The Hidden Mist Village was instantly engulfed in a sea of fire.
Flames scorched the air, forming waves of heat; the entire village was filled with explosions and screams. The Mist Village Ninjas witnessed for the first time such a powerful Fire Release Ninjutsu, the Jutsu's range covering the entire Hidden Mist Village.
A sense of despair emerged in every Mist Village Ninja's heart.
A Mist Village Ninja gazed at the pillar of flames erupting all around, stepped back a few paces in a daze, and collapsed to the ground: "Is this... the power of Akatsuki?"
"Water Release: Water Array Pillar!"
A massive water sphere suddenly surged into the sky, then scattered to extinguish the surrounding Pillars of Flame, and steam began to appear in the area.
The one extinguishing the fire was none other than Terumi Mei.
Unfortunately, even though she put out the flames here, she couldn't extinguish the Pillars of Flame across the entire Hidden Mist Village; there were still thousands of flame pillars throughout the village!
"Stand up!"
Terumi Mei recovered from her initial shock and commanded loudly, "Everyone, immediately organize the evacuation of the villagers and extinguish the fires!"
At this moment, Terumi Mei, as in the past, became the backbone of the Mist Village Ninjas. She waved her hand to summon the surrounding ninjas, issuing orders, requiring them to form squads to go to various parts of the Hidden Mist Village for rescue.
However, this time, the disaster was so widespread that the Mist Village Ninjas surrounding Uehara Naraku and others had to retreat to assist in the rescue.
After Terumi Mei issued her orders, only one Anbu Squad remained with her, ready for her command.
Perhaps because she spoke too much, Terumi Mei's voice sounded a bit weary: "Harae, immediately send a messenger pigeon with orders to leave a squad with the Three-tailed Isobu, and the rest should hurry to support us, making sure to return to the village within four hours!"
"Yes, Lady Terumi Mei!"
The Anbu Ninja didn't hesitate at all, turning and leaping away from Terumi Mei and the others.
Another Anbu Ninja couldn't help but ask in a deep voice, "Lady Terumi Mei, based on our information, Akatsuki's target has always been the Tailed Beasts. If they intend to use the attack on the Hidden Mist Village as a pretext..."
"I know, Chojuro."
Terumi Mei shook her head with a grim expression, watching the distant, casual Cloud Black Robe figures, and spoke in a low voice, "If it weren't for the shortage of manpower in the village, I wouldn't even consider mobilizing the ninja troops from there. We must first protect the village before we have a chance to keep the Three-tailed from falling into enemy hands."
There was one more thing Terumi Mei didn't say.
She had no confidence at all in repelling Akatsuki's invasion.
Faced with a situation so powerful that it seemed impossible to reverse, the will to fight became insignificant.
Terumi Mei did not believe that the Hidden Mist Village could manage to repel Akatsuki's members.
Therefore, a different approach was required. If the intelligence from Konoha was correct and Akatsuki's purpose was simply to collect the Three-tailed, perhaps when outside reinforcements arrived, Akatsuki's members might retreat.
The Three-tailed Isobu was just a Tailed Beast, after all.
Terumi Mei looked at the last two Anbu beside her and continued, "Kawamae, Chojuro, you also go to rescue in various places! I'll handle it here!"
"Lady Terumi Mei!"
"Lady Terumi Mei!"
The two Anbu involuntarily raised their heads, staring at Terumi Mei in disbelief. With thousands of ninjas stationed in the Hidden Mist Village, how could Terumi Mei face the enemy alone?
"It's okay."
Terumi Mei shook her head and said in a low voice, "You wouldn't be able to make much of a difference here; going elsewhere might save more people..."
"But..."
The Hidden Mist Anbu looked at Uehara Naraku and the others in the distance and gritted his teeth, "There are three opponents. Even if only as a distraction, we can at least hold off two of the enemies for Lady Terumi Mei!"
"Exactly!"
Another Hidden Mist Anbu spoke resolutely, "I've always been working hard to become Lady Terumi Mei's future Guardian Ninja!"
The two Hidden Mist Anbu resolutely refused to leave.
Perhaps knowing the threat Terumi Mei was about to face, the two Hidden Mist Anbu tried to refuse Terumi Mei's order, insisting on staying to fight alongside her.
"Hey, it seems there is some conflict among you."
Uehara Naraku smiled at the scene, suddenly interrupting Terumi Mei and the Hidden Mist Anbu, drawing their attention.
Hidden under a hood, Uehara Naraku let out a sinister laugh, slowly spreading his palms open, and chuckled, "Lady Terumi Mei, how about I help you by killing these two people, so you all won't have to argue?"
"Retreat!"
Terumi Mei shouted coldly, kicking each of the two Hidden Mist Anbu, sending them flying. The next moment, a column of fire suddenly surged from where the two Hidden Mist Anbu had been standing!
The two Hidden Mist Anbu felt a sense of lingering fear.
If Terumi Mei hadn't acted quickly, they would have been burned to ashes by the flames erupting from the ground.
Terumi Mei waved her hand and commanded, "Now you both see, staying here will only get in the way. Leave immediately!"
"Yes!"
Reluctantly, the two Hidden Mist Anbu could only leap away.
Uehara Naraku looked at the solitary Terumi Mei, shook his head, and smacked his lips, sighing, "Lady Terumi Mei, you're all alone now, it seems so lonely and pitiful..."
"Hehe... do you think you have me cornered?"
Terumi Mei hooked her lips into an ambiguous smile, then suddenly opened her mouth to release a cloud of acid mist: "Boil Release: Solid Fog Jutsu!"
The mist rushed toward Uehara Naraku and his companions!
The buildings on the street were gradually eroded by the acid mist, causing Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand to frown involuntarily.
This Boil Release is quite a troublesome Kekkei Genkai!
Especially for Sasori of the Red Sand. If he were the one fighting Terumi Mei, he might not gain any advantage from it. After all, the Boil Release's attack range is too broad, and his puppets and even the puppet strings could be corroded.
"Tsk, woman, don't be too sharp-tongued..."
Uehara Naraku merely waved his hand gently, and a violent gust of wind blew, completely dispersing the acidic mist of the Boil Release. He slowly looked up at Terumi Mei and said, "If your words were a bit sweeter, I believe many people would like you."
"Hehehe, I'll learn,"
Terumi Mei flashed a smile, her eyebrows slightly curving, making it seem as if they were chatting idly rather than being in a battle.
However, her mood was not that good.
If the Akatsuki member opposite her was highly skilled in Wind Release Jutsu, then it would directly render her Boil Release useless.
This battle is incredibly tricky.
No, it's like there's no chance of winning.
Terumi Mei had never encountered an enemy as powerful as Uehara Naraku, who could showcase his might with such nonchalance during battle.
Uehara Naraku slowly reached out his palm in the direction of Terumi Mei and softly said, "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A fierce wind instantly blew straight toward Terumi Mei!
The buildings along the road were swept away and destroyed by the gale, and the ground was plowed into a deep trench!
"Water Release: Water Array Wall!"
Terumi Mei gritted her teeth, spewing a powerful stream of water from her mouth to resist the onslaught of the wind. Her face was extremely tense: "Can just an ordinary C-Class Wind Release Jutsu possess such power?"
"Wind Release: Wind Cut!"
A hurricane directly sliced through the Water Array Wall, leaving a huge opening!
"You, woman, are quite something..."
Uehara Naraku, looking at Terumi Mei hiding within the Water Array Wall, spoke words with an ambiguous meaning. He was actually referring to how Terumi Mei had given him a biscuit years ago when she thought he was scavenging for food in the junkyard and pitied him.
Who would have thought the next moment, Terumi Mei suddenly chuckled, stretched lazily, and said, "Where do you think I'm most admirable?"
"..."
Just as Uehara Naraku was examining her, Terumi Mei's expression suddenly changed, and she spewed a vast amount of orange acid: "Lava Release: Lava Monster Jutsu!"
This acid directly covered the three of them overhead!
If this acid were to fall, Sasori of the Red Sand and Deidara would definitely not escape. They might even be seriously injured!
This woman is no wonder she commands the Hidden Mist Village to bow down; it's definitely not just because she's beautiful!
Her strength is also formidable.
At least her dual Kekkei Genkai almost completely counters them.
Both Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand had astonishment flash across their faces. Sasori hurriedly manipulated the puppets of the Third and Fourth Kazekage, intending to unleash their Magnet Release Defense Ninjutsu.
"Don't panic."
Uehara Naraku spoke to calm their emotions, slowly raising his fingers: "Secret Technique! Soul Guard!"
A purple energy shield appeared around them, encapsulating them in a group invincibility skill.
The orange acid landed on the energy shield but was unable to corrode it, only flowing down the shield to gradually erode the ground beneath.
Just as Uehara Naraku released the energy defense, Terumi Mei charged toward them from afar, her face carrying a determined look: "Do you think you can escape? Die, you Akatsuki monsters! Fire Release: Impatiens Fire Jutsu!"
A flame surged from her mouth! This woman could even release Fire Release Ninjutsu, and it was an Uchiha Fire Release Ninjutsu!
No, actually, that's not surprising, since Terumi Mei possesses multiple chakra natures, and one of her bloodlines consists of water and fire...
The flames hurled in did not land on Uehara Naraku and the others, but on the acid nearby!
Moments later, when the fire hit the acid, it triggered a violent explosion, affecting the entire street, instantly destroying the buildings!
The acid could be detonated by fire!
Terumi Mei suddenly launched her hidden technique, her true trump card, as she never expected the acid alone to kill the Akatsuki members.
Even Terumi Mei herself was knocked back by the shockwave from the explosion!
As Terumi Mei gasped for air, looking at the street that seemed calm after the intense explosion, she felt a slight relief.
She had chosen the timing very well, coinciding with the moment that eerie purple energy shield disappeared, an absolutely defenseless time for the Akatsuki members.
Based on Terumi Mei's judgment, even if the Akatsuki's jutsu was strange, they couldn't possibly escape unscathed; there should be two dead and one severely injured...
If optimistic, all three might be dead!
However, when the dust from the explosion cleared, Terumi Mei was shocked to see the three figures in cloud black robes, not even budging.
"Hey!"
Deidara grinned at Terumi Mei, chuckling lightly: "Your methods are really sharp! I recognize your art!"
Sasori of the Red Sand looked around at the destruction caused by the explosion without an expression, spoke softly: "Judging by the explosion's power, it seems this woman spits something akin to nitric acid, then ignites it with fire..."
"Truly astounding."
Uehara Naraku gazed at Terumi Mei in the distance, softly praising: "The weak in the Ninja World always find fascinating tactics to take down the strong. I must say, Terumi Mei's tactic deserves admiration."
Uehara Naraku turned his hand, smiling as he continued: "Truly commendable, just a bit more, and you might have scratched my finger..."