Namikaze Kirito looked at Terumi Mei with clear interest in his eyes.
This woman was smart—smarter than most.
He could already tell she had more or less guessed what he was about to say next.
Sure enough, after a moment of thought, the smile faded from Terumi Mei's face. Her playful tone vanished completely as she asked in a calm, serious voice:
"What happens if I refuse?"
"If you learn of our plan and still choose to refuse," Kirito replied evenly, "then I can only treat you as an enemy."
The moment those words fell, the atmosphere in the room changed.
The Kirigakure ninja present immediately tensed, chakra surging as they instinctively prepared for battle.
Behind Kirito, Kimimaro took a step forward. Bone spurs erupted from both of his arms with a dry, chilling sound.
"…The Kaguya Clan?"
The moment Kimimaro revealed his Shikotsumyaku, everyone present—including Terumi Mei—recognized it instantly.
After all, the Kaguya Clan had once been one of Kirigakure's most prominent clans. Their terrifying kekkei genkai was a crucial part of the village's combat power.
And when the Blood Mist policy began, they were also the first to be wiped out.
Terumi Mei's gaze lingered on Kimimaro for a moment, a trace of pity flashing through her eyes.
A shinobi from our village… standing on the opposite side.
And more importantly—
The aura Kimimaro gave off was unmistakable.
Kage-level.
According to the intelligence she had gathered, this mysterious organization already possessed Uchiha Itachi, Orochimaru, and Namikaze Kirito.
Adding Kimimaro to the list meant that—at minimum—there were four Kage-level combatants within Gensokyo.
What kind of concept was that?
Even a great ninja village's top combat power rarely exceeded this level.
Yet this was merely an organization that had existed for only a few years.
If Kirigakure were to oppose them directly, the outcome was obvious.
After all, the village's trump card—the Fourth Mizukage and the Three-Tails—had already become members of another unknown force.
The remaining rebels within Kirigakure had, at best, one or two Kage-level fighters.
How could they possibly contend with Gensokyo?
"…How domineering."
Terumi Mei exhaled softly, stretching her body lazily as she spoke, deliberately showing off her figure.
"If it's a marriage partner, you'd actually be a pretty good choice."
"Marriage isn't necessary," Kirito replied calmly. "An alliance will do just fine."
With a casual wave of his hand, Kimimaro withdrew the bone spurs and returned to his position behind Kirito, head lowered.
"Oh? How heartless~"
Terumi Mei smiled teasingly.
"Don't you want to think about it again? If you married me, our relationship would be much closer."
Kirito didn't react.
He knew this woman far too well.
This seductive attitude wasn't carelessness—it was camouflage. A way to lower one's guard and extract information.
If someone truly believed this smile, what awaited them wouldn't be soft lips, but the searing heat of Yōton unleashed without mercy.
Shaking his head, Kirito cut straight to the point.
"When does the plan begin?"
At the mention of the plan, Terumi Mei immediately dropped her playful demeanor.
"If everything is ready," she said seriously, "I'll confront Yagura tomorrow."
The people of Kirigakure had waited far too long for this moment.
Under the Blood Mist policy, the village had become something twisted—iron, blood, and endless slaughter. There was no peace, no safety.
A village meant to protect shinobi and civilians had become more dangerous than the outside world itself.
"Fine," Kirito nodded. "We don't need any additional preparations."
"Then tomorrow," Terumi Mei said, "you'll wait in the village's rear mountain. We'll find a way to lure the Mizukage there."
After a brief hesitation, she added softly:
"And… if possible, I hope you can spare Mizukage-sama's life."
She clenched her fingers slightly.
Yagura was not entirely at fault. He, too, was a victim—controlled by someone else.
But at the same time, a Kage allowing himself to be manipulated was the greatest sin of all.
"I'll do my best," Kirito replied.
After finalizing the remaining details, Kirito and Kimimaro were escorted to a hidden room to rest.
Once they left, Terumi Mei's expression grew increasingly grave.
A man wearing a single-lens mask stepped up beside her.
Ao.
He was the first to follow Terumi Mei—and the one who had discovered something was wrong with Yagura.
Beneath that mask lay a stolen Byakugan, taken during a past conflict with the Hyūga clan.
"My lady," Ao said quietly, "if we trust them this easily… even if the coup succeeds, we may never truly escape their control."
"Cooperation?" Terumi Mei scoffed bitterly. "When they approached us, we already had no other path left."
She bit her lower lip, unwillingness filling her eyes.
This was never an equal partnership.
She hadn't chosen them.
She had been chosen.
First, there was the controlled Fourth Mizukage.
Now, there was an organization powerful enough to crush Kirigakure outright.
One misstep and the village would fall into complete ruin.
"For now," she exhaled, "we can only take it one step at a time."
Her head ached just thinking about it.
If she wanted to free Kirigakure from Gensokyo's future influence, she had to resolve Yagura's situation first.
Stabilize the village.
Then build internal strength.
Only strength granted the right to speak.
If Kirigakure still had the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, its bloodline clans, and its secret techniques intact, it wouldn't fear anyone.
…All of this traced back to that damned controller.
After several interactions, Terumi Mei was certain—Gensokyo knew exactly who was controlling Yagura.
But if they chose not to say anything, she could do nothing about it.
And Namikaze Kirito himself…
His composure and depth were completely mismatched with his age.
Calm. Impenetrable. Untouchable.
A man like that would be terrifying to deal with in the future.
Her gaze hardened.
Tomorrow could not fail.
The next afternoon, after giving final instructions, Terumi Mei led a group of Kirigakure ninja into action.
Under the excuse of drills, civilians and many shinobi were quietly relocated.
Kirito and Kimimaro took position in the rear mountain, lying in wait.
All that remained was to bring the Mizukage there.
Night fell swiftly.
A thick curtain of darkness enveloped Kirigakure.
For reasons unknown, the village was unnaturally silent.
After finishing his official duties, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura was informed that something had gone wrong with the training troops in the rear mountain.
As the village's Kage, he naturally went to investigate in person.
But the moment he arrived—
The subordinates who had accompanied him vanished without a trace.
Right before his eyes.
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