Chapter 251: The Spoils of War
A tense silence descended upon the ravaged clearing, broken only by the faint crackle of dying embers and the ragged, unconscious breaths of Chojuro. Uchiha Ren's gaze lingered on the fallen swordsman for a moment before turning, cool and impassive, toward the Mizukage. Mei Terumī, for her part, had mastered her expression. The fury and desperation of battle had been smoothed away, replaced by a veneer of pragmatic calm. She was a Kage, a leader who understood power and the futility of posturing in the face of absolute defeat.
A slow, deliberate sigh escaped her lips, not of relief, but of resignation. "It is rumored," she began, her voice a low, melodic contrast to the surrounding destruction, "that Uchiha Ren is a demon who revels in slaughter. It seems rumors are merely rumors, after all. They so rarely capture the full picture."
She made no move to flee or fight. Her chakra reserves were depleted, her guards were defeated, and the man standing before her had dismantled her defenses with an ease that was both terrifying and humbling. To provoke him with futile insults would be beneath her station and utterly pointless. Better to navigate this new, precarious reality with a clear head.
Ren offered a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Hehe~ Is that not the outcome you were hoping for?"
"Perhaps," Mei conceded, tilting her head. A wry, almost charming glint returned to her eyes, a glimpse of the woman who commanded a village of assassins. "It does make one wonder, however. What does the mighty Uchiha Ren plan to do with his captured prize? Am I to be a bargaining chip? A message to the other Kage? Or simply… a trophy?"
Internally, Ren weighed his options. Killing her here would be simple. It would fulfill his initial goal of culling the Kage and sending a shockwave through the shinobi world. Yet, a part of him hesitated. Her power was considerable, her political acumen sharp. To subdue her, to turn the Mizukage of Kirigakure into an asset… the strategic value was immense.
But he quickly dismissed the fantasy. This was not some fanciful tale where a defeated enemy would conveniently swear fealty after a single battle. He had just slain one of her most loyal confidants, Ao, and crushed her forces. The hatred and duty that bound her to her village were chains far stronger than any fear he could instill. For now, at least, turning her was an unrealistic ambition.
Yet, to simply release her was unthinkable. It would be a strategic blunder, allowing a powerful and now personally invested enemy to return to her seat of power. No, she was a resource to be secured, her fate to be decided later. If no use could be found for her… then disposal would remain a final, simple option.
His silence was an answer in itself. Mei watched as the familiar, hypnotic pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan swirled to life in his eyes, its crimson light pinning her in place.
"Do not resist," Ren instructed, his voice devoid of malice, merely stating a fact. "It will be less unpleasant for you, and far more convenient for me."
Mei met his gaze, her chin held high. She was a Kage, and she would face even this with dignity. There was no struggle, no futile cry of defiance. She simply allowed the potent genjutsu to wash over her, her consciousness surrendering to the darkness as her body went limp, collapsing gracefully to the scarred earth.
With a casual wave of his hand, Ren stored her unconscious form within his personal dimension. The Fifth Mizukage had been neutralized.
Before departing, his sharp senses tingled. He cast a contemptuous glance toward a dense thicket of shadows, a cold snort his only acknowledgment of the vermin he knew were hiding there. Then, in a flicker of movement, he was gone, off to rejoin Suigetsu and Karin.
The moment he vanished, two figures emerged from the foliage, their faces pale with a terror that was bone-deep. They were kunoichi from the Land of Nadeshiko, and the scene they had witnessed had shattered their understanding of power.
"By the heavens…" the guard, Shizuku, whispered, her voice trembling as she took in the churned earth and shattered trees. "The Mizukage… defeated without even landing a blow… He's a monster, Lady Shizuka! He knew we were here! What do we do?"
They had come to investigate the tremendous chakra fluctuations, expecting a skirmish, not a one-sided execution. The sheer, casual dominance displayed by Uchiha Ren had frozen the blood in their veins.
Shizuka, the village head candidate, stood straighter, though a deep unease was settled in her gut. "Our village's tradition… the law set down by our ancestors…" she murmured, more to herself than her guard. "From the day I was chosen as successor, I knew my fate was tied to this decree."
"But, Lady Shizuka!" Shizuku pleaded, her fear overriding protocol. "Our laws cannot bind a force of nature like him! To even suggest he submit to our customs is to invite the annihilation of our entire village! We should retreat and warn the others!"
"This is my duty!" Shizuka's voice firmed, a flicker of iron resolve in her eyes. "And my fate. I will not shy from it. But you are right about one thing—the ninja world is on the brink of chaos. Return to the village at once. Inform the elders. Fortify our defenses. This is not a request; it is my command."
Shizuku opened her mouth to protest further, to insist on accompanying her leader into what she saw as a lion's den, but the absolute finality in Shizuka's gaze silenced her. She bowed her head, a heavy weight of dread in her heart.
"Understood, my lady," she acquiesced, her voice thick with emotion. "Please… I beg you, be cautious. If you cannot persuade him, do not provoke him. Your safety is paramount."
With a final, worried glance, the guard turned and fled back toward their homeland, a sense of impending doom hastening her steps. Alone, Shizuka took a steadying breath, her eyes fixed on the path Ren had taken. She had made her choice. Clutching the scroll that symbolized her village's ancient law, she set off to follow the demon, hoping to negotiate with a storm.
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