Chapter 270: The Conspiracy of Mei Terumī
Uchiha Akira's figure completely vanished from the Hokage Office under Tsunade's still-reluctant, confused gaze. The familiar warp of space was gone as quickly as it came.
The next second.
In the Land of Water (水の国, Mizu no Kuni), on a remote, storm-battered coastline, space suddenly twisted like glass.
Uchiha Akira's figure slowly stepped out from the resulting spatial distortion, landing silently on the wet, black sand.
The salty, cold sea breeze blew against him, ruffling the hem of his black robe. The air was heavy with moisture and the distant sound of crashing waves.
Before him, several Konoha Anbu, already cloaked and masked, who had been waiting patiently, immediately knelt on one knee.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Your mission is complete," Akira commanded. His voice was cold, professional.
"Return to Konoha and report back to Lady Tsunade. Tell her the eastern deployment is proceeding smoothly."
"Yes!"
The Anbu did not hesitate in the slightest. Their figures flickered, and they quickly disappeared into the dense, fog-laden forest nearby, leaving Akira completely alone.
Akira, alone, cast his gaze towards the depths of the impenetrable sea fog.
There, shrouded in eternal mist and mystery, was his next target: Kirigakure (Village Hidden in the Mist).
Inside Kirigakure. The fog was a perpetual, suffocating blanket.
The air was thick with the scent of damp moss, salt, and a faint, almost imperceptible scent of old blood.
On the streets, pedestrians were sparse. Everyone moved with a noticeable hurry, their eyes filled with wariness, suspicion, and a dead, familiar numbness.
Occasionally, shinobi wearing the slashed forehead headbands of Kirigakure (Hidden Mist) patrolled the damp, slick streets. Their gazes towards the civilians and even their comrades were utterly cold, vacant.
This was the infamous "Village of the Bloody Mist" (Chigiri no Sato), living under the cruel, oppressive rule of the Yondaime Mizukage (Fourth Mizukage), Yagura.
It was a terrifying village—a place that regarded the slaughter of comrades as an honor, and murder during graduation as a necessary assessment of strength.
Inside a dark, damp, unused underground water channel—a makeshift cave base within the village's periphery.
"We can't let this continue, Mei!"
A man with a resolute face, an eye patch covering one eye, slammed his fist on a stone table. It was Ao, one of the few Elite Jōnin in the Kirigakure who had survived the purges and the endless infighting of the Third Shinobi World War.
"Yagura's rule is pushing the Kirigakure into the abyss of destruction! We are killing ourselves!"
"Ao, quiet down!"
A timid, nervous voice spoke up.
It was Chōjūrō, a young man who looked almost underage. He nervously carried the massive twin blades, "Hiramekarei," on his back.
He anxiously glanced around, fearing that the damp, stone walls had ears. Spies were everywhere.
"Chōjūrō is right, Ao."
A graceful, authoritative figure emerged from the shadows.
She possessed long, beautiful chestnut hair that flowed over her shoulders, emerald green eyes, and full, seductive lips. She exuded a mature, intellectual charm and a quiet strength.
It was Mei Terumī, the leader of this desperate resistance force.
"The more critical the time, the calmer we must be. We must conserve our energy."
"But, Lady Mei!" Ao's tone was filled with urgency, bordering on panic.
"We've been plotting here for almost a month! Every single day, shinobi are dying in meaningless infighting, in pointless duels, in Yagura's blood sport!"
"If we wait any longer, the Kirigakure will collapse on its own. We won't even need to make a move! Yagura will inherit ruins!"
Mei Terumī's gaze swept over the dozen or so shinobi present.
A dozen people. That was it.
They were the entire core strength of the resistance against Yagura's tyranny. A dozen people challenging a perfect Jinchūriki, a Kage-level powerhouse—the Fourth Mizukage.
This was tantamount to throwing an egg against a mountain.
How could Mei Terumī not be anxious? She was terrified.
But she knew even more clearly that impulsiveness now would only lead everyone to die in vain, a futile sacrifice.
"Strength... we lack the absolute, decisive strength to contend with the Fourth Mizukage directly..."
Mei Terumī's heart was filled with a familiar, cold sense of powerlessness.
Just then...
A masked shadow appeared at the entrance of the cave, seemingly out of the thick fog, without any warning.
"Who?!"
Ao reacted instantly, a surge of adrenaline pushing him forward. He stepped immediately in front of Mei Terumī, protecting her.
Chōjūrō also drew the massive twin blades from his back in fright, but his hand holding the blades trembled incessantly.
The masked figure—a Kirigakure Anbu—ignored their hostility.
He simply knelt on one knee and spoke directly to Mei Terumī in an emotionless, low tone.
"Lady Mei Terumī."
"Elder Gensui has invited you."
Elder Gensui?
Hearing that name, everyone present, including Mei Terumī, was stunned.
Elder Gensui .
The living fossil of the Kirigakure. The highly respected Great Elder.
Ever since the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, took power and the Bloody Mist policy began, this old man, who had once assisted the Sandaime Mizukage, had never again inquired about any Village affairs. He had been almost completely forgotten by the younger generation.
Why would he suddenly summon her? At this time?
"Is it a trap?" The thought flashed through Ao's experienced, paranoid mind instantly.
Had their secret gathering here been discovered? Was Yagura using the Elder's name to lure Mei out?
"I'll go."
Mei Terumī's voice was firm and decisive, cutting through Ao's fear.
"Lady Mei! This is too dangerous!" Ao quickly tried to dissuade her. "If this is a trap, we need to move the base now!"
"If this truly is a trap, Ao, then it only means our fate ends here. We cannot hide forever."
Mei turned, her green eyes blazing with a desperate light. "But what if... what if this is our only chance? The chance we've been waiting for?"
Mei Terumī's eyes were more resolute than ever before. She was betting everything on this desperate, tiny flicker of hope.
After speaking, she ignored everyone's pleas and followed the silent Anbu out of the dark cave...
Mei Terumī was led through the twisting, fog-filled streets to an ancient manor, located in the most secluded, quiet corner of the Village.
This was Elder Gensui's private, secluded residence. It felt like a place outside of time.
Inside the manor, it was silent, almost unnerving.
Pushing open the sliding paper door, Mei saw a hunched, wrinkled old man sitting cross-legged on the tatami mat, his eyes closed in meditation.
"You've come, Mei," Elder Gensui said, without opening his eyes. His voice was ancient, dry, like rustling autumn leaves.
"Elder Gensui."
Mei Terumī respectfully bowed and sat silently on her knees opposite him. She didn't know his intentions, so she could only wait. Patience was key.
After a long while, the old man slowly opened his eyes. They were cloudy with age, but held a deep sadness.
"This Village... our Kirigakure... it is sick."
"Very sick."
Mei Terumī's heart skipped a beat. He knew.
"The Bloody Mist policy... it has taught our children from a young age how to kill their comrades. How to discard bonds."
"They don't know what trust is. They don't know what familial bonds are. They don't know what a village is."
"They only know that to survive, they must be more ruthless, more heartless, than others."
"A Village like this, Mei, even without external enemies... it will sooner or later rot from within and completely collapse."
Mei Terumī deeply agreed with Elder Gensui's bitter, prophetic words. The current Kirigakure was a ticking time bomb.
"I am old," Elder Gensui looked at Mei Terumī.
"I am tired. I no longer have the strength... or the chakra... to change all of this. To face Yagura."
"But you are still young. You are strong. You still possess fire."
"Mei Terumī, tell me... are you ready to end this erroneous era?"
Mei Terumī suddenly looked up, staring at the old man before her in utter disbelief.
Elder Gensui... knew her entire, treasonous plan! And he wanted to support her!
After the initial, immense shock, came a wave of overwhelming ecstasy!
"I am ready, Elder!"
Mei Terumī didn't hesitate in the slightest. She bowed down, pressing her forehead heavily against the clean tatami floor in a gesture of absolute commitment.
"For the future of the Kirigakure, I am willing to dedicate everything I have!"
"Even my life! I will end the Bloody Mist!"
"Very good."
Elder Gensui nodded, a relieved, tired smile finally appearing on his wrinkled face.
He tremblingly pulled an old, worn scroll from the inside of his simple robes and pushed it across the mat towards Mei Terumī.
"This is...?" Mei Terumī looked up in confusion.
"There are still some old folks in the Village," the Elder's voice was extremely low, conspiratorial. "Like me. We are dissatisfied with Yagura. We remember the old ways."
"And... a small portion of the Anbu, who carry out the executions, have also grown tired of the endless, pointless slaughter."
"This scroll contains their names. A network of old loyalists and current sympathizers."
"From today onwards, they will follow your command. They are yours."
Mei Terumī's hands trembled violently as she took the scroll, clasping it tightly to her chest.
This wasn't just a list. This was a foundation. This was a chance. This was the last hope of the Kirigakure!
"Go," Elder Gensui closed his eyes again, ending the conversation.
"Change this Village, Mei. Change it in your own way. For the better."
"Don't let us old folks... die with regrets."
"Yes!"
Mei Terumī bowed heavily once more, tears of resolution welling in her emerald eyes.
She carefully tucked the scroll close to her body—her new, terrifying responsibility. She stood up, bowed deeply to Elder Gensui's retreating figure, then turned and strode out of the manor.
The revolution had begun.
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