Chapter 71: Overestimating oneself

"Female ninja, come up here."

A vine stretched down from the wooden dragon.

This thick vine slowly descended in front of Terumi Mei.

Akihara Kagura controlled the vine to bind Terumi Mei, loudly saying, "Do not resist, I won't harm you. Our only target is Uchiha Obito."

"..."

Terumi Mei bit her lip, her fingers lightly tapping in a gesture of forming hand seals, allowing the vine to bind her, believing she could break free at any moment.

This was an underestimation of Wood Release.

The moment the vine bound Terumi Mei, it suddenly retracted rapidly, absorbing the chakra from her body.

"No, my chakra!"

Terumi Mei quickly felt the loss of chakra within her.

This woman wanted to use ninjutsu to break free from the bonds, but the tightening force of the vine suddenly increased, seemingly able to kill her even faster!

"Aren't you here to negotiate?"

Akihara Kagura spoke indifferently, once again reminding, "Don't worry, we definitely won't harm you."

"..."

Terumi Mei's heart tightened!

The key point was that she planned to harm them!

Terumi Mei was very clear that she didn't have any information on Uchiha Obito; she just wanted to take this opportunity to rescue the Fourth Mizukage!

"Lava Release : Melting Apparition!"

Terumi Mei suddenly spat out a stream of acid!

The acid, highly corrosive, quickly dissolved the vine, allowing Terumi Mei to break free from her bonds, and she shouted out loud!

"Ao, take action!"

"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"

A group of Mist ninjas quickly formed hand seals simultaneously, exhaling a dense fog from their mouths, instantly shrouding the entire area in mist!

"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"

Terumi Mei, taking advantage of the spreading mist for cover, directed a breath of acidic mist towards the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, silently corroding the vines binding him!

The other Mist ninjas swiftly launched an attack on the wooden dragon, a group of them rapidly climbing onto it, much like ants trying to overpower an elephant!

"They're not here for negotiations!"

Uchiha Itachi immediately entered combat mode!

"Be careful! Someone is coming up!"

Hatake Kakashi drew his Kunai!

"Tsk, I underestimated her."

Akihara Kagura was already prepared, moving faster than them. Vines rapidly covered the wooden dragon, draping it in a layer of fishnet-like scales!

The Mist ninjas climbing up were bound by the vines!

"Byakugan: Activate!"

Ao, who had been coordinating the battle from the ground, stared intently into the mist. His Byakugan could see every moving figure within it!

Back then, during the war between Mist and Konoha, Mist had fortuitously obtained a usable Byakugan from a member of the Hyuga clan's main family, the only Byakugan ever lost by Konoha's Hyuga clan.

Ao, noting the chakra changes on the wooden dragon, and aware that the controller had to be cautious of other Mist ninjas, urgently urged, "Other squads continue the attack, cover for Terumi Mei, the Jonin!"

Atop the wooden dragon!

Terumi Mei's agile body dodged through the gaps in the vines, finally reaching the top of the wooden dragon, confronting the group of enemies who had caused this disaster!

A white-haired man.

Two black-haired youths.

Considering their ages, it was hard to believe that this small team had caused such chaos in the Land of Water, even bringing shame to Mist...

"This doesn't look like they came for negotiations..."

Akihara Kagura chuckled softly, looking at Hatake Kakashi, "Captain Kakashi, we want peace, but the Mist Village doesn't seem interested in a peaceful resolution..."

"..."

Hatake Kakashi was also somewhat at a loss for words.

The actions of the Mist Village were indeed too self-contradictory. He had just been thinking about negotiating with the Mist Village, mutually exchanging information about Uchiha Obito... but instead, they exploited their goodwill, using their desire to negotiate as an opportunity to launch an attack.

"See what I mean?"

Akihara Kagura began to disparage the enemy's reputation: "Our kindness towards the enemy is always exploited by them. We must go back and tell Lord Danzo and the Third Hokage that the Mist Village is a despicable ninja village, incapable of any form of communication..."

"This is not our intention!"

Terumi Mei quickly interrupted Akihara Kagura, shaking her head and saying, "Konoha ninja, it's you who have gone too far! We are not opposed to negotiation..."

But Akihara Kagura interrupted her, exposing her thoughts: "However, your precondition for negotiation is for us to return the Fourth Mizukage to you, and the best terms you offer are that you don't have to give anything in return, while we have to agree to some terms that are favorable to you..."

"..."

Terumi Mei was at a loss for words.

Isn't this what everyone thinks during negotiations?

"I have my doubts..."

Akihara Kagura smiled with a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Even if I return the Fourth Mizukage to you, can you really provide the information on Uchiha Obito?"

"Of course..."

Terumi Mei quickly nodded, but then smilingly changed the subject: "We should first talk about your invasion of the Land of Water..."

Now, she just needed to stall for time here, distracting this squad, so that her Boil Release could corrode the vines holding the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura...

"You're right."

Akihara Kagura slowly nodded, then suddenly asked in return: "We invaded the Land of Water, and then what? Do you have any objections?"

"..."

Terumi Mei clenched her teeth, feeling as if her tightly wound nerves were about to snap.

This damn kid, of course, we have objections!

"The Third Great Ninja War has already ended."

Terumi Mei forcefully demanded herself to remain calm and continued, "Your invasion will provoke a war between the Konoha and the Mist villages…"

"We are just scouting…"

Hatake Kakashi found it difficult to continue.

"So what if it leads to a war?"

Akihara Kagura tilted his head slightly, seemingly puzzled, "The strongest Mizukage of yours is no match for me, how could he be a match for our Third Hokage of the Konoha?"

"War will result in many deaths…"

Terumi Mei bit her teeth, feeling that she could hardly stall for time anymore, she was about to lose her patience and start a fight right there due to the self-righteous tone of this youngster!

"The ninjas of the Konoha do not fear sacrifice."

Akihara Kagura answered on behalf of the Konoha Village.

"..."

Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi exchanged glances, both feeling that something was amiss, but they also felt there was some logic in Akihara Kagura's words.

The ninjas of the Konoha…

Indeed, do not fear sacrifice.

Crack!

The sound of a vine breaking suddenly caught their attention!

The vines binding the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, broke apart, and his body fell swiftly from the dragon horn, about to land on the head of the wooden dragon!

Terumi Mei quickly leapt up!

However, before she could reach mid-air, two vines blocked her path, binding her waist tightly, forcefully restraining her!

Boom!

Terumi Mei's body instantly turned into a splash of water!

"That's a water clone!"

Hatake Kakashi scanned the surroundings, somewhat amazed by the speed of the opponent: "How fast! When did she use a water clone?"

"Quite a while ago, I guess?"

Terumi Mei suddenly appeared behind Akihara Kagura, her wrist fiercely tightening around Akihara Kagura's neck. Smiling, she spoke, "Now, can you return Lord Mizukage to us?"

"Of course not."

As Akihara Kagura spoke, his body slowly transformed into a large tree.

"When did you ever think that I was the real one?"

The tree rapidly grew, its branches quickly entwining around Terumi Mei's body, binding the formidable female ninja to the tree.