Hidden Mist Village, Mizukage's Office.
The Anbu Captain rushed in, stumbling and nearly tripping over the threshold.
"Lord... Lord Mizukage!"
Mei Terumī was sitting behind her desk correcting documents, not even looking up.
"What is it that has you in such a panic?"
"A... a giant wolf has arrived outside the Village! Ten meters tall! Golden! It can speak! It said..."
"Said what?"
"It said it wants to fight you!"
The pen in Mei Terumī's hand stopped.
She looked up, revealing a mature and beautiful face. Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders, and a glint of interest flashed in her red eyes.
"A ten-meter-tall wolf? Golden? It can speak?"
She put down her pen, stood up, and walked to the window.
In the direction of the Village outskirts, the thick mist was pervasive, making it impossible to see anything clearly.
But in her perception, there was indeed a terrifyingly extreme Chakra, entrenched there like a sun.
The intensity of that Chakra...
Mei Terumī narrowed her eyes.
It was stronger than hers.
It was even stronger than any Kage she had ever seen.
"Looking for a fight with me? Could it be that wolf from the Land of Waves..."
She murmured.
The intelligence she received yesterday—Gato Manor in the Land of Waves was leveled in a single strike. Witnesses claimed a thousand-meter-long golden lightning wolf appeared in the sky, descending like divine punishment.
She originally thought it was an exaggeration.
Now it seemed...
Mei Terumī smiled.
In that smile, there was excitement and anticipation.
"Ao, Chōjūrō."
"Here!"
Two figures emerged from the shadows—a middle-aged man wearing an eyepatch and a young boy wearing glasses.
"Come with me."
Mei Terumī walked toward the door.
"The rest of you, wait in the Village."
Ao was stunned for a moment: "Lord Mizukage, do we not need to assemble the troops?"
Mei Terumī did not look back.
"Assemble the troops?"
She smiled.
"If I truly cannot defeat that wolf, your coming would only be a death sentence."
—
The coast outside the Village.
Yang Jiu lay on that reef, waiting for about fifteen minutes.
In the thick mist, three figures slowly approached.
Leading them was a woman—mature and beautiful, tall, with long brown hair fluttering in the sea breeze. She wore an off-the-shoulder blue kimono, revealing her fair collarbones, with a faint smile on her lips.
Mei Terumī.
Behind her were two people—a middle-aged man with an eyepatch (Ao) and a young boy with glasses (Chōjūrō).
Mei Terumī stopped thirty meters away from Yang Jiu, sizing him up.
A ten-meter-long body, silver-gold fur, golden electric arcs, and those eyes burning with flame.
She smiled even more happily.
"A ten-meter-tall wolf, golden lightning, can speak..."
She spoke slowly, her voice lazy and charming.
"The legend of the Land of Waves, I only heard of it yesterday. I didn't expect to see the real wolf today."
Yang Jiu stood up from the reef, his ten-meter body fully erect, looking down at her from above.
"News travels fast."
"Of course," Mei Terumī smiled like a fox, "After all, an existence that leveled Gato Manor in one blow—as a neighbor, how could I not pay attention?"
Yang Jiu looked down at her.
"Then you know why I'm here?"
"I know."
Mei Terumī raised her hand, signaling Ao and Chōjūrō to retreat.
"To fight."
"Do you dare to accept?"
"I do."
She answered with a smile, her red eyes burning with Battle Intent.
"However—"
Yang Jiu narrowed his eyes: "Speak."
"Regardless of win or loss, you must stay in the Hidden Mist Village for a few days so I can show you some hospitality."
"Why?"
There was a hint of deeper meaning in Mei Terumī's smile.
"Because I want the people in the Village to see—that in this world, there are existences even stronger than the Five Kage."
"That way, those stubborn traditionalists will know that the reforms of the Hidden Mist are not something they can block."
Yang Jiu looked at her.
Looking at this woman who, even before a challenge, did not forget to calculate the interests of her Village.
He smiled.
"Interesting."
"I agree."
As soon as the words fell—
Boom!!!
Golden lightning exploded!
Yang Jiu disappeared from his spot!
Mei Terumī's pupils constricted—
Behind her!
She didn't turn around; her hands instantly formed seals!
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
Boom—!!!
Corrosive mist erupted from her body, filling the sky!
Yang Jiu's claws passed through the mist, striking empty air.
He felt a slight stinging pain at the tips of his claws. Looking down, small white spots had appeared on his silver-gold fur.
"Corrosive mist?"
Mei Terumī's figure re-solidified thirty meters away, her smile unchanged.
"My Boil Release can melt everything. Your lightning may be strong, but as long as I entangle you—"
She didn't finish her sentence.
Yang Jiu smiled.
"Entangle me?"
Boom—!!!
Golden lightning surged frantically from his body!
That lightning was too violent, too terrifying, instantly evaporating all the mist within a hundred-meter radius! Even the air was ionized, making a sharp'sizzle' sound!
Mei Terumī's figure was forced to reveal itself. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled even more happily.
"Such strong Lightning Release."
Her hands formed seals again.
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!"
A glob of viscous liquid spat from her mouth, covering toward Yang Jiu! That liquid radiated terrifying heat; wherever it passed, even the air distorted!
Yang Jiu did not dodge.
He opened his massive maw, golden lightning condensing into a giant lightning ball, and spat it out violently.
The lightning ball collided with the Lava Release!
Boom—!!!
The terrifying explosion forcibly blasted the Lava Release apart, an aura of destruction sweeping out in all directions.
Mei Terumī's pupils constricted.
Before she could even react—
A massive claw boldly reached out from within the lightning, descending toward the top of her head!
That claw was staggeringly large; the tips alone were longer than her entire body. Golden electric arcs leaped frantically on the claw tips, each crackle tearing the surrounding air.
Just a little bit lower and it could strike her into a state of heavy injury!
Mei Terumī's pupils suddenly contracted.
But she was the Fifth Mizukage after all.
In the nick of time, her body instantly turned into a cloud of white smoke—
Bang!!!
Substitution Jutsu!
A shattered reef rock fell from mid-air, hitting the ground and rolling several times.
While Mei Terumī's true body appeared thirty meters away.
She was panting heavily, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead, her red eyes staring fixedly at the giant wolf.
In that moment just now, she truly smelled the scent of death.
Rumble—!!!
The massive claw slammed onto the ground.
The entire reef island exploded! Rubble flew everywhere, and smoke soared into the sky! Cracks spread out like a spiderweb in all directions, extending over a hundred meters!
When the dust settled, only a giant pit dozens of meters in diameter remained, with a claw print several meters deep at the bottom.
Mei Terumī looked at that claw print, her throat moving slightly as she swallowed.
If she hadn't dodged just now...
She didn't dare think further.
She looked up at the giant wolf.
Yang Jiu withdrew his claw and looked down at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his golden eyes.
"Good reaction."
"Do you still want to fight?"
Mei Terumī looked at him and smiled.
"Of course I do."
Her hands quickly finished a complex set of seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Biting Explosion!"
Boom—!!!
The sea surface exploded!
Countless water dragons soared into the sky, tearing toward Yang Jiu from all directions! Each water dragon carried terrifying Chakra, enough to tear any Jonin to shreds!
Yang Jiu stood his ground, not dodging.
He simply opened his mouth.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon Roar!"
Roar—!!!
A golden lightning dragon roared out from his mouth!
That lightning dragon was ten times larger than him, condensed from pure lightning, with countless electric arcs exploding with every roll!
The lightning dragon collided with the swarm of water dragons!
Rumble—!!!
All the water dragons were instantly torn to pieces!
The lightning dragon's momentum didn't decrease as it pounced toward Mei Terumī!
Mei Terumī bit her teeth and pushed her hands forward—
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique: Maximum Output!"
Corrosive mist flooded out from her body frantically, colliding with the golden lightning dragon!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!!!
The mist was evaporating!
The lightning dragon was also dissipating!
The two retreated simultaneously, standing fifty meters apart, facing each other.
A few more white spots appeared on Yang Jiu's body, but it was nothing serious.
Mei Terumī was panting heavily, sweat on her forehead, her clothes soaked and clinging to her body; her fair skin had turned bright red, looking quite beautiful.
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