Chapter 129: The Perfect Ninja
Although the two figures in the arena had yet to move, the battle had already begun.
If one looked closely at Elder Lynx's eyes, they would notice that his dark green feline pupils had taken on a dim yellow glow, an eerie luminescence that seemed to seep into the minds of those who gazed upon it. A powerful sense of fatigue began to spread—first subtly, then overwhelmingly, like a tide pulling consciousness into oblivion.
Illusion: Destruction Technique!
This was a unique genjutsu developed by Elder Lynx, combining his ocular abilities with a natural hypnotic effect. Without the target realizing it, their thoughts would gradually blur, their body growing sluggish until they collapsed into a deep sleep.
On the opposite side, Mizuki Ryosuke observed him with a mild look of curiosity, utterly unaffected.
This surprised Elder Lynx.
His technique was not without counters, but they required either breaking eye contact or possessing extraordinarily high mental resilience. Even the strongest shinobi would experience drowsiness after prolonged exposure. However, this was the first time he had encountered someone who could look directly into his eyes without showing the slightest sign of fatigue.
Elder Lynx refused to accept this outcome. His feline eyes glowed even brighter as he increased the intensity of his illusion. The dim yellow radiance within his pupils surged, his mental energy pouring into the technique.
Yet, across from him, Mizuki Ryosuke remained unmoved. He even appeared more focused, his gaze sharpening with interest.
Elder Lynx had used this technique countless times, and it had never failed. But now, for the first time, he was experiencing something completely foreign.
Just as disbelief clouded his mind, a wave of unexpected drowsiness struck him instead.
His feline pupils dilated in shock.
Something was wrong.
The reflection in Mizuki Ryosuke's eyes… it was familiar.
The dim yellow glow within them was identical to his own!
The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He had seen this before—his own technique rebounding upon him, as if staring into a mirror.
His mind recoiled in horror.
Before he could look away, the genjutsu had already taken hold. His body swayed, staggering under the sudden weight of exhaustion. His legs buckled, and he barely stopped himself from collapsing.
How?!
Elder Lynx could hardly believe it. His own illusion—turned against him!
At this moment, across the entire ninja world, there were only a few individuals whose mastery of genjutsu surpassed Mizuki Ryosuke's. Only those wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan could truly dominate him in the art of illusions.
Elder Lynx had unknowingly stepped into a battle of minds he could never hope to win.
Deep within Ryosuke's consciousness, the "Ultra Yin Fountain" lay sealed.
This mystical force, the very embodiment of yin chakra, granted him unparalleled spiritual strength. As the source of all genjutsu, its mere presence rendered 99.9% of illusions in the ninja world useless against him.
Ryosuke had not simply resisted Elder Lynx's illusion—he had analyzed it.
Using his understanding of the Uchiha clan's Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change, he had reflected the technique back upon its caster.
While Elder Lynx remained trapped within his own illusion, Ryosuke's figure blurred—he had already moved.
A chilling premonition shot through Elder Lynx's mind. He desperately tried to react, but his sluggish body refused to obey.
A shadow loomed before him.
Before he could recover, Ryosuke's right foot struck him with terrifying force.
"BOOM!"
The impact sent Elder Lynx flying, his body crashing into the outer wall of the Colosseum with a resounding thud.
The sheer force of the kick had embedded him into the stone like a crushed leaf pressed into a book.
He had been completely flattened into what could only be described as a "cat pancake."
The entire arena fell silent.
The gathered ninja cats—many of whom had expected a long, drawn-out battle—were left dumbfounded.
To them, it looked as if Elder Lynx had simply stood there like a fool, done nothing, and then been launched across the battlefield with a single strike.
Now, he was stuck in the wall, motionless.
"Did… did he just get one-shotted?"
Gasps filled the Colosseum. Every ninja—human or feline—gaped in disbelief.
Even the elite shinobi of Kirigakure, who were watching from afar, were left speechless.
Ryosuke's sheer combat efficiency was simply too overwhelming.
Among the Jōnin, silence reigned.
They were not mere bystanders; they possessed keen insight and extensive combat experience. From Elder Lynx's movements, it was clear—he had been caught in a genjutsu, countered instantly, and then decisively struck down.
One by one, the Mist Shinobi Jōnin could only mutter a single word:
"Monster."
The fundamental aspects of a shinobi were ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu.
Very few mastered all three to perfection.
But Mizuki Ryosuke…
His devastating Ice Release, his ability to single-handedly tame monstrous creatures, and his genjutsu mastery beyond comprehension—
From any angle, he had no weakness.
"He's too strong…"
A Jōnin whispered, his voice laced with disbelief.
Looking at the other two Mizukage candidates, it was clear—neither of them could compete with Ryosuke in raw strength.
The battlefield remained silent.
But Ryosuke didn't lower his guard.
The moment his kick connected, he had felt something off.
His instincts screamed at him.
Then—
With no hesitation, Ryosuke dodged to the right.
A hairline crack split the ground where he had just been standing.
He didn't stop moving. His figure flickered across the arena, weaving through the battlefield with impeccable speed.
Strangely, there was no visible enemy.
To the spectators, it looked as if Ryosuke was performing an elaborate solo dance, moving erratically without an opponent in sight.
But the truth was far more sinister.
The sound of slicing air echoed.
Deep grooves began appearing on the Colosseum floor, invisible claws tearing through stone and sand alike.
Then—
The dust settled.
Everyone's eyes widened.
The Elder Lynx that had been embedded in the wall had vanished.
Realization dawned upon the ninja cats and the watching shinobi alike.
Ryosuke was not fighting the air—he was battling an enemy no one could see.
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