"The Land of Rivers, huh…"
Terumi Mei murmured softly, her gaze fixed on the pink-haired girl standing before her.
After arriving in Konohagakure, the village hadn't imposed many restrictions on her—merely limiting her movements to a certain extent. Over the past few days, she had taken the opportunity to gather intelligence about the Land of Water. Her range of activity wasn't vast, but it was far from confined either. That freedom had allowed her to intercept Uchiha Itachi earlier.
"That's right," Sakura Haruno said, nodding at Mei. "If you're willing, we can set out in three days."
Mei didn't respond immediately. Instead, her brow furrowed in thought. She wasn't a Konoha ninja—strictly speaking, she was a rogue ninja from Kirigakure, with no intention of joining Konoha. Her goal was to use Konoha's strength to dismantle the shadowy force controlling her village. Mei preferred to see herself as a partner to Konoha, not a subordinate.
But…
Mei's individual strength was no match for the colossal might of Konoha. She alone didn't have the leverage to be considered an equal partner. Her earlier assistance to Konoha had merely been a gesture of goodwill to prove her sincerity.
Sakura, observing Mei's hesitation, quickly grasped her thoughts. After all, this was the former Fifth Mizukage, a woman who deeply loved Kirigakure. Expecting her to fight solely for Konoha's sake was clearly a stretch.
"Didn't you say before?" Sakura began, her tone measured. "The hand behind Kirigakure is the Wind-Thunder Alliance. Now, with Kumogakure defeated and Sunagakure standing alone against the Fire-Earth Alliance, they're struggling to hold their ground. Until we know whether Kirigakure will mobilize, Sunagakure must endure the Fire-Earth Alliance's onslaught. If we can take down Sunagakure swiftly, we'll have the resources to help you."
Mei's expression shifted slightly. Though she felt uneasy that the pink-haired girl could see through her concerns so easily, Sakura's words rang true.
"And besides," Sakura continued, her voice cool, "this battle doesn't absolutely need you."
That wasn't entirely true—Mei's role was significant. Kakuzu had already mastered those nano-poison insects, while the Oil Girl clan's two successive leaders had spent years cooped up in their compound and produced nothing of value. Mei's Mist Technique, with its wide coverage and devastating power, was critically important.
"What happens afterward?" Mei asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Sakura. "How do we deal with the force behind Kirigakure?"
A faint smile flickered in Sakura's mind, though her face remained impassive.
"What's so difficult about that?" she replied. "We march on Kirigakure and take them out."
"Slaughter everyone who opposes you."
…What?
Mei's brows knitted together, clearly unconvinced by Sakura's blunt suggestion. "Do you even hear yourself?"
"How do you think the force controlling Kirigakure will react if you try to seize power so easily?" Sakura's tone grew colder, her eyes locked on Mei. "Not to mention, you'd be leading Konoha's forces to their doorstep. The Fourth Mizukage holds the village's authority. Even if he's being manipulated, a little maneuvering could easily paint you as a traitor to the Land of Water. Even if we help you take Kirigakure and install you as Mizukage, your reputation among the villagers would be ruined beyond repair."
Sakura's words struck like daggers, piercing Mei's heart. Her eyes widened slightly, a mix of shock and realization dawning.
"The best option," Sakura continued, "is for Kirigakure to elect a new Mizukage. You would serve as the liaison between Konoha and Kirigakure."
Mei's jaw tightened, her voice sharp as she bit out, "A liaison? You mean a puppet?"
If she became a puppet, what difference would there be between her and the current Kirigakure, controlled by external forces? The only change would be swapping the Wind-Thunder Alliance for Konoha!
"Did you not consider this when you came to us?" Sakura's voice was icy now. "Seeking help from an outside power means accepting their influence. Did you really think such a basic truth needed explaining?"
Mei's eyes widened further, her breath catching.
"Or did you think Konoha would help you eliminate Kirigakure's puppet masters for a single piece of intelligence, free of charge?" Sakura's tone was scathing. "That's far too naive!"
Mei froze. From the moment she left Kirigakure, she had no path back. She was alone—no Qing, no Chojuro, no one stood behind her.
Master Genshi, what should I do…?
"Think it over," Sakura said, her voice steady but unrelenting. "Fight for Konoha, eliminate the force behind Kirigakure, and become the bridge between our villages. Or…"
She didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
Mei fell silent, her lips pressed into a tight line as she stared at the pink-haired girl whose eyes mirrored her own shade of green. Thirteen years old. This girl is only thirteen. In that moment, Mei felt the same powerlessness that had once gripped the Fourth Raikage. What was it about Konoha's soil that birthed genius after genius? Every time the village seemed on the verge of decline, a prodigy would emerge to turn the tide. Hashirama Senju gave way to Tobirama Senju, Tobirama to the White Fang, the White Fang to the Sannin, the Sannin to Minato Namikaze, and now, with Minato gone, this pink-haired girl had risen.
"…Fine," Mei finally said, her voice heavy with resolve.
With that single word, the tension in her body seemed to drain away, leaving her more exhausted than a battle with the Eight-Tails. Sakura, having secured the answer she wanted, broke into a bright smile. She clapped Mei on the shoulder cheerfully. "Thanks for that! We'll meet at Konoha's main gate three days from now, at noon. Be ready!"
"Oh, and good news—Kakashi's coming too!" she added with a playful lilt.
Without waiting for a response, Sakura turned and left Mei's residence, leaving the older woman staring after her retreating pink figure. Mei's eyelids drooped.
Kakashi… that man…
Heh.
"How'd it go?" a man with an unremarkable face asked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed as Sakura emerged.
"Everything went smoothly," Sakura replied, waving a hand dismissively. "She's just a bit too idealistic."
"That's for the best," the man said, falling into step beside her. He wasn't surprised that Sakura had convinced the Kirigakure ninja. "By the way, how's the Yang Release Taijutsu coming along?"
Sakura paused, her gaze lifting to the sky as if trying to grasp the sun itself. Sunlight filtered through her fingers, casting dappled light across her face. "Surprisingly well," she said. "It's like… it was made for me."
Tobirama Senju, walking beside her, glanced at the pink-haired girl and allowed a faint smile to curve his lips. "Sounds like it's a perfect fit."
Creating a technique from scratch was the hardest step. Hiruzen Sarutobi had laid the first quarter of the foundation, Sakura's own talent had carved out half, and Tobirama had provided the final piece to complete the puzzle.
"Now it needs a name," Tobirama said, glancing at her.
Sakura tilted her head. "It's barely born, and we haven't even studied it fully. Isn't that a bit rushed?"
"Sooner or later, it'll need one," Tobirama countered.
"Then let's call it Yang Release Taijutsu," Sakura said simply.
Tobirama sighed, rubbing his forehead. "That's… awfully straightforward."
Too simple, isn't it?
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