Chapter 68: Uchiha Kiyoshi’s Turn

"The battle isn't over yet, Lady Mei!" Ao called out loudly to Mei Terumi. "The air is still thick with countless chakra threads, showing no sign of dissipating!"

"The enemy hasn't retreated, nor does she intend to stop! She's preparing to launch another assault!"

As Ao finished speaking, a figure emerged from the depths of the dense mist, blurred and indistinct. Mei Terumi could barely make out that the figure seemed to match the voice from earlier—a slender young girl.

It was none other than Uchiha Qing.

The situation had already exceeded her original plans. She had merely intended to lend a hand to the native aristocrats of the Land of Waves, hoping to create a balance among the competing factions within the country. Then, Naruto could reap the benefits in the aftermath, leading his steam-powered army to sweep aside the exhausted forces.

This was the task Naruto had assigned to her—to stir up trouble in the Land of Waves as much as possible, because her abilities were particularly suited for such chaos.

Coincidentally, one aristocratic family wanted to eliminate a traitor. Besides collaborating with other families and obtaining a batch of weaponry from the Land of Fire, they also sought support in ninjutsu.

This aligned perfectly with Uchiha Qing's intentions. The two sides quickly reached an agreement: Qing would assist them in eradicating the traitor, and in return, they would turn a blind eye to the fishing village constructing the transoceanic bridge.

The operation progressed smoothly. With Qing's abilities, the aristocrats' actions succeeded without hindrance. Qing had expected that, at most, this would intensify internal conflicts among the Land of Waves' aristocrats, but she hadn't anticipated the arrival of Mei Terumi.

It seemed that this traitor was more important than she had thought.

At this moment, Uchiha Qing's gaze was calm and resolute. Although the situation had exceeded her expectations, she showed no signs of panic.

Naruto had already told her of Mei Terumi's formidable strength, and that she still had a hidden trump card. Yet Qing was not afraid of facing Mei Terumi head-on.

Why? Because her own abilities were equally elusive and inscrutable.

The color of her Sharingan was different from other members of the Uchiha clan. Instead of blood-red, her pupils glowed with a blue radiance, vibrant and jewel-like purple-red. The three tomoe, at this moment, had transformed into three long swords, their tips connected, encircling the blue glow.

"So you're the one behind these people of the Land of Waves?" Mei Terumi said coldly. "As a shinobi, you hide behind ordinary folk and watch your companions die. Is this the path you follow, your way of the ninja? I don't know which village you hail from, but I truly pity it."

"First of all, I am not a shinobi," Uchiha Qing replied.

"Secondly, it was their own request; there is no transaction between us."

"Moreover, to depict those who willingly die for their homeland as foolish pawns exploited by the despicable, will not justify your hegemonic actions, Mist-nin," she continued.

"Hmph, silver-tongued!" Mei Terumi retorted loudly. "How can you prove it was their own request, and not your manipulation?!"

"I will not fall into the trap of self-verification," Uchiha Qing shook her head. "If you insist that I paid for one bowl of noodles but ate two, I won't cut open my stomach to prove myself; I will simply eat another bowl, justified."

Qing recalled a tragic tale, one Naruto had told her. He once had a comrade whose apprentice was honest and guileless. The apprentice ate only one bowl of cold noodles, yet the shopkeeper accused him of eating two and paying for just one. The malicious owner demanded compensation for ten bowls, and the apprentice, desperate to prove his innocence, cut open his own stomach and filled a bowl with noodles as evidence.

The apprentice died, wronged.

Through this story, Naruto had warned Qing and Hinata: never fall into the trap of self-verification when accused by an adversary. Those who wrong you know better than you just how innocent you are.

Mei Terumi had no idea what cold noodles were; she only knew that the enemy before her must be destroyed.

She waved her hand and ordered, "Attack!"

The Mist-nin obeyed, the vanguard swiftly surged toward Uchiha Qing. Hidden within the thick fog, they brandished their weapons, attempting to subdue her.

Yet Qing remained unruffled. She observed their movements calmly, then gently raised her finger, pointing forward.

"Takama—Curtain Performance."

With her voice, countless fine threads emerged from her eyes, shooting forth like arrows, silent as they pierced the air toward the Mist-nin.

By the time the Mist-nin realized, it was already too late. Every joint of their bodies was connected by these almost invisible threads.

Terrified, they found a torrent of power surging through the threads into their limbs and bones.

Their arms and legs instantly lost all control; despite their desperate struggle, the threads' strength was overwhelming, impossible to break free.

Even the flow of chakra within their bodies was entirely out of their control.

As Qing's pupils shimmered with light, the Mist-nin pivoted their bodies, their stiff hands forming seals, unleashing jutsu in unison.

"Water Style—Great Waterfall Technique!"

Streams of water burst forth, shattering the Mist-nin formation.

Mei Terumi effortlessly neutralized these water-style jutsu and knocked out the controlled Mist-nin. After forcefully severing the threads, she glanced at Qing, surprise flashing in her eyes.

She remembered the Uchiha youth she had encountered in the Land of Hot Water. That boy also possessed strange ocular powers, and his genjutsu was formidable enough to compel others to attack their own comrades.

She hadn't expected to meet a similar adversary here in the Land of Waves.

Was she from the Uchiha clan?

But her eye color was different; Uchiha Sharingan were always blood-red, but this one was a gem-like vibrant purple, with blue light at its center.

Perhaps it was some unknown kekkei genkai?

Now was not the time to ponder this.

Mei Terumi quickly formed seals, unleashing her own jutsu.

"Boil Style—Skillful Mist Technique!"

A highly corrosive, dense mist filled the space. In an instant, all chakra threads vanished from the air.

But the chakra itself did not dissipate.

"Takama—Dancing Leaves!"

Qing formed seals, gathering the scattered chakra into countless blades, which shot toward Mei Terumi.

"Melting Style—Star Scorch!"

Several acid bombs shot from Mei Terumi's mouth, colliding with the chakra blades in midair and triggering violent explosions.

The blast intercepted every chakra blade, leaving Mei Terumi and her Mist-nin unharmed.

Nonetheless, Qing was unaffected by the assault. She calmly lifted her finger, pointing at Mei Terumi, and launched the second wave of attack.

"Takama—Cage of Confinement!"