55: Mysterious man??

In the hidden village of Kirigakure, nestled above a vast lake adorned with countless trees and small islands, a young woman in her twenties raced with determination. Her auburn hair, currently tied in a neat ponytail, flowed behind her as she moved effortlessly through the terrain, her gaze unwavering despite the urgency of her mission.

This fierce woman was Mei Terumi, known for her mastery of the Boil Release. She sprinted with unwavering speed, for a group of Kirigakure shinobi pursued her relentlessly. As was her custom, Mei had chosen to stay behind to protect the clan members she and her rebel forces had recently rescued.

"You won't escape us again, Mei of the Boil Release," sneered one of the pursuing Kiri shinobi, their intentions clear. Mei had distanced herself from them, but it was evident that this time, they were prepared, and she was their primary target—the Mizukage's intended prize.

Mei glanced over her shoulder, catching the glint of triumph in her pursuers' eyes. "No wonder they pursued me with such confidence, even though they know they're no match for me," she mused.

"Just because you outnumber me doesn't mean you'll capture me," Mei retorted, her voice laced with icy resolve, despite being outnumbered and surrounded.

"Big talk," replied one of her pursuers, his cold, shark-like Anbu mask concealing his identity. He drew a kunai from his pouch, readying himself for a confrontation. Another shinobi wielded twin swords, poised to strike.

"The Mizukage has ordered us to capture you at any cost. I implore you to come with us peacefully; there's no need for further violence," the sword-wielding shinobi added.

Mei scoffed, her hand instinctively reaching for her kunai. She understood the dire consequences of returning to the village now. "Do you think I'm a fool? Fat chance that I'd follow a puppet Mizukage."

"How insolent, calling Lord Mizukage a puppet," chimed in Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, his malevolent grin revealing his shark-like teeth as he clutched his infamous weapon, "Samehada."

"Kisame, you!" Mei exclaimed, taken aback by the sudden appearance of this formidable adversary. "It seems Yagura is determined to capture me this time."

"So, will you surrender or fight?" Kisame taunted, his eyes locked onto Mei. "Personally, I hope you choose to fight. I'm curious to see just how strong the rebel leader truly is."

Mei's resolve shone through as she stowed her kunai away, acknowledging its futility against Kisame's blade. "Do you think one more of you will make a difference? Surrender is out of the question."

"Good. Let's fight," Kisame responded, advancing with a predatory grin. "I hope you put up a better fight than those pathetic individuals the other day."

With measured determination, Mei swiftly began weaving hand signs. "Boil Release: Corrosive Mist," she incanted, unleashing a cloud of corrosive mist toward Kisame, who closed the gap between them with astonishing speed, Samehada held protectively before him.

As the mist approached Kisame, the white cloth shrouding Samehada began to quiver. Without hesitation, the sentient blade absorbed the corrosive mist and the chakra within, rendering it harmless.

"That won't work on me," Kisame declared confidently as he continued his relentless charge, ready to strike Mei with his formidable blade

As Kisame's blade struck Mei, she seamlessly transformed into a watery mirage, leaving Kisame stunned. "Water clone," he muttered, his surprise evident. But before he could fully grasp the situation, Mei seized the opportunity, lunging at him with a powerful punch. However, Kisame was quick to react, blocking her attack with Samehada, its wicked spikes drawing blood from Mei's hand.

With a swift retreat, Mei regained her composure and initiated a series of hand signs. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" she called out. A blazing fireball shot towards Kisame, but he effortlessly countered with "Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu," extinguishing the flames. Without pause, Kisame pressed forward, intent on delivering another devastating blow.

Recognizing the need to step up her game, Mei made a resolute decision. "Lightning Style: Lightning Storm Jutsu!" she declared. A torrent of lightning surged towards Kisame, but he simply wielded Samehada, absorbing the electrical onslaught and striking Mei simultaneously, sending her hurtling through the air and spitting blood.

"Too weak," Kisame sneered, casting a disdainful glance at Mei, who struggled to land a single hit on him. Fear flickered in Mei's eyes as she acknowledged her inadequacy in comparison to her formidable foe. But as the leader of the rebellion, she understood that she had no choice but to fight on, or all hope would be lost.

Gathering her resolve, Mei prepared her most potent jutsu and closed the distance between her and Kisame. "Lava Release: Acidic Mud!" With a tremendous burst, a colossal wave of acidic mud surged from Mei's mouth toward Kisame, an onslaught so immense that Samehada couldn't possibly absorb it all.

Kisame reacted swiftly, choosing to dive beneath the water's surface where he held a distinct advantage. "Water Shark Bullet!" he declared, reappearing behind Mei with astonishing speed. Caught off guard, Mei had no time to evade, and she took the full force of Kisame's aquatic assault.

Inside her mind, as pain surged through her, Mei pondered her fate. 'Will I really end up like this?' Her consciousness wavered. However, just as she began to lose hope, an unexpected saviour appeared.

Out of nowhere, a handsome young man with distinctive yellow hair arrived, catching Mei before she could lose consciousness. Mei's hazy thoughts swirled with recognition. 'I might have seen that face somewhere before...'

Kisame, now taken aback by the newcomer, inquired cautiously, "Who are you?"

A mysterious smile played across the yellow-haired man's lips as he held Mei protectively. "You will know when we meet again."

Confused and unable to stop the man's sudden departure, Kisame could only watch as he vanished from sight. "Huh?" Kisame mused to himself, recognizing a resemblance to the legendary "Yellow Flash of the Leaf." Yet, he was certain that this man was not the fabled hero.

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