The Double Suicide Decapitation Technique wasn't just as simple as pulling someone into the ground. Along with it came the effect of a sealing jutsu.
Having consumed a large amount of chakra, Terumi Mei could no longer break free of the seal on her own. At this moment, her whole body, apart from her head, couldn't move at all.
She showed a faint bitter smile, "You really are a crafty little man, to know so many techniques. I thought I had already won."
Kakashi stood with arms crossed, scrutinizing Terumi Mei. On the surface, he looked calm and composed, but only he knew how dangerous the process just now had been.
This truly was a dangerous woman. in every sense of the word.
No wonder she would later become the Fifth Mizukage.
He said, "Speak. Tell me everything you know about the Mist Village."
Terumi Mei sneered, "So you came here to gather intel? Do you think I would tell important village secrets to a Leaf ninja? Kakashi, give up on that idea."
Kakashi had only asked casually. He didn't think someone like Terumi Mei would betray her own village.
Besides, at this point, there wasn't enough time for a detailed interrogation anyway.
With that thought, Kakashi prepared to act, to eliminate this hidden threat, hide himself, and then find another chance later.
He held his blade and stepped up in front of Terumi Mei's head, aiming the weapon at her.
Realizing that her death was near, Terumi Mei didn't show much fear or sorrow. Weren't most ninjas like this? Perhaps they would just die on some mission one day.
She whispered, "What a pity… I still haven't married… Mother, I'm sorry."
As her words fell, a tear slid down her beautiful face.
Kakashi wasn't the type to pity beauty. He steeled himself and prepared to thrust down with his blade.
Yet just then, he suddenly sensed movement from far away.
Several very powerful ninjas, apparently having noticed traces of the battle just now, were rushing toward this place at great speed.
Because of this sudden change, Kakashi halted his stabbing motion.
At this moment, perhaps out of an instinct to survive, or perhaps with some other motive. Terumi Mei suddenly said, "Little man, because it's extremely rare for a foreign ninja to infiltrate the Land of Water, and even break into the wealthy district, disturbing the big figures inside…"
"The Mist Village will surely take this very seriously."
"The ones coming may be several members of the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Are you sure you alone can handle that?"
Kakashi frowned. Every one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was a jonin with a name for themselves, what Minato-sensei called an elite jonin.
If it were just one, he might manage. But if several came together, it would be difficult.
So… should the best course of action now be to kill Terumi Mei immediately and escape? But if he only ran, chased by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, how could he complete his mission?
Terumi Mei seemed to see through his thoughts and continued, "Perhaps you could release me and let me handle them. If you don't trust me, you can hide underground, secretly keeping me restrained."
"Don't worry, I'll behave," Kakashi frowned, considering the feasibility of this method.
But he didn't have much time to think, because the others were almost here.
His mind spun rapidly. In the end, he still didn't thrust his blade, but instead asked, "Can I trust you?"
Terumi Mei's eyes showed a strange light, "If you trust me once, I save my own life, and indirectly I solve a big problem for you. Isn't that good?"
Kakashi's resolve wavered. As the squad leader of ANBU on his first important solo mission, he didn't want to fail. If this mission failed, how could he inherit his teacher's will and become the ANBU Commander?
He said slowly, "Fine. What should I do?"
Terumi Mei smiled, "Hide right next to me, don't show yourself. I'll handle the rest."
Kakashi didn't hesitate further. Once he decided, he would execute strictly.
In an instant, he used the first half of the Decapitation Technique again, diving into the ground, pressing himself right beside Terumi Mei, merging his presence with the earth.
Not long after he finished this movement, the three Mist-nin pursuing them arrived.
They were: Hoshigaki Fuguki, Kurosuki Raiga, and Juzo Biwa, the Mist Village's Seven Ninja Swordsmen, wielders of Samehada, the Thunder Swords, and the Executioner's Blade.
The three arrived on the scene and saw Terumi Mei with only her head sticking out of the ground. They couldn't help showing surprise.
Juzo Biwa, an honest man, hefted the Executioner's Blade on his shoulder and asked, "Where's the enemy?"
Terumi Mei gave a bitter smile, and the only part she could move, her head, tilted toward one direction, "Ran that way. If you had been any later, I'd have been dead."
Kurosuki Raiga couldn't resist mocking her, "Isn't this the Mist Village's once-in-a-century little kunoichi prodigy? The one said to have mastered a dual bloodline fusion of three elements? How come you're in such a sorry state now?"
Hoshigaki Fuguki added, "Exactly. We used to think you were something great. Looking at you now, not so much."
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were the Third Mizukage's direct unit, personally raised and appointed by him. Their loyalty to the Third Mizukage was extremely high.
Terumi Mei, however, belonged to the elder-teacher faction, the group of the village's senior-most figures whose status rivaled the Mizukage's. The two sides weren't from the same faction, and in recent years had clashed many times.
So, seeing the one the elder-teacher faction pinned their hopes on in such a miserable state, they had no problem… kicking her while she was down.
Seeing this, Terumi Mei deliberately showed an expression of humiliated anger. Then, realizing her situation, she softened her attitude, "Honored sirs, we're all from the same village. We see each other every day. Could you first help release me from these bindings?"
Juzo Biwa nodded and was about to step forward to save her.
But Hoshigaki Fuguki stopped him.
"Save her? What for. If your strength isn't enough, and you insist on meddling, then you get caught, serve you right."
"Anyway, the sealing effect of the Decapitation Technique will weaken over time. Let her break out herself. Think of it as a lesson."
Juzo Biwa had no choice but to stop. He thought there was some logic in those words too.
Terumi Mei snapped angrily, "Sirs, isn't this a bit too much?"
But Kurosuki Raiga only drew his Thunder Swords and aimed them at her, "If you think it's too much, then complain to the Mizukage yourself later. For now, tell me the appearance and abilities of the ninja who defeated you."
Terumi Mei rolled her eyes slightly, "He wore an ANBU mask, so I couldn't see his face. After releasing a Transformation Jutsu, he was a well-built man, skilled at Earth Release. I suspect, most likely, he's a spy from the Rock Village."
The three Swordsmen exchanged glances and nodded.
Hoshigaki Fuguki said, "So it was someone from the Rock? Although the Leaf also uses the Decapitation Technique often, a burly build doesn't really match someone from Konoha."
After analyzing, he didn't even look at Terumi Mei again. He simply said to Juzo Biwa and Kurosuki Raiga, "Let's continue the pursuit. The Mizukage has already sealed off all the ports of the Land of Water. He won't be able to leave by ship. He can't escape."
The three nodded. Without another glance at Terumi Mei, they sped off in the direction she had pointed with her head…
Once they were gone, Terumi Mei's cheeks flushed faintly. She spoke to the ground beside her, "Kakashi, hurry and release me. And also, fine, I told you to hide underground, but I didn't say to press so close to me. Why are you sticking that near?"
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