In the Stands
"What's going on?"
A Kirigakure shinobi frowned, eyes filled with confusion as he watched Mizuki Ryosuke and Cat Nosuke standing motionless in the arena.
Beside him, a ninja cat with keen eyesight observed the battle intently before giving a grave response.
"…This human is terrifying. Cat Nosuke doesn't stand a chance."
Nin Mao muttered to himself, his golden feline eyes reflecting both awe and solemnity.
On the battlefield, no matter how much Cat Nosuke struggled, his body refused to obey him. Even the smallest movement—a twitch of his claws, a shift in his stance, or even a blink—was impossible.
He willed himself to move, pouring every ounce of his formidable strength into breaking free, but his muscles trembled uselessly. It was as if an invisible force had locked him in place, restricting his every movement.
But this wasn't some external restraint.
Cat Nosuke was imprisoned by his own subconscious mind.
Unbeknownst to him, his shadow had already merged with Ryosuke's.
The moment he expanded his body to five meters in height, he had unknowingly made himself vulnerable. His enlarged form cast a massive shadow—one that Ryosuke had effortlessly ensnared.
At this moment, Ryosuke's shadow transformed into jet-black chains, coiling around Cat Nosuke's own shadow and binding his joints completely.
Yin Release: Shadow Imitation Bind Technique!
This was the signature jutsu of the Nara Clan, one of the three families of Konoha's Ino-Shika-Chō formation.
The Nara Clan's shadow techniques were not merely physical restraints—they influenced the target's very spirit.
In the original work, Nara Shikamaru mastered his clan's techniques to such a degree that he could use shadows to crush his opponent's will or even outright kill them by restricting their chakra flow.
Both the monstrous strength Ryosuke had displayed earlier and his mastery over shadow manipulation were applications of Yin-Yang Release—a power derived from the legacy of the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
Though the Sage's inheritance was vast, encompassing all aspects of Yin and Yang Release, Ryosuke had only received the most basic level of mastery.
Not because Hagoromo was withholding knowledge, but because Ryosuke had encountered this fragment of Six Paths' will before he had fully refined Yin-Yang techniques.
Thus, the foundation had been set, but it was up to Ryosuke to explore the depths of this power himself.
For instance, while he had successfully applied the fundamental Shadow Bind, he had yet to develop the more advanced techniques of the Nara Clan, such as Shadow Sewing or Shadow Neck Bind.
If compared to a Nara shinobi who had spent generations perfecting these techniques, Ryosuke was naturally still inferior in execution.
However, at this moment, against the so-called "War God" before him, the basics were more than enough.
Mizuki Ryosuke stood motionless, a faint smile playing at his lips.
Though he, too, was restrained by the Shadow Binding Technique, this was all part of his plan.
He had already anticipated this outcome.
From the ground behind Cat Nosuke, another figure emerged.
It was Mizuki Ryosuke!
The one locked in a standstill with Cat Nosuke was merely an Ice Clone.
His true body had slipped underground with Earth Release before the fight even began.
In his hand, Ryosuke formed a kunai entirely crafted from ice, and in a swift, deliberate motion, he placed it gently against Cat Nosuke's lower rib—directly at his waist.
Of course, this wasn't Ryosuke's preferred target, but given that Cat Nosuke's massive frame was five meters tall, reaching a more vital spot was impractical.
Even so, this position was more than enough to deliver a decisive finishing blow.
A bead of sweat rolled down Cat Nosuke's forehead as a sudden cold wind blew past his waist.
Terror gripped him.
This man… This human…
He's a devil!
Cat Nosuke wanted to cry out, but his fractured jaw prevented him from making a sound. Instead, his eyes were wide with pure fear, and a silent plea emerged within them.
The outcome was clear.
Cat Nosuke had suffered a complete and utter defeat.
"The first match is over. Winner—Mizuki Ryosuke."
The Ninja Cat Boss, who had been observing the battle, declared the result in his deep, rumbling voice.
As soon as his words resounded through the venue, Ryosuke released his techniques.
With a dull thud, Cat Nosuke collapsed onto the ground, his burly frame shrinking back to its original size.
"…I lost."
"…And I lost badly."
Cat Nosuke lay there in disbelief.
In just two short exchanges, he had been utterly dominated.
This realization shook him.
He had always been considered a genius among the Ninja Cats, his path smooth and unchallenged.
Yet here, in front of this human, he had been made a fool of.
As he sat there in stunned silence, a hand suddenly extended toward him.
Cat Nosuke looked up.
Mizuki Ryosuke was smiling kindly.
But for some reason, that very smile sent a shiver down his spine.
He hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to flee.
But there was nowhere to run.
With a gulp, Cat Nosuke trembled, lifting his paw and placing it cautiously in Ryosuke's hand.
With a firm pull, Ryosuke helped him to his feet.
The crowd erupted.
The stands shook as male ninja cats roared with excitement.
Ryosuke had not only won the battle but had also earned the respect of the Ninja Cats—a species that valued strength above all else.
Moreover, he had defeated Cat Nosuke using techniques that Ninja Cats themselves specialized in—Yin-Yang Release.
It was a humbling moment for them, proving that even their own arts were not beyond the reach of humans.
Meanwhile, the other fights were still raging on.
Though the ninjas held the advantage in conventional combat, the Ninja Cats' peculiar mastery of Yin-Yang Release had made the battles far more difficult than expected.
Many matches were still undecided.
But Ryosuke paid no further attention to the ongoing fights.
He stepped down from the ring and returned to his team.
The real challenge was about to begin.
His golden eyes flickered with a sharp glint.
At this moment, Ryosuke's dominance had not only won over the Ninja Cats but had also earned the silent approval of the many Kirigakure Jōnin observing the matches.
They nodded in admiration.
No excessive techniques. No prolonged engagements.
Only brutal efficiency, unmatched power, and unpredictable strategy.
From pure combat ability alone, Mizuki Ryosuke was impeccable.
Many Jōnin, upon seeing Cat Nosuke's monstrous form, had known instinctively that they wouldn't have been able to handle him.
Yet, even as they acknowledged Ryosuke's overwhelming strength, their expressions soon grew serious.
Because they knew what was coming next.
The upcoming battles would not be so easy.
The next opponents would be far stronger.
And this time, Ryosuke wouldn't just be fighting alone.
Their gazes hardened.
Would Ryosuke be able to carry his team through this storm?
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