Escaping the Mist Ninja starts with backstabbing your teacher.

Mei Terumi has potential and is capable of becoming the Mizukage, so he needs this help and hopes to return to Kirigakure in the future, instead of becoming a wandering rogue ninja.

However, since Mei Terumi is still in Kirigakure, there are some things that cannot be said openly. Instead, she needs to create the illusion that she defected from the village to investigate the real reason.

"So I need this Byakugan that can observe, to help me uncover the truth. The other party has already controlled the Third Mizukage once."

"That also means that the other party has set its sights on Kirigakure and has the strength and power to continue controlling the next Mizukage."

"If I cannot find out the truth about this, I will be unable to eat or sleep, and the village will remain shrouded in that cold, inhuman environment."

Izumi crushed a corner of a nearby tree, seemingly venting his "anger".

The bright moonlight in the sky was partially obscured by dark clouds, and shadows enveloped him. Mei Terumi saw this scene and remained silent.

She was well aware of the village's situation. Despite the absence of external threats, Kirigakure was plagued by internal conflicts, and coupled with its oppressive policies, the number of rogue ninja was gradually increasing.

If the new Mizukage continues the policies of the Third Mizukage, Kirigakure might really be doomed.

and……

Mei Terumi looked at Izumi with a hint of guilt: "So, you've been hiding this secret all along."

Izumi nodded slightly and continued, "Mei Terumi, listen to me. The new Fourth Mizukage will likely abolish the 'Bloody Mist Village' policy and restore Kirigakure to normal."

"But if his temperament changes drastically again and he reactivates the 'Bloody Mist Village' policy, and continues to live a secluded life, it must be because the other party has made a comeback and taken control of the Fourth Mizukage."

"I dare say that the other party will not choose to control the Fourth Mizukage for the time being, but will wait until the Fourth Mizukage has fully secured his position and gained the village's approval before taking control."

What Obito needed was a ruler with absolute authority, a puppet who had already secured the position of Mizukage and wielded power, not a Mizukage who had not yet secured his position and could be removed at any time.

Of the five great ninja villages, only Kirigakure is far from the mainland, located on the sea, and has very little communication with other ninja villages, making it difficult for intelligence to leak out.

Furthermore, the script specifically tailored for him, which led to Rin's abduction and Kakashi killing her, was caused by the Kirigakure ninja, and he could never give up that hatred.

Black Zetsu, that old fox, will also support his plan to regain control of Kirigakure.

Mei Terumi was shocked to hear these words; Kirigakure had become a plaything in someone else's hands.

Those wars, those sacrifices, and the killing of comrades all occurred under the control of the other side.

All of this could have been avoided; Kirigakure could have been much better off.

"So, Mei Terumi!"

"I need you to be my eyes in Kirigakure, to provide me with intelligence and assistance."

"Only in this way can I find the truth, find the culprit, and prevent Kirigakure from this disaster."

Izumi grabbed Terumi Mei's shoulders with both hands, looking at her with expectant eyes.

"Okay, I understand!"

"I believe you, but I will also look for evidence, whether it's to prove that what you said is true, or to help you clear your name and return to the village in the future. It's all necessary."

Although Mei Terumi trusts Izumi Kawa, she needs to find some evidence to fully help him since there are no concrete proofs.

She will help the other party with matters that do not involve village secrets until they are fully verified, but she will not disclose matters that involve secrets.

"Thank you, Mei Terumi!" Izumi Kawa reached out and shook hands with Mei Terumi, nodding gently.

Then, I reached out and brushed my hand across my eyes, covering the white of my right eye with colored contact lenses again.

"As for Teacher Qing, if he notices anything unusual about you, tell him about these things!"

"By the way, please apologize to him for me, because I need this eye to help me investigate the truth, so I betrayed him."

A hint of guilt appeared on Izumi's face, after all, Ao, as his teacher, had indeed treated him well.

However, the problems in Kirigakure cannot be resolved within Kirigakure itself, so they can only do this to improve their own strength.

He wanted to live, and once he survived, he naturally had other needs, namely, to become stronger.

After becoming stronger, the natural thing to do is to make life easier; otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of all that effort to become stronger?

When Mei Terumi heard his words, her gaze softened again. No one likes a heartless person, nor would anyone trust such a person.

"I promise you this. Senior Qing is also troubled by this matter. If he can find out the truth, he will definitely forgive you."

"At that time, I will also carefully investigate the truth in the village and find out when and how the Third Mizukage was controlled."

The thought of this being true chilled Mei Terumi to the bone. Who was this person, and what kind of power did they possess to be able to do something so thorough?

They were completely unaware of this, and even after the Third Mizukage died, they did not realize it, or rather, they dared not imagine this answer.

Will the next Mizukage, the Fourth Mizukage, become like this?

The fear of the unknown loomed over Terumi Mei's heart like a dark cloud. At this moment, she understood the pressure that Izumi Kawa had faced back then.

"Thank you for your trouble. I will still use Haiyan as my means of communication to contact you."

"I have some leads now and will continue to investigate further in the Land of Rain. I should be able to find some information."

Give the other party some hope, at least to prove that you are not just making empty promises.

"Also, could you please make a copy of the documents regarding the Kirigakure's betrayal of Pakura during the peace talks with the Sunagakure?"

"Yakura, the [Scorch Release] ninja who was abandoned by the Sand Village, was rescued by me and has now become an ally of mine."

"I hope to cause some trouble for the Sand Village while also gathering some other information from their intelligence."

Is it Yekura?

Terumi recalled what her senior, Akira, had said about what happened back then, as well as the explanation and bounty offered by the Sand Village afterward.

She admitted that the other party was very strong, and with such a person by Izumi's side, combat strength wouldn't be a problem, however...

Mei Terumi looked at Izumi and asked somewhat uncertainly, "Are you sure she'll genuinely help you?"

Izumi nodded, raised his hand slightly, and a bone pierced through his skin, solidifying into the shape of a first-order spine, with black patterns wrapped around it.

"I replaced her first-level spine. Her life is in my hands, and I did so after consulting with the other party."

"She is indeed very strong. With my current strength, I am very likely no match for her, so I had no choice but to agree to completely cure her."

Seeing this, Terumi Mei said with relief, "Since you know what you're doing, that's fine. I'll help you with this."

Izumikawa drew out the chakra contained in the spine in his hand, and with a clench, it turned into bone powder that floated in the air.

"Yes, that's why I met you today. Sharing my secrets with someone makes me feel much more relaxed."

"Let's go back. Staying here too long isn't a good thing. I should try to avoid revealing my whereabouts now."