Not long after, the group had gathered around a small bonfire near the lake, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the ground. Terumi Mei and Mizuki Mitsuhiko sat pale-faced, their exhaustion evident after expending a large amount of chakra in their heated clash. The two exchanged glances before their eyes naturally drifted to the young man sitting opposite them. Mizuki Ryosuke's composed expression betrayed nothing of his thoughts, yet his calm presence carried an unmistakable authority.
On the other side, Takeda Yoichi nervously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He had always been aware of the stark difference between his skills and those of bloodline limit users, but witnessing the raw power displayed in the battle just now—Terumi Mei's seamless Wind-Fire combination and Mitsuhiko's precise Ice Release techniques—left him feeling truly insignificant.
Even more unnerving was the absurd level of control Mizuki Ryosuke had demonstrated. The sheer volume of water he had summoned with Suiton: Suijinheki (Water Style: Water Formation Wall) to neutralize both the flames and the jagged ice lances was unnatural. It was the kind of power Takeda Yoichi had only heard about in stories—like the legendary Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu) used by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, or the terrifying water techniques of the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki. The more he thought about it, the more he feared the repercussions if Terumi Mei or Mitsuhiko ever discovered his earlier scheming.
He swallowed hard and instinctively looked toward Mizuki Ryosuke, seeking reassurance.
Ryosuke caught Yoichi's glance and, understanding his thoughts immediately, gave a subtle nod. It was enough to ease Yoichi's growing panic. Indeed, his maneuver had played out well—he had discreetly provoked the natural competitiveness of two powerful individuals, leading them to reveal their strengths and weaknesses without them even realizing it. Meanwhile, Ryosuke had observed in silence, gathering intelligence on their capabilities for future strategic planning.
Mizuki Ryosuke was satisfied. Despite his status as the Great Elder's second son, Mizuki Mitsuhiko's strength wasn't something that could be attributed purely to privilege—his mastery of Hyōton (Ice Release) required rigorous training, and his speed at forming hand seals was on par with experienced Chūnin. A good subordinate was far more valuable than a mere spoiled heir.
For Terumi Mei, however, her thoughts were far more complex. As she observed Ryosuke's calm demeanor, she found herself unable to gauge his true strength. His youthful features suggested he wasn't much older than her—certainly no more than eighteen—but his Water Style alone was monstrous in scale. She had heard rumors of the Mizuki clan's proficiency in Hyōton, but to see someone wielding pure Water Style at such a high level? That was another matter entirely.
"Even among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, few could wield Suiton like that…" she thought.
A shadow of unease passed through her mind. If this was only his Water Style, how powerful would his Hyōton techniques be?
Meanwhile, Mizuki Mitsuhiko was still grappling with what had happened. Hyōton was supposed to be a natural counter to Suiton—so how had Ryosuke neutralized his attacks so effortlessly? He had been taught that Water Style users were at a disadvantage against Ice Release, yet Ryosuke's Water Style had completely overwhelmed him.
Could it be that he was not just an ordinary Mizuki?
For a moment, an uncomfortable thought crossed Mitsuhiko's mind.
"But it's still nothing compared to that man…"
He clenched his fists unconsciously, shaking off the feeling.
A Leader's Declaration
Mizuki Ryosuke finally broke the silence.
"My name is Mizuki Ryosuke."
His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority.
"You may not have heard of me, but that's unimportant."
"The only thing that matters is that from this moment forward, I am your captain."
He looked at each of them, his expression unreadable.
"If you have any objections, now is the time to speak."
There was a pause.
"But I doubt any of you are cowardly enough to back out now."
A mild smile appeared on his face, but the subtle threat in his words was impossible to ignore.
Terumi Mei remained silent, her visible eye narrowing slightly as she observed him. Mizuki Mitsuhiko, ever prideful, scoffed but said nothing.
"Hahaha… well then."
Ryosuke's smile widened slightly.
"Since there are no objections, let me be clear—if any of you hesitate on the battlefield, the consequences will be… unpleasant."
His voice was still gentle, but something in it made Takeda Yoichi shudder involuntarily. Memories surfaced—rumors of what happened to Kirigakure ninja who abandoned their missions. The Bloody Mist had its own way of dealing with deserters.
"I have no issues, Captain," Terumi Mei was the first to respond, her tone unwavering.
"I don't either," Mitsuhiko added quickly, glancing at Mei as if unwilling to be outdone.
Takeda Yoichi simply nodded frantically, trying to appear nonchalant.
Mizuki Ryosuke, satisfied, nodded in approval.
"Good. Now, to celebrate our new partnership—tonight, we feast."
He paused, then added with a smirk, "Of course, no alcohol for the underage. But plenty of barbecue."
"Barbecue?"
Terumi Mei's eyes immediately lit up, her stern demeanor momentarily replaced by a hint of excitement. For the first time, she looked like an ordinary teenage girl.
"Hmph." Mitsuhiko simply turned away and crossed his arms, though he didn't refuse.
Takeda Yoichi, however, was already up and moving, eagerly following Ryosuke's lead.
Mizuki Ryosuke smirked.
Takeda Yoichi was someone who knew how to obey orders. If Ryosuke told him to go east, he wouldn't dare go west. If he was ordered to beat a dog, he wouldn't hesitate to chase after a chicken.
"Alright, let's move."
With that, the newly assembled squad set off toward Kirigakure.
Shadows Moving Underground
Meanwhile, in a secluded valley, a thin man with spiky hair cautiously approached an ancient tree, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings. He moved swiftly, pressing his palm against the ground after forming a quick series of hand seals.
A Doton (Earth Style) jutsu activated, and the ground beneath him shifted, swallowing his form into an underground passage.
He emerged in a dimly lit underground chamber—one of Iwagakure's secret gathering points.
Almost immediately, the other shinobi in the room noticed his presence.
"Master Hunter!" one of them exclaimed.
The spiky-haired man ignored him.
"Where is Duff? Tell him to come see me."
At his words, the room fell silent.
The ninja hesitated, his face darkening.
"Duff, he… Duff is…"
A flicker of something dangerous passed through Hunter's eyes.
"Speak." His voice was cold.
The man hesitated for a moment longer before finally gathering the courage to say it.
"Duff is dead."
The room tensed as a suffocating pressure radiated from Hunter's body.
His expression twisted into something monstrous.
"I want you to tell me exactly how he died," he growled, his voice filled with barely restrained fury.
The shinobi nodded stiffly, not daring to defy him