Escaping the Mist Ninja starts with backstabbing your teacher.

The land of rivers, where sour grass grows in golden mountains.

Both Izumikawa and Yekura received replies from their contact persons. However, Yekura had not yet set a time, while Izumikawa had already set one.

He was aware of the situation in Kirigakure. With the death of the Third Mizukage, the existing internal conflicts were bound to erupt, leading to a period of chaos.

Therefore, we need to hurry and get things settled before the new Mizukage takes office, so we need to do it as quickly as possible.

The situation in Sunagakure is quite different. Rasa, who values ​​power highly, has a strong grip on the village and needs to be handled with great care.

Izumikawa also knew about Yekura's apprentice, vaguely remembering that he wasn't a reliable guy and had been criticized by netizens.

"Ye Cang, come with me to meet the person I'm in contact with."

"And I'm also certain that she won't leak my information; I have that confidence."

He had some confidence in saying this to Mei Terumi, after all, warmth in that cold environment was rare in that village.

He cherished this relationship, after all, Mei Terumi was one of the few normal people in Kirigakure. It just goes to show how crazy this world is, and there aren't many normal people.

He sighed softly to himself; Madara Uchiha was indeed ruthless in implementing such a perverse policy.

"Yes, I understand!"

"Now that Rasa is the Fourth Kazekage, he is probably very worried about my remaining influence."

"I could sense that guy's unpleasant aura, especially his emotionless, indifferent eyes."

Yekura never really liked Rasa; he had a strong desire for power, even though she hadn't initially intended to compete for it.

However, with her growing fame, she also faced hostility from Rasa, especially from the Sand Ninja who supported Rasa, whose attitude was quite obvious.

"Even though I've become a rogue ninja now, he probably won't feel at ease," Ye Cang said with a slight sneer.

Izumi nodded slightly. Each of the five great ninja villages has its own problems, with the three villages of Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha having the biggest problems.

Secondly, there's the Iwa ninja. Although the problem wasn't serious, it disrupted the generational order, leading to a lack of talented individuals capable of supporting the village.

The Hidden Cloud Village has the fewest problems, but because the successive Raikage are all reckless and the Eight-Tails often goes berserk, it still has constant minor issues.

"Momona, why don't you come with Yokura too!"

"Given your condition, I'd be worried if I left you here. It's better if you stay with Yecang and keep watch from a distance."

"Furthermore, your chakra sensing ability can also help you stay alert."

Momona nodded repeatedly. She was afraid of being left behind. If she were abandoned, what would she do?

Now, she has no one to rely on, and all her hopes are pinned on Izumi. Without this pillar of support, she has no purpose in life.

……

Three days later, in a forest by the sea in the Land of Rivers.

Mei Terumi, dressed in a cloak, quietly looked around to confirm that the agreed-upon location was indeed here, and the time was correct.

"You've come!"

A familiar voice rang out, and Terumi Mei suddenly turned around to see that the person in front of her was Taketori Izumi.

Upon seeing this guy she had been thinking about all along, Mei Terumi made a hand seal and spat out a breath without any hesitation.

"Lava Release: Molten Monster Technique!"

The red acid, resembling magma, was viscous and highly corrosive, enveloping him directly.

They really didn't hold back when they greeted us!

With a sigh, Izumi Kawa raised his hand and bones sprouted, transforming into a bone shield.

A hissing sound rang out continuously as the intense corrosiveness melted the bone shield, reducing it to ashes after only a moment.

Izumi, who had dodged the attack, waved to the distance, indicating that there was no need to intervene, as the situation was not serious.

"You still have such a fiery temper! You'll hardly make any new friends this way."

"Hmph, mind your own business!"

Mei Terumi glared at him through gritted teeth, but did not launch any further attacks. That last move was not only an expression of her emotions, but also a test.

Upon seeing the bones of the Corpse Bone Pulse Bloodline Limit, she was completely certain of the other party's identity, and her gaze gradually became resentful.

"Why did you leave the village? Just because you were looked down upon?" This question had been pent up in her heart for a long time, and now she could finally ask it to his face.

Looking at the girl in front of him, Izumi Sawa stood on the tree and sighed softly. He brushed his hand across his right eye, removed the colored contact lens covering it, and revealed the white of his eye.

He slowly and said in a deep voice, "I do admit that part of the reason was for the Byakugan, but... the bigger problem is that I discovered the Third Mizukage was being controlled."

These words were like a deep-sea nuclear bomb, exploding directly in Mei Terumi's heart.

Even though she was somewhat prepared, she was still horrified when she heard the news and instinctively wanted to deny it.

"Impossible! That's the Third Mizukage! How could he be controlled by someone!"

"But if that's true, then these changes in the village can be explained..."

Mei Terumi's voice gradually faded as she realized she was beginning to doubt, rather than completely rejecting the answer.

Izumi looked at her and understood that as a child of Kirigakure, she had grown up listening to stories of the powerful and wise Third Mizukage.

From the time they were born, the Third Mizukage has been managing Kirigakure, and continues to this day.

He is there, an unshakable figure in people's hearts, a natural existence, without any reason to doubt him.

Even when the "Village of Blood Mist" policy was implemented, the people of Kirigakure believed that the Third Mizukage was doing it to strengthen the village.

But gradually, all sorts of incomprehensible orders were issued, and even if people had doubts, they dared not question them.

A complex expression appeared in Mei Terumi's eyes, and she looked at him with some heartache. She seemed to understand why Izumi had left the village.

The Third Mizukage being controlled by someone is a terrifying thing. How much pressure and panic must he have endured knowing this truth?

That's why he had no choice but to leave the village, and only now that the Third Mizukage has died has he dared to contact him.

Izumi saw the strange look in Terumi Mei's eyes. Although she didn't know what she was thinking, her gaze seemed a little odd.

"Izumigawa, now that the Third Mizukage has passed away, can you... still come back?"

He slowly shook his head and remained silent in response to Mei Terumi. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke: "There's no going back now."

He leaped down from the tree, slightly raised his head to look at the moon in the sky, and continued, "Now that I have become a rogue ninja, what right do I have to go back?"

"Furthermore, don't you want to know who is controlling the Third Mizukage, and why?"

"What exactly is this person trying to do? What is their goal? Will this kind of thing happen again?"

Each word sent a chill down Mei Terumi's spine, suggesting that the ninja world was more than just the five great ninja villages.