Mei was a ninjutsu specialist. Coupled with her two bloodline limits and a huge chakra reserve, it could be said that she was one of the strongest ninjutsu specialists in Kiri, even at her young age.
At the same time, it meant that her other aspects notably lacked. Be it the genjutsu, taijutsu, or other skills, they were, at best, chunin's level.
'I can't...'
The biggest issue brought by these severe differences between the level of her ninjutsu and the level of other skills was that when she was placed in a situation where she couldn't utilize ninjutsu properly, her combat proficiency decreased significantly.
Now was such a situation.
'There will be a huge casualty...'
Utilizing a powerful ninjutsu will not only target Yugito but also the nearby civilians.
Unable to risk the lives of the weak, Mei was fighting Yugito with the small-scale, low-ranked jutsus.
With Yugito's enhanced physiques and proficiency in taijutsu, it was bound for Mei to be at a disadvantage.
CLANG.
As claws met a kunai, Mei felt a sharp pain in her wrists.
Though Yugito was nimble and fast, she was surprisingly strong as well.
...The power of jinchuriki wasn't to be looked down upon.
Discarding the kunai that was bent from Yugito's strike, Mei dashed back while quickly running through hand seals.
However, her attempt didn't lead to fruition, for Yugito didn't stand still and watch Mei complete her technique. Quickly closing the gap, Yugito slashed her claws at Mei, and Mei had to stop her hand seals and roll to the side to barely dodge the attack.
"Huff... huff..."
Mei's hair has gone messy. Her attire was covered in dirt and sweat. Yet, she didn't notice this state of hers, for the threat of death was near.
'If Akashi were here... what would he have done?'
Instinctively, Mei thought of the strongest ninja she could think of.
Deceive the enemy with clones. Hide oneself and attain time to think. Confuse the enemy into thinking that you'll use the ninjutsu before launching a surprise attack.
Whatever it was, Mei didn't think she could achieve it.
After all, the use of tactics mid-fight meant that one must be extremely quick-minded and experienced. Though she was born with two bloodline limits, the degree of witness that Akashi showcased every time he fought was something else.
Genius among geniuses. That's how Mei assessed Akashi. Through her time spent with him, she got to understand how he managed to survive through all that he's gone through, when he was just a few years older than her.
Mei dropped low as Yugito's claws slashed through the air above her. She then rolled again to evade an incoming stomp.
It was more of a cat chasing a mouse than a proper fight at this point. Even with the initial sneak attack that Mei managed to get through by deceiving Yugito, this is how it ended up; it simply meant that the differences in their competencies were greater than Mei anticipated.
Yugito, too, seems to have noticed this. She also seems to have realized that as long as she didn't give Mei any time to think or use a ninjutsu, she would be the victor.
Thus, Yugito didn't use ninjutsu, for her hand seals couldn't be said to be faster than Mei's. She strictly maintained the hand-to-hand combat, one that was wearing Mei down at a quick rate.
With a swoosh, Yugito swung her hands once more. Though Mei barely dodged, a gash was left on her cheek, drawing blood. Mei's eyes widened, and Yugito, not missing the chance, slammed the sole of her foot into Mei's stomach.
Mei was thrown back, hitting a nearby bark, then falling down.
"I... can't... lose here...!"
However, regardless of her state, Mei stood back up by placing her hand on the same bark. Spitting blood out to the side, she glared at Yugito, who stared back at her impassively.
Once again, Mei's mind began to project her past experiences of watching Akashi's fights throughout their journey—in the land of snows, the land of iron, and the land of hot water.
A small idea entered her mind. Raising her hand, she began to undergo hand seals.
"Shit!"
Seeing that, Yugito dashed at Mei, aiming to strike Mei before she could finish the preparation of her technique.
At a blurry speed, Yugito reached Mei in a matter of seconds, for their distance wasn't that great in the first place.
'Those hand seals...!'
Yugito has become a veteran throughout this endless third shinobi world war. Having been in many battles, she recognized what technique Mei was trying to use.
'Water Bullet!'
Her mind quickly calculated the time she'd reach Mei. She then concluded during her run that she'll reach Mei before Mei gets to complete it. So she continued running, with confidence that this fight was hers to take.
Yugito outstretched her claws. The sharp tip was right in front of Mei, about to strike at any second.
Then, Mei's hands stopped mid-way without completing the sequence.
"Water Release,"
'...What?!'
Yugito was confused as her claws continued to fly toward Mei.
'I calculated. She hasn't finished the hand seals. She shouldn't be—'
"Wild Water Wave."
'...!'
Yugito realized at the last second. Mei was simply pretending during the first half of her hand seals.
Within a relatively lengthy hand seals she's gone through, the only ones that mattered were the sequence of dragon -> tiger -> hare at the end... the only three that were required for her to utilize the technique, Water Release: Wild Water Wave, a C-ranked jutsu.
Now, if this jutsu had been performed at a further distance, it would've posed Yugito no threat, for she was nimble enough to evade it.
However, she was currently at a point-blank range as Mei spat out a jet stream of water.
Boom.
Along with a frightening noise, Yugito's form was lifted high into the air, critically injured from Mei's surprise attack.
As if she were a puppet whose master had lost control of, Yugito fell down to the ground with a thud, unresponsive.
"Huff... huff..."
Breathing in that of exhaustion, Mei mumbled to herself,
"Did I... win...?"
Abruptly, Yugito's heart began to thump wildly. Her whitened eyes abruptly regained senses.
However, her eyes were no longer those of a human, but instead... those of a beast.
Then came, the surge of chakra.
Yugito roared savagely. The flocks of birds flew out of the forest, having felt the danger.
The red chakra began to bubble around Yugito's body as she magically floated from the ground. As her feet finally landed back on the ground, she was now standing on four, with her arms on the ground as well.
One tail of the red chakra was extended behind her.
"How did..."
Mei wondered if it was normal for a jinchuriki to lose control of her tailed beast this easily, but there was no point in thinking.
All that mattered now was that, as Yugito moved, her even sharper claws were in front of Mei's face, about to strike her down before she could even move,
CLANG.
Although a blade interrupted the claws' advance to their target.
"...Akashi."
As Mei saw the stature of the masked man in front of her, she found herself vividly relieved.
"Mei."
Akashi shifted his lone eye behind the mask at Mei.
"You've done well."
It was time for Mei to pass the baton to him.
__________
One Kumo shinobi was found dashing through the dark woods, hoping to find Yugito as quickly as he could and relay A's message to fall back.
"Damn it... why must it be me..."
For the sake of speed, he, known as one of the quickest among the Kumo chunins, was sent along without a team, for time was very important here.
Though he was a shinobi, he was also considered quite a timid one. Going across the dark, he felt a wavering in his mind—one that he ignored as much as he could.
'I am a brave warrior. I am a brave warrior—'
He couldn't think any further. His feet couldn't move any further either.
In front of him, there was a silhouette of a man, jaggy-haired.
Though there was barely any light, the Kumo shinobi managed to catch a glimpse of Konoha's symbol on the man's forehead protector. Then, upon seeing the man's facial features, his eyes widened.
"Yellow... Flash..."
Flee-on-sight.
A red siren ran within the ninja's mind.
Immediately neglecting the mission, he turned around and began fleeing as quickly as he could.
However, there was no way he could outrun the fastest ninja of the current era.
"For what reason are you headed there?"
A kunai was right in front of the Kumo shinobi's neck. Holding said kunai was Minato, who stood behind the shinobi.
"Speak."
The shinobi gulped. Weighing his loyalty and life, he decided to open his mouth in a matter of seconds.
"To... tell... the stationed ninja... to retreat... and report to the base..."
"And that ninja's identity is?"
"...Nii Yugito."
'That masked Kiri shinobi wasn't the only one back in Yugakure, and yet, he was the only one whom I met in this forest.'
Minato frowned.
'That noise that was ongoing in the harbor then, was...'
Kumo stationed Nii Yugito, one of their core ninjas, at the harbor for the purpose of preventing the Kiri ninjas' escapade.
That meant that it was likely that Kiri's alliance with Konoha was true, that there wouldn't be any backstabbing. However, Minato's hunch continued to say otherwise.
'Or is it that... their civil war hasn't yet ended?'
There was no hesitation as soon as Minato got the information he wanted.
He pulled his kunai. Blood splashed. A head fell from its neck, and the Kumo shinobi was no more.
Turning around, Minato frowned.
'...Taka left me alive even though I was unconscious for him to kill. Should there be a single bit of hatred toward Konoha, he would've killed me immediately. Even if he didn't, he still would've killed me and blamed it on Kumo. Yet, I was kept alive without any major injury.'
"Tch..."
Minato thought and thought more. In the end, there was only one conclusion that he could reach.
"You... it's you."
Though their conversation in Yugakure made him feel uneasy, Minato eventually decided to trust his acquaintance, one who spared his life even though there was no benefit in doing so.
'Friend... are we still friends?'
Minato shut his eyes. Even if he didn't know, he actively tried to kill Akashi back there. Such a thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
'We've... come too far.'
"I don't know what you're trying to do in Kiri, but... it's just this one time, Akashi."
Ignoring the ongoing noises at the back, Minato decided to retreat, wondering what news he would hear from Kiri in the near future.