[Naruto : Yellow Flash] Chapter 736 - 740

Chapter 736: Reality

"Mizukage-sama!"

Although Mei Terumi was not a sensory-type ninja, she could clearly feel the violent chakra of the three-tailed within Yagura's body rapidly calming and weakening. There was only one explanation for such a drastic change.

The tailed beast was dying alongside its Jinchūriki.

Though Yagura had ruled the Hidden Mist Village with bloody methods over the years, these actions weren't born from his own desires. He had been manipulated by others, a puppet dancing on invisible strings. And now, in his final moments, he had chosen to use his life to protect the village he had always truly loved.

Ripples formed in Mei Terumi's eyes, which had been filled with murderous intent only moments before. Gradually, two trails of tears streamed down her fair cheeks. She knew this wasn't the time for grief, but the emotion overcame her nonetheless.

Wiping away the tears and the wet streaks on her face, Mei Terumi suddenly turned around. Though she couldn't see the expression hidden beneath the mask of the man before her, his voice revealed his dark mood.

"Damn it!" the masked man growled. "He actually dragged the Three-Tails into death with him. How utterly insane!"

"If you're so devoid of humanity, how could you possibly understand Lord Mizukage's feelings?" Mei Terumi spat through gritted teeth. "His desire to protect the village and his comrades drove him to make the ultimate sacrifice!"

If she had possessed enough power, she would have struck down the figure before her without hesitation, regardless of the cost. But this man's abilities were too strange and powerful—he had managed to control the Fourth Mizukage, a perfect Jinchūriki. If the hundreds of Kirigakure ANBU engaged in battle now, they might inadvertently harm their own people in the chaos.

"Feelings?"

The word seemed to trigger something in the masked man, causing his visible eye to flicker with emotion.

At the beginning, she chose the same path to protect the village and her companions.

But who remembers what she did?

She was the kindest person in the world. She wasn't meant to be a shadow, carrying these burdens!

She shouldn't have died!!!

"AAAHHH!!!"

The masked man suddenly roared in anguish, his hoarse voice echoing through the forest like that of a wounded beast. His outburst left everyone stunned, the raw emotion completely unexpected.

Swish, swish, swish!

As the echoes of his cry faded, footsteps approached rapidly from the forest's edge. Multiple figures rushed toward the scene.

The Kirigakure ninjas had naturally detected the battle between Mei Terumi and the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, as well as the chakra fluctuations emitted by the Three-Tails. Word had spread quickly.

"Mizukage-sama!"

Upon hearing the news, not only had Mei Terumi's ANBU rushed to the scene, but also members of the Terumi clan, the Hozuki clan, and elites from many other major clans. They hurried to Yagura's fallen body.

"The Mizukage and the Three-Tails are both dead!" announced a sensory ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, his voice filled with disbelief.

When these words were spoken, many of the gathered ninja trembled with fear. The implications were enormous.

"What happened here?" Terumi Ryuunosuke asked sharply.

Because of Mei Terumi's complicated relationship with her mother, the connection between her and Terumi Ryuunosuke had always been strained. With so many Kirigakure ninjas present, he could only address her by her ANBU title out of formality.

Mei Terumi glanced toward the masked man who stood surrounded by hundreds of Mist ninjas in the deeper part of the forest—a figure temporarily ignored by everyone else. She explained carefully, choosing her words with precision:

"The Mizukage has been controlled by that man for some time. Just now, our ANBU discovered his secret and exposed his true identity. He was attempting to release the Three-Tails from within the Mizukage's body. Lord Mizukage prevented this by sacrificing his own life."

As soon as these words left her lips, everyone's eyes widened, and their gazes collectively shifted toward the forest. The previous battle had destroyed some of the trees, providing a clear line of sight to the masked figure.

However, doubt was evident on their faces—they clearly struggled to accept such a revelation. After all, Yagura was the Mizukage. The idea that he had been manipulated by someone else seemed almost inconceivable unless witnessed firsthand.

Mei Terumi immediately added, her voice grim: "He is the same masked man who attacked Konoha eight years ago."

"What?!"

Although news of the masked man's attack on Konoha wasn't common knowledge throughout the ninja world, senior figures like Mei Ryuunosuke were well aware of the incident.

The claim that the Mizukage had been manipulated was still difficult to believe. However, having lived through the Third Ninja World War, they understood Konoha's tremendous strength in the aftermath of that conflict.

The masked man had coordinated with several accomplices to attack Konoha, and though he had failed, he had escaped unscathed. If it was truly him, then manipulating the Mizukage suddenly seemed within the realm of possibility.

Terumi Ryuunosuke believed Mei Terumi's words without question. After quickly processing the situation, rage overtook him. "How dare he toy with the people of the Hidden Mist Village?" he shouted. "Capture him!"

"Yes, sir!"

The ninjas of the Terumi clan responded in unison and rushed toward the masked man.

"Heh heh."

The masked man simply sneered at their advance. Though even the combined might of the Hidden Mist Village couldn't capture him, a confrontation would still require some effort on his part.

He hadn't completed all his preparations yet, so openly becoming an enemy of Kirigakure wasn't in his best interest. Moreover, due to considerations of their own reputation, Kirigakure would be unlikely to inform the ninja world that their Mizukage had been manipulated after today's events.

As Mist ninjas fell continuously around the masked man, he suddenly formed hand seals with practiced precision. Tilting his mask slightly, the blood-red Sharingan beneath gleamed ominously.

The space around him distorted, spreading outward with his right eye as the center. Within the twisted space, a terrible firestorm suddenly erupted, sweeping outward at incredible speed. Flames shot skyward in an instant, illuminating the forest in an orange glow.

"This is bad!"

Mei Terumi noticed the danger immediately, but the masked man had released his Fire Style technique with astonishing speed. Before she could complete her own hand seals, flames had already begun rolling outward through the distorted space.

The fire moved so swiftly that even the skilled ANBU ninjas couldn't evade it. Several elite members of the ANBU and Terumi clan were immediately engulfed in flames, their screams cut short as they fell.

Yet the inferno continued to rage, sweeping toward Mei Terumi and the others.

"Water Style: Water Pillar!"

As the flames approached, Mei Terumi expelled a massive column of water from her mouth. The powerful jet collided with the terrible fire.

"Shhhh!"

When water met fire, the extreme temperature difference instantly produced an enormous volume of steam. Thick fog rapidly engulfed the forest, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

Within the dense mist, Kirigakure's sensory ninjas still managed to track the masked man's position. But in this chaotic situation, how could they possibly stop someone who possessed space-time ninjutsu?

"The world will be mine sooner or later," the masked man's voice echoed through the fog. "I'll let you enjoy your pride for a little while longer."

In the thick mist, space distorted once more as the masked man was sucked into the vortex of his own creation, leaving behind only his ominous parting words.

"Damn it, don't you dare escape!"

All the Kirigakure ninja had bloodshot eyes filled with rage—all except for Mei Terumi, whose gaze remained cold and calculating.

Because she understood a harsh truth: not even the entire might of Kirigakure could stand against his power.

Chapter 737: The Hidden Trump Card

The Kirigakure ninja unleashed wind jutsu, dispelling the thick fog that had blanketed the forest. As expected, the masked man had long since vanished.

"We just let him escape like that?!"

Nearly every Kirigakure ninja present voiced their frustration. No one could stomach the revelation that their village had been manipulated for so long, like puppets dancing to an unseen puppeteer's strings.

"This individual is highly skilled in space-time ninjutsu," Terumi Ryuunosuke explained gravely. "Even the Fourth Hokage failed to kill him. We simply don't have the capability to capture him."

Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, was widely acknowledged as the strongest ninja in the world today. He too was a master of space-time ninjutsu, yet even he couldn't prevent the masked man from escaping Konoha. The ninjas of Kirigakure certainly couldn't hope to succeed where the Yellow Flash had failed.

"That's correct," Mei Terumi admitted reluctantly, swallowing her anger as she acknowledged the bitter truth.

She turned to Shō and said, "Have the ANBU return to the village immediately. There are too many people gathered here."

With the commotion that had just occurred and the ANBU who had been stationed in ambush positions, nearly half of the Hidden Mist Village's elite forces had congregated in this forest. Now that the masked man had fled, there was no purpose in keeping so many people here.

More importantly, there were sensitive matters to discuss that weren't meant for so many ears.

"Understood," Shō nodded in agreement.

Both Mei Terumi and Shō issued orders to their respective ANBU units. With the Mizukage dead, they were now the two highest-ranking members of the ANBU command structure.

"Ensure no one else views the Mizukage's body," Mei Terumi instructed firmly. "And the events that transpired tonight must remain strictly confidential—absolutely nothing can leak outside these woods!"

Mei Terumi personally prepared Yagura's body and handed it over to trusted ANBU operatives to transport back to the village. She then addressed Shō, Terumi Ryuunosuke, and Asato Karatachi with grave seriousness.

They all understood the catastrophic impact it would have on both the Hidden Mist Village and the Land of Water if news spread that their Mizukage had been controlled by an outside force and had died alongside the Three-Tails. The other major ninja nations would undoubtedly seize upon this vulnerability to extend their influence into the Water Country.

They immediately relayed orders to their subordinates and clan members. Hundreds of ninjas departed, returning to the village in staggered groups to avoid drawing attention.

In the end, only four people remained in the forest: Mei Terumi, Shō, Terumi Ryuunosuke, and Asato Karatachi.

"The Fourth Mizukage is dead, and the Three-Tails has perished with him. We don't know when or where it will eventually be reborn," Terumi Ryuunosuke said, seizing the opportunity to advance his agenda. "Our most urgent priority now is to select a new Mizukage to stabilize the situation."

Though he didn't explicitly name his preferred candidate for the Mizukage succession, everyone present understood his meaning perfectly.

"Indeed," Shō replied with a slight chuckle. "Otherwise, all of us ANBU would be left rudderless."

The subtext of his words was clear—he remained committed to his role in the ANBU and had no intention of competing for the position of Mizukage himself.

The Hidden Mist Village had suffered under manipulation for years, and the fact that they had uncovered this deception today meant that he and Mei Terumi were the most significant contributors to this revelation. Combined with the considerable force of ANBU operatives under his command, he certainly possessed the foundation to vie for the Mizukage position.

But Shō knew his own limitations. His strength and capabilities, while considerable, weren't sufficient to bear the mantle of a village's shadow.

Terumi Ryuunosuke's eyes flickered, betraying a hint of satisfaction. As long as Shō stepped aside, it was almost certain that his daughter would become the next Mizukage.

Now, the only potential voice of dissent could come from Asato Karatachi. He had been supported by the previous Mizukage to ascend to a position of power and had been among the first to endorse the controversial Blood Mist policy. With his qualifications and the strength and status of his clan behind him, he might still contend for the Mizukage position.

Hozuki Haoyu understood precisely what Terumi Ryuunosuke was implying. It would be a lie to claim he didn't desire the position of Mizukage for himself. Yet he also recognized that his chances of prevailing against Mei Terumi in such a competition were slim.

Nevertheless, he wasn't prepared to concede so easily.

"The matter of the Mizukage candidacy cannot be decided by just the four of us discussing it here," Mei Terumi suddenly interjected.

She looked directly at Terumi Ryuunosuke and Shō. "The village has undergone a monumental change. Our immediate priority must be to inform the other elders and stabilize the current situation. Only then can we properly address the election of a new Mizukage."

Although they had all issued orders to maintain secrecy, there was no guarantee that the night's events wouldn't eventually leak. Engaging in a power struggle for the Mizukage position before addressing these more pressing concerns would only destabilize the village further.

As soon as she finished speaking, she tapped her toes against the ground and rushed off toward the village.

Shō had already chosen to yield to Terumi Ryuunosuke, and the Mizukage candidate in his mind was undoubtedly Mei Terumi. Her decision to prioritize the village's welfare over rushing to claim power only increased his respect for her.

He exchanged a meaningful glance with Terumi Ryuunosuke, and they both departed.

Asato Karatachi lingered briefly before following suit.

In a dimly lit house within the Hidden Mist Village, a tall figure stood with his back to the door. On the table beside him rested a massive sword tightly wrapped in white bandages.

"Hmph!"

Space distorted behind him as the masked man materialized from the vortex.

"Have you been discovered?" the tall man asked, turning around.

In the darkness, his extremely distinctive features became visible—an unusually ugly face with very small eyes and gill-like markings on both cheeks. His skin had an unnatural light blue hue that distinguished him from normal humans, and his teeth were unnaturally sharp.

True to his name, he resembled nothing so much as a human-shaped shark.

Hoshigaki Kisame, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

The masked man remained silent.

"You can no longer remain in the Hidden Mist Village," Kisame observed with a smile. He walked to the table beside him, gripped the massive sword Samehada, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

"They'll soon begin to suspect me as well, so I have no choice but to become a rogue ninja."

His promotion to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been abruptly proposed by the Fourth Mizukage. With the tumultuous events unfolding in the village and his conspicuous absence, suspicion would inevitably fall upon him.

But Kisame didn't particularly care. He had grown weary of this false world long ago. Why should he concern himself with the Hidden Mist Village or his reputation as a traitor?

"Yes," the masked man finally responded. "However, before you leave the Hidden Mist Village, there's one task you must complete."

"What might that be?" Kisame asked, his interest piqued.

"Assassinate the person who will become the Fifth Mizukage," the masked man stated flatly.

"Haha!" Kisame laughed. "The Fourth Mizukage has barely cooled, and you're already asking me to assassinate his successor? You could at least tell me their name."

The masked man ignored Kisame's request and continued as if speaking to himself: "Whether the assassination succeeds or fails, I will extract you afterward."

With those words, the space before his eye distorted once more, and his figure vanished into the vortex.

"How boring," Kisame remarked after the masked man's departure.

Yet despite his words, his shark-like features twisted into an expression of genuine intrigue.

"A candidate for the Fifth Mizukage? Now that does sound interesting..."

Chapter 738: Assassination

Konoha, in the Hokage's office.

"I didn't expect the news to spread so quickly."

Uchiha Yoruki and Minato stared gravely at the intelligence report lying on the desk before them.

Word of the shocking developments in the Hidden Mist Village had swept through the ninja world in a matter of days. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, was dead—and the Three-Tails had perished with him.

The consecutive losses of both a Kage and a Tailed Beast represented an even greater catastrophe than the assassination of the Third Kazekage before the outbreak of the Third Ninja World War.

"They've made no mention of the Fourth Mizukage being manipulated," Uchiha Yoruki observed. "Are they afraid of drawing unwanted attention from the other nations?"

Minato lowered his eyelids thoughtfully. It was obvious this information couldn't have originated from the Land of Water or Kirigakure itself. The mastermind behind the leak must be the masked man who had controlled the Mizukage.

A village's shadow manipulated by an outside force—beyond Konoha and Kirigakure who already knew the truth, other nations would inevitably take significant interest in such a development.

If the masked man intended to continue implementing his plans in secret, this exposure would create substantial complications.

However, neither Kirigakure nor Konoha would willingly make this information public. Kirigakure naturally wanted to preserve its dignity and international standing as much as possible. If Konoha were to spread such news, not only would it make an enemy of Kirigakure, but more critically, it would reveal to Kirigakure's leadership that clandestine dealings had occurred between Konoha and Kirigakure ninjas.

Such revelations would severely damage Mei Terumi's prospects of succeeding as the Fifth Mizukage.

"Regardless, we've achieved a significant victory," Uchiha Yoruki said with a slight smile. "The enemy has completely lost control of Kirigakure."

The remaining problems would be Kirigakure's to manage. From Konoha's perspective, a major hidden threat lurking in the shadows had been eliminated.

"Have they really?" Minato's solemn expression remained unchanged, suggesting he had different concerns.

"True, we've eliminated the enemy's foothold in Kirigakure, but by deliberately spreading this information throughout the Five Nations, they've created new complications," Minato explained.

"The Land of Water and the Hidden Mist Village are vulnerable right now. Beyond the Land of Wind and the Sand Village, which borders the Land of Fire and possesses relatively modest military power, both the Hidden Stone and Cloud Villages will certainly exploit this opportunity."

"I suspect our own village elders have already begun strategizing on this matter."

"Though peace treaties exist between our nations, everyone knows they're little more than hollow words," Uchiha Yoruki shrugged. "It's inevitable that villages will capitalize on the weaknesses of their rivals. Isn't that the way of the ninja world?"

Although they had aided Kirigakure in this instance, he believed Mei Terumi and her people understood the harsh reality—the weak are always preyed upon by the strong.

In this respect, there was no reason for the Land of Fire and Konoha to show excessive mercy.

"If this were merely a dispute between nations, such an approach would be acceptable," Minato replied. "However, once the Land of Water and Hidden Mist Village recover their strength, they'll harbor deep resentment toward those who exploited them."

"So what?" Uchiha Yoruki countered. "With their limited strength, they lack the capacity to hold other nations accountable, don't they?"

Minato's eyes darkened. "Certainly. But if events unfold that way, even if a full-scale ninja war doesn't erupt, tensions between the Five Great Nations would escalate daily."

"With everyone's attention and resources focused on these conflicts, the masked man and his associates would find it much easier to advance their true agenda."

It was clear that the masked man hadn't released this information simply to target Kirigakure. His ultimate goal must be to create rifts between the Five Great Nations and intensify their conflicts.

"What a grim perspective."

Uchiha Yoruki's eyes flickered. He hadn't considered this angle—not because his analytical abilities were inferior to Minato's, but because their perspectives differed.

As Hokage, Minato's considerations naturally diverged from those of ordinary ninjas, even elite ones like Yoruki.

"We cannot allow them to succeed," Minato said firmly. "If they do, the situation will spiral beyond our control."

"Agreed." Minato nodded, his brow furrowed. "However, our approach must be handled with extreme care."

First and foremost, attempting to use the might of the Land of Fire and Konoha to intimidate the Hidden Cloud and Stone Villages into abandoning their opportunistic plans would never work.

Although Konoha currently stood as the strongest among the Five Ninja Villages, employing such heavy-handed tactics would inevitably generate deep resentment from the other nations.

The only viable path forward was to forge an alliance with the Land of Water.

This way, the Land of Water and Hidden Mist Village could invoke the prestige of the Land of Fire and Konoha to deter potential aggression from the other nations.

"If we pursue an alliance, I doubt our village elders will readily approve," Uchiha Yoruki remarked with a faint smile.

"Persuading the council isn't the primary obstacle," Minato replied. "The real concern is that if we form an alliance with the Land of Water now, the masked man will undoubtedly spread that news throughout the ninja world as well."

Minato knew that his infiltration of Kirigakure to conduct a classified mission, along with the secret negotiations between Konoha and Kirigakure ninjas, wouldn't remain hidden forever.

"As long as Mei Terumi becomes the Fifth Mizukage, with our combined strength, couldn't we easily suppress such rumors?"

The enemy possessed no concrete evidence proving communication between Konoha and Kirigakure. Even if whispers reached the ninja world, they would remain unsubstantiated speculation.

"Indeed. So the critical factor is ensuring Mei Terumi successfully becomes the Fifth Mizukage." Minato nodded in agreement.

"Given Mei Terumi's current standing in Kirigakure, isn't her appointment as Fifth Mizukage merely a formality at this point?"

Uchiha Yoruki pointed out that these recent events had undoubtedly elevated Mei Terumi's already considerable reputation to new heights within Kirigakure.

"Don't underestimate our adversary," Minato cautioned. "He operated within the Hidden Mist Village for many years. Though his visible influence has diminished, we can't assume he lacks additional resources or strategies."

Minato's voice deepened. "The masked man escaped unscathed from the combined efforts of myself and multiple Konoha masters. He is certainly no ordinary opponent."

"What are you suggesting?" Uchiha Yoruki's eyes sharpened with sudden alertness.

"I fear that from the moment news of Kirigakure's upheaval spread throughout the ninja world, someone has already moved against Mei Terumi."

Though news of the Hidden Mist Village's crisis had reached the broader ninja world, Kirigakure itself had received no relevant intelligence due to its isolated geographical position.

In the days following the incident, under the guidance of Kirigakure's leadership, the turbulent situation within the village had gradually stabilized.

During today's high-level council meeting, Mei Terumi had been formally nominated as candidate for the Fifth Mizukage.

Since childhood, Mei Terumi's ambition had been to transform Kirigakure. She had accepted the nomination with determination. Though she hadn't yet received official authorization from the Land of Water's daimyo, she had already begun exercising the responsibilities of the Mizukage.

After changing out of her ANBU attire, Mei Terumi donned a light blue dress, placed the Mizukage's ceremonial hat upon her head, and began the solitary walk back to her residence.

The streets of the Hidden Mist Village were shrouded in dense fog as night fell, drastically limiting visibility.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, from within the darkness, came the distinctive sound of a blade cutting through air. Something was slashing toward Mei Terumi with extraordinary speed!

Chapter 739: Kisame's Defection

Swish!

The massive blade moved with astonishing speed, reaching Mei Terumi almost instantly.

Splash.

The blade connected, but no blood splattered. The moment Samehada made contact with her form, it dissolved into a pool of water.

"A water clone..."

Hoshigaki Kisame's eyes narrowed. He had been tracking Mei Terumi since she departed from the Mizukage Building.

When had she performed the water clone technique?

As confusion flickered across his features, he suddenly realized that the mist enveloping the street seemed noticeably thicker than the surrounding fog.

Hiss!

Without warning, his clothing began to emit sounds of corrosion. Glancing down, he watched as the fabric gradually disintegrated.

"This is... Boil Release?"

Before carrying out the assassination, Kisame had naturally studied Mei Terumi's abilities in meticulous detail.

The Boil Release was one of two Kekkei Genkai that Mei Terumi possessed.

The corrosive process advanced with frightening speed. Almost in the same moment he registered what was happening, his clothes had developed large holes, and his exposed skin began to sting painfully.

Swish!

Kisame leapt upward, attempting to escape the hazardous street, but darkness suddenly fell across his face.

Looking up, he saw a thick liquid falling toward him—resembling magma but emanating a distinctly caustic odor.

Lava Release!

With his retreat blocked, he clutched Samehada tightly and swung it against the descending liquid.

The blade cleaved the substance in two, and the severed portions seemed to shrink by half almost instantly upon contact with the legendary sword.

"Samehada... so it is you after all."

As Kisame landed on a nearby rooftop, Mei Terumi removed the Mizukage's hat, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on her assailant.

"Suikazan Fuguki died unexpectedly during a mission. It seems this was no accident."

"Haha, I killed that useless fool myself," Kisame grinned, revealing rows of unnaturally sharp white teeth.

Mei Terumi's expression darkened. Judging by his skill and his wielding of Samehada, the man before her was indeed far more formidable than his predecessor.

Among the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, none surpassed him in strength.

"Why betray the village?"

If he had simply killed his superior, according to the Hidden Mist Village's customs over recent decades, it wouldn't necessarily constitute a grave offense.

The title of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, including possession of the seven legendary blades, was traditionally inherited through demonstrations of superior strength.

"Betray?"

"I simply lost interest in this so-called village. I want to live differently."

Kisame's grin widened, though Mei Terumi couldn't begin to comprehend what he meant by those words.

Without warning, he began forming hand seals.

Mei Terumi's eyes flickered with alarm. To draw out Kisame, she had deliberately avoided alerting the Kirigakure ANBU beforehand.

Recognizing the pattern of his initial hand signs, she quickly began forming seals of her own.

"Water Style!"

"Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Water Pillar!"

They completed their jutsu almost simultaneously. As they both exhaled, enormous torrents of water erupted from their mouths.

BOOM!

Water formations exceeding ten meters in height materialized almost instantly, colliding violently in midair.

But this was merely the beginning. As Kisame continued channeling chakra, his waterfall technique expanded to proportions that could inundate a significant portion of the Hidden Mist Village.

Numerous civilians resided in this area.

This, Mei realized, was his true objective.

"What terrifying chakra reserves!"

Mei Terumi exclaimed in shock. Although wielders of Samehada were necessarily ninjas with substantial chakra, Kisame's capacity was simply monstrous.

She was forced to strengthen her water pillar to counteract Kisame's jutsu; otherwise, civilian casualties would be catastrophic.

Only then did Kisame cease his technique, fixing Mei Terumi with murderous intent gleaming in his eyes.

However, such a commotion would inevitably draw Kirigakure ninjas to the scene within minutes. With his assassination attempt now compromised, he recognized he could not eliminate Mei Terumi today.

Swish!

In a flash, he disappeared into one of Kirigakure's winding streets, vanishing from Mei Terumi's sight.

"Damn him!"

The expression on Mei Terumi's elegant face shifted subtly. With her abilities, had she not been constrained by her surroundings, Hoshigaki Kisame would never have escaped so easily.

However, within their own village, ninjas of their caliber operated under numerous restrictions.

Eight years ago in Konoha, if Minato hadn't prioritized protecting the village's ninjas and civilians, the masked man and his black-robed associates would never have managed to escape.

Swish!

Shortly after Kisame's departure, several ANBU and Jonin arrived at Mei Terumi's position.

She didn't immediately order pursuit, understanding that the mastermind behind Kisame must be the masked man. The delay had already provided ample time for Kisame to flee the village.

The assembled Mist ninjas immediately employed Fire Release techniques to evaporate the massive volume of water Kisame had conjured.

Drip, drip!

After the situation was addressed, the sky above the entire Hidden Mist Village darkened noticeably, and a steady rain began to fall.

In the Mizukage's Office, the crisis was being assessed.

"Lady Mizukage, we found no trace of Hoshigaki Kisame within the village."

Naturally, Mei Terumi couldn't return home peacefully after such an incident. Kirigakure forces had searched extensively but discovered no sign of Hoshigaki Kisame.

Just as she had anticipated, no ninja had spotted Kisame after his confrontation with Mei Terumi, let alone managed to apprehend him.

"It seems that despite that man's identity being exposed, he still maintains hidden agents within our village," Terumi Ryuunosuke observed grimly.

They had assumed that after the masked man's true identity was revealed, even those he had recruited during his control of the Fourth Mizukage would no longer follow him.

Apparently, this wasn't the case.

"We need to immediately purge the village and eliminate the masked man's remaining loyalists," Mei Terumi's eyes hardened.

"That's necessary, but not at this moment," Terumi Ryuunosuke cautioned. "We've only just stabilized the emotions of our civilians and ninjas."

"If he can dispatch assassins against you, then information detrimental to the Hidden Mist Village will soon spread throughout the ninja world."

"Though we don't fully understand their purpose, we've lost both our Mizukage and our Tailed Beast in rapid succession. We're vulnerable. Once this intelligence spreads, we cannot avoid aggression from other nations."

"So what do you propose?" Terumi Ryuunosuke inquired.

Mei Terumi rose from her seat, took a deep breath, and declared, "Our only recourse now is to request assistance from the Land of Fire and Konoha."

"Seek help? Considering Kirigakure's actions during the Third Shinobi World War, even with Namikaze Minato as Hokage, simply not exploiting our weakness would be the most we could expect, wouldn't it?"

When mentioning Minato Namikaze's name, Terumi Ryuunosuke couldn't suppress a flicker of disappointment. He never would have imagined that the young man from their past would become the most formidable ninja in the world today.

"Whether we succeed or not, this is our only viable option," Mei Terumi stated firmly.

She wasn't completely certain, but she sensed that the masked man and Kisame's assassination attempt was more complex than simply eliminating her.

Moreover, wouldn't Lord Minato and Konoha prefer to maintain the hard-won peace rather than allow the ninja world to descend into chaos once again?

Chapter 740: Ending the Blood Mist

"The envoys sent by the Hidden Mist Village to Konoha have already departed from the Land of Water. Should we intercept them?"

A massive pitcher plant slowly emerged from the ground, its leaves unfurling to reveal a being split perfectly between black and white halves.

The masked man hesitated momentarily before shaking his head. "It would be pointless now. Even if Mei Terumi hadn't proposed an alliance, the Hokage of Konoha would have dispatched someone to contact her personally."

"I never expected the little girl Madara-sama failed to eliminate would rise to such prominence," Black and White Zetsu remarked, genuine surprise evident in his dual-toned voice.

After Kisame's assassination attempt on Mei Terumi had failed, the schemes they had meticulously cultivated in the Hidden Mist Village for years had effectively collapsed.

"No," the masked man replied coldly, his visible eye flashing with icy resolve. "Her actions alone aren't enough to defeat me so thoroughly. Namikaze Minato—he is the root of everything."

Black Zetsu nodded. "Master Madara's initial assessment was correct. This child, who has survived numerous attempts on his life, has finally become a significant obstacle."

He glanced at the masked man. The two chosen disciples of Madara had joined forces and plotted extensively, yet eight years ago, they had nearly fallen into the hands of Minato Namikaze—a man who seemed to have emerged from nowhere.

"Namikaze Minato... he must die," the masked man declared, murderous intent saturating every word.

"Heh heh."

Observing the masked man's current state, Black and White Zetsu smiled inwardly. Madara's words had proven prophetic: once people confront reality, they inevitably descend into darkness. The brighter the light that once burned within them, the more shocking their transformation to darkness becomes.

The man before him was no longer the hesitant figure who had attacked Konoha years ago.

"Orochimaru has been preparing for this moment for many years. Soon, the power we've been accumulating will reach its peak."

News of the dramatic changes in the Hidden Mist Village had spread rapidly, causing tremendous upheaval throughout the ninja world.

In the time of the First Hokage, the nine tailed beasts had been distributed equally among the nations to create a balance of power—each country fearing the destructive potential of the others.

With Kirigakure having lost both its Fourth Mizukage and the Three-Tailed Isobu, the village found itself at its weakest point in history.

The other major ninja nations would not easily relinquish such an opportunity to gain advantage.

Recognizing this, the envoys Mei Terumi had dispatched to propose an alliance with Konoha traveled at maximum speed, allowing themselves no rest.

Minato had already discussed the possibility of an alliance with the Hidden Mist Village with the Third Hokage, who was privy to many of the intimate details. With the Third's support, Konoha's elders had approved Minato's proposal, albeit with some reservations.

Therefore, when the Kirigakure ninja explained their purpose, Minato immediately presented them with the alliance documents he had prepared in advance.

The Kirigakure envoy was visibly stunned, clearly not having anticipated such a smooth negotiation.

"By the time you return to Kirigakure, the Fifth Mizukage's official succession ceremony should be underway. I will formally present this alliance to the daimyo at that time," Minato explained.

An alliance between Kirigakure and Konoha represented a union between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. Such matters necessarily required the daimyo's involvement.

Minato was confident that Mei Terumi understood the precarious position of Kirigakure and the Water Country. Even without Konoha making explicit demands, the Land of Water would need to offer certain concessions to the Land of Fire.

At the Mizukage Building in the Hidden Mist Village, the atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the celebrations that had surrounded Minato's ascension to Hokage. The entire village seemed enveloped in a somber shadow, with villagers appearing dejected and subdued.

This was hardly surprising. Konoha had emerged from three wars with impressive victories, cementing its intimidating presence in the ninja world. In contrast, the Hidden Mist Village had just suffered devastating losses during a period of dramatic upheaval.

Mei Terumi, wearing the Mizukage's hat, stood atop the Mizukage Building, gazing down at her disheartened people. Despite the grim tableau before her, determination burned brightly in her eyes.

She took particular note of the gloomy expressions worn by Kirigakure's ninjas—a direct consequence of the "Blood Mist" policy implemented by the first two generations of Mizukage. That approach had produced ninjas capable only of following orders without question.

Taking a deep breath, Mei Terumi felt her mind suddenly clarify, her vision sharpen. She parted her red lips and spoke:

"From this moment forward, I, Mei Terumi, assume the position of Fifth Mizukage."

"As Mizukage, my first action will be to end the policies implemented since the Third Mizukage's reign."

"From today onward, there will be no more 'Blood Mist' in the Hidden Mist Village!"

Her declaration immediately captured the attention of everyone below, particularly the civilian population. Some villagers' eyes suddenly glistened with emotion.

For years, few parents in the Hidden Mist Village had willingly allowed their children to enter the ninja academy. The graduation rate at Kirigakure's Ninja School had remained at a devastating ratio—five deaths for every successful graduate.

"Henceforth, advancement in ninja rank will be determined solely through evaluation by the village's senior leadership. Harming your comrades is expressly forbidden!"

As Mei Terumi finished speaking, the full weight of her authority descended upon the assembled Kirigakure ninjas below.

Under the previous regime, strength alone had been revered, and the fastest path to promotion had often involved killing one's superiors.

Her announcements instantly provoked intense reactions among the crowd. After all, these practices had persisted for nearly two decades, becoming deeply ingrained in the mindset of many. Such entrenched perspectives would not be easily corrected.

However, Mei Terumi had resolved to transform the village. Now, as Mizukage, she would never permit her comrades to continue murdering one another.

Judging by the reactions below, most villagers clearly maintained some skepticism about her proclamations. Such trust would require time to cultivate, a reality Mei Terumi accepted with equanimity.

She turned slightly, her sharp gaze sweeping over Asato Karatachi and several village elders.

The Blood Mist policy initiated under the Third Mizukage had first been established with these individuals' support. Asato Karatachi, in particular, would never have risen to become the patriarch of the Karatachi clan without the Third Mizukage's backing.

Mei Terumi still vividly remembered that bloody night from her childhood.

Had the Hidden Mist Village not just weathered such profound changes, she would have severely punished these men.

On the evening of the Mizukage succession ceremony, Mei Terumi remained awake through the night. As dawn broke the following day, the ninjas she had dispatched to Konoha returned to the village with urgent news.

After reading the alliance documents, emotion welled in her eyes.

"Minato-senpai, thank you," she whispered.

Without compromising his position, Minato had extended every possible assistance to Kirigakure in its time of need.

In the days that followed, the Land of Water sent envoys to the Land of Fire's daimyo's residence. To secure friendship with the Land of Fire, they paid a considerable price. Nevertheless, compared to the potential demands other nations might have imposed, this cost remained manageable.

Simultaneously, both Konoha and Kirigakure publicly announced their alliance to the entire ninja world.

With Konoha's deterrent power now aligned with Kirigakure, other ninja nations that had intended to exploit the Water Country and Hidden Mist Village were forced to abandon their designs.

Though this development initially generated mild resentment toward Konoha from other nations, Konoha's subsequent diplomatic flexibility succeeded in healing these rifts within a year.

During this year, Konoha also strengthened its friendship with the neighboring Sand Village. In the latter half of the year, the two countries jointly organized a Chunin Examination in Konoha.