Slayer: Look directly at the Seraph, standing on the sun

Meanwhile, in another secluded location, Mei Terumi was secretly slipping away from the village. Her "escape" went unnoticed by everyone, except for Genji, who noticed her unusual behavior with his keen insight.

"Terumi Mei, where are you going?" Genji asked, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Mei Terumi smiled somewhat awkwardly: "It's just going out for some fun, Master, you're being too nervous."

Yuan Shi didn't immediately expose her, but smiled faintly, his eyes filled with concern. "Have you completed your mission? How's the situation with the Dark Division lately?"

Mei Terumi's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "The mission went smoothly, there were just a few minor flaws, no need to worry."

Master Yuan didn't ask any further questions, seemingly unconcerned about these details. He continued to focus on other matters, especially the cause of death of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and whether Orb was involved in any behind-the-scenes manipulation.

“Orb…” Yuan Shi’s lips curled up slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “It seems that the undercurrents of this world are deeper than we imagined.”

As the battle intensified, Genji's actions shattered Mei Terumi's preconceived notions of him. She had always thought of him as calm, rational, and even somewhat aloof, someone who rarely intervened in matters personally. Yet, at this moment, he made a shocking decision—to personally take her away from the village to Mount Kikyo.

"Master, where are you taking me?" Mei Terumi was somewhat taken aback. Although she already knew of Master's wisdom, the current actions made her feel an unprecedented sense of urgency.

“Mount Kikyo,” Master Yuan said in a low voice, a deep light flashing in his eyes. “The Mizukage of Kirigakure has suddenly joined forces with the three countries to besiege Konoha. The situation is changing rapidly and has exceeded our expectations. Mount Kikyo will become a key battlefield. If we do not act in time, we may not be able to gain the upper hand in this battle.”

Mei Terumi frowned slightly, instinctively sensing the seriousness of the situation. She had always thought that Genji would be more cautious and patient, but today, his direct actions revealed a strong decisiveness. "But why now?" she asked in a low voice, "This isn't like you."

"Because the situation has fundamentally changed." Master Yuan's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Whether for the benefit of Kirigakure or for the overall structure of the ninja world, we must personally participate and strive for greater influence."

Mei Terumi looked at him, a flicker of shock and awe crossing her mind. She suddenly realized that the person before her had long transcended the simple identity of a ninja. Every decision he made was closely related to the future of the entire ninja world, and her understanding of "ninja way" seemed so narrow at this moment.

As Genji's plan unfolded, Mei Terumi and he made their way towards Mount Kikyo. Her thoughts were in turmoil, but Genji remained calm, as if everything was under his control.

Meanwhile, the battlefield at Kikyo Mountain remained shrouded in smoke, and the appearance of Manda made the situation even more unpredictable. Manda, Orochimaru's summoned beast, was originally summoned to pose a significant threat to the Allied Forces. It was enormous, exuding poisonous gas, and indiscriminately devoured the lives of the ninjas. However, as time passed, Manda gradually felt the pressure from all sides. Lightning flashed, ninja swords were drawn, and the Allied Forces' attacks grew increasingly fierce, causing Manda's condition to deteriorate further.

"Retreat! Withdraw from my domain!" Orochimaru's voice rang out, and Manda roared in pain as its massive body began to retreat. Although it continued to greedily devour the surrounding ninjas, the increasingly intense attacks made it realize that this battle was beyond its control.

The retreat of Manda marked the end of a battle, but the allied forces' predicament was far from over. The poisonous fog spread like a tidal wave, ravaging the ninjas trapped in the earthen dungeon. The stench and corrosive gases filling the air made it incredibly difficult for each ninja to breathe.

"Damn poisonous creature!" The commander of Iwagakure gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with anger and determination. "If we can't keep the earthen prison safe, then we'll have to dismantle it and defend it alone."

“But this would loosen the allied forces’ lines and make their defenses less concentrated,” a ninja from Iwagakure said hesitantly, though he clearly knew that every second was crucial in this life-or-death battle.

Ultimately, the decision of the Hidden Stone Village was accepted by the other ninjas, the entire earthen prison was dismantled, and the ninjas from each village began to disperse and take their own defensive measures. The ninjas of the Hidden Mist Village, however, chose a different method—Water Release techniques.

The use of Water Release techniques became a turning point in this battle. Empowered by Water Release, the Hidden Mist Village ninja successfully used a water prison to isolate the poisonous fog. By continuously releasing Water Release techniques, they built layers of defense, controlling the poison gas within a certain area. The effectiveness of this tactic not only temporarily protected the Hidden Mist Village ninja but also gave the Allied Forces an opportunity to counterattack.

"This is the only way!" shouted the Hidden Mist Village ninja, their Water Release techniques forming an insurmountable barrier. As the water continued to accumulate, the water prison grew larger and larger, gradually forming a powerful defense.

"Did you see that? The immense power of Water Release!" A Sunagakure ninja couldn't help but exclaim. They quickly adopted the tactics of Kirigakure, combining Water Release techniques with their own village's anti-poison techniques to form a new joint defense.

All of this happened in the short time following the retreat of the Ten Thousand Serpents. Although the poisonous fog still lingered, the allied forces' defenses gradually became capable of a counterattack. The cooperation between the villages grew increasingly seamless; they began to set aside their previous hatred and estrangement, uniting to resist the immediate life-or-death threat.

"This battle may determine the future of the entire ninja world," a Sunagakure ninja whispered, his voice filled with unease and anticipation.

Behind the scenes of the battle, Genji's plan was quietly unfolding. Although he didn't directly participate in the fighting, through his strategic deployments, he firmly grasped the interests of Kirigakure. As for Mei Terumi, although she didn't understand Genji's entire plan, she knew that she had to continue down this path, venturing into an even deeper quagmire.

“Mount Kikyo… may become the focus of a new round of battles,” Mei Terumi said softly, her eyes filled with worry, yet unable to shake off her anticipation for the future.

Rasa stood in the dimly lit room, his brow furrowed, his eyes vacant. He knew that today would be the moment that would change his life forever. He had imagined countless times a conversation with the Third Kazekage; the idealized image of the Kazekage was always full of wisdom and decisiveness. But at this moment, the Kazekage before him felt utterly unfamiliar.