Just then—
A sudden rustling sound came from the surroundings.
Yang Jiu turned his head.
The outskirts of the coast were already filled with people at some point.
Densely packed, at least a thousand Hidden Mist Ninjas—from Genin to Jonin, from Anbu to regular troops—all stared at this scene in stunned silence.
They had witnessed everything.
They witnessed the earth-shattering battle between their own Mizukage and a ten-meter-tall giant wolf.
They witnessed those terrifying Lightning Release, Boil Release, and Lava Release techniques.
They witnessed the final scene—the Mizukage panting heavily while the giant wolf remained motionless.
After a brief silence, whispers flooded in like a tide.
"Victory? Defeat?"
"This silver wolf actually beat Lord Mizukage like this... so strong..."
"Yeah, and it looks like it didn't even use its full strength, yet Lord Mizukage is left panting for breath."
"Tsk tsk tsk, look at Lord Mizukage's state, her clothes are completely soaked..."
"Shut up! If you don't know how to speak, then don't!"
"I'm talking about sweat! Soaked with sweat! Who are you blaming for your own dirty thoughts?"
"Exactly, exactly, it's clearly your own mind in the gutter!"
Mei Terumī's face, which was originally flushed from the intense battle, darkened at a visible rate.
Blue veins bulged on her forehead.
She took a deep breath, turned around abruptly, and a sharp shout echoed across the coast:
"SHUT UP!!!"
The entire field fell instantly silent.
The whispering Hidden Mist Ninjas froze in place, some still with their mouths open, but not a single word dared to escape.
Mei Terumī scanned the crowd with a dark expression, her eyes seemingly saying, "If anyone dares to say another word, I'll let them taste my Boil Release."
Everyone lowered their heads in unison, wishing they could bury them in the ground.
Yang Jiu watched this scene, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.
"The Ninjas of your Village are quite interesting."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.
Mei Terumī turned her head; the dark aura on her face hadn't fully dissipated, but she forced out a smile—a smile that, in the eyes of the Hidden Mist Ninjas, was even more terrifying than the previous Lightning Release.
"I've made a fool of myself before the Wolf King."
She took a deep breath, adjusted her clothes dampened by sweat and seawater, and resumed her dignified posture as Mizukage.
"What are you all standing around for? Go on your patrols, do your training! What's there to see here?!"
As her words fell, the thousand Hidden Mist Ninjas felt as if they had been granted a grand pardon and scattered instantly like startled birds.
Their speed in fleeing was more than twice as fast as when they arrived.
In just three seconds, only Mei Terumī, Ao, Chōjūrō, and Yang Jiu, who was still lying on the reef, remained on the coast.
Ao and Chōjūrō stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay.
Mei Terumī glanced at them: "You two head back first as well."
Ao hesitated: "Lord Mizukage, you..."
"I'm fine." Mei Terumī waved her hand, "I still have things to discuss with the Wolf King."
Ao and Chōjūrō exchanged a glance, bowed, and turned to leave.
Only Yang Jiu and Mei Terumī were left on the coast.
The sea breeze blew, lifting Mei Terumī's wet long hair.
She walked to Yang Jiu's side, looked up, and gazed at the ten-meter-tall giant wolf.
"Thank you for holding back."
Yang Jiu raised an eyebrow and chuckled:
"How do you know I was holding back and not simply lacking the strength to defeat you?"
Mei Terumī shook her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
"I still have some self-awareness."
She raised her hand, tucking her wind-blown long hair behind her ear, her tone so frank she didn't seem like a recently defeated Mizukage.
"Your strength is immense, even greater than Yagura Karatachi's."
"With my level of strength, I couldn't possibly be your match."
Yagura Karatachi.
The Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village, the Jinchuriki of Three-Tails Isobu, and a perfect Jinchuriki at that.
A being of that level—had he not died of natural causes, she would never have had the chance to sit in the Mizukage's seat.
Not to mention the giant wolf before her—
That aura, that pressure, that terrifying power that seemed capable of destroying everything...
It was far stronger than Yagura Karatachi.
Yang Jiu looked at her.
He looked at this woman; as she admitted her defeat, there was no resentment or bitterness in her eyes, only calm honesty.
He smiled.
"You're quite honest."
Mei Terumī smiled too.
"There's no benefit in lying to you."
She turned around and walked toward the Village.
"Let's go!"
"I assume you didn't just come here to pick a fight—let's talk inside."
Yang Jiu looked at her back and raised an eyebrow.
This woman...
...is quite interesting.
And quite bold.
She had just been beaten, yet she acted as if nothing had happened and even took the initiative to invite him into the Village.
He glanced down at the System panel.
As expected, the mission was nearing completion.
The corners of Yang Jiu's mouth curled slightly.
Closing the panel, he set off and followed her.
His ten-meter-tall silver-gold body stepped onto the beach, leaving deep paw prints with every stride.
—
Mei Terumī did not take him to the Mizukage's office.
She led Yang Jiu through the Village, finally stopping in front of a quiet courtyard.
The courtyard was large, surrounded by unknown flowers and trees, with an open space in the center just big enough to accommodate Yang Jiu's ten-meter body.
"This is the courtyard where I live."
She pushed open the gate and walked in.
Half an hour later.
In the courtyard, a wolf and a person sat facing each other.
A pile of food was laid out between them—sashimi, rice balls, skewers, and sake, covering the ground.
Mei Terumī sat cross-legged on a cushion, while Yang Jiu lay opposite her, his ten-meter-long body taking up nearly half the courtyard.
Moonlight spilled down.
She picked up her sake cup, took a shallow sip, then raised her eyes to look at the giant wolf across from her.
It was a face capable of making any man's heart skip a beat—exquisite yet heroic, charming yet not frivolous.
Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, with a few stray strands falling over her forehead, making her red eyes appear even deeper. Her neck was slender, and her collarbones were faintly visible, gilded with a soft glow by the moonlight.
She looked at Yang Jiu like that, a faint smile on her lips.
"I didn't expect there to be such a powerful existence as you in the Ninja World."
She set down her cup, her eyes narrowing slightly with a sharp glint.
"Comparable to a Tailed Beast—"
She paused.
"No, even more powerful than a Tailed Beast."
Yang Jiu lay on the ground, his silver-gold fur shimmering with a soft luster under the moonlight.
He glanced at the pile of food in front of him, which wasn't even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth, then his gaze slowly moved up to settle on Mei Terumī.
Under the moonlight, she sat lazily, one hand holding a sake cup and the other propping up her chin, her long brown hair draped over her shoulders, her red eyes reflecting his silhouette.
Yang Jiu narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling into a half-smile.
"Now that you know my strength—"
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
"Are you interested in working for me?"
Mei Terumī's hand holding the cup paused slightly.
She looked up at the ten-meter-tall giant wolf, saw the undisguised "appreciation" in his eyes, froze for a moment, and then shook her head.
The movement was slight, yet exceptionally firm.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice was calm but carried an unquestionable weight.
"I am the Fifth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village; I am responsible for them."
Yang Jiu looked at her.
He looked at this woman, who still refused without hesitation even in the face of an absolute disparity in strength.
And then—
"Hahahaha—!"
He burst into laughter.
The laughter was as deep as thunder, echoing through the courtyard and startling several birds nesting in the distant trees.
"Just a joke!"
Mei Terumī was stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes.
"That joke wasn't funny at all."
Yang Jiu restrained his laughter, a flash of deep meaning in his golden eyes.
He naturally knew that the Five Great Hidden Villages all had their own pride.
How could they hand over the entire Village just because of his strength and a few words?
This wasn't a novel.
Furthermore—
If he really dared to forcibly take over the Hidden Mist Village, the Ninja World would launch a war specifically targeted at him.
The Fourth Shinobi World War.
When that time came, the opponents he'd face wouldn't just be the likes of Mei Terumī or Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Raikage, Tsuchikage, Kazekage, and those hidden old monsters, perhaps even forcing the Akatsuki Organization to act ahead of schedule.
Yang Jiu licked his lips.
Although he wasn't afraid, there was no need to look for trouble.
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