terumi was condemnation as a missing-nin and endless pursuit.
Just like Juzo Biwa, Zabuza Momochi...
Just like