The ever-changing mist covering the area had not gone unnoticed by the upper echelons of the Cat Clan.
A towering feline, its physique akin to that of a fully grown ox, thundered toward the cave. To increase its speed, this ninja cat executed a secret Yang Release technique, the same ability previously demonstrated by the large orange-furred ninja cat, Nyutaro.
At the nexus of its shoulder blades and the femur of its hind legs, additional limbs sprouted forth—two extra pairs in total. As all eight of its claws made contact with the ground simultaneously, the beast propelled itself forward with such velocity that its figure became a blur, soaring toward its destination.
Within moments, the Demonic Muscle Cat burst into the cave, its immense form maneuvering with shocking agility.
Inside the control room, chaos reigned among the gathered ninja cats.
"The haze concentration in the forest is still rising! It's now spreading toward the foothills!"
A frantic ninja cat manipulated the control panel's joystick, its paws trembling.
"This isn't good! Not good at all!
"The fog in the forest is about to surpass Third Level (Deep Fog)!
"And the haze concentration continues to climb! It has already exceeded Fourth Level (Haze)!
"It will soon reach Fifth Level (Mist Nightmare)!"
Another ninja cat, its voice laced with unease, cried out in sheer bewilderment.
The young generation of ninja cats that had been left in charge of the cave were utterly helpless against the escalating crisis. To make matters worse, their so-called leader—the large orange cat—was currently trapped in the depths of the foggy region.
At that moment, the enormous Demonic Muscle Cat stormed into the control room.
"What is going on?!"
A surge of sheer dominance erupted from its muscular frame, quelling the widespread panic in an instant.
"B-Boss Cat?!!"
The gathered ninja cats shuddered, their fur bristling in fear. To them, the Demonic Muscle Cat was less a leader and more an unstoppable force of nature.
"Where is Nyutaro?!"
The towering feline's voice boomed like a thunderclap, causing the smaller ninja cats to shrink back.
"H-He's in the foggy district…"
A ninja cat, its throat dry with fear, answered with a tremor, its eyes darting toward the Boss Cat's bulging muscles.
"Damn it!"
The Boss Cat's fury was palpable. It turned, fully prepared to charge headfirst into the mist-laden region to retrieve Nyutaro.
Yet before it could take a single step, the situation shifted drastically.
The once-dense fog, which had been rapidly nearing the dreaded Fifth Level (Mist Nightmare), inexplicably began to dissipate.
The readings on the control panel's monitor dropped at an alarming rate—until, finally, the numbers settled at zero.
"…Huh?"
The Boss Cat stood frozen, its massive form rigid with disbelief.
The monitors displayed undeniable proof: the previously suffocating fog that had blanketed the forest had now almost entirely dispersed.
The sensors were functioning properly—this was no malfunction.
"…What in the world is happening?"
Even the Boss Cat, despite its formidable presence, could not suppress its natural feline curiosity.
Meanwhile, Mizuki Ryosuke, having successfully rescued Takeda Yoichi, now turned his sharp gaze toward the large orange ninja cat cowering beside him.
Fully aware of Ryosuke's terrifying strength, the once-proud Nyutaro trembled, his fur standing on end as he forced an awkward smile—his eyes gleaming with sheer flattery.
A glint flashed through Ryosuke's eyes.
This ninja feline clan… They were the summoning beasts of the legendary First Mizukage, Byakuren.
Furthermore, they possessed an enigmatic link to the Sage of the Six Paths himself and were rumored to be masters of Yin-Yang Release techniques.
Thus far, this was the only concrete information Ryosuke had managed to uncover about the mysterious clan.
Yet, there was still so much more to investigate.
How did these ninja cats factor into the Mizukage Examination?
What kind of tests had they devised?
What role did they play in the broader political landscape of Kirigakure?
These were vital questions Ryosuke needed answers to.
Based on his estimations, while he had been occupied within the cave, the remaining two teams likely bypassed the canyon and ascended the mountain where the Cat Clan resided.
There was no denying that, in terms of sheer progress in the Mizukage Exam, Ryosuke lagged behind.
However, in the realm of intelligence gathering, he held a decisive advantage.
And standing before him now was an invaluable source of intelligence—one that Ryosuke had no intention of wasting.
A plan formed in his mind.
His expression turned cold. His gaze sharpened with unspoken menace.
"If you have something to say, speak now… because you may not get another chance."
Faced with this chilling threat, Nyutaro's fur bristled like needles. His survival instincts kicked into overdrive, and in a rapid, flustered manner, he spilled every shred of information he knew—like beans tumbling from an overturned jar.
Satisfied with the orange cat's willingness to cooperate, Ryosuke nodded slightly.
Through this exchange, Ryosuke pieced together a foundational understanding of the Cat Clan's structure.
Their average lifespan mirrored that of humans.
Nyutaro, by their standards, was merely a youngster with an unremarkable status among his kin.
The political hierarchy within the ninja cat society was relatively straightforward.
Beyond the commoner cats like Nyutaro, the next tier of authority rested with the Elders of the clan.
Above them all sat their supreme leader—the King of Cats, known by the moniker Elvis Presley.
As for the Mizukage Examination, Nyutaro's knowledge was limited. He had only overheard an Elder mention that "a group of humans would soon arrive in the Cat Clan's domain" and that he should refrain from causing trouble.
Yet, unable to suppress his boundless curiosity, Nyutaro had blatantly disobeyed those orders.
Instead, he had rallied a gang of fellow ninja cats and descended the mountain, seeking amusement by playing pranks on the unsuspecting human participants.
The result?
A humiliating disaster.
Not only had their mischief utterly failed, but Nyutaro himself had nearly perished in the process.
Having listened to Nyutaro's entire account, Mizuki Ryosuke had a firm grasp of the situation.
It was now evident that the true Mizukage Exam would not formally commence until he reached the Cat Clan's mountain stronghold.
As Ryosuke pondered how to extract even more value from the orange cat before him, an ominous shadow loomed from the distance.
Nyutaro, who had already shrunk into a pitiful ball of fur beside him, now trembled uncontrollably.
His fear at this moment far surpassed what he had exhibited under Ryosuke's previous intimidation.
Ryosuke's brows furrowed.
Did the ninja cats of this region have a natural enemy?
The figure moved like a hurricane, closing the distance in an instant.
As it came fully into view, Ryosuke instinctively took a step away from the orange cat, allowing it to face the visitor directly.
A massive, humanoid feline—its rippling muscles giving it an almost unnatural appearance—stood before them. Its feline features were in stark contrast with the absurd strength packed into its burly frame.
This was no ordinary ninja cat.
This was one of the supreme leaders of the Cat Clan—Boss Cat.
"…D-Dad…?"
Nyutaro's voice was barely above a whisper. His body curled even tighter, his orange fur compressing into a quivering ball.
Ryosuke was momentarily taken aback.
The Demonic Muscle Cat… was Nyutaro's father?
His eyes flicked between the two felines.
Nyutaro was a classic orange tabby.
The Boss Cat was a black-striped civet.
Something about this genealogy didn't add up.
Even in the world of cats… it seemed that some things never changed.
However, there was no time to ponder this anomaly.
With lightning-fast reflexes, the Boss Cat snatched up the trembling orange ball of fur in a single, monstrous paw.
And then—
WHOOSH!
BOOM!
Nyutaro's curled-up form was launched like a cannonball, smashing directly into the rocky walls of the cave with an earth-shaking impact.
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