Hearing Terumī Mei's voice, Genshi immediately let out a long breath of relief.
Although he had absolute confidence in Terumī Mei's strength, worry still gnawed at his heart all the same.
Just like a grandfather anxiously concerned for the safety of his granddaughter. However, this was not the time for warm exchanges or needless sentiment.
Genshi knew very well that every second mattered. Without wasting a moment, he went straight to the point.
"Mei, you must secretly leave Kirigakure from here—immediately."
Those words struck Terumī Mei like a bolt of lightning. Her mind went blank.
No matter the country, a ninja village was a strictly regulated military stronghold.
Without an official mission, a ninja was absolutely forbidden from leaving the village in secret.
Doing so would be classified as desertion.
"Elder Genshi… is there some kind of special mission?" Terumī Mei looked at him hesitantly, asking in a hesitant voice.
But Genshi's next words mercilessly shattered the guess she had subconsciously been avoiding.
"Once you leave Kirigakure, you will no longer be a Kirigakure ninja."
As he spoke, Genshi personally reached out and removed Terumī Mei's Kirigakure forehead protector.
At this moment, how could Terumī Mei fail to understand? Elder Genshi was asking her to defect from Kirigakure.
Her face instantly drained of color. Her body subconsciously staggered back two steps.
Before today, Mei had never imagined that she would one day become a rogue ninja.
No matter how twisted Kirigakure had become, she always believed that she should grow stronger and change the village from within.
After all, this was her homeland. She turned her gaze to the others present, hoping for a different reaction.
But what she saw only deepened her shock. Their expressions were calm and unchanged.
They had clearly known Genshi's plan for a long time.
Mei wanted to ask why. She wanted to demand an explanation.
But before she could speak, a sudden voice echoed through the cave, causing her expression to change drastically.
"Elder Genshi… I never expected you to truly betray Kirigakure!"
Everyone present recognized this voice instantly.
It was the Third Mizukage.
Several of Genshi's trusted subordinates immediately stepped forward, positioning themselves protectively in front of Genshi and Terumī Mei, their eyes filled with vigilance.
Terumī Mei also turned around. Only then did she see that the Third Mizukage was not alone.
To his left stood someone who looked like a child, Yagura Karatachi.
To his right stood a tall, shark-like ninja with a feral presence, Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
It was obvious.
All three had followed Terumī Mei here.
Subconsciously pulling Terumī Mei behind him, Genshi did not attempt to defend himself.
Instead, he looked at the Third Mizukage with an indescribably complex expression.
"Although I knew Kirigakure's situation had deteriorated… I never expected it to be this bad."
In the original course of history, even when Obito controlled the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, his motivations were rooted in revenge against Kirigakure.
Aside from maintaining the Blood Mist Policy, he never truly took full control of the village's internal structure.
At most, he selectively harvested useful ninja.
Because of that, freeing Kirigakure had been relatively simple—break Obito's control over Yagura, and the situation would collapse.
But Danzo was different. He did not want partial control. He wanted absolute control over Kirigakure.
And more terrifyingly, he had already succeeded.
Every high-ranking official within Kirigakure, except Genshi, had fallen under Danzo's influence.
Although the lower-ranked ninja were not directly controlled, through the chain of command, they had effectively become Danzo's subordinates.
In such circumstances, no matter how high Genshi's prestige was, it could not shake Danzo's grip on the village.
Yet even without fully knowing the truth, Genshi had already sensed it.
That was precisely why he chose to send Terumī Mei away. To preserve a final spark of hope for Kirigakure's future.
As long as someone lived, hope would not die. He himself would never defect from Kirigakure.
Instead, he would remain behind—free of regrets—and confront the shadow manipulating everything.
But now…Genshi knew he would not leave this place alive.
"Mei," he whispered softly behind him, "we will buy you time. You must escape through the pond immediately."
"Return one day… and restore Kirigakure when you possess the power to do so."
Hearing these words, Terumī Mei—who had been struggling to accept the idea of leaving—suddenly calmed down.
At this moment, everything finally made sense.
This was why Elder Genshi had told her so many things yesterday—things she was never supposed to know.
"Nonsense!" The Third Mizukage sneered. "Kirigakure is flourishing. Its future is bright."
"It seems Elder Genshi is truly old—his eyes are clouded, and even his mind has failed him."
"In that case, I'll personally purge this traitor!"
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
As his words fell, the Third Mizukage's hands flew through seals.
A roaring water dragon erupted from the nearby pond, surging toward Genshi with overwhelming force.
Genshi himself did not move.
But his trusted subordinates reacted instantly. Defensive ninjutsu rose up, blocking the water dragon head-on.
"It seems you all intend to betray Kirigakure along with Genshi," the Third Mizukage said coldly.
The subordinates did not answer. Nor did they hesitate.
Weapons were drawn as they charged toward the Third Mizukage and his companions.
At this moment, Yagura Karatachi and Kisame Hoshigaki finally moved.
Yagura swung the staff from his back, sending one attacker flying with terrifying force.
Kisame calmly drew Samehada.
As the only living weapon among the Seven Ninja Swords, Samehada devoured chakra at a horrifying speed.
Even Killer B, cloaked in Eight-Tails chakra, would be stripped bare in moments.
For Genshi's subordinates, the outcome was inevitable. In a brief exchange, their chakra was nearly exhausted.
Before he could react, Kisame swung Samehada and severed his head.
"Mei—now! Go!" Hearing Genshi's shout, Terumī Mei trembled violently.
She wanted to speak. She wanted to say so much.
But when she opened her mouth, no words came out.
Because she understood, this farewell marked the boundary between life and death.
The Third Mizukage would never spare Elder Genshi.
Her eyes filled with grief.
"Don't hesitate—go!"
Urged again and again, Terumī Mei finally steeled herself.
After casting one last look at Genshi, she turned and leapt into the pond. Her figure vanished beneath the water, disappearing into the depths.
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