Naruto : The ultimate Troublemaker

"It was DarkRai!"

She furrowed her eyebrows slightly. There was something odd about it. DarkRai was well-known for leaving only corpses in his wake, swift and unstoppable. For him to miss his surprise attack was unexpected. But she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the death merchant from Konoha.

"Show me what you're made of," she said with a smile.

...

The tension in Mei Terumi's residence was palpable. The room vibrated with an overwhelming energy. DarkRai and the Mizukage faced off, their gazes locked, the silence broken only by the steady breath of their concentration.

Mei struck first, moving at an incredible speed. Her fists flew, precise and powerful. Shikai parried with ease, his extraordinary reflexes allowing him to dodge each blow with remarkable fluidity.

— "Impressive," Mei said, spinning to attempt a side kick.

Shikai leaped back, his piercing eyes visible beneath the black mask.

— "I could say the same, Mizukage."

He counterattacked, launching a series of rapid strikes. Mei blocked and evaded with the dexterity of a village leader. Each impact resonated in the room, making the walls tremble.

In a swift maneuver, Shikai managed to grab Mei's wrist and tried to throw her off balance. But she pivoted, using her momentum to break free and counter with an elbow strike that grazed Shikai's jaw.

— "*Lava: Burning Ash Rain!*" Mei cried.

A shower of burning ashes descended upon the room. Shikai reacted instantly, disappearing in a flash of lightning. When he reappeared behind her, he launched a swift attack.

— "*Lightning: Slashing Blades!*"

Lightning bolts erupted from his hands, slicing through the air with a deafening cry. Mei blocked using a Fûton barrier.

She followed up with a *Suiton: Water Dragon*, an immense dragon head bursting from her mouth to strike Shikai. He performed a backward somersault, narrowly avoiding the attack.

The battle intensified. Each technique employed further ravaged Mei's residence. Walls collapsed, and the roof caved in under the force of the explosions. The noise drew the attention of Kiri's ninjas, but they were still far away.

The complete destruction of the residence forced Shikai to retreat. With his enhanced speed, he leaped from rooftop to rooftop, trying to shake off Mei. But the Mizukage was not one to give up easily.

— "You won't escape me!" she shouted, concentrating chakra to increase her speed.

Mei unleashed a long-range attack:

*Suiton: Raging Tsunami!*

A massive wave formed behind her, propelling her at incredible speed to catch up with Shikai. He turned around just in time to see it coming and used a *Hiraishin* to avoid being overwhelmed.

They found themselves in a large clearing outside Kiri. The trees around them trembled under the energy released by their confrontation.

Mei positioned herself, breathless but still ready to fight.

— "So, you can't run anymore. Let's finish this."

Shikai adjusted his mask, his gaze unwavering.

— "As you wish, Mizukage."

He disappeared once more, reappearing behind her at an astonishing speed. Mei, anticipating his move, spun around and launched a frontal attack.

Shikai barely dodged, his fist crackling with lightning. He combined his speed with terrifying precision, striking Mei with impacts that forced her to retreat. But she held her ground, using her techniques to repel the assaults.

The battle reached its climax when a powerful reverse kick from Shikai hit Mei squarely, sending her crashing to the ground with a loud thud. She rolled onto her back, breathless, as Shikai approached, his right hand illuminated with violet lightning.

— "This is the end," he murmured, raising his hand to deliver the finishing blow.

But as he was about to strike, he planted his hand into the ground inches from her head.

Mei stared at him, panting, her eyes shining with an inquisitive glow.

— "What are you waiting for?"

Shikai remained motionless, visibly struggling with himself. His fingers trembled, and his breathing quickened. Mei finally understood.

— "You don't want to kill me."

Their gazes met. For an instant, time seemed to stand still.

Mei took advantage of Shikai's hesitation. She blew a scorching steam directly onto his mask.

*Yōton: Acidic Mist!*

The mask began to melt, forcing Shikai to tear it off and throw it away.

Mei, surprised, froze. She gazed at his face: he was young, too young, and strangely handsome for an assassin.

"You..." she murmured, her eyes wide.

Shikai sensed the approaching ninjas of Kiri. He reached out and, without a word, lifted Mei onto his shoulder. She didn't resist, still in shock.

Leaping from tree to tree, he activated a *Hiraishin* mark he had placed earlier. In a flash of lightning, they disappeared, leaving behind the devastated clearing.

This is the beginning of their love story