Mist Ninja Village—Kirigakure.
Terumi Mei was a woman of outstanding ability.
Ever since she became the Fifth Mizukage, the village had undergone a complete transformation.
Both the economy and the number of shinobi had increased dramatically.
She had even sent people to track down and invite back, one by one, the descendants of the Kekkei Genkai clans who had fled the village in the past.
Those bloodline limits were Kirigakure's rare and precious inheritance.
In the Mizukage's office, many high-ranking officials had gathered. On the table were stacks of information on Konohagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure.
"Mizukage-sama, it seems this war is inevitable. What should we do?"
Ao, who had finally become the Mizukage's right-hand man just as he'd hoped, asked calmly.
Now, he felt much more at ease in the village than in the old days.
"We already promised Namikaze Kirito that we wouldn't get involved in this matter."
Terumi Mei was more mature than she'd been a few years ago. Her figure had grown even fuller, almost on par with Tsunade's.
As she looked down at the documents in front of her, her thoughts drifted back to that passionate kiss from years before.
At that moment, a short Anbu operative wearing a mask stepped forward and spoke respectfully.
"Mizukage-sama, I still think we have to participate in this war. If we really maintain neutrality, then no matter who wins in the end, I doubt they'll allow us to simply continue existing as we are."
"Yagura, take off your mask. There are no outsiders here."
Terumi Mei looked at the Anbu operative in front of her and spoke softly.
That's right—this Anbu Commander was none other than the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
Because the village couldn't survive without a Jinchūriki, Yagura had been allowed to awaken.
A perfect Jinchūriki could decide the outcome of an entire battle. Terumi Mei had no intention of wasting such an important piece of combat power.
So, to the public, it was announced that Yagura remained imprisoned. In reality, he had taken up the position of Anbu Commander.
On top of that, Yagura himself felt deeply guilty toward the village and wanted to atone by making great contributions, so he naturally accepted the role.
Hearing Terumi Mei's words, Yagura didn't say anything more. He simply took off his mask, revealing his still-slightly-youthful face.
"That's right, Mizukage-sama…"
An old man at the side nodded, clearly agreeing with Yagura's opinion.
"Namikaze Kirito's ambitions are definitely not so simple. He wants to unify the entire shinobi world! There's no way he'll just leave our village alone.
"At this point, why don't we simply ally with Iwagakure and Kumogakure, and have the three of us target Konoha together?"
"Wait a moment!"
Ao suddenly spoke up, cutting off the two men's proposal.
"We promised Namikaze Kirito that no matter what goals Konoha pursues in the future, we wouldn't stand in their way.
"If we go back on that promise, where will that leave our village's face?!"
Face? In front of power, "face" was meaningless.
But what Ao didn't want to admit, even to himself, was that he was afraid.
That's right—he was afraid of Namikaze Kirito.
With the Byakugan he possessed, Ao had secretly observed Namikaze Kirito a few years ago. The man's chakra network… the structure of his body… he was like a humanoid tailed beast.
And that had been a few years ago. Who knew what kind of height the man had reached now?
If they really ended up facing Konoha on the battlefield, their village would be standing against that kind of monster.
Had everyone already forgotten? Amegakure had been completely erased from the map of the shinobi world.
Kirigakure had only just managed to catch its breath. Everything was finally developing in a good direction again.
If they joined this war… if they won, it would be fine. But if they lost, everything they'd rebuilt could be destroyed overnight.
"I never said we had to help Iwagakure and Kumogakure."
Yagura's tone remained calm as he analyzed the current situation.
"We could choose to join forces with Konoha instead. If we help them, Namikaze Kirito shouldn't have any reason—or excuse—to attack our village, right?"
Hearing this suggestion, Ao's eyes lit up.
"Mizukage-sama, I think what Yagura-sama said is feasible. Right now in Konoha, the Legendary Sannin, the 'Yellow Flash', and that Enma—are all at their peak. Their combat power is enough to crush everything in their path.
"What they lack right now are war resources and a sufficient number of shinobi troops.
"If we lend them a hand at this moment, then without even thinking about it, we can be sure Iwagakure and Kumogakure will definitely lose! When that happens, we'll not only be on the side of victory, we'll also be in a position to put forward our own conditions—even to ask Namikaze Kirito to stop moving against us in the future.
"It's killing two birds with one stone."
As the Mizukage, Terumi Mei had to take in many opinions. So while her subordinates spoke, she simply rested her hands on the table and thought quietly, not interrupting them.
After everyone had finished, her rosy lips parted slightly as she finally spoke.
"What you've said makes sense. Iwagakure and Kumogakure are indeed strong, and Konoha on the other side is also gathering monsters.
"It's impossible for us to stay completely uninvolved. I've already received a letter from that old man, Ōnoki."
She tapped the documents.
"He wrote that Namikaze Kirito has ambitions to unify the shinobi world, and he wants us to join the war and help stop Konoha.
"More than that… I'm afraid the remnants of the organization from Amegakure have also joined this battle. And even Kumogakure has brought out their Chakra Cannon to use in this war."
At Terumi Mei's calm words, everyone in the room drew in a sharp breath.
The Chakra Cannon of Kumogakure was legendary. Its power was so terrifying that it hadn't even been used in the previous Great Ninja Wars.
Every village knew about this weapon.
If the Chakra Cannon was ever truly fired, it could easily wipe an entire village off the map.
Under normal circumstances, it was impossible to use such a thing on the battlefield. If they really did fire it, the casualties on both sides would be unimaginable.
And if you used a weapon that ignored all rules of "proper" warfare, the enemy would have no reason to show restraint either—they could very well turn around and launch a direct attack on Kumogakure's own base.
The stronger the weapon, the less they could afford to use it near their own village.
Otherwise, it would be like injuring the enemy by a thousand… and injuring yourself by ten thousand.
But now, under the pressure Namikaze Kirito was exerting, Kumogakure had clearly become desperate.
That Wood Style—capable of ending an age of chaos. The shadow it cast over people's hearts was a reminder of Hashirama himself.
"…Then which side are we going to help?"
Ao's eyes were a little unfocused as he stared ahead.
The other three great villages were the ones who had started this war, yet somehow it was their Kirigakure that had ended up being pushed onto the grill, unable to move forward or retreat.
Everyone knew Namikaze Kirito's methods—he was the sort of man who "destroyed a village" every now and then.
And now Kumogakure had taken out their secret weapon, the Chakra Cannon.
Both were forces powerful enough to obliterate Kirigakure.
"Mizukage-sama, Iwagakure wants us to join the war. But what about Konoha?"
Yagura continued his calm analysis. He wanted to know what Namikaze Kirito's stance toward them really was.
Hearing his question, a strange, subtle look flashed across Terumi Mei's beautiful face.
"That guy… I don't know if he's trying to reassure us, or if he simply doesn't care what we choose. Ever since I told him last time that we wouldn't interfere in this matter, he hasn't sent a single message.
"…What a troublesome mess."
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