"So that's how it is… then… Boil Release – Skilled Mist Technique!"
Ninja World Mei spewed again, countless waves of scalding steam spreading out.
The ninja hurriedly dodged.
No one could see clearly within it, only hearing the ground beneath the high-temperature steam crackling continuously.
This rekindled some Kirigakure ninja's joy.
"Mizukage-sama's technique is unstoppable; even steel would melt! That kid doesn't know its power—he'll suffer!"
"This fight, Mizukage-sama can win!"
"No…" Ao only shook his head, face serious.
"Early Bracken Dance – Thousand Transformations!" A cold voice rang out.
*RUMBLE!*
Under Ninja World Mei's gaze, across dozens of meters around, a series of bone spikes erupted.
Ninja World Mei sensed danger first, leaping high, but the bones extended, curved, and kept pursuing.
"What a troublesome ability… Lava Release – Scorching Lava Stream Technique!"
Ninja World Mei spewed again, massive lava balls striking the bones, but they pierced through one by one, the bones unscathed.
They approached Ninja World Mei even faster, curving and binding her right arm.
Then, one by one, they bound her left arm, right leg, left leg, and entire body.
Mei was tightly bound in midair!
"Mizukage-sama!" Kirigakure's people, seeing the situation reverse instantly with their Mizukage restrained, cried out in shock.
"You can't destroy my bones, can't fight me… Mizukage Terumi Mei, though a Kage in the ninja world, you're extraordinary. But in the Empire, such strength is quite ordinary. Compared to your counterpart in our world, the gap is too vast."
Kimimaro controlled the bones to move slowly before him, looking at Ninja World Mei calmly.
Mei paused, then suddenly smiled: "Handsome boy, do you like this position? Next time… maybe we can interact more often."
She winked ambiguously.
"Interact? Ninjutsu? Martial arts? Forget it… the ninja world has no knowledge I need."
Kimimaro shook his head calmly, releasing Mei.
"!" Mei's forehead twitched, saying with slight anger: "Handsome boy, you really don't give face, but we've seen your strength. As Hokage-dono said… it's not even in the same dimension as us. Resistance is utterly useless."
By the end, Mei looked somewhat dejected.
People from other ninja villages lowered their heads one by one, faces pale.
The Kage of the Four Great Ninja Villages were defeated so easily.
Something they'd never dared dream of happened before their eyes today.
Across the way, Konoha ninja showed slight glee in their hearts.
As if saying, "Finally, you feel it too."
After all, the Empire had repeatedly shown its strength to Konoha, intimidating them.
Did the other four ninja villages know the pressure Konoha felt then?
They'd kindly advised, but weren't believed! Had to be beaten! You fools, right?
Now it's great… everyone's the same! Obey, listen!
Imperial Raikage A nodded, satisfied with the Four Great Ninja Villages' ninja's state and expressions.
"This expression is good; you seem to understand the gap between us. But what we've shown today is merely the tip of the Empire's iceberg. The true Empire is a hundred, a thousand times stronger than this."
"His Majesty the Shinobi Emperor is like a god; you mustn't harbor any illusions."
"…" The Four Great Ninja Villages fell silent.
"From today, the Five Ninja Villages will join the Empire. Though you don't understand the Empire now, no matter. After we deal with Akatsuki and rescue your Jinchūriki, you can visit the Empire, experiencing its prosperity and power."
"Trust us, we won't harm our counterparts from another world." Imperial Raikage A continued.
"…" The Four Great Ninja Villages remained silent.
After a long pause, Ōnoki said: "Regardless, we must return to our villages to bring this news to everyone."
"Of course, you may leave Konoha now."
Imperial Raikage A said with a confident, calm expression.
The other Empire members felt the same, unconvinced these people, having seen the power gap, would dare resist.
"Then, we'll take our leave."
Ōnoki nodded, his back hunching further as he turned, leading Iwagakure's people away quickly.
People from the other ninja villages said in unison: "We'll return to our villages too."
Saying so, they left together.
Unconsciously, they walked the same path until, kilometers from Konoha, they instinctively stopped.
Ōnoki sighed. "What are you all thinking now?"
"Thinking? What thinking? You saw those otherworlders' strength yourselves. With just the four ninja villages' power, we can't fight them. Better to surrender obediently and find my handsome man." Mei rolled her eyes, saying helplessly.
"Mizukage-sama! Please don't say such demoralizing words! Though they're strong, we're not entirely hopeless! If we all unite." a Kumogakure ninja said grimly.
"Hope? What hope? That Kimimaro kid, when fighting me, clearly didn't use his full strength. Then the other world's Deidara mastered Dust Release stronger than Tsuchikage's. The other Raikage defeated the Fourth Raikage in one move."
"Kazekage was utterly crushed… I don't even know how to fight properly. The enemy still has many who haven't acted." Mei said.
"Maybe only those few are strong… the rest aren't, just scaring us?" the Kumogakure ninja continued.
"Ask Ao if they're just scaring us." Mei said.
"My Byakugan tells me everyone behind the Hokage has strong chakra. At least all are elite Jōnin, many Kage-level. Especially the other world's Kisame, his chakra rivals a Bijuu's."
"The chakra around some Uchiha is immense too. Plus, there's what they call True Qi…" Ao said.
Everyone fell silent for a while after hearing this.
After a long pause, Ōnoki sighed too. "If it were just a few ninja, there might be hope. But they're allied with Konoha's people… their ninja quality and numbers now are beyond what we can face."
"So we really must surrender? That's ridiculous! The Five Great Ninja Villages are the strongest, standing firm in the ninja world for decades! They maintain the ninja world's order… Now defeated by one Konoha and those weirdos…" an Iwagakure ninja said sadly, voice choking, unable to continue.
"No! We mustn't surrender! Even if there's a one percent, a one-in-a-thousand chance to win! We can't give up!"
At that moment, a mature voice rang out.
The four villages' people, startled, looked toward the voice.
A man with long, spiky white hair, wearing a forehead protector inscribed with "oil." slowly emerged from the forest.
"You're one of the Sannin, Jiraiya?"
Some ninja recognized him, exclaiming in shock.
"Konoha's Sannin, what do you mean by that?" Raikage frowned.
"As you see, I'm not with those Empire people." Jiraiya said.
"This is interesting. All of Konoha, even the Hokage, joined those so-called Empire people, but you didn't?" Raikage's escort, Darui, paused, saying: "Could you be sent to test us?"
Others, hearing this, showed wary expressions.
"I swear on the Sannin's name! I'm absolutely not with the Empire!" Jiraiya looked serious, raising three fingers.
"Then? Why show up now? What do you want?"
"I think we need to unite to oppose the Empire! And… Konoha!" Jiraiya said.
"Are you serious?" Raikage A said, surprised.
"I must… or the world will be destroyed by the Empire."
"What do you mean? The Empire will destroy this world? How can you be sure?"
"The Great Toad Sage's prophetic dream told me everything. I tried convincing Tsunade… but she's afraid of the Empire and holds hope." Jiraiya sighed.
"The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku. I've heard of him, said to be an ancient entity, living thousands of years, with many mystical abilities… and once saved the world with his prophecies…" Ōnoki frowned, recalling.
"Save the world? A toad? A laughable excuse." Raikage A sneered.
"Even with Jiraiya, a Sannin, joining, facing such enemies would be useless…" Mei still shook her head regretfully.
"Right… relying on your strength against Konoha allied with the Empire, there's no chance of winning! But with us, it's not certain."
Another voice sounded.
One black, one white, a two-colored Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground.
"Who are you?"
"That outfit… Akatsuki?" someone shouted.
"You bastards dare show your faces before me!"
Fourth Raikage A roared, Lightning Chakra Mode activating instantly. Like lightning, he charged at Zetsu, throwing a punch!
"Wood Release – Wooden Wall!"
White Zetsu shouted, layers of trees sprouting from the ground, forming a shield, blocking Raikage's punch.
The ground dented but wasn't breached!