There really was?
The Three Snake Princesses instantly became interested. After all, what they loved most were powerful living beings—and a ninja's kekkei genkai was one of the most direct manifestations of that.
Gekko Chizan was a kekkei genkai ninja, and he possessed two at the same time: Transparent Release and Crystal Release.
The former could even be integrated seamlessly with the sage arts of Ryūchi Cave.
And now, they hadn't expected that this brat in front of them truly possessed a kekkei genkai as well.
"Don't look at this kid's current state—both of her kekkei genkai are highly lethal release-styles."
"Boil Release, combining water and fire."
"Lava Release, combining water and Earth."
"Both kekkei genkai are extremely powerful."
Gekko Chizan held a very high evaluation of Terumi Mei. After all, once she grew up, her strength was unquestionably Kage-level.
And she wasn't like Yugito. Yugito relied mainly on the Two-Tails Matatabi sealed inside her, while Terumi Mei reached Kage-level entirely through her own effort.
That was exactly why he chose her. Missing out on a combat power of this level would be a waste.
"Tagitsuhime, release her from the Genjutsu. We need to talk to her."
Gekko Chizan still chose to start with a gentle approach. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't use the same method he used on Yugito.
"Are you sure?"
"Mm. Wake her."
Tagitsuhime nodded, then reached out and tapped again.
A burst of red light exploded—though this time, the red glow was denser than it had been back in Kirigakure.
As the light surged, the originally sleeping Terumi Mei instantly regained consciousness.
But the moment she opened her eyes, she jolted awake, immediately pushing herself up and leaping backward.
"Heh, quite a reaction."
Watching her response, Gekko Chizan let out a light chuckle. He didn't move at all; instead, Tagitsuhime beside him moved first.
A red silhouette flickered, and a strip of red energy wrapped tightly around Terumi Mei's body.
Before she could even react, a wave of intense numbness swept through her entire body—this was none other than the Sage Binding Technique of Ryūchi Cave that Tagitsuhime cultivated.
"Hey, Tagitsuhime, you paralyzed her—how am I supposed to talk to her?"
"Heh heh, relax. I only paralyzed her body. She can still think and speak."
Tagitsuhime shot Gekko Chizan a sidelong glance, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. Who did he think she was looking down on?
She was one of the Three Snake Princesses of Ryūchi Cave—a master of sage arts.
"Who are you! Where is this!"
"Why did you capture me!"
Terumi Mei's whole body couldn't move. She was on the verge of panic, though she forcefully stabilized herself—she was still a somewhat accomplished ninja, after all.
Looking at the man before her, she felt he looked familiar, yet she couldn't quite recall who he was.
"Hahahaha, Chizan, looks like she recognizes you."
"You're already that famous?"
Gekko Chizan hadn't activated Transparent Release, and he was displaying Sage Mode openly. The three Snake Princesses were all standing beside him in human form.
So in Terumi Mei's eyes, there were four people in front of her.
Chizan?
Oh no… Konoha's Ghost, Gekko Chizan?
Terumi Mei's eyes widened even further, panic rising in her gaze. As a ninja of Kirigakure, although she had not participated in the Third Great Ninja War, she still knew what happened.
The Twin Stars of Konoha—Yellow Flash Namikaze Minato and Ghost Gekko Chizan—these were powerful.
"Tagitsuhime, seriously…"
"You ruined what little mystery there was."
Watching Terumi Mei's expression, Gekko Chizan immediately knew she had recognized him.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be panicking like this.
"Don't be so afraid."
"The war is already over. I won't harm you. Bringing you here is for something else."
Terumi Mei looked at him with doubt. Though the war had ended, secret confrontations certainly hadn't.
But she had also heard that Konoha sent someone to Kirigakure to sign a cease-fire treaty. Could it have been the Ghost of Konoha himself?
But why would he capture her?
Terumi Mei was still young. These questions nearly made her brain overheat.
Seeing she didn't speak, Gekko Chizan smiled lightly and leaned against the ship's railing.
"What do you think about your Kirigakure?"
"Blood Mist Village… heh."
Hearing the words Blood Mist Village, Terumi Mei's pupils shrank sharply. A hint of resentment and dissatisfaction surfaced involuntarily.
This policy was enacted by the Third Mizukage.
Its original intent was to strengthen the village—but the methods used were unbelievably cruel.
First, they slaughtered ninjas with kekkei genkai, causing Kirigakure to lose many highly capable shinobi.
If she hadn't known how to hide her abilities, she might have been killed in that massacre as well.
Later, when the Third Mizukage died, she thought Blood Mist Village would finally end—but the Fourth Mizukage continued supporting it.
Although he no longer executed kekkei genkai users, giving people like her some chance of survival, the methods used to strengthen ninjas were still brutal.
Nearly all evaluations involved killing.
"Not talking? Seems like you have opinions."
"Well, to be honest, I also have opinions about your village's policy."
"The Blood Mist Village created by the Third Mizukage caused you unimaginable harm. Hiding your talent must be exhausting, right?"
Thunder struck one after another.
Terumi Mei's eyes widened. She couldn't understand how he knew this.
Could he read minds?
She had heard of the Yamanaka clan in Konoha—experts in mind-reading ninjutsu.
But no, Gekko Chizan was from the Gekko clan.
So how did he know?
"That village has already decayed."
"Do you want to come with me? I'll give you a different way of living—one where you can unleash your full talent."
"Where you can become a powerful figure standing at the top of the ninja world."
Gekko Chizan extended an olive branch.
This stunned Terumi Mei.
What was happening? A Konoha ninja inviting a Kirigakure ninja?
Was he crazy?
"I'm not inviting you to join Konoha. I'm inviting you to join my faction."
"Konoha is Konoha. I am me. I have my own force."
"I think very highly of your talent."
"With two kekkei genkai, your potential shouldn't be wasted in that place."
Terumi Mei was completely shocked. He had just revealed all her secrets.
He even knew she possessed two kekkei genkai?
This man was terrifying—like a ghost.
What should she do…