CHAPTER 124

In the ninja world, sheer strength alone does not determine the outcome of battle.

Faith, Will, Consciousness, Wisdom.

These elements can shift the tides of conflict just as much as raw power. Even someone as formidable as Sasori of the Red Sand, despite his mechanical heartlessness, ultimately fell to the teamwork and resolve of Haruno Sakura and Chiyo.

Awareness—sometimes, it changes everything.

Now, in the face of the menacing Ninja Cats, Terumi Mei did not flinch. Instead, she executed the Shadow Clone Jutsu in a blur, creating an identical copy of herself. Without hesitation, the original and the clone stood back to back, hands moving in synchronized precision to form a sequence of seals.

From the sidelines, Mizuki Mitsuhiko frowned.

'Of course, she has a hidden trump card,' he mused. 'But can she buy enough time to execute it?'

However, Terumi Mei's next move immediately shattered his assumptions.

She opted for a Water Release technique instead of an advanced jutsu.

"Water Release: Water Wave!"

A surge of water erupted from her position, cascading forward toward the King Kong Cat.

But this was merely a C-rank Water Release technique—a foundational jutsu at best. Its power was too limited to pose any real threat.

Unlike the large orange cat that had nearly drowned in the mist-covered battlefield earlier, this King Kong Cat displayed remarkable agility, moving with a light-footed grace. With ease, it performed the Dragonfly on the Water technique, bounding effortlessly across the surface.

In a flash, it pounced. Sharp claws extended, forming an 'X' midair, aiming directly for Terumi Mei's throat.

Rather than retreat, she reached for her weapon pouch, drawing a kunai in a desperate attempt to defend herself.

CLANG!

Predictably, the kunai only lasted a second before shattering against the beast's razor-like claws.

With that same momentum, the King Kong Cat's attack continued downward, poised to cleave through her shoulder—perhaps even sever her entire arm.

Yet Mei did not dodge.

Her emerald eyes remained resolute, unwavering.

From below, Mizuki Ryosuke smirked slightly, then closed his eyes.

He had already foreseen the outcome. Terumi Mei had already won.

As the cat's claws made contact with her skin, an unexpected sensation jolted through its body.

It did not feel like flesh.

It felt like… diamond.

Terumi Mei herself was startled. She had prepared to lose an arm, but when she glanced down, her shoulder was perfectly intact.

Then, she noticed it—the faint shimmer of ice armor covering her upper body.

Unbeknownst to her, the ice pendant that always hung from her neck had activated. The thin layer of frost had saved her from injury.

Mizuki Ryosuke… was behind this.

But there was no time for reflection—her plan had worked.

With a powerful counter-kick, she knocked the beast's claws aside, then swiftly retreated alongside her Shadow Clone.

The King Kong Cat snarled and attempted to pursue, but something was wrong.

It couldn't move.

When it glanced down, the realization struck like a lightning bolt.

Its paws were submerged—not in ordinary water, but a quagmire.

At first glance, it seemed like a simple puddle had formed beneath its feet. But in reality, the entire arena floor had been transformed into thick, viscous mud.

The King Kong Cat's pupils shrank.

'So that's her plan…!'

Facing an opponent who had overwhelming advantages in speed and attack power, Terumi Mei had only one viable path to victory:

Immobilize the enemy long enough to execute high-level jutsu.

And to accomplish that, she needed time.

The Water Wave Jutsu had never been an offensive maneuver. Instead, it had been a diversion.

While the cat had been focused on her, the Shadow Clone behind her had been discreetly performing Earth Release: Mire Technique.

With the combination of Earth Release and Water Release, the battlefield had been reshaped into a deathtrap.

The brilliance of the strategy lay in its execution—using herself as bait. If the enemy had realized what was happening, they could have avoided the trap entirely.

But now, it was too late.

Everyone knew that once a body sank into a mire, struggling would only accelerate the process.

The King Kong Cat panicked, thrashing wildly, but with every movement, it only sank deeper.

Even at this stage, Terumi Mei had anticipated a surrender.

But the cat refused to admit defeat.

Her eyes turned cold.

"Then I can't blame me."

With that, she and her clone raised their hands for the finishing blow.

"Fire Release: Great Eruption!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Two jutsu—fire and wind—launched simultaneously.

Fueled by the gusting wind, the flames exploded forward like a tidal wave, engulfing the battlefield in a sea of fire.

The searing heat forced the surrounding Ninja Cats to scramble backward, their fur standing on end as they shielded their eyes.

In the heart of the inferno, the King Kong Cat let out a final, defeated sigh.

"…It's over."

But then—

A colossal figure leaped into the flames.

The Cat Boss.

BOOM!

A massive shockwave erupted as the firestorm was split apart.

When the smoke cleared, the battlefield was silent.

The Cat Boss stood firm, his broad back completely charred black—the result of shielding the King Kong Cat with his own body.

Yet, despite enduring Terumi Mei's combined Fire Release and Wind Release jutsu, he remained unshaken.

A faint metallic glint shimmered beneath his scorched fur.

His eyes remained calm.

"This battle… goes to the humans."

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