I, The New Hokage of Konoha

In the vast sea, the pursuit continues.

Listening to the furious roars from the three tails behind her, Mei Terumi gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and continued to flee.

At this point, she couldn't betray the Fourth Mizukage any longer and squander the chance for her escape that she had fought for at the cost of herself.

However, she was ultimately alone.

Not long after, despite noticing the green-bearded giant, left some distance behind but still quite conspicuous as it chased, Mei Terumi's heart gradually sank.

Until...

"Hagoromo? Why are you still here? Hurry, come with me! The pursuit from Konoha is about to arrive!"

While rushing along the way, suddenly spotting Hagoromo, dressed in blue feathers, holding a bubble-blowing device for soap, standing motionless on the surface of the sea, Mei Terumi was puzzled. However, with time pressing, she couldn't afford to dwell much. She shouted at him while continuing forward at full speed.

But soon, she unexpectedly noticed Hagoromo still unmoving and, at this moment, blowing the flute in his hands.

Instantly, a massive bubble, almost the height of a person, formed and arrived at Mei Terumi, enveloping her.

Looking at the bubble wrapping around her, feeling her body lightening and her speed increasing significantly, Mei Terumi turned her head in astonishment and said, "Hagoromo, you..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Hagoromo, still maintaining a lofty demeanor, interrupted, "The Village Hidden in the Mist cannot be without a Mizukage. Hurry, go."

As his words fell, the bubble enveloping Mei Terumi autonomously drifted away into the distance.

While Hagoromo turned away, leaving his back to Mei Terumi, she had a complex expression at that moment.

For so long, she had harbored similar worries about the Six-Tailed Jinchuriki, who always seemed detached from everyone and carried a seemingly great resentment within.

However, matters concerning Jinchuriki were significant, and coupled with Hagoromo never doing anything outrageous, she had initially suppressed those thoughts.

Yet, what she hadn't expected was that the person who always complained about the village, seemingly holding significant grudges, had now chosen to protect her.

"For the Village Hidden in the Mist..."

Mei Terumi glanced deeply at Hagoromo's back.

"Take care!"

Finally, with these words, she hesitated no more, turned back, and resumed her escape.

Just as before, with the loss of the Six-Tails and now, as Hagoromo mentioned, the Village Hidden in the Mist couldn't afford to be without a Mizukage.

At this moment, her life was no longer just about herself but about the entire Mist Ninjas. She had to return for that reason.

Only then would she not let down the sacrifices of everyone.

Soon, hearing the footsteps fading in the distance behind her and standing still, Hagoromo, a rare hint of a smile crept onto his lips.

Though dissatisfied with the Mist Village for forcibly implanting the Six-Tails within him and even having once considered leaving the village, this didn't mean Hagoromo lacked any sentiment toward the village that had raised him.

Even though he had never been interested in meddling in the village's affairs, his political acumen made him acutely aware that if the Fifth Mizukage were to fall here, it would be an absolute disaster for the village that had finally found stability after several years.

Jinchuriki could die, but the Fifth Mizukage must not.

So, for the sake of the village, he would make this rare sacrifice.

Listening to the increasingly distant sounds behind him and sensing the approaching commotion ahead, Hagoromo raised the flute in his hand, a firm determination flashing in his eyes.

Boom! Boom!

Several minutes later, an explosion from a massive number of bubbles erupted on the path that would be traversed by the Shisui and his entourage.

Utilizing the left-behind giant, Shizuku Neneku, to protect everyone, the Shisui observed the six-tailed Jinchuriki standing in front of them. With respect for the Mizukage's reputation, Shisui immediately ordered, "Yugito, it's up to you."

The key now was to capture the Fifth Mizukage and the elite Mist Ninjas.

As for the two Jinchuriki, it was sufficient to delay them for now. They were behind, and it wouldn't be too late to capture them upon his return.

Understanding Shisui's intent, Yugito nodded solemnly. "Understood!"

So, the next moment, Shisui once again opened the chest armor of Shizuku Neneku, shattering numerous bubbles with a large number of green chakra arrows, forcing Hagoromo away.

With a blue chakra cloak draped over him, Yugito swiftly charged toward Hagoromo, wielding sharp cat claws and attacking fiercely like a swift storm.

Although Mei Terumi had thwarted him earlier, Yugito's actual combat strength among the Jinchuriki was still considerable.

Especially in terms of agility, his talent as the Two-Tails' host was outstanding.

Therefore, facing the continuous onslaught from Yugito, Hagoromo, who couldn't afford to be careless, had to watch helplessly as Shisui and the others passed by him.

"It's already my limit to hold off a Jinchuriki expert. The rest is up to you, Lord Mizukage."

Unlike the regret of the past, Hagoromo calmly accepted all this, then focused his attention, manipulating the power of the Six-Tails to battle the Two-Tails Jinchuriki in front of him.

On the other side.

With only a few Konoha ninjas left by his side, Shisui continued the pursuit.

Despite the hindrance earlier, the significant gap between the Mist Ninjas and Mei Terumi and the ninjas of Konoha had widened.

However, their ship had been intentionally dispatched and sunk by the flying team from Konoha, leaving them no choice but to rely on their feet, which would consume much time.

One side expended a significant amount, while the other was entirely at ease.

As the latter, Konoha had no worries about catching up.

As expected, things unfolded just as predicted.

With every passing minute, aided by the Byakugan and flying ninja tools in the sky, the Konoha ninjas gradually closed the distance between themselves and the Mist Ninjas.

During their journey, after successfully uniting with Mei Terumi and the elite Mist Ninjas, some proposed the idea of dispersing and escaping.

However, considering the numerous Byakugan users deliberately following them, if they were to scatter, it was highly likely they would be picked off one by one by the larger number of Konoha ninjas. Thus, this plan was quickly abandoned.

However, they needed to devise other strategies.

Through the Byakugan, noticing the increasingly persistent pursuit from Konoha behind them, Ao sighed softly.

Then, after glancing at their Mizukage and silently nodding to others, he waved his palm.

Instantly, about a dozen Mist Ninjas detached from

the group, their gaze resolute as they turned toward the pursuing Konoha ninjas.

These individuals couldn't block the Konoha ninjas with Shisui present.

But just as the flying team from Konoha delayed the Mist Ninjas's ship earlier.

At this moment, Ao wanted them to do their utmost, to exhaust the Konoha ninjas' chakra further, allowing the most crucial Mizukage to escape.

This was just the first batch.

There would be a second, a third...

Finally, when only a handful of Mist Ninjas remained by Mei Terumi's side, with the last batch of elite Mist Ninjas about to depart, Ao calmly addressed their Mizukage and the few young, immensely talented Mist Ninjas beside him, "Lord Mizukage, I entrust the village's future to you. Chojuro, protect the Mizukage with your life!"

"Yes!" Chojuro nodded emphatically, eyes reddened.

However, someone who hadn't spoken a word throughout, merely clenching their fist, palm continuously dripping blood, watching the one-time allies and now sacrificed Mist Ninjas leaving one after another, Mei Terumi, couldn't help but say to the friend and mentor, Ao:

"Sorry, Ao..."

"No need for apologies!" Ao replied solemnly. "Today's actions were a unanimous decision of all, and only through this could we break free from the current predicament. Lord Mizukage, you need not blame yourself. If anyone's to blame... it's Konoha's superior technique."

Ao shook his head, then patted Mei Terumi's shoulder. "Lord Mizukage, you must stay strong. The future of the Village Hidden in the Mist still needs you!"

"I understand!" Mei Terumi took a deep breath.

Finally, carrying the Byakugan specially removed by Ao, Mei Terumi departed with the few remaining individuals.

As for Ao, he touched his right eye, still covered by the sealing tag, and with the last group of elite Mist Ninjas, calmly waited for the arrival of the Konoha pursuers.

A large number of elite Mist Ninjas, despite everything, desperately obstructed the situation.

When the Konoha pursuers arrived, not only was their arrival delayed considerably compared to before, but their numbers were also halved.

Moreover, after prolonged consumption, Shisui's water had dissipated.

Upon noticing another batch of Mist Ninjas waiting for them, Shisui wasted no time and immediately led his group.

At this moment, Ao's laughter echoed, "Come! Whoever wants the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, come and take it!"

Hearing this, the other Konoha ninjas didn't react much, but the accompanying members of the Hyuga Branch instantly changed their expressions.

They had been instructed by their clan head before they were sent to the Mist Ninjas battlefield to retrieve the lost Hyuga Clan Byakugan at all costs.

Though they couldn't see through Ao's right eye currently concealed by the sealing tag, they remembered the information about the Mist Ninjas possessing the Hyuga Clan Byakugan very clearly.

It was undoubtedly this person!

Therefore, in adherence to their clan's instructions, among the Konoha pursuers who had specifically followed the obstructed Mist Ninjas, the three Hyuga Branch ninjas without a second thought immediately rushed toward Ao, determined to reclaim the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan and wipe out the disgrace to their clan.

In the following moments, sounds of intense laughter from Ao and the sounds of swift and gentle fists from the Hyuga members continuously echoed.

However, not long after, a fierce explosion suddenly resounded from where the four were situated.

For a moment, the entire battlefield fell into a brief silence.

When Shisui, tiredly resolving all remaining enemies, arrived at the scene, he found that both Ao and the three Hyuga ninjas had turned into debris.

Instantly, a grim expression took over his face.

Without the Byakugan, how would he track enemies in the vast sea?

Flying ninja tools?

Unlike before, the Mist Ninjas were now scarce. In easier concealment, relying solely on the naked eye from flying tools was insufficient.

Lastly, after deeply looking at the remnants of Ao, who had sacrificed himself along with the Hyuga ninjas, Shisui, suppressing his negative emotions, waved his hand and led the remaining individuals to continue their pursuit.

Regardless of the hope being faint, he had to try again after reaching this point."