Just as Kiyohara and Kakashi exchanged a few words, preparing to launch a decapitation strategy, a surge of chakra—far more intense than anything prior—suddenly exploded through the fog!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Whip!"
From all directions within the mist, high-pressure whips of water lashed out toward Kiyohara with terrifying speed and crushing force—powerful enough to smash stone.
Kiyohara dodged to the side, his eyes narrowing as he finally saw his attacker clearly:
—A girl, around his age, with wavy auburn hair, emerald green eyes, porcelain skin, and a mesmerizing charm to her every movement.
The combination of Mist attire, water mastery, and unmistakable beauty clicked instantly in his mind.
Terumi Mei.
Future Fifth Mizukage. Wielder of two Kekkei Genkai: Boil Release and Lava Release. A monster in the making.
"Even this woman joined the assault?"
Kiyohara frowned. "This mist… is starting to get in the way."
Fighting while blind wasn't sustainable.
While dodging and defending with his blade, he subtly began throwing shuriken in seemingly random directions.
Mei, still calm, deflected each one with her water whips.
"Tch. Shuriken throws? Really?"
Just as she was preparing her next jutsu, Mei dismissed Kiyohara as another face without skill. Handsome, yes—but nothing more.
After all, he had done nothing but dodge so far.
'That's the flaw of swordsmen,' she thought. 'Up close, they're dangerous. But at range? They're sitting ducks.'
Just as she finished weaving signs—
Kiyohara twitched his finger.
A faint burnt metallic scent filled the air.
Ting…
Faintly glinting in the fog, nearly invisible threads began tightening around her.
Copper wire.
Kiyohara had laid a trap web—disguised in the mist, masked by misdirection. Every shuriken she'd deflected earlier? Planted with a purpose.
One of Mei's curls suddenly dropped to the ground.
Her green eyes widened.
"Wha—? How…?"
Around her, a fine mesh of copper wire had encircled her completely.
"How are your lines not tangled?!"
She couldn't understand it. That kind of throwing precision—even Uchiha rarely achieved it. Every piece had landed exactly where it needed to, despite her interruptions.
Kiyohara, calm, spoke into his comm:
"Kakashi, don't get close."
Snap!
He twitched his finger again.
The wires pulled tight. Then—
Bzzzzt!
A surge of lightning chakra coursed through the net.
Lightning Style: Shuriken Thunder Conduction!
Next, he slammed a palm to the ground—
Lightning Style: Ground Surge!
Electricity crackled along the earth—below, while the net tightened above.
Finally, Kiyohara added a third layer.
He pulsed Wind chakra into the already charged lines, invoking the effect of:
Wind Style: Gale Palm—
Amplifying the blade-sharp edges of his wires.
The copper lines shimmered with surging current and sharp wind pressure.
Left hand wind, right hand lightning—seamless coordination.
"Now then, Mizukage-to-be… how will you escape?"
This was a perfect death cage.
Mei's eyes flashed with alarm.
The closing net above. The electrical wave below. Wind-enhanced blades all around.
No escape.
"Damn it!"
She gritted her teeth. She'd hoped to settle things with water techniques alone—preserving her trump cards.
Kiyohara had ruined that plan.
"Boil Release: Corrosive Mist Jutsu!"
Mei sprayed a viscous, acidic chakra mist from her mouth—thick as lava, boiling with energy.
Shhhhhh…
The copper net sizzled as it melted under the acid. The electrical arcs sparked out.
Even the wind pressure from the lines was disrupted by the heavy chemical fog.
She had activated her Kekkei Genkai—Boil Release—and the corrosive power it carried dissolved most of Kiyohara's killing trap.
But not all of it.
Zap!
The residual current broke through—arcing into her arms and shoulder.
"Ugh—!"
A muffled cry escaped her lips.
Her sleeve tore apart. Blood trickled down her pale skin.
She gasped, staggering. Shaken.
'If I hadn't used Boil Release just now… I might've died!'
This nobody from the Leaf… almost forced her into a fatal mistake.
"I can't believe you forced me to use a Kekkei Genkai…"
She stared at Kiyohara. There was no more mocking in her gaze.
Only caution.
And something else.
Before she could counter—
"Mei! Fall back!"
A sharp voice cut through the fog.
Ao.
From behind, he leapt into view, finally stepping out of his hidden command post.
He had been monitoring the battlefield through Water Mirror techniques—but now, after watching Mei nearly fall into Kiyohara's trap, he could no longer stay out of it.
'She's too valuable to risk.'
"Ao!"
Mei wanted to protest.
But she knew—if not for Ao's shout, she might've stubbornly pushed forward and lost even more.
Kiyohara popped a soldier pill into his mouth.
"So the commander showed himself…"
That was fine.
They just needed to eliminate whoever was interfering with the Byakugan—and Ao was that person.
Once he was dealt with, the Hyūga could dominate.
'My Future's second wish… I will fulfill it today.'