Once doubts arose in his heart, Mizuki Ryosuke carefully observed Mizuki Hidero's battle.
Although Mizuki Hidero was competing with him for the position of Mizukage, he had paid little attention to Ryosuke from the beginning to the end.
But there is an old saying: Despise your opponent strategically, but take them seriously tactically.
Arrogance is always the worst enemy of a ninja.
That being said, Mizuki Hidero's strength was undeniable.
His mastery of the Mizuki Clan's Ice Release (Hyōton) secret techniques was flawless, each jutsu flowing seamlessly from his hands. He wasn't just skilled—his seal speed, ninjutsu timing, and power output had all reached an impressive level.
Under his relentless assault, his opponent, the ninja cat named Lu Xi, was completely overwhelmed, unable to retaliate.
At a glance, it seemed as if they were not even on the same level.
Mizuki Ryosuke's frown deepened.
(If Mizuki Hidero is truly that strong, why were his first three battles only evenly matched?)
To verify his suspicions, Ryosuke turned to a nearby spectator—one of the many ninja cats watching the battle with rapt attention.
"Friend, who do you think will win this match?"
Hearing the unexpected voice, the ninja cat turned in shock—only to see a human standing beside him.
"Ah!!"
The ninja cat recoiled, then immediately recognized him.
"You're the human who defeated Nosuke!"
The shock in his voice attracted the attention of nearby ninja cats.
"Shh."
Ryosuke simply raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence.
Realizing his mistake, the ninja cat tensed.
(That beast, Nosuke, was terrifying… yet this human defeated him in three moves!)
For a moment, fear crept into the ninja cat's heart.
"Uh… well…"
Hesitating, the ninja cat finally answered Ryosuke's question.
"It should be… this human who wins… but… something feels off. Cat Lu Xi should be stronger than this… Why does he look so weak today?"
His words confirmed Ryosuke's suspicions.
Ryosuke continued his inquiry, his tone casual.
"The previous battles—were they exciting?"
"Of course!" The ninja cat's enthusiasm returned instantly. "I have to admit, you humans have some real skill!"
The question seemed to trigger the ninja cat's excitement. He eagerly recounted the previous battles, detailing the tactics and struggles of each team.
Ryosuke listened carefully, nodding at the appropriate moments.
By the end, he had a clear understanding of Mizuki Hidero's team.
The first three battles had all been closely contested, each lasting a significant amount of time before a winner was decided.
Yet now, against Mizuki Hidero, the fight was completely one-sided.
(That doesn't make sense.)
According to Ryosuke's observations, the ninja cats had been carefully matched against the Mist shinobi, with their strengths roughly equal.
If his own team followed a descending strength order from strongest to weakest…
Then Mizuki Hidero's team followed a two-strong, two-weak structure.
Logically, the ninja cats should have been assigned to match that strength pattern as well.
And yet…
Why was this battle a complete domination?
Even if Mizuki Hidero was stronger, his opponent shouldn't be this helpless.
Was it because Mizuki Hidero had some hidden power or plot armor?
Of course not.
There was only one explanation: The ninja cat was holding back.
(But why would he?)
The answer was obvious.
At that moment, Lu Xi was already on the verge of losing.
To confirm his theory, Ryosuke decided to use the same tactic he had employed before.
Releasing a wave of mental shock, he targeted Lu Xi's mind, just as he had tested other opponents in previous fights.
Yet…
Nothing happened.
The ninja cat in the ring didn't even flinch.
(That means his spiritual power is extremely high.)
Ryosuke's eyes narrowed.
(Then why… is he losing so easily?)
At that moment, all the scattered clues in his mind connected into a single, chilling truth.
Mizuki Hidero's team had suffered no real losses so far.
Before the fight, Elder Lynx and Mizuki Hidero had shared a knowing glance.
The four mysterious ninja cats that Mizuki Hidero's team had fought.
A ninja cat who, at the critical moment, was deliberately holding back against Mizuki Hidero.
There was only one conclusion.
Mizuki Hidero had already colluded with Elder Lynx, the high-ranking elder of the ninja cat clan.
And Elder Lynx had secretly manipulated the tournament to ensure Mizuki Hidero's victory.
(So that's how it is.)
Earlier, the Cat Boss had directly allowed Ryosuke's team to skip two levels—proving that the ninja cat elders had the authority to adjust the matches.
That meant Elder Lynx could easily rig the outcomes for Mizuki Hidero.
And there was more.
Before the tournament, Elder Lynx had read the final rules aloud:
To reach the final stage and obtain the Mizukage Secret Scroll, a contestant must defeat one of the two ninja cat elders.
If Ryosuke's deductions were correct…
Mizuki Hidero would choose to challenge Elder Lynx.
And with just a bit of intentional leniency, Elder Lynx would allow Mizuki Hidero to pass.
(How convenient.)
At that moment, Mizuki Ryosuke chuckled softly.
"Good."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
(Playing games with me, are you?)
No one noticed the slight shift in Ryosuke's expression.
The brighter his smile, the colder his heart became.
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