Ripples spread across the water, growing denser as Terumi Mei approached.
Saitama Uchiha's appearance was pitiful. His clothes and flesh were both charred and tattered by the Boil Release, leaving no part of him intact.
A dull thud echoed through the air.
Terumi Mei halted her steps, standing two meters away from Saitama Uchiha.
On the other side, Sasori—who had been locked in battle with two opponents—witnessed what had just happened.
"What? Taken down in one hit? You've gotta be kidding me!"
Even Sasori couldn't believe his eyes.
Just moments ago, this Saitama Uchiha had instantly killed a Jinchuriki and defeated two powerful ninja, yet now he'd been eliminated by Terumi Mei in a single strike?
His pupils constricted as countless thoughts raced through his mind, forming plans for an immediate escape.
If that woman possessed such strength—powerful enough to kill Saitama Uchiha—remaining here held little significance for him!
As for capturing the Jinchuriki? Forget it. Survival came first. Opportunities would come again in the future.
"Didn't expect Kage's Aide to be so formidable!"
Ameyuri Ringo's eyes flickered with strange excitement.
She'd only heard about Mei's strength before—now she was finally seeing it in action.
Anyone capable of killing Mangetsu and Kisame deserved recognition as a powerhouse. Yet even someone like that couldn't escape Terumi Mei's palm!
Indeed, Terumi Mei was the kunoichi they all looked up to—and the ideal she aspired to reach!
"This woman... truly powerful!"
Raiga Kurosuki's eyes briefly showed astonishment too. As a veteran warrior from the previous generation within the Mist forces, he had initially felt some discontent at being placed under Mei's command.
After all, his experience spoke for itself while Terumi Mei was part of the younger generation who had only recently started shining. Although she enjoyed Yagura's trust, she hadn't accumulated sufficient achievements yet.
But since this was Yagura's order, he had no choice but to comply.
Now however, he acknowledged Terumi Mei's power!
He knew himself no match for Kisame, and Kisame proved no match for Saitama Uchiha.
Judging from current developments, even Saitama Uchiha appeared inferior to Terumi Mei.
Thus clearly proving—he himself definitely wouldn't stand a chance against Terumi Mei!
Among the Mist ninja, reverence for strength ran deep. Their village thrived on a kind of structured survival of the fittest—an organized, even institutionalized, form of power-worship.
"After all," Raiga muttered, his gaze turning profound, "anyone favored by the Mizukage must surely possess extraordinary abilities!"
With renewed determination, he launched another fierce attack against Sasori.
Terumi Mei had already concluded her fight. Continuing to drag out their engagement would be inappropriate.
Terumi Mei observed Saitama Uchiha lying on his back, her expression briefly showing confusion.
Though extremely confident in herself, even she found what had just occurred somewhat unexpected.
Too easy!
Saitama Uchiha had been like a fool, step by step walking straight into her trap before ultimately losing his life.
"Too naive, maybe?"
Terumi Mei considered Saitama Uchiha's age. Despite his strength, based on intelligence she had gathered earlier, she knew Saitama Uchiha was still a youngster under twenty years old.
Keeping her guard up, Terumi Mei stared down at Saitama Uchiha's face.
"Huh! Huh!"
Saitama didn't die just as expected, but he was practically on death's door, barely clinging onto his last breath.
His face was now a bloody mess, with facial bones exposed. His mouth opened and closed weakly, though no sound came out since his throat had been destroyed by the recent Boil Release attack.
"It's over! Saitama Uchiha, this is the fate of those who oppose Hidden Mist!"
Terumi Mei frowned slightly. Even she felt somewhat unsettled witnessing such a horrifying scene.
Crunch!
A smirk appeared on Saitama's lips, as if he were smiling.
However, all the muscles in his face had already been destroyed by the Boil Release attack just now, so this smile looked extremely eerie and terrifying!
"Huh?"
Terumi Mei sensed something abnormal and instinctively took a step backward, her vigilance instantly reaching its peak.
Gurgle!
A bubble rose from the water beneath her feet, as if a dark shadow underneath was rapidly approaching.
"Exactly as expected!"
Boom! The surface of the water exploded. A figure shot up from beneath, directly lunging toward Terumi Mei.
[Lightning Release – Chidori!]
White lightning illuminated Terumi Mei's eyes, revealing the shock and disbelief on her face.
"How is this possible!?"
Inside her heart, Terumi Mei couldn't believe it. When had he used a substitution or clone technique? Somehow, he had managed to escape her notice.
Without hesitation, Saitama seized the exact moment underwater and charged straight upward, attacking Terumi Mei.
His speed was fast, and he emerged directly from right under Terumi Mei, with almost no space between them.
Therefore, this time, there was absolutely no way for Terumi Mei to dodge!
Spraying splashes of water mixed with flickering lightning as two figures rapidly converged!
"Kage's Aide!"
"Terumi Mei!"
Meanwhile, Ameyuri Ringo and Raiga Kurosuki witnessed this scene, their hearts tightening.
Saitama Uchiha definitely wasn't that easy to kill! They had underestimated him!
"Hehe!"
Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, Sasori quickly backed away, letting out a cold and eerie chuckle.
That was exactly what he thought—who could possibly believe that Saitama Uchiha could be defeated so easily!
He narrowed his gaze and fixed it upon the two figures nearby.
Earlier, he had been at a disadvantage because he was always searching for an opportunity to escape—but now...
Zira!
Before Terumi Mei could even jump half a meter into the air, Saitama's hand had already pierced toward her chest!
Accompanied by the sound of flesh tearing, Saitama's right hand, crackling with Chidori electricity, ripped through like tearing paper, directly plunging into the area near her left shoulder close to the chest.
Originally, Saitama had aimed precisely at the heart on her left chest. However, due to her attempt to evade, it only struck a non-vital spot.
Even so, the sheer power of the Chidori was nothing short of devastating.
"Puchi!"
After impaling her body, Saitama did not ease up on his force, continuing to thrust upward, lifting Terumi Mei's entire body. She was like meat skewered onto a shish kebab, helplessly impaled onto Saitama's arm.
"How could this happen!"
From the corner of Terumi Mei's mouth, thick blood trickled down along her moist, crimson lips, dripping downward.
And her mouth kept muttering the same sentence, clearly refusing to believe that Saitama's Clone Jutsu could deceive her eyes.
"How is that impossible? After all, only Madara Uchiha could ever see through my Clone!"
Saitama looked at the woman impaled by his own arm, a smirk forming on the edge of his lips.
As he explained, the Saitama lying on the water surface gradually transformed into a wooden figure.
Terumi Mei turned her gaze and saw the so-called Wood Release Clone, realizing she had been careless.
At the same time, a cold breath drew into her heart. The Wood Release was a technique mastered only by Hashirama Senju, the former God of Ninja.
Since Hashirama's time, no one had ever been heard of mastering this ability again.
Yet now, this dangerous Konoha rogue ninja, a member of Akatsuki, actually possessed it!
Instantly, she realized that from the very beginning, Saitama had seen through her every move, leading her straight into his trap!
Sure enough, age didn't really matter! This guy just couldn't be judged by ordinary standards!
Terumi Mei narrowed her eyes, clenching her teeth as she grabbed Saitama's right hand with both hands, preventing it from going deeper while trying to pull the arm piercing her body out.
"Still not giving up, huh? Even now, you still think you can defeat me?"
Saitama frowned, watching Terumi Mei struggling, somewhat puzzled about the meaning behind her resistance.
Terumi Mei—dual Bloodline User, potentially the future Mizukage according to the storyline—her strength was unquestionable!
But he had already gathered detailed intel on Terumi Mei in advance.
What about his own information? The people of the Shinobi World only knew what he had deliberately revealed, scattered across different Hidden Villages!
Currently, even though various Hidden Villages had formed a loose alliance due to the previous Joint Chunin Exams, many crucial pieces of intelligence remained unshared.
Therefore, Saitama was taking advantage of an information gap!
"I won't give up so easily, damn it!"
Terumi Mei gripped Saitama's hand tightly, pulling it outward forcefully. Blood slowly spurted from the wound, yet her face showed nothing but resolve.
Crackling!
A surge of Electric Shock coursed down his arm and spread through Terumi Mei's entire body.
"Ahh! Ahh!"
Terumi Mei let out painful cries.
"Lady Terumi Mei!"
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