As soon as she entered, Amane was filled with amazement.
[The level of this Hiding in Mist Technique is very high.]
Although Amane specialized in Wind Release, she was also an expert in Water Release; while her level might be slightly below Kage-tier, it wasn't far off.
Thus, Amane knew clearly that without using Sage Art, her normal serious execution of the Hiding in Mist Technique couldn't achieve this—just standing inside it, she felt a weight pressing down on her body.
[The water created has such density and mass; it seems Mei Terumī's strength in the original work was seriously underestimated.]
Amane sighed emotionally; at the same time, a gentle breeze quietly wrapped around her, completely sealing off the heavy moisture from the surroundings.
She took a step and walked forward steadily.
Soon, three familiar Chakras instantly surrounded her.
Amane's lips curled slightly as she waved her hand casually. In an instant, the pervasive moisture was completely blown away by a violent gale.
[They've all grown up quite a bit... I wonder if the flapping of my butterfly wings has helped Mei Terumī find a partner?]
Looking at Mei Terumī straight ahead, who had already crossed the threshold of youth and was moving toward maturity, Amane couldn't help but think.
Her gaze quickly shifted to the right, landing on a young girl with black hair and skin far paler than average, yet not appearing sickly.
Minazuki Yoru.
Hmm~ she's paler than me, but her vitality isn't as strong. As for her looks... even if her expression is a bit strange right now, one can still feel her features are very serene—a face perfectly suited for a teacher.
And finally... looking to the left, Ringo Yuriko was staring intently at her with a serious expression.
"First of all, thank you for being willing to abide by the agreement."
Using a disguised voice, Amane spoke slowly.
Amane's current location was on the opposite shore of the Land of Waves, in a corner of the mainland forest. From here, any of them could see the thick mist on the bridge not far away.
One of the agreements between Kakashi and Mei Terumī was that the adults on both sides would fight adults, and children would fight children; until an adult died, they could not take the initiative against the other side's children.
Although this agreement was only verbal, considering that neither side wanted to lose members of their lineup, this mutual wariness actually led both parties to agree.
Therefore, Mei Terumī now felt a moderate amount of pressure.
Amane hadn't brought anyone with her.
If they chose to gang up on her here, the agreement would naturally not take effect.
The reason it was called "moderate" was that although the Hiding in Mist Technique had just been easily dispelled, showcasing this Konoha Anbu's Wind Release mastery—which was far greater than intelligence suggested...
...Mei Terumī believed that if their lineup coordinated well, their strength should surpass hers.
Thus, the look Mei Terumī gave Amane now carried a hint of respect.
This is someone sacrificing themselves for the sake of victory!
[Looking at that gaze, I know exactly what she's thinking; she's so easy to read.]
Beneath her mask, Amane couldn't help but chuckle.
Originally, Kakashi should have been the one standing here, as she ran the risk of having her identity exposed.
But after learning about Mei Terumī's team, Amane had to admit she was also itching for action.
Furthermore, Amane was confident they wouldn't be able to find any leverage or evidence against her.
"Shall we begin? Or shall we just stand here staring at each other until the other side decides a winner?"
As Amane spoke, the four of them moved simultaneously with perfect coordination!
It was only at this moment that Mei Terumī truly experienced firsthand how terrifying Amane's Wind Release Ninjutsu was!
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
At the start of the battle, Mei Terumī decided to test the waters first.
Right at the beginning, she released a white gas with strong corrosive properties that surged rapidly toward Amane.
Facing this rapidly approaching dangerous acid mist, Amane made no move to defend herself, allowing it to engulf her.
[It really does have a corrosive effect on Chakra; the Wind Release Chakra wrapped around my body is being consumed.]
The moment she observed this, the air currents around Amane suddenly surged outward, carrying Mei Terumī's corrosive acid mist and dispersing it in all directions!
In Amane's estimation, this move would be enough to force the three back, creating space for her to perform large-scale Wind Release later.
However, unexpectedly, Mei Terumī actually sucked the gushing Boil Release back in!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you really shouldn't be unable to find a boyfriend, right?"
Amane's teasing remark stunned the three opponents, causing their offensive to slow down for a beat. Fortunately, Amane did not take the opportunity to counterattack; otherwise, the three might have already sustained injuries in that instant.
"You... who says I don't have a boyfriend!!!"
A flash of intense shame and anger crossed Mei Terumī's face, and her Hand Seals were completed in an instant. Along with that roar, overwhelming currents of water poured down toward Amane like a raging tide!
[Looks like she's still single.]
Seeing this scale, Amane also put away some of her playfulness; back when they fought Obito together in the Hidden Mist Village, she definitely didn't have this level of skill!
Just looking at the majestic momentum of this water volume, Mei Terumī had at least touched the threshold of Kage-level!
In the blink of an eye, Amane extended a finger toward the rushing water.
At this moment, if observed with Byakugan or Sharingan, one would find a massive amount of Wind Release Chakra gathering, swirling, and converging at Amane's fingertip.
In the next moment, this extremely compressed power was flicked out by Amane in an instant, precisely piercing a small hole through the surging water tornado.
Wind Release: Sky Piercer!
At the same time, Amane completed a hand seal with her other hand.
Wind Release: Sky Piercer - Burst!
The Wind Release power condensed at a single point suddenly exploded violently in all directions!
A strange look appeared in Amane's eyes, and she couldn't help but look around at the empty surroundings.
They couldn't possibly have fled; this was clearly Yoru's Physical Genjutsu designed to deceive one's vision.
But the problem was that such Genjutsu was usually ineffective against sensory-type opponents.
Yet now, not only were there no figures within Amane's sight, but even through Chakra sensing, she felt dozens of Chakra signatures similar to the three of them appearing instantly all around, all moving at high speed!
How did she do it?
Before she could think further, Amane sensed a Lightning Release Chakra speeding toward her!
Reflexively, Amane waved her hand toward that position, but there was nothing there.
The next second! The wind wrapped around Amane's body reacted; with a muffled groan, an invisible object flew backward, leaving several ripples on the water's surface.
[Interesting, my senses were deceived just like my vision; it seems Yoru hasn't wasted her time over these years.]
Thinking of this, Amane closed her eyes and activated the Kagura Minds Eye.
In an instant, the world turned to darkness in her pure Chakra perception. The chaotic "illusions" were instantly seen through; she "saw" the exact positions of the three and also "saw" the key to Yoru's technique.
[This girl Yoru actually used the characteristics of Ice Nature Transformation to perform micro-manipulations on spiritual energy, thereby achieving the effect of deceiving perception!]
Looking at the countless lenses composed of cold and thin Chakra in the dark space, Amane couldn't help but marvel at Yoru's talent!
It seems I underestimated her a bit back then.
If Amane didn't possess a divine sensory skill like the Kagura Minds Eye, which could achieve microscopic levels...
...she wouldn't even be able to understand the principle behind Yoru's technique today.
[But... Yoru, how unlucky you are.]
To have run into Amane of all people.
After experiencing the convenience of sensory Ninjutsu in the Hidden Mist Village and having it countered once by Uncle Snake, Amane's research in this area was second only to Sealing Jutsu.
Under her mask, the joy on Amane's face grew, and her hands began to form seals again.
A gentle yet highly penetrating wind began to spread outward with her as the center, unhurried yet incredibly swift, sweeping across the forest for dozens of kilometers in an instant.
Amane deactivated the Kagura Minds Eye because it was no longer necessary.
The figures of the three appeared clearly in her perception.
"Found you~"
The next second, Amane waved her hand toward Yoru's direction.
Seeing that her Genjutsu had been seen through, Yoru simply dispelled her technique completely, making the three's true positions clearly visible.
After the Wind Release was deflected and blocked by Yoru with a triangular ice wall, the four of them stopped attacking for a moment, as if returning to the initial standoff phase.
However, it was no longer the previous triangular encirclement; instead, Mei Terumī was facing Amane directly, while Yoru and Ringo Yuriko were behind Amane.
Sensing through the shape of the wind, Amane noticed that Ringo Yuriko and Yoru were actually exchanging secret signals.
Amane naturally didn't know the Hidden Mist Village's codes, so she couldn't decipher them in a short time.
But through the micro-expressions on their faces, it seemed they had a disagreement; Yoru's face clearly showed a look of strong disapproval.
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