With the eruption of this aura, every ninja in Kirigakure couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Some ninjas even felt cold sweat trickling down their foreheads.
The more powerful a ninja was, the more they could feel the terrifying pressure that washed over them from this aura.
In contrast, ordinary civilians in Kirigakure, aside from feeling the air suddenly grow inexplicably cold and oppressive, didn't sense anything particularly unusual.
This aura belonged to Lord Yuto!
Only three people in the entire shinobi world could possibly unleash a terrifying aura that could envelop the entirety of Kirigakure.
Furthermore, the direction from which this aura was emanating was precisely the location where Lord Yuto was.
Mei Terumī withdrew her gaze, turned, and looked at Ao, whose forehead was now beaded with sweat under this terrifying aura.
"The matter you wished to speak of is related to Lord Yuto, isn't it? Did the mission fail... no, could it be that Ringo Ameyuri or Ranmaru has been harmed?"
A thoughtful look flashed in Mei Terumī's eyes as she stared solemnly at Ao.
If the mission had failed, Lord Yuto might have been angry, but it certainly wouldn't be like this. This terrifying aura was also mixed with a chilling killing intent.
It was clear that something had happened to Ranmaru and Ringo Ameyuri!
"Ringo Ameyuri... is dead."
Ao swallowed hard, speaking as cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
"What!"
Mei Terumī's eyes widened in shock, her emerald pupils unable to stop flickering.
Her previously calm face now showed expressions of surprise and disbelief.
Mei Terumī knew better than anyone the status the 'Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist' held in Yuto's heart.
Moreover, Ringo Ameyuri was the first person Lord Yuto had met after coming to Kirigakure, and the ninja he had held in the highest regard.
The next moment.
Mei Terumī stomped her foot hard on the ground, leaped out of the office, and hurried in the direction from which Yuto's aura was emanating.
Seeing Mei Terumī's actions, Ao froze for a second. Just as he was about to follow, her voice drifted back to him from the distance.
"Calm all the ninja in Kirigakure and seal this information. Do not let anyone else, aside from Lord Yuto, know that Ringo Ameyuri has died."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama!"
Looking in the direction Mei Terumī had left, Ao's expression turned solemn. He immediately stopped his movements and spoke respectfully.
After speaking, Ao turned and walked out the door, and at the same time, a large number of Kirigakure Anbu began to move.
When Mei Terumī arrived at the place where Yuto was, that terrifying aura that had enveloped the entire sky above Kirigakure had already dissipated.
In front of them, on a flat patch of grass, several figures stood in silence.
Mei Terumī looked up. All the members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—Haku, Kimimaro, Utakata, and even Nagato and Konan—were standing quietly before her, making the surrounding air thick with an extremely oppressive feeling.
Yuto was sitting on a rock not far in front of everyone, his face expressionless as he stared at Ringo Ameyuri's body, lying flat on the grass.
Momochi Zabuza, Hoshigaki Kisame, and the others, though their faces were a mask of silence, their eyes flickered with a hint of killing intent.
Even Chōjūrō had his hands clenched tightly at his sides.
As for Nagato and Konan on the other side, while they were also silent, their expressions were calm.
Of everyone present, they were probably the only two who knew that Yuto possessed a jutsu that could bring the dead back to life.
Unaware of the limitations of this jutsu, the two of them had brought Ringo Ameyuri's body back without stopping.
The one who had it the worst was Neji. Compared to Nagato and Konan's stamina, Neji was clearly far behind. He gritted his teeth, closely following their heels all the way.
Just this fact alone was enough to surprise Nagato and Konan.
The moment Mei Terumī appeared, she naturally attracted everyone's attention.
"Mizukage-sama!"
The ninja of Kirigakure greeted her respectfully.
"Mizukage."
Konan looked at Mei Terumī, her expression still calm.
She represented Amegakure. Although it was a small village, its status was equal to Mei Terumī's.
Mei Terumī gave a slight nod, her gaze fixed on Yuto, her face filled with worry.
Yuto remained expressionless, staring at Ringo Ameyuri's body as if lost in thought.
In Yuto's heart, aside from shock and fury, there was also a surge of killing intent. But the more so, the calmer he became.
In Yuto's eyes, Ringo Ameyuri's death was partly his fault.
It wasn't from underestimating the Konoha side. Regarding the strength of the pursuing ninja, whether it was from the Hyūga clan or Might Guy, all of this had been within Yuto's expectations.
With the strength of Ranmaru and Ringo Ameyuri, they might not have been able to completely defeat Might Guy and the others, but taking Neji with them would have been no problem at all.
Once they left the border of the Land of Fire, the Konoha shinobi would have stopped their pursuit.
After all, the name 'Yuto' alone was enough to make any ninja hesitate to set foot near the borders of the Land of Water.
This was just like with Ranmaru, Ringo Ameyuri, Obito, and the White Zetsu.
Both sides only dared to secretly enter the border of the Land of Fire, waiting for Sasuke and Neji on the very outskirts of Konoha, not daring to get too close.
Even the White Zetsu, with such a powerful and concealing ability as the Mayfly Jutsu, at most only secretly said a few words to Sasuke before quickly leaving.
Yuto sighed lightly in his heart. He had truly underestimated the obsession and pride in Ringo Ameyuri's heart.
Ringo Ameyuri cared deeply about the title 'Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.' This was something Yuto had long known.
Facing Might Guy—or rather, the son of Might Duy, who had once defeated the first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—how could Ringo Ameyuri resist the urge to fight?
He glanced at Ringo Ameyuri's body, covered in countless wounds.
A cold glint flashed in Yuto's eyes. Although he could resurrect Ringo Ameyuri, this grudge had to be paid.
He was never a magnanimous person.
Yuto looked up again at Mei Terumī, who had walked to his side with a worried expression, and a hint of awkwardness appeared on his face:
"I couldn't hold it back for a moment earlier. It probably affected the other ninja in Kirigakure."
"I've had Ao and the Anbu go to calm everyone down. The news of Ringo Ameyuri's death has been sealed for now," Mei Terumī said softly.
Yuto was stunned for a moment, then looked deeply at Mei Terumī. Immediately after, he jumped down from the rock he was sitting on.
"Chōjūrō, how is Ranmaru?"
Yuto asked in a solemn tone, looking in Chōjūrō's direction.
Chōjūrō's body shook, and he quickly stepped forward to stand before Yuto.
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