Just as Mei Terumi was still thinking, Shadow One's voice had already sounded from another position, spreading around.
"Everyone, use Wind Release, disperse the great mist."
Mei's heart skipped a beat. Even though her Kirigakure Technique's effect on these Kirigakure Anbu wasn't perfect, and the mist would eventually dissipate, at least at this critical moment it served to block sight and fracture the battlefield.
In a heavy-mist environment, teams can't coordinate effectively and can't easily leverage numerical advantage.
That was why she had created a one-on-one environment with Shadow One. If that environment were immediately erased, she wouldn't just fail to survive, she wouldn't even be able to buy time.
Before Mei Terumi could think of a counter, the Anbu who could use Wind Release obeyed their leader's order and formed seals.
At once, strong gusts blew from all directions.
The violent wind swept the mist clean away, revealing Mei Terumi wrapped in a heap of Dissolution Release material.
Shadow One said calmly, "Mei Terumi, surrender. Your Dissolution Release temporarily protects you, but it also restricts your freedom; you're trapped by your own defenses and can no longer escape."
Mei knew this already and had no hope of escape; she only wanted to stall a little longer.
So she said, "Then let's talk. If I surrender, can you really beg the Mizukage to spare me?"
"Or perhaps you can't influence that decision at all. After all, you're just a handy tool in his hand."
Shadow One didn't take the bait, "You won't sow discord or test my loyalty to the Mizukage. My life was given by the Mizukage, I will never betray him."
"Mei Terumi, if you truly wanted to surrender, you would have dispersed the protection around you long ago. You don't intend to. You're just stalling."
"Everyone, immediately, cast Water Release jutsu on Mei Terumi!"
Mei gave a bitter smile. Her Dissolution Release was powerful, but a large amount of water could extinguish it.
Shadow One had seen that and left her no chance to delay.
She braced herself, waiting for the Anbu around to finish casting Water Release so she could make her final struggle.
But at that moment, suddenly—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
From the direction of the Mizukage Tower came a series of explosions, accompanied by fierce fighting.
The noise drew the attention of all the Anbu. Shadow One's voice grew urgent, "Everyone, stop attacking and immediately support the Mizukage!"
As the Mizukage's guards, their first priority was the Mizukage's safety.
All the Anbu immediately stopped the jutsu they were preparing and, without hesitation, turned as one and rushed toward the Mizukage Tower.
Before long, only Shadow One remained on the spot.
Mei's heart tightened. She wanted to keep the Anbu there, but had no way to do so.
With the Anbu gone, the pressure on her eased somewhat, but she did not feel happy. She knew the pressure had simply shifted onto her allies elsewhere.
Thinking it through, Mei completely withdrew the chakra from the Dissolution Release material around her, causing the Dissolution Release jutsu to dissipate.
Then she looked at Shadow One seriously, "You knew something happened over at the Mizukage's place, why did you stay here?"
Shadow One stood in the dark like a void, ready to vanish into shadow at any time.
He spoke calmly, "Because I believe in the Mizukage's strength. He is strong, much stronger than I am. I believe there is no one in all of Kirigakure stronger than the Mizukage."
"The chance he encountered an accident is very small. If I leave now, I'll miss the big catch, you. Capturing you is worth more than anything."
Mei coughed; a mouthful of fresh blood spat from her lips, staining them red.
She pressed her hand to the wound at her waist, lifted the other hand, and wiped her mouth.
"I'm truly honored to be so despised by you."
Shadow One had no pity. He said coldly, "Mei Terumi, although I only stabbed you once, that strike carried my special chakra. The wound cannot simply heal."
"You will bleed for a long time; if you lose too much blood and lose all your strength, even if I do nothing, you will only be able to surrender."
Mei breathed hard. She knew Shadow One was not lying; she could feel her wound continually seeping blood, dripping to the ground.
She didn't have much time.
Thinking this, she forced herself to gather energy and formed hand seals.
It seemed Shadow One was waiting for that moment. When Mei had formed half her seals, his figure again melted into the darkness and vanished.
The next instant he appeared behind Mei; his kunai once more drove toward her.
By then Mei's jutsu was complete. She chanted, "Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A giant water dragon shot up from Mei's feet.
Its direction was toward behind her, just in time to meet Shadow One head-on.
Shadow One didn't expect the water dragon to come at him; caught off guard, he was struck directly.
BANG!
The huge water dragon slammed Shadow One, sending his entire body flying; he crashed beside a big tree.
Mei turned to look at the fallen Shadow One, unable to suppress a smile.
"I won you by one move."
Shadow One's Anbu mask had been knocked clean off by the water dragon, revealing the face of a man in his thirties.
He stood up expressionless and said, "You already knew my position earlier?"
Mei shook her head, "No. After you melted into the darkness, even your chakra vanished with you, I couldn't detect you."
"But... I could bet on where you would appear. Both your attacks happened behind me twice, which shows it's your habit."
"If this time you didn't do that, I'd at worst die."
Shadow One nodded slightly, a trace of admiration in his eyes, "Good quality. Ninja battles often rely on that gamble between life and death."
"But... aren't you afraid I'd teleport again the moment your water dragon hit me?"
Mei slowly said, "Any powerful jutsu must have some limitation. Captain Shadow One, why is it that after each attack you don't immediately continue with another, but stop and talk to me for a while?"
"Even though you know I'm stalling, you still act so unreasonably by letting me do so. There must be a reason."
"Your technique... it needs cooldown time, right? Am I right?"