Inside the conference room, everyone looked at the two scrolls before them with serious expressions.
Just as Mei Terumī sent Amane to the Medical Ninja, a patrol Ninja on the edge of the base saw a battered Hohzuki Mangetsu walk up to them and breathe his last.
In his arms, he clutched these two scrolls.
One was the Ninja Sword scroll previously held by Hohzuki Mangetsu. It was currently open; except for Hiramekarei, which was still inside, the other three were gone.
The other scroll was also open, but what was written on it was enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
{Suikazan Fuguki was killed by Kisame Hoshigaki, who took Samehada and defected; the person behind the scenes controlling the Fourth Mizukage is an organization called Akatsuki. That person possesses the Sharingan and calls himself Uchiha Madara; his abilities include Space-Time Ninjutsu, Wood Release, and powerful Fire Release.}
[This is impossible!]
Looking at what was written on the scroll, Nakamura Iku's first reaction was that it was a fake.
Konoha has records of every Uchiha who has awakened the Sharingan. As one of Danzo's confidants, and having been in Konoha just before leaving when relations between Konoha and the Uchiha were tense, he had seen those records.
No living member of the Uchiha Clan could possibly achieve something so earth-shattering, unless Uchiha Madara had truly returned from the grave.
And what did this intelligence say? Wood Release?
There should only be two people in the world right now who can use Wood Release. One is Kinoe and the other is Jiu. Where could another successful experimental subject have come from?
"Everyone, share your thoughts."
Seeing the doubtful expressions on everyone's faces, Lord Gensui already knew their thoughts; in fact, he himself didn't quite believe this intelligence.
"This is indeed Hohzuki Mangetsu's handwriting, and there are no signs of forgery or the stiffness that comes from being controlled by Genjutsu."
Ao was the first to speak up, confirming that the scroll was definitely written by Hohzuki Mangetsu.
"But the intelligence written here is simply too far-fetched."
Both the Sharingan and Wood Release—no matter how hard they thought, they couldn't link the two together. It wasn't as if the God of Shinobi and the asura of the ninja world from back then had one of them cross-dressing as a man and then producing a secret descendant.
"What if it was Genjutsu?"
Mei Terumī offered her own insight while looking at the intelligence.
This suggestion was immediately accepted by everyone, who couldn't help but curse themselves for not thinking of it sooner.
If the enemy behind the scenes could control even the Fourth Mizukage, a perfect Jinchuriki, then making Hohzuki Mangetsu see something so ridiculous shouldn't be difficult.
"Was that really Hohzuki Mangetsu himself?"
Mei Terumī asked next. She soon received an answer.
Hohzuki Mangetsu's body had been simultaneously examined by intelligence Ninja and Medical Ninja, confirming it was indeed his corpse.
Hearing this news, a shadow fell over everyone in the meeting.
The Hidden Mist Village had lost another talent capable of shouldering great responsibility.
"Then let's go confirm it!"
Mei Terumī clenched her fist, looked at Lord Gensui, and continued, "The intelligence isn't necessarily all fake. At the very least, we can investigate whether Suikazan Fuguki's death and Kisame Hoshigaki's defection with Samehada are true."
"But right now?"
Ao was very hesitant about this decision.
They couldn't venture into dangerous territory for such uncertain intelligence right now. If Suikazan Fuguki and Kisame Hoshigaki had also been controlled, it would lead to needless sacrifices.
"Naturally not right now. The priority is to escort you once more to break the Fourth Mizukage's Genjutsu."
Mei Terumī's words startled Ao, but he and the others quickly realized her point.
For a long time, the reason they couldn't break the Fourth Mizukage's Genjutsu was partly due to the opponent's unfathomable strength, and partly because two of this generation's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, while not openly on their side, were actually undercover agents.
But if Hohzuki Mangetsu's death and the intelligence he brought back were true, then the plan to secretly uncover the person behind the scenes was already dead in the water.
Both sides had no choice but to resort to violence; the only other factor was the unstable Kaguya Clan.
"But Mei Terumī, have you considered that this might be the enemy's ploy? They might want us to launch an offensive so they can decide whether to meet us head-on or flank our base."
Lord Gensui's words were not without merit, but there was truly no point in continuing the current stalemate.
Mei Terumī closed her eyes and frowned in thought for a moment, then her hand tapped the table as if unconsciously.
[Ao, Lord Gensui, and... I see.]
Keenly capturing the subtle changes in their expressions, Nakamura Iku knew he didn't need to listen to the rest of the meeting. They would surely discuss the matter further afterward, and he wouldn't be part of it.
Sure enough, the meeting soon ended without a resolution.
"Mr. Nakamura."
After the meeting, Mei Terumī called out to him. If Nakamura Iku remembered correctly, the last time she used that tone with him was two months ago.
It seemed Amane was up to her tricks again.
"What did Amane do this time?"
Mei Terumī was taken aback, then gave an understanding smile.
He certainly looked the part of an old father.
For a moment, it reminded Mei Terumī of her long-deceased father, and she was briefly lost in sadness.
"Lady Terumi?"
Nakamura Iku spoke up in confusion, seeing Mei Terumī suddenly dazed.
"Ahem, sorry, I was a bit distracted. Right, it is indeed about Amane. You should ease up on her training at home; she collapsed on the training ground today from overexertion."
At this point, Mei Terumī's nostalgic attitude vanished, replaced by a serious and earnest look as she addressed Nakamura Iku.
Nakamura Iku was stunned.
A body with the Uzumaki Clan's heritage plus Hashirama cells suffering from overexertion? How could... Nakamura Iku's gaze suddenly became profound, but this only lasted for an instant before his eyes widened in feigned disbelief.
"Disgusting!"
Ringo Yuriko, who happened to be running over, couldn't help but blurt out upon seeing this scene.
"Yuriko? Why are you here? Has Amane woken up?"
Ringo Yuriko nodded in response to Mei Terumī, but her eyes silently watched the man Amane had mentioned.
"Is that so? Did you give her a good talking-to?"
Looking back and forth between the two, Mei Terumī wondered if they had some unpleasant history.
[That can't be right; my intel doesn't say they've met. Is it jealousy?]
"Yeah, she's staying in the ward obediently now. It's the first time I've seen her so well-behaved."
Ringo Yuriko looked away and said with a smile.
"I will adjust the training intensity. I'll take my leave now."
Nakamura Iku bowed slightly to depart, but Mei Terumī stopped him and placed a box of snacks in his hand.
"Give her some guidance; she's only seven years old. There's plenty of time in the future; there's no need to rush."
After smiling and watching Nakamura Iku leave, Mei Terumī turned her attention to Ringo Yuriko and said, "Yuriko, you two need to keep an eye on Amane. If she violates the ban I had you relay to her, I give you permission to team up and give her a beating."
Ringo Yuriko's first reaction wasn't amusement or excitement. Although she was straightforward and liked thrills, it didn't mean she was a fool.
"Is Teacher Mei going to the battlefield?"
"Yes. If all goes well, the Hidden Mist will be liberated this time."
Mei Terumī spoke candidly.
"In that case..."
Mei Terumī placed a finger on Ameyuri Ringo's lips and said with a smile, "You're not even ten yet, are you? There's still plenty of time. The Will of Water is that as long as fresh water flows from the source, it will endure forever."
"Remember that well, all three of you."