Under the night sky, Mei Terumi and Hozuki Mangetsu's figures raced forward and soon reached the core area of Kirigakure.
Here, many Kirigakure shinobi had already joined the fighting. The scene was chaotic.
Directly ahead of them, two ninja belonging to Elder Genji's faction were locked in fierce combat with three Anbu from the Mizukage's faction.
The two worked together in an orderly way; facing the three Anbu's assault, even though they were outnumbered, they showed no sign of falling behind.
After all, anyone who'd fought this far was an absolute elite under Elder Genji.
Seeing this, Mei Terumi said to Hozuki Mangetsu at her side, "If you don't want to expose yourself yet, wait here a moment. I'll deal with this trouble and then push forward."
Mangetsu shrugged and accepted Mei's arrangement.
Mei didn't hesitate. She waited for the gap after the next exchange of attacks, teleported forward, and arrived at the two comrades' side.
The two companions blinked slightly, then recognized her.
"Is that Mei Terumi? Don't you have a more important mission? Actually, you can leave this fight to us."
Mei said, "It won't take long, and we also need to tear open a path to keep pushing inward. You two fall back, I'm worried about friendly fire."
After speaking, she immediately formed hand seals.
At that moment the three Anbu charged again. Raised under the Blood Mist Policy, they weren't in the least afraid simply because the enemy had one more person.
Only Mei's two comrades knew how fierce she was; they retreated behind Mei at once.
By then Mei's seals were complete.
"Boil Release, Ingenious Mist Technique!"
She opened her mouth and spat out a mist that swept toward the three Anbu.
They hurriedly dodged in all directions; this wasn't a closed space, so there was still room to evade.
But they didn't have speed like Kakashi.
So they were still hit squarely by the Ingenious Mist Technique.
Instantly, their whole bodies, including clothing, began to dissolve; they were corroded away until only a puddle of blood remained on the ground.
Mei raised a hand and wiped her lips, suddenly feeling a bit pleased.
This was how normal combat should be. This was the kind of intensity a bloodline kekkei genkai shinobi like her should have.
Ninjas like Hatake Kakashi and Rin Nohara were a bit too over the top.
Nearby, the two comrades, seeing Mei quickly kill their opponents, couldn't help praising, "No wonder the Great Elder favors this genius, she's so much stronger than us."
Mei seized the moment, "Hold this place. Provide a path for the comrades coming behind. I'm going ahead."
The two companions had no objections, showed determined looks, clenched their fists, and said in unison, "We will fight to the last moment!"
Mei didn't know whether they would survive this battle; she didn't even know if she herself would survive.
She only knew one thing: even if she died, they could not lose.
She glanced toward Hozuki Mangetsu's hiding spot and signaled with her eyes to continue forward, then she herself headed toward the Mizukage Tower.
Mangetsu kept pace. After passing that area there was actually no one guarding, and soon the two arrived at the Mizukage Tower.
By now the Mizukage Tower was surrounded by Anbu on all sides, three layers inside, three layers outside, protecting the building from every direction.
Seeing this, Mangetsu said, "No wonder the fighting wasn't that loud, the Mizukage's main forces have been concentrated together. Now how do we kill the Mizukage, who's protected by layer upon layer of defense?"
Mei said, "Of course there's a way."
With that she suddenly produced a signal flare and fired it.
Instantly, a white light lit up the dark night sky.
As the white light shone, another jutsu followed.
A massive, sweeping waterfall jutsu surged in from the distance, drowning everything in its path.
At that moment Mangetsu couldn't help exclaiming, "This is Water Release,.Great Waterfall Technique? A scale like this can't be cast by ordinary ninja. Did Elder Genji take action personally?"
Mei said, "Of course. A jutsu of this scale can't be handled by ordinary ninja, only the Third Mizukage acting personally could counter it."
"Although the Third Mizukage isn't personally concerned with the village's lower-class lives, he values his own face; he won't just watch this waterfall drown his Mizukage Tower."
No sooner had she finished speaking than, sure enough, a figure burst out from a window inside the Mizukage Tower. He quickly formed seals and another enormous wave took shape.
Again, Water Release, Great Waterfall Technique.
Its scale was by no means inferior to Elder Genji's.
This waterfall met the previous one, and the two collided with a thunderous crash. Anything in the vicinity was smashed to pieces; water sprayed everywhere, forming rain in the sky that fell onto Mei Terumi and Hozuki Mangetsu.
Mei watched the two enormous jutsu and showed a hint of envy in her eyes, "I wonder when I'll be able to release a jutsu like that."
Mangetsu said, "You'll have the chance in the future. After all, you're still young."
He paused, then continued, "Underneath those two waterfalls, especially at the impact center, all the civilians will probably die. As for the Mizukage, you claim to pursue justice, so why do this?"
Mei sighed, "Elder Genji is not merciful. According to him, this is a necessary sacrifice."
"If you don't want to see this scene continue, then later give it your all."
Mangetsu, sensing the Anbu steadily arriving because of the signal flare, said, "That signal flare just completely exposed our position. You should consider how to deal with these Anbu first."
Mei's eyes narrowed, "That's part of the plan. I'll hold them here; you don't worry about me. Infiltrate, assassinate the Mizukage. Yagura should arrive soon after seeing the signal flare."
Mangetsu sensed that more than thirty reinforcements were arriving one after another; he sighed, "Even if you reach Jonin level, even if you're a bloodline shinobi, can you handle this many?"
Mei shook her head, "How will I know if I don't fight? If I can't handle them, then that too is a necessary sacrifice."
Mangetsu didn't see any fear or regret on Mei's face. To her, the reinforcements rushing over were just a pack of mutts.
Suddenly not wanting to waste the opportunity Mei had created, he became decisive, "Fine. I'll do what you ask. If the assassination of the Third Mizukage fails, that too will be a necessary sacrifice."
Having said that, he didn't hesitate. He concealed his form and headed toward the Mizukage, whose position the signal flare had revealed.
No sooner had Mangetsu left than Kirigakure Anbu arrived, swish, swish, over twenty Anbu appeared around Mei Terumi.
Mei simply revealed a charming smile, licked her lips, and said, "Let me play with you properly."