Chapter 273

Hurried footsteps echoed through the port, accompanied by heavy breathing and grim expressions.

A large crowd of Kiri ninjas huddled together at the water's edge, shoulder to shoulder, their tension palpable.

"Ao, have you finished the headcount?"

Mei Terumi, her exhaustion evident, turned to her subordinate. She spared no time for reassurances—this was not the moment for comfort.

Ao, looking just as drained, exhaled sharply before responding.

"The situation was too chaotic for an exact count, but roughly 3,000 made it out."

As he met Mei's gaze, admiration flickered in his weary eyes. She had dared to issue the retreat despite the Fourth Mizukage still being alive—an audacious decision that put the village's survival above all else.

From a strategic standpoint, it was the most responsible course of action for Kirigakure. But if the Fourth Mizukage survived and launched an inquiry, there would be consequences.

"Any word on the Yondaime?"

Mei's voice remained steady, but she already understood the grim reality.

She had long known that the bloodline clans intended to use the Fourth Mizukage as a pawn on the battlefield, letting him "sacrifice" himself for the so-called good of the village.

That was precisely why she had made the call to retreat in advance—without hesitation.

Ever since she learned of her allies' true intentions and saw the supplies brought by the Yondaime, Mei Terumi had already begun formulating her own plans.

To ensure her strategy's success, she reached out to her master in the Hidden Mist Village, securing his support from afar.

"The Yondaime didn't rendezvous with our forces. Something must have happened…"

A heavy silence followed.

Under normal circumstances, if the Fourth Mizukage were still alive, he would have undoubtedly regrouped with the Kiri ninja's main force. His absence could only mean one thing—something had gone wrong.

The question remained: had it been orchestrated by her supposed allies, or had Konoha taken action first?

"Any news on Konoha's pursuit?"

Mei did not linger on the fate of the Fourth Mizukage. Instead, she turned her attention to a more pressing matter—the movements of their enemy.

"If I recall correctly, Kisame was assigned to rear reconnaissance. Has he sent any updates?"

Though she had successfully led her people to escape, the challenges ahead were immense. Logistics were stretched thin, the wounded needed attention, transportation was scarce, and most crucially—someone had to remain behind to cover their retreat.

Many urgent matters demanded her immediate attention, but none were as critical as the relentless pursuers closing in from behind.

"The situation isn't looking good. Konoha appears to be gathering nearby ships, and there are signs of them regrouping!"

"They're seizing ships… and reorganizing?"

Mei Terumi's already exhausted expression paled further at Ao's report.

"Could it be… Konoha intends to chase us out to sea?"

The once-vibrant light in her beautiful eyes had dimmed, now clouded with fatigue and growing anxiety. Bloodshot veins traced through them, a testament to her exhaustion.

"Based on our current intelligence, that seems to be the case."

Seeing the disbelief on Mei Terumi's face, Ao reluctantly delivered the final blow, shattering whatever fragile hope she still clung to.

Before she could fully process the implications, a panicked Kiri ninja burst onto the scene, breathless and alarmed.

"Mei-sama! Something terrible has happened—those people… they've started fighting!"

"This is really turning into a mess."

Pressing a hand against her aching forehead, Mei—despite being only 23 or 24—was beginning to grasp the true burdens of leadership.

"Where are they? Take me there!"

Her voice was laced with icy authority, her entire presence exuding a suffocating pressure. A dark glint flickered in her emerald eyes, making the already-nervous Kiri ninja shudder.

"It's… it's happening at the docking area!"

Under her piercing gaze, the messenger felt as though he had been thrust from the heat of summer into the dead of winter in the Land of Water. His voice wavered, and he barely dared to lift his head.

Swish!

By the time he gathered the courage to look up, Mei had already vanished.

When she arrived at the docks—an area specifically designated for large ships—two factions of Kiri ninjas stood locked in a tense standoff.

At the center of the chaos, nearly thirty shinobi were already locked in a vicious struggle, their clashes sending shockwaves through the air.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"

Mei Terumi's expression darkened as she took in the scene.

She didn't bother to determine who was right or wrong, nor did she waste time asking for explanations. The moment she arrived, she unleashed the Waterfall jutsu without hesitation.

The clashing Kiri ninjas were instantly swept apart, tumbling in all directions.

"Enough! Anyone who dares to fight again—I'll kill them myself!"

When some of the combatants still showed signs of resistance, Mei didn't hesitate. With swift, ruthless strikes, she incapacitated them in mere moments, leaving them sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

"All of you who participated in this brawl—congratulations, you're now part of the rear guard. Your job is to buy time for the main force's retreat!"

Having swiftly dealt with the troublemakers, Mei wasted no time assigning them to the rearguard.

Noticing that some of the nearby Kiri ninjas were still reluctant to disperse, she narrowed her eyes, her voice carrying an undeniable edge of authority.

"What are you all still standing around for? Move!"

Then, without turning her gaze, she ordered Ao, who stood by her side:

"Take them to the rear guard immediately!"

Transporting the entire 3,000-strong Kiri ninja force in one trip was impossible. Even with the ships Yagura had provided, there simply weren't enough.

"Konoha is already mobilizing its forces. Is anyone here willing to stay behind and cover the rear with me?"

Mei Terumi's sharp gaze swept over the gathered Kiri ninjas, her lips curling into a cold, sarcastic smile.

"Hmph."

She let out a disdainful snort before continuing, her voice laced with mockery.

"No volunteers? Then why are you all still standing here? Are you waiting for Konoha's shinobi to escort you back to the Land of Water as prisoners?"

Her words sent an icy chill through the crowd.

"Now, board the ships in the order previously assigned. If anyone has any objections, feel free to stay and join the rear guard!"

With that, the hesitant Kiri ninjas finally began moving, albeit reluctantly. Yet, even after dispersing them, Mei's expression remained grim.

Turning to Ao, she issued another directive.

"Study the sea charts carefully. See if we can establish a transit point."

She furrowed her brows, deep in thought.

"Once these ships are fully loaded, there won't be any left for us. Staying in the port while waiting for them to return is far too dangerous."

Time was running out. Konoha wouldn't sit idly by and wait—they would strike before the ships could make a second trip. That was precisely why tensions among the Kiri ninjas had boiled over into open conflict.

Everyone was desperate to board the ships first and escape the perilous port.

"If we disregard logistics and combat strategy, this plan is feasible. However, it leaves us vulnerable—Konoha could easily pick us off one by one, and regrouping later would be a nightmare," Ao cautioned.

Mei exhaled sharply, her expression darkening as she recalled Ao's earlier report.

"There's no other option. If anyone can escape, let them escape," she decided, her voice firm.

"Besides, Konoha will likely pursue us into the sea. We won't have the resources to send reinforcements after them."

Her gaze swept over the restless troops.

"They just need to hold out until we can regroup after the battle. And if any of them are brave—or lucky—enough, they might find their own way back to Kirigakure."

It wasn't impossible. If they managed to avoid storms or tsunamis, some might even make the journey back on makeshift rafts.

Of course, that would require an exceptional navigator.

—

On Konoha's side, however, the atmosphere was entirely different—every ninja wore a look of satisfaction.

After distributing a small amount of Tsunade's blood to his subordinates and instructing them to summon Katsuyu for medical support, Toshiro turned his attention to more pressing matters.

Casualty reports, logistical supplies, and prisoner management—an overwhelming number of tasks awaited his attention.

"Are the pursuit forces in position?"

Now seated in the central command tent, Toshiro addressed Konoha's high-ranking officers, assessing the progress of the war.

All the while, vast amounts of chakra radiated from his body, fueling Katsuyu's healing efforts. The sheer intensity of his presence made it difficult for the surrounding Konoha ninjas to breathe steadily.

Noting how rigidly his subordinates sat, Toshiro smirked inwardly. He had no intention of personally engaging in the next phase of battle. A leader didn't need to handle every little detail—wasn't that why Konoha had an entire army of capable ninjas?

"Everything has been arranged!" came the swift response.

Toshiro nodded. "Good. Assign someone to observe the young talents in this war—those who have shown exceptional potential. Don't be restricted by status or background. We must uphold the principle of true meritocracy."

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