The tree roots are constantly spreading.
These roots move like living creatures, weaving in and out of the land of the Hidden Mist Village, with towering giant trees sprouting from them.
The branches and vines of these giant trees also keep growing, binding each Hidden Mist Ninja they encounter to the trees and absorbing the Chakra from their bodies.
"This is Wood Release Ninjutsu!"
One Hidden Mist Ninja immediately realized something was wrong. While attempting to rescue his comrades, he warned the others, "Be careful not to get caught by the vines!"
However…
A vine instantly grabbed his foot!
The vine directly dragged this Hidden Mist Ninja up, binding him to a tree, and absorbed the Chakra from his body. In an instant, he lost his strength!
"Akihara Kagura is here! Akihara Kagura is here!"
The ninja who had once experienced the attack from Akihara Kagura controlling the Wood Dragon on Hidden Mist Village shouted loudly, "Prepare for battle quickly! Cut all the vines!"
The elite ninjas of Hidden Mist who participated in that battle never forgot the humiliation and naturally didn't forget the fear of that day.
But…
The vines and roots seem endless.
No matter how many surviving Hidden Mist Ninja severed the vines and roots, they would grow back and spread towards them again!
The most terrifying thing is…
They have no power to counter it!
Even a Jonin can only hold out for a while longer and eventually gets bound by the vines to a tree, their Chakra fully absorbed.
Very soon, a forest appeared within the Hidden Mist Village.
After the initial clamor, the calls within the village became increasingly sparse, as all the ninjas within the village were bound one by one to the trees by the vines.
Even those hiding underground or in buildings weren't safe; the vine roots burrowed into the earth or broke through buildings to capture them and bind them to trees!
If someone were to come to the Hidden Mist Village, they would find it resembled a settlement built within a forest, with all the villagers bound to trees and an eerie silence hanging over the place, as if concealing a lurking terror.
Outside the Hidden Mist Village.
Akihara Kagura felt the benefit of fine Chakra control.
Because he could precisely control all the vines and tree roots released by Deep Forest Emergence, as if these vines and roots were part of his own body.
At the same time.
Akihara Kagura could also feel the Chakra within the Hidden Mist Ninja constantly being absorbed by the Wood Release into his body, accumulating in the shell of the Ten-tails. Given a few more opportunities for large-scale harvesting, he could likely bring it back to life!
The unfortunate part is…
The Three-tails is still nowhere to be seen, and the Six-Tailed Jinchuriki hasn't appeared either.
"Not bad, I suppose."
Akihara Kagura nodded with satisfaction.
"The Hidden Mist will never surrender!"
Terumi Mei spat out a mouthful of blood, determinedly trying to stand up.
"I admire your resolve."
Akihara Kagura shrugged, squatting beside Terumi Mei and waving his hand, "Then, I hope you will…"
"Wait a moment…"
Ao's body trembled with fear, using his Byakugan to see some of the situation within the Hidden Mist Village, and he warned Terumi Mei, "Lady Terumi Mei, all the ninjas in the village have been captured; everyone has lost their ability to resist!"
"!!!"
Terumi Mei was shaken!
"Is that true?"
Akihara Kagura, like a bystander, asked Ao with curiosity, "Is it really that terrifying? Hasn't anyone from the Hidden Mist Village managed to escape?"
"..."
Ao and Terumi Mei's foreheads twitched.
What position is this guy speaking from?
Clearly, you are the one responsible for capturing everyone!
This question…
Shouldn't be asked by you!
"We…accept Konoha's terms!"
Terumi Mei gritted her teeth as she looked at Akihara Kagura, speaking gravely, "Please do not harm more innocents! We agree to unconditionally surrender to Konoha!"
"Can you make that decision?"
Akihara Kagura curiously asked Terumi Mei.
"Yes!"
Ao immediately answered on her behalf, adding, "Lady Terumi Mei is the acting leader of the village now; all her commands we will follow!"
"Alright, I shall trust you for now."
Akihara Kagura nodded with satisfaction, "Then let the Hidden Mist Village immediately issue an announcement of surrender to Konoha, and let this Jonin Terumi Mei represent the village to surrender to our Fifth Hokage!"
"We agree!"
Ao promptly agreed, looking at the seriously injured Terumi Mei, he offered, "But, Master Kagura, could you spare Jonin Terumi Mei? I could take her place…"
Terumi Mei is the future of the Hidden Mist Village.
Ao was very aware of the situation in the Hidden Mist Village.
The village was in an extremely awkward phase, without the control of Elder Yuanshi above, nor a new Mizukage appointed; the village was leaderless, and some of the powerful Jonin were detained in Konoha.
Terumi Mei possessed two Kekkeigenkai within her body, making her extremely powerful and respected by the village's ninjas. Ao had always been planning when to let Terumi Mei become the Fifth Mizukage…
But…
The timing wasn't right.
If Terumi Mei represented the Hidden Mist to surrender to Konoha and Konoha executed Terumi Mei and the Hidden Mist captives, it would throw the village into a dire situation…
Ao believed he could sacrifice himself.
But Terumi Mei could not be sacrificed.