TSSITWON Chapter 248: The Story of Mei Terumi 3

Behind the mask, I vanished from the old world. I became a shadow. I became a knife in the unknown night. There, I witnessed what evil is, what betrayal is, and what true power is.

And finally, a mission came.

Small. Seemingly simple.

Infiltration into the territory of Konoha.

No one gave a warning. We didn’t suspect it at all.

But when I reached the territory of Konoha, they began their attack. As if they knew I was coming.

As if they had been waiting for us.

My head was filled with chaos. Everything felt nonsensical. Who did this? Who leaked secret information about our infiltration into Konoha?

I gritted my teeth, my breath quickening as my feet raced through the dense trees. A thin mist hung in the air, enveloping the forest with the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves. The trees loomed like silent guardians, witnessing my desperate flight.

At that time, war was raging. In the chaos of the battlefield, we chose the entry route from the southeast of Konoha—supposedly that place was empty. But reality told a different story.

They were waiting for us.

Without warning, a group of masked Anbu leaped down from the branches above, like ghosts merging with the mist. They attacked us with terrifying speed and precision. Screams, the sound of clashing metal, and the explosions of jutsu filled the air like a storm.

My team from Kirigakure and I managed to hold our ground. We formed a defensive formation, trying to fight while looking for a gap to retreat. But the enemy was too numerous, as if they knew our route beforehand. It was no coincidence. It was a trap.

I watched my comrades being pushed back one by one. Their faces were filled with confusion and fear, just as I felt. Blood flowed, bodies were wounded, but none of us retreated without a fight.

As I was knocked back by a wind attack from one of the Anbu, my body was thrown to the ground. A kunai struck my shoulder—hot, piercing deep, making my vision blur for a moment. I bit my lip, stifling a scream.

With great effort, I got up and ran. I broke through thorny bushes, leaped over the roots of a large tree that sprawled like a trap. I kept running, even though my body was unsteady. My wounds bled profusely, but the anger burned far more intensely than the pain.

Someone had betrayed us. Someone from within.

I didn’t know who. But that person... a disgusting coward. How could they betray their own comrades for personal gain? For what? Power? Self-preservation?

I cursed inwardly, but there was no time to drown in emotions. Right now, the only thing that mattered was survival. I had to get as far away as possible from the pursuit of the Konoha Anbu.

My steps began to limp. The world around me felt like it was spinning slowly, colors starting to fade. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind was faint. I could fall at any moment.

But that was when I saw something.

A boy stood in the middle of the forest, his body framed by the moonlight sneaking through the tall leaves. The wind tousled the ends of his black hair. Where the boy looked at me, it wasn’t with a wary gaze, but with curiosity.

“Who are you?” my voice was hoarse, sounding more like a demand than a question.

The boy didn’t answer directly. Instead, he observed the wound on my shoulder with a gaze that quickly turned to concern.

“You’re hurt; you should treat your wound,” the boy said calmly, his voice low but clear.