"Looks like you lot got beaten black and blue and ran back here too? What Village of the Bloody Mist, huh, just a bunch of trash!"
The speaker wore round sunglasses and a suit, standing with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of calm composure. The source of his confidence was the samurai bodyguards flanking him like iron towers.
This insulting remark, however, did not provoke the slightest reaction from the four members of Zabuza's team. Apart from Haku and Chōjūrō slightly raising their heads, the others remained silent.
Undoubtedly, this indifferent attitude deeply wounded Gato's pride. His face darkened, and the two bodyguards beside him immediately understood, their hands moving to their sword hilts, slowly beginning to draw.
"Mr. Gato, why get so worked up?"
Just as a woman's voice suddenly rang out, the two bodyguards abruptly discovered that no matter how hard they tried, the swords at their waists seemed welded into their scabbards, unmoving.
"Oh~ Isn't this Miss Mei!"
Gato's eyes immediately fixed on Mei Terumī, his expression one that anyone past puberty would understand. As for the black-haired girl standing beside this beauty, quietly forming Hand Seals, he completely ignored her.
"Hehe, I'm flattered Mr. Gato still remembers little old me. Please rest assured about this mission," Mei Terumī chuckled lightly, her words already soothing Gato, "I've come personally, haven't I?"
After dismissing Gato with a few words, Mei Terumī turned to Zabuza. The bright smile on her face instantly faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"I've checked; the old man's request was only a c-rank mission. How did you manage to provoke a famous Jonin from Konoha and a top Anbu expert?"
Zabuza then detailed the encounter with Kakashi and the subsequent battle where Amane suddenly intervened.
Nearby, Ye, with her long black hair, was busy using Medical Ninjutsu to treat Chōjūrō, Ameyuri Ringo, and Haku, who lay on beds.
"Apart from Chōjūrō, the others' wounds were caused by Wind Release, but they're all shallow."
After finishing the examination, Ye breathed a sigh of relief.
Haku, who seemed the most severely injured, was only unconscious due to the intense pain from being hit in a specific spot.
It seemed neither would suffer any lasting effects, not even scars. To receive such light injuries facing a Wind Release expert was truly fortunate.
"What kind of opponent did you actually encounter?"
Ye put her hands down and suddenly asked.
"..."
Haku fell silent for a moment, then began to describe the entire battle in detail, including the terrifying pressure Amane brought.
After hearing this, Ye couldn't help but gasp.
If it was truly as Haku described, this Konoha Anbu's strength was completely on par with Zabuza and Teacher Mei!
Could there really be such a powerful Wind Release Ninja in the Ninja World?
While Ye's heart was shaken, she also understood what she needed to do next, and then said:
"Then it's highly likely he possesses the ability to sense Chakra. Amane, who assisted me in developing that jutsu, said this technique is actually most suitable for use in battle."
In battle, over ninety-nine percent of Ninja rely on their five senses. The essence of this technique is making one's fist disappear or deflect through the principle of refraction.
However, Haku couldn't do it.
The requirement for fine Chakra control was too high.
"I can't match you in that," Haku admitted frankly with a smile.
Just like earlier, the reason the two bodyguards couldn't draw their swords was precisely because Ye had subtly injected tiny ice crystals into the gaps of their scabbards.
Haku acknowledged being far from capable of such delicate manipulation.
But Ye also had areas where she was far inferior to Haku, namely pure combat talent.
"Next time, I'll leave it to you."
"Mm, leave it to me. When it comes to support and auxiliary abilities, I'm quite confident."
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been chosen as Mei Terumī's confidante.
After finishing her exchange with Haku, Ye suddenly noticed something amiss.
Just after talking with Haku, Ye suddenly sensed something strange. Her old friend Ameyuri Ringo seemed unusually quiet?
She couldn't help but look over.
"Ringo?" Ye called out tentatively. Yet Ringo remained lying on her bed with eyes closed, motionless, as if lost in boundless thoughts.
"She's been like this since returning."
Haku shrugged helplessly, indicating he was at a loss too.
Speaking of Ringo, although including Haku and Chōjūrō, they were all Zabuza's subordinates, and they had grown familiar with each other over the years.
But Ringo still maintained a certain distance from them.
Looking at the silent, closed-eyed Ringo, a trace of worry crossed Ye's face, and she then said:
"You shouldn't overdo..."
"Ye. I suggest," Ringo suddenly interrupted what Ye was about to say, then calmly stated, "next time, you, me, and Teacher Mei go meet that Konoha Anbu."
"Oh? Reason."
Mei Terumī, who seemed to have finished discussing with Zabuza by now, also heard Ringo's sudden statement. Although she had just been thinking the same thing—after all, with two experts, she and Zabuza should each handle one.
Ringo looked down at her faint Wind Release wound, thoughtfully saying:
"That Anbu... gives me a very familiar feeling."
"..." X4
That's a lot to unpack.
But those who know her know her business; Ameyuri Ringo is an intuitive type, her ability in this area comparable to a Sensing Ninja.
So Mei Terumī and Ye couldn't help but exchange a glance, thinking Ringo might have genuinely discovered something.
"Then it's settled," Mei Terumī declared decisively, her charming face now only showing resolute seriousness.
"Zabuza, Haku, Chōjūrō, deal with the Copy Ninja Kakashi and the Genin he brought;
Me, Ringo, and Ye will face that Anbu.
Everyone, this mission concerns our Village's finances, it's crucial! We absolutely cannot fail!"
..."So, Kakashi-senpai, what should we do now?"
After the latest intelligence gathered via Shadow Clone was reported, Kakashi felt his head was about to split.
Two Ice Release Ninja with strength comparable to Jonin, two successors of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a currently infamous 'demon of the bloody mist' member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, plus a heroine who ended the Village of the Bloody Mist and possesses dual Bloodline Limits.
Hahaha, this mission is a total loss, down to our underwear.
"So, the girl named Ameyuri Ringo might be able to discover who you are? Because you were once sent by Danzo to infiltrate?"
Otherwise, it wouldn't be possible to know the intelligence so detailed.
And if that's really the case, then once battle starts, we must avoid this Root member being recognized, otherwise the problem could be very serious!
"Correct, the entire process of the Village of the Bloody Mist's end is in my mind, and I've already reported it truthfully. Didn't you know?"
Kakashi shook his head.
Amane inwardly cursed Danzo for not understanding priorities. What a fantastic diplomatic bargaining chip, yet he hid it, planning to use it as a card in his power struggles.
Taking advantage of the Hidden Mist Village's weakness and the shared characteristic of being attacked by the Masked Man, how much could be done with this!
But Amane couldn't tell Kakashi this directly yet, because it couldn't bypass Danzo, and thus naturally couldn't bypass the Tongue Binding Seal.
Saying it would mean Amane couldn't bluff anymore.
Looking at Naruto and Sasuke not far away, already practicing Tree Climbing, Amane thought helplessly.
[But how do we get through this current hurdle?]
Mei Terumī mentioned the Hidden Mist's finances, seems Obito basically emptied them. It's hard to imagine how much money Gato would pay to hire Hidden Mist Ninja for this mission.
Probably the Hidden Mist wants to cooperate with Gato's company... otherwise their lineup is too luxurious.
If that's the case... then simply repelling them is useless; the conflict between the Land of Waves and Gato is irreconcilable.
Blood must be shed. If not from the Hidden Mist or Konoha folks, then it must be Gato.
So as long as Gato dies, Mei Terumī and the others can't take it out on the Land of Waves, at most they'd curse Konoha for being shameless without evidence.
But it can only be done by Amane, who currently has no public identity; if Kakashi goes, he'd inevitably be condemned.
"Don't act on your own; things haven't developed to that point yet."
Suddenly Kakashi looked at Amane and spoke.
Seems he saw what Amane was just thinking.
"Rules?" Amane's lips beneath the mask seemed to curl into a slight smile as she continued:
"Don't worry, this will be done by someone from the Hidden Mist side; they killed their own client."
Thanks to the previously obtained Hidden Mist scroll, Amane was fully confident she could create convincing Hidden Mist Ninjutsu traces.
Then, with a little maneuvering, just let a knowledgeable third party see it.
Beneath the mask, Amane's gaze sharply fixed on Kakashi; and Kakashi was also looking at her, his exposed eye filled with astonishment and shock.
Although the time spent together was short, Amane had altered her voice and other aspects besides her height.
But who is Kakashi? At least he could tell from details that Amane's age was certainly not old.
Then Kakashi looked back, in the direction of Naruto and the others, and said: "How much more intelligence can you tell me? Leave this matter to me to handle!"
Instantly, Amane felt Kakashi's will in saying this was extremely firm!
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