Chapter 124: Nagato's Stubbornness
"So this is the power of a Kage?"
From the shattered remains of the Demonic Ice Mirrors, Haku stumbled out, her chakra completely drained—it had all gone into reinforcing the mirrors' durability.
Yet the Ice Release technique, which even Zabuza had struggled to break, shattered like soggy tofu.
And that was only because Mei Terumi had restrained her flames, letting Haku endure just the residual force.
"Where is Zabuza being held?"
The voice rang out just as the group of rogue samurai and mercenary ninja arrived, only then noticing Mei Terumi standing atop a broken piece of the island.
"Who are you?"
"She's with Haku—Zabuza's wanted follower. Did Haku bring her as backup?"
The ninja hired by Gato's shipping company still hadn't realized the gravity of the situation. Or perhaps they couldn't comprehend the idea that a single human could cause a natural disaster. They simply assumed Mei was just another ninja who happened to appear.
A rogue ninja with a damaged forehead protector from a small village sneered. "We've been looking for you. Can't believe you just came out on your own. Ready to die?"
He rapidly formed hand seals. Water swirled around his hand, forming a rotating blade.
Water Style: Water Fang Blade.
The other mercenaries also began weaving signs, launching Water Fang Bullets and Water Dragon Bullets. The air thickened with chakra—a significant show of power.
Layered water jutsu, combined with the Land of Waves' naturally water-rich environment, had their power amplified to the extreme.
"Be careful."
Even knowing how terrifying Mei's strength was, Haku instinctively called out in warning.
"So arrogant—she's not even dodging? No matter how strong she is, no one can take layered water-style jutsu head-on!"
The mercenaries sneered.
Even though ninjas possessed powerful techniques, they didn't have the tough bodies of pirates. Even a Kage-level powerhouse—like the Raikage, known for his durability—would take damage from concentrated jutsu if unguarded.
No hand seals? She's clearly asking for death...
The layered water techniques collided, creating a massive shockwave.
Immediately following, the rogue ninja with the Water Fang Blade lunged forward to strike.
Scorching heat.
The water blade evaporated instantly, his hand turning to charcoal. A deep orange flame erupted and spread across his entire body.
An orange-red barrier of energy enveloped Mei Terumi.
Flame Barrier.
A Level 15 blue-tier mage skill—it absorbed a portion of incoming damage and reflected fire-based counterattacks.
Though not as durable as Susanoo, it couldn't be easily broken—even by techniques from a Kage-level ninja.
Nearby,
one of the rogue samurai had a tag pasted on his body bearing an eye symbol.
In Amegakure, inside Akatsuki's secret base,
Nagato, who bore a matching tag, could see through his subordinate's vision.
Watching Mei shrug off the water jutsu and incinerate the rogue ninja, his expression remained indifferent.
He turned to Konan and said, "My Shinra Tensei can destroy an entire town in an instant. Can that flame barrier do the same?"
His surveillance tag hadn't captured the scene where Mei obliterated Gato's shipping company.
Konan didn't speak, nor did she contradict him.
The attack Nagato referred to was Super Shinra Tensei, which carried a massive toll on the body. Meanwhile, Mei's flame barrier was just a blue-tier skill.
The fact that he had to bring up Super Shinra Tensei already meant he admitted—
Mei's passive skill rivaled his regular one.
Still, this was the point.
He wanted his companions to witness the power of the Samsara Game.
Only then could they accept it—and perhaps even become players.
Since his resurrection, Yahiko had taken great interest in the current state of Amegakure and in the Dawn Clan created by Konan. After some reminiscing, he had immediately thrown himself into action, just like the old days—never one to sit still.
Thinking of that made Konan feel warm inside.
It was a rare feeling. Like being back in the early days of Akatsuki, when all of them still fought for the dream of peace.
All of it—thanks to the Samsara Game.
Nagato glanced at the two Akatsuki members in the vision and said, "Since Kakuzu and Hidan are there, let them test the Mizukage's strength."
Whether it was Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear and Five-Style Fusion Jutsu, or Hidan's immortality—they were both exceptionally troublesome abilities.
Together, they could hunt even Kage-level opponents.
If Mei Terumi was killed, then the Samsara Game wasn't so impressive after all.
Nagato's Rinnegan eyes narrowed as he observed the situation in the Land of Waves through the surveillance tag.
Iwagakure.
Ōnoki sat cross-legged in midair, fuming as he stared at the communications screen. "Damn it! During the Konoha collapse, Kirigakure contributed the least and still got as much as we did. And now they're secretly attacking the Land of Waves!"
The Land of Waves was part of Iwa's territory.
They had detailed intel showing that Gato—the shipping company boss—was the in-game "Land of Waves Tycoon," and his strength was comparable to Purple Soil, the one who had exchanged for Wood Release. Both were Kage-level.
They had planned to let Yellow Earth lead a team from Iwa to seize the factories in the Land of Waves once the timing was right.
"Sure, the Land of Waves isn't on the same level as the big villages. But it's a territory with a Kage-level presence. And those mercenaries aren't pushovers."
Ōnoki sneered at Mei's reckless power grab. "Charging in alone, without even bodyguards—Mei Terumi really is a hotheaded brat."
During the Konoha collapse,
she had briefly clashed with the Senju brothers and Hiruzen within the Four Violet Flames Formation.
Her strength had been clear—she was holding back during that fight.
Ōnoki estimated she was slightly stronger than Raikage A.
But compared to himself—someone who had fully mastered Dust Release—she was still a step behind.
Even he never traveled alone. He always brought two elite ninjas as guards.
After all,
unless you were at your peak like Hashirama once was, even the Five Kage were still mortal. Chakra ran out. Attention could lapse. One wrong move and you'd be dead.
The Third Raikage's legendary achievements had been made possible because he had stolen Iwa's military plans—forcing Iwa to go all-out in pursuit.
Under normal conditions, just 2,000 ninjas playing cat-and-mouse could have worn him down.
Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki were considered nuclear weapons for a reason. Unlike ninjas, their chakra reserves were massive. Their sweeping destruction made them strategically invaluable.
Land of Waves.
Gato, the corrupt businessman, rushed over in a panic.
Seeing his shipping company and nearby forest factories reduced to ash, he could hardly breathe from the pain.
His face twisted with rage as he turned on Haku and the all-too-familiar Mei Terumi.
"The Land of Waves has always been neutral. If Kirigakure wants to help the rebels, then you're my enemy too!"
Ordinarily, meeting a ninja from one of the Five Great Nations would at least warrant some diplomacy.
But seeing his docks and factories destroyed, and empowered by the strength he'd gained from the Samsara Game, his tone had changed.
"Everyone, get them! Kill them both!"
The leader of the rogue samurai sneered. He recognized Mei as the player who had killed them before.
Now, they had the home field advantage—and two Akatsuki heavy-hitters on their side.
How could they possibly lose?
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