"Oh oh oh!!!"
The ninja cats in the audience let out a collective cry of shock, their gazes filled with admiration as they looked at the imposing figure of the cat boss standing in the ring.
Offstage, Mizuki Ryosuke observed the cat boss's massive frame, his expression calm, but his thoughts stirred.
(With such raw power and dominance, it's no wonder he holds such prestige among the feline clan.)
At the same time, Terumi Mei's victory had secured the Ryosuke team's third win out of four matches, ensuring their advancement to the next round of the assessment.
As she stepped down from the ring, a wave of relief washed over Terumi Mei.
(For once… I wasn't a burden to the captain!)
She clenched her fists slightly, her heart pounding with excitement. As she approached Ryosuke, countless thoughts raced through her mind.
(How will he react? Will he acknowledge my effort but remind me not to get complacent? Or will he praise me openly and commend my progress?)
(Or… will he be so overjoyed that he lifts me up and spins me around in excitement?)
The mere thought caused her cheeks to flush a shade of pink. Regardless of his response, she was ready to accept it.
(He's always so composed… but even when serious, he says things in such a cute way.)
With that thought, Terumi Mei hurried toward Ryosuke.
But just as she reached him—
Thud!
She let out a soft cry as her forehead collided with Ryosuke's firm hand.
Terumi Mei winced, covering her forehead, her large green eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her visible eye was filled with grievance, and she could already imagine the state of the heterochromatic eye hidden beneath her bangs—surely welling up just as much.
"Captain Ryosuke…"
Her voice carried a hint of a whimper, laced with confusion.
Ryosuke, however, merely crossed his arms and gazed at her sternly.
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
Terumi Mei blinked, her lips parting slightly.
"Me…?"
For a moment, she faltered, not understanding the reason for his reprimand.
"I… don't know…"
She lowered her head, her expression deflated, her voice soft.
Just when she thought she was about to be scolded—
A warm hand settled atop her head, fingers gently ruffling her hair.
"Silly girl," Ryosuke's voice softened. "Didn't I tell you not to push yourself too hard? It was just an assessment match."
His words seeped into her heart, melting away the tension.
"If that ninja cat's claws had truly landed on you, do you know what would have happened?"
The concern in his voice was unmistakable. Terumi Mei raised her head, only to find Ryosuke's expression completely devoid of the seriousness he had moments ago. Now, there was only warmth and care.
"Ryosuke… Captain…"
Thousands of words lingered at the tip of her tongue, but in the end, all she could utter were those four.
Ryosuke sighed slightly. "That ninja cat's claws were sharp enough to end your shinobi career right then and there. It's not worth it."
He paused, his gaze steady.
"You have a bright future ahead of you."
"This is the last time. Don't ever put yourself in unnecessary danger again. Understand?"
Terumi Mei nodded vigorously. "Mm!"
She stood still, savoring the gentle touch of his hand on her head.
It was then that she recalled the ice pendant Ryosuke had placed around her neck before the battle.
But now—
It was gone.
(So that's why… Captain Ryosuke protected me from the shadows again.)
Ryosuke had discreetly used his ability to negate her fatal injuries, ensuring there was no trace of it left behind.
Her lips parted slightly, and in a whisper only he could hear, she said,
"Thank you… Captain Ryosuke."
"You're welcome."
His answer was equally soft, a slight smile playing at his lips.
The two exchanged a brief glance before smiling at each other.
—
The higher the level of a shinobi, the more intricate their jutsu and strategies. Because of this, battles between true masters often lasted longer than expected.
However, Ryosuke's match against the cat Nosuke had been a one-sided massacre—ending in an instant. By the time his team secured their advancement, the other teams were still locked in battle.
Now free from the ring, the Ryosuke team moved to the spectator stands to observe the remaining fights.
After a brief inquiry, Ryosuke learned the situation of the other matches.
For the Hozuki team, the first battle had been led by Hozuki Mangetsu himself, who secured victory with solid strength.
The second battle was fought by Wuli Jinba, the wielder of the explosive sword. Though it took considerable effort, he too emerged victorious.
Now, the third battle was underway, with the flounder sword user, a short but deadly fighter, representing the Hozuki team. If they won this round, their advancement would be guaranteed.
The choice of their lineup made sense—one of their members, Tongcao Yebai, had sustained an injury and was strategically placed last. If the first three battles ended in victory, he wouldn't need to fight at all.
On the other hand, Mizuki Hidero's team presented an interesting scenario.
Unlike Ryosuke and Mangetsu's teams, the strongest member of Hidero's squad was not Hidero himself, but another Elite Jōnin from the Mizuki clan.
Because of this, the first three battles were fought by the squad's three Jōnin.
At present, the third battle was underway.
However, Ryosuke's sharp gaze detected something unusual.
Mizuki's Jōnin was being utterly overwhelmed. His defeat was merely a matter of time.
Sure enough—
Moments later, the Mizuki Jōnin fell, unable to withstand his opponent's assault.
Now, it was Mizuki Hidero's turn.
But something about his opponents seemed off.
The ninja cats facing Mizuki Hidero… were too uniform.
Both Ryosuke's team and the Hozuki team had fought opponents with a balanced mix of Yin and Yang Release specialists—two Yin-based and two Yang-based fighters.
Yet Hidero's four opponents… were all Yin Release users.
Was this mere coincidence? Or something deeper?
(Could it be… that there's a similar imbalance within the ninja cat clan?)
His eyes flickered as he turned his gaze to the ring's edge—
Where a slender feline figure stood beside the massive form of the cat boss.
The elder of the ninja cats—Lynx.
(Could all of this be… his doing?)
Mizuki Ryosuke narrowed his eyes.
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