Terumi Mei pondered the situation. Even though she had reached the Kage level, she had no way to deal with such a strange and complex space-time ability!
Despite this, Terumi Mei remained cautious and didn't fully lower her guard.
As she sat down across from Kaito, she noticed how young he looked.
"He seems only thirteen or fourteen years old. Despite his age, he traverses the ninja world with such an unusual ability!"
Terumi Mei was stunned. The person before her was truly too young!
Meanwhile, Kaito, sitting opposite her, glanced at her and quickly assessed her abilities.
[Status Panel]
Name: Terumi Mei
Bloodline Abilities: Boil Release, Lava Release
Ninjutsu:
Boil Release: Skilled Mist TechniqueLava Release: Monster Melting TechniqueWater Style: Water WallWater Style: Water Dragon Jutsu
Chakra Level: Early Kage Level
Combat Strength: Early Kage Level
"It hasn't been long since she stepped into the Kage level..." Kaito nodded, feeling more confident in his plan.
Terumi Mei, recovering from her shock, suddenly snorted and said, "Judging by how relaxed you are, someone might think this is your home!"
Kaito replied calmly, "I don't mean any harm."
"Breaking into my home and spying on me is not malicious?" Terumi Mei snapped, glaring at him.
"It's true that I shouldn't have entered uninvited, but I didn't expect to find you... like this at home," Kaito shrugged, ending the conversation.
Terumi Mei's face reddened with anger. "What I do in my own home is none of your business!"
"I think we should get back to the topic at hand," Kaito smoothly changed the subject, sensing her rising anger.
"I noticed from your reaction that you still don't know... or rather, that the Fourth Mizukage hasn't told you about the major event that happened in Konoha a month ago, right?"
Terumi Mei's irritation subsided slightly as she frowned, asking, "What happened to Konoha a month ago?"
"Oh, nothing too important," Kaito said casually. "I led the Uchiha clan in a rebellion and blew up most of Konoha before leaving."
"What?!"
Terumi Mei, once again, found herself stunned by Kaito's words.
"The whole ninja world is buzzing about it now. I didn't expect the Mist Village, one of the Five Great Nations, to be so out of touch!"
"Seems like your Mizukage is doing an excellent job keeping information under wraps!"
Ignoring Kaito's sarcasm, Terumi Mei quickly began to analyze the Mizukage's intentions for withholding this information.
But she soon remembered the dangerous individual sitting across from her, suppressing her shock and regaining her composure as she looked at Kaito with an indifferent expression.
"Nice act," Kaito remarked, amused.
Terumi Mei remained unmoved, saying, "You didn't come all this way just to tell me about some minor incident, did you?"
"Of course not," Kaito smiled. "I'm here to discuss a partnership."
Terumi Mei frowned, "If you're seeking a partnership, you should be speaking to the Mizukage, not me."
"I'm more optimistic about you than the Mizukage," Kaito replied. "Besides, the current Mizukage is just a puppet. I'm not interested in him at all."
"What did you say?!"
Terumi Mei stood up, shocked.
"Careful, your sheet is slipping," Kaito motioned towards her shoulder.
She looked down and quickly pulled up the sheet that had fallen, glaring at Kaito furiously.
Kaito sighed. "It's not like I haven't seen everything already. No need to be so tense."
"You...!"
Terumi Mei's frustration built up, and she thought to herself, "If only I could hit him... but with that space-time ability of his, it's impossible!"
After a deep breath to calm herself, she asked seriously, "Is it true? Is the Mizukage really being controlled?"
"You've already suspected as much, haven't you?" Kaito smirked.
Terumi Mei remained silent.
Kaito was right. She had long suspected that Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, was being controlled.
As someone who had once overthrown the Third Mizukage alongside Yagura, she knew him well. His personality had changed drastically over the years, to the point where he was now unrecognizable.
Terumi Mei had recently had Ao, one of her trusted shinobi, attempt to verify this, though without success. According to the original timeline, Ao would confirm her suspicions in a few months.
"What is your goal?" Terumi Mei asked coldly. "I'm not interested in working with you, whether you're being sincere or not."
"Don't be so quick to decide," Kaito responded. "Why don't you hear out my proposal first?"
Terumi Mei remained silent, so Kaito continued.
"The one controlling Yagura is a traitor from my clan, Uchiha Obito. He has a grudge against your village, particularly because of a conspiracy that resulted in his lover's death."
"He awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—an evolution of the Sharingan—and is using that power to control the Mizukage."
Terumi Mei interrupted, "So your space-time ability is also a result of that... Mangekyō?"
"That's right," Kaito confirmed.
"Controlling the Fourth Mizukage... such a terrifying power," Terumi Mei whispered to herself.
"Given this power," she asked, "why come to me for cooperation? Why not control the Mizukage yourself?"
"Because it's too much trouble," Kaito shrugged. "I'd have to constantly cover up his abnormal behaviour, and if anyone found out... well, I tend to start massacres when I get annoyed."
"So I'm here to spare your village from such a fate," he added with a smile.
"How thoughtful," Terumi Mei said sarcastically.
"You're welcome," Kaito grinned.
"You... truly shameless..." Terumi Mei muttered, finding the whole situation infuriating.
After a moment of tense silence, Terumi Mei finally spoke up. "What exactly do you want in this cooperation?"
Kaito smiled, knowing she had given in.