After Pakura agreed to attend the Kirigakure meeting, Mei Terumi immediately began making preparations.
She convened all of Kirigakure's senior leadership as well as the jōnin currently stationed in the village and formally opened the meeting.
In truth, Kirigakure's upper echelon all understood that Pakura's "death" had been a scheme by Sunagakure to force Kirigakure into the war. Unfortunately, they had no way to refute it.
Pakura's status was special—she was a hero of Sunagakure, her position second only to the Kazekage himself. Yet she had died in Kirigakure. Public opinion was firmly in Sunagakure's hands.
If it had only been a matter of public opinion, Kirigakure could have endured the pressure. However, in addition to Sunagakure's coercion, they were also threatened by Kumogakure and Iwagakure. With no alternatives, Kirigakure was forced into a war they never wanted to fight.
The entire affair left everyone feeling sickened, as if something were stuck in their throats.
Mei Terumi then publicly announced that Pakura was still alive—and that she was currently in Kirigakure.
Just as Mei had expected, everyone present was instantly energized. If Pakura was alive, that meant Kirigakure had a chance to withdraw from the war.
At that moment, Pakura stepped out from the shadows, removed her mask, and recounted how Sunagakure had betrayed her.
If things proceeded normally, with Pakura's testimony, public opinion would shift toward Kirigakure. They could then condemn Sunagakure and use the opportunity to extricate themselves from the war.
However, not everyone in Kirigakure thought that way.
Among those dissenters were the very ninja who had participated in the assassination attempt on Yagura.
One of the representatives of the radical faction, Kirigakure advisor Koharu, immediately voiced his opposition.
"Pakura cannot be allowed to live! The truth is that the ones who attacked her that day really were Kirigakure ninja. If we let her go back to Sunagakure alive, Sunagakure may very well turn their spear toward us and bring the flames of war onto the land of the Water Country!"
Mei Terumi looked at Koharu with a grave expression.
"Advisor Koharu, Lady Pakura has already stated that she has severed ties with Sunagakure."
Koharu retorted,
"Mizukage-sama, she is still a Sunagakure ninja. Her words cannot be trusted. If Sunagakure demands that we hand over the Kirigakure ninja who attacked her that day, will we hand them over?!"
Mei's face darkened. This was exactly what she had feared most.
Koharu continued,
"Although Kumogakure has temporarily withdrawn from the battlefield, Iwagakure and Sunagakure are still fighting Konoha. With Kirigakure joining them, the outcome of this war is already decided—we will win. Yagura being alive will only disrupt the current stability and threaten Kirigakure's security. Therefore, Pakura must die!"
"Die!"
"Pakura must die!"
"Pakura must die!"
The radical ninja under Koharu's command began chanting loudly. Their voices spread rapidly, infecting others. Even conservative Kirigakure ninja began to echo them.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control, and Mei's expression sank completely.
Watching Mei's grim face, Pakura sneered.
"Looks like being the Mizukage isn't very comfortable, huh?"
Mei snorted coldly.
"You still have the nerve to laugh. Aren't you afraid I'll agree and have you killed on the spot?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Pakura replied calmly. "I have companions."
This was exactly what worried Mei. Most of Kirigakure's forces had already been dispatched to the Land of Fire. Only a small number of ninja remained in the village.
Seeing that emotions had reached their peak,Pakura pressed Mei to make a decision.
"Mizukage-sama, while you are Kirigakure's supreme leader, major village decisions must be made collectively, with approval from more than half of the advisors. Since that's the case, let us begin the vote now! I vote that Pakura must die and that this inevitable war continue!"
Mei let out a breath of relief. Kirigakure had four advisors in total—two conservatives and two radicals. As long as the conservatives supported her, combined with her own vote, it would be three to two in her favor.
As expected, another fierce-looking radical advisor raised his hand.
Mei announced,
"You currently have two votes, so—"
Pakura interrupted her.
"Mizukage-sama, please take a closer look. How many votes do we have now?"
Mei looked over in disbelief.
Her trusted subordinate—the conservative advisor, Homura—had also raised his hand.
"Shinkawa Takashi… why?" Mei asked.
Homura lowered his head guiltily, unable to meet Mei's gaze, remaining silent.
The final count was two votes for the conservatives and three for the radicals. That meant that even as Mizukage, Mei could no longer overturn the decision.
The Kirigakure ninja began to stir, eager to make a move against Pakura.
Pakura rapidly retreated, widening the distance between herself and them.
Fearing Pakura might escape, Koharu raised his arm and shouted,
"Execute Pakura immediately! Do not let her get away!"
Ninja flooded forward like a tidal wave, surging toward Pakura.
Suddenly, four figures descended from the sky, landing directly in front of her.
The masked Yōsuke asked,
"Pakura, are you alright?"
She shook her head.
"I'm fine. But it looks like the negotiations have completely fallen apart."
Yōsuke replied casually,
"As long as you're fine. If the talks failed, then they failed. I didn't expect Kirigakure to be this foolish."
He looked at the advancing Kirigakure ninja and said to Itachi,
"Do you see this, Itachi? I once spoke of three paths to peace. This is the third—rule-based peace failing. When rules conflict with, people will break the rules and seize what they want."
"I see it, Master Yōsuke," Itachi replied, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Mei Terumi tried one last time.
"Wait—don't act yet!"
But her words had no effect.
Yōsuke had lost his patience. A thick killing intent swept across the entire area.
"If you don't want peace and instead choose war—then we'll give you war!"
Gyutaro drew his blood sickles, crimson liquid coiling around the blades.
Deidara had already plunged both hands into his ninja pouch, eagerly feeding clay into his mouths.
Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and drew the Sword of Kusanagi.
The battle was about to erupt.
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