Kirigakure.
Qing rushed back with a team of Anbu, only to find the Mizukage Building burned to the ground. On the ruins, many Anbu were still cleaning up the battlefield.
Many powerful Ninjutsu left traces, still retaining strong Chakra fluctuations. With Ao's perception ability, he was very certain that an extremely brutal battle had just taken place here. One side was the Lord Mizukage, and the other side was elite assassin ninjas sent by various villages.
Ao simply couldn't imagine what had happened. Was the hope that Kirigakure had so painstakingly glimmered about to perish before the transformation was even complete?
With a thud, Qing, unable to contain her grief, knelt down in front of the Mizukage Building, large tears dripping onto the ground.
" Lord Mizukage..."
Meanwhile, the Anbu, unaware of what was going on, stared blankly at Ao's strange behavior. What was wrong with Lord Ao?
The unusual situation quickly attracted the Anbu the ANBU (Anti-Japanese Military and Political Department) responsible for clearing the battlefield. One of the Anbu Captain vaguely recognized the person kneeling on the ground as Ao, a trusted and important retainer of the Lord Mizukage.
Out of curiosity and camaraderie, the Anbu Ninja crouched down next to Ao, nudged his shoulder, and asked:
"Lord Qing? Lord Qing? What's wrong with you...?"
Ao, tears streaming down his face, looked up upon hearing this. Noticing that the Anbu Ninja showed no sadness, Ao's grief deepened.
Unable to resist, he grabbed the Anbu's shoulders, shaking him while shouting:
"Although Mei Terumi has only been the Mizukage for a short time, she was a great Mizukage who ended the Bloody Mist policy. Such a great Mizukage has sacrificed herself, don't you feel even a little bit of sadness?"
Ao's angry rebuke was very loud, and the more than twenty Anbu present, as well as some ninjas and civilians nearby, could hear it clearly. This became a dark memory that Ao could never erase.
The Anbu Ninja scratched his head; Ao's reaction had made him a little insecure, but he still tentatively asked:
" The Lord Mizukage didn't die. She went after those three unidentified ninjas. Could it be that something happened to Lord Mizukage during the pursuit?"
Qing silently withdrew her hands, wiped away the tears on her face little by little, and then smacked the Anbu Ninja on the head with a sharp rap.
" The Lord Mizukage is the destiny of Kirigakure; there is absolutely no way something could happen to him. This is just a slight punishment. If anyone dares to talk about the Lord Mizukage's safety behind his back again, it won't be so simple."
With his hands behind his back and his back to everyone, Qing tried his best to act as if nothing had happened. At the same time, he activated his Byakugan and anxiously searched for any traces left by the Lord Mizukage. If he stayed here any longer, he really wouldn't be able to keep up the act, and his lifelong reputation would be ruined!
Outside Kirigakure, Naoki and Tsunade leaped and tumbled among the tree branches, skillfully evading the pursuit of the Anbu led by Mei Terumi.
" Sister Tsunade, what are you watching this for? Now you've got yourself into trouble, and there's no way to escape."
Tsunade smiled somewhat sheepishly. It had indeed been a spectacular performance, but those ninja from Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and even Konoha were utterly incompetent. They hadn't even managed to injure the newly appointed Mizukage before being wiped out...
Naoki had anticipated this, not only because of the subsequent plot, but also because the major ninja villages that wanted to assassinate Mei Terumi didn't seem to take the Mizukage who ended the Bloody Mist Mizukage seriously.
The Kumogakure wanted to assassinate Mei Terumi. Leaving aside the current A-B Combination, at least the Two-Tails Jinchūriki should have come. Even if they were worried about the plan failing and the Tailed Beast being lost, Omoi or Tarui should have been sent. Instead, they only sent four or five Jonin...
It's unclear whether they were overconfident or underestimated the strength of Kirigakure.
Konoha and Sunagakure went even further, not only sending only one Jonin and a few negligible Chunin, but also, seeing that the assassination attempt on Kumogakure had failed, immediately defecting to Kirigakure, claiming to be there for peace...
We didn't even see anyone from Iwagakure, who knows what they're plotting. The smaller ninja villages like Kusagakure and Takigakure are even worse; they were captured at the very gate before they could even infiltrate Kirigakure... May they be reborn into a better family in their next life.
This time, all the major ninja villages seem to be giving away easy kills, but if Mei Terumi for even a moment and misses a single point, she will definitely become the shortest-serving Mizukage in Kirigakure on the day of her inauguration.
Although Orochimaru did not show up, Naoki Senju was certain that Orochimaru couldn't possibly be without thoughts about Mei Terumi. These weren't just some inappropriate thoughts for children, but rather Mei Terumi possessed two Kekkei Genkai, making her unique in the Shinobi World and of considerable research value.
Orochimaru never made a move, indicating that he hadn't found a weakness. Naoki Senju certainly didn't want to be the one to stick his Tsunade out, so when the Kumogakure were at a disadvantage, they immediately grabbed Tsunade and ran away. Unexpectedly, they were still caught up by Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure Anbu.
(Wilderness tip: When encountering danger, such as a wild animal, you don't need to be faster than the animal, you only need to be faster than your companions.)
At this moment, Orochimaru was undoubtedly faster than them.
" Lava Release: Melting Monster Technique"
Mei Terumi parted her red lips slightly and spat out a glob of highly corrosive and sticky acid, attacking Naoki and Tsunade who were in mid-air.
Having witnessed Mei Terumi's battle firsthand, Naoki and Tsunade knew very well how troublesome the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai; ordinary Earth Style Wall and Water Formation Wall were simply no match for this attack.
However, they couldn't dodge in mid-air, so the two adjusted their postures in advance with perfect coordination, put their right feet together, and pushed off forcefully, dodging to the left and right, perfectly avoiding Mei Terumi's Lava Release attack.
However Mei Terumi was not pursuing alone. Chōjūrō, who had recently been recruited by her for his outstanding performance, leaped into the air, his strangely shaped, fishbone-like greatsword brimming with immense Chakra.
" Hiramekarei - Liberation!"
Chōjūrō roared with all his might, compressing his massive blue Chakra into the shape of a giant hammer, and smashed down with unstoppable force.
The target is none other than Naoki Senju.
Kirigakure Naoki Senju felt slightly annoyed, thinking he was being targeted. He had infiltrated Kirigakure hoping to have a heart-to-heart talk with the Isobu, and maybe even collect some rent from the Tailed Beast after a friendly conversation.
As a result, his identity was inexplicably exposed, forcing him to change his strategy and leave Kirigakure first. However, even the journey to leave was fraught with difficulties...
I'm so tired, let it all end, just like that...
A killing intent, not particularly strong but extremely dangerous, sensed something in Chōjūrō's senses. As Anbu, who walked the line between life and death, they were most sensitive to such threats and dangers. But the Hiramekarei had already been unleashed; it was too late to change his attack...
Having realized the reality, Chōjūrō not only did not have any intention of retreating, but instead increased the amount of Chakra poured in, determined to fight to the death!
" Water Release: Water Severing Wave."
Naoki Senju, who was in mid-air, twisted his body in an incredible way. His hands had already formed hand Hand Seals, and extremely sharp, thin streams of water cut through the branches and thick tree trunks along the way, cutting unstoppably toward Chōjūrō's body.
This is a decisive blow, a blow that will decide victory or defeat, a blow that will determine life or death. The Water Severing Wave and the Hiramekarei, and will only stop after the enemy is killed!