The ninja cat known as Cat Nosuke stood tall in the ring, his muscular feline frame poised in a confident stance. His piercing eyes, filled with scorching determination, locked onto Mizuki Ryosuke standing across from him.
Cat Nosuke was not an ordinary ninja cat. He belonged to the same raccoon cat species as Boss Nyataro, but his distinct appearance set him apart. Unlike most of his kin, he was significantly larger, his fur sleek and well-groomed, with a single slanted bang falling over his forehead, giving him an unmistakably rebellious look.
He had always believed himself to be the strongest of his kind.
But before the battle, Boss Nyataro had spoken to him in private, his usually easygoing expression replaced by rare solemnity.
"Masanosuke, you will be fighting a human next."
"Remember—do not be reckless!"
"If things take a turn for the worse, surrender immediately."
"That human… is strong."
The elder cat's voice carried a weight that left no room for argument.
As one of the most experienced ninja cats, Boss Nyataro had traveled the ninja world in his youth. He had personally witnessed the horrors of human shinobi warfare, and he had observed Mizuki Ryosuke's strength firsthand through the consciousness of Nyutaro, another ninja cat who had previously fought against Ryosuke.
Even though Cat Nosuke was one of the top-ranked fighters among the ninja cats, Boss Nyataro still felt the need to warn him.
Yet, Cat Nosuke's reaction was not what he had hoped for.
The young ninja cat smirked confidently.
"Master, relax."
Seeing his apprentice's unwavering confidence, Boss Nyataro nodded in satisfaction—unaware that deep inside, Cat Nosuke was more arrogant than he had ever imagined.
He had never set foot in the outside world.
He had never suffered true defeat.
To Cat Nosuke, the ninja cat clan was the most powerful race in existence.
Instead of fearing Ryosuke, his master's words only sparked his curiosity.
A human? Stronger than a ninja cat?
Impossible.
A fire burned in his heart.
He would prove it.
He, Cat Nosuke, would be the first genius of the ninja cats to lead their clan to dominance over the ninja world!
"Master, just watch!"
"I will prove in this arena that ninja cats are the strongest overlords of the shinobi world!"
Determination flared in his golden feline eyes as he raised a paw and clenched it into a tight ball of fur.
Meanwhile, Mizuki Ryosuke remained completely unaware of the dramatic declarations playing out in his opponent's mind.
As the two stepped into the ring, an eruption of cheers filled the Colosseum.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!"
"Nosuke-sama!!!"
"LOOK, IT'S CAT NOSUKE!!!"
"My god, he's even cooler than I imagined!!"
The thunderous cries echoed through the crowd, but they weren't for Ryosuke.
Clearly, Cat Nosuke was a well-known figure among the ninja cats.
Ryosuke arched an eyebrow, observing the spectacle.
Before he could process it, Cat Nosuke spoke.
"Human, be careful."
"Because next…"
"You may die."
With a dramatic flair, Cat Nosuke tilted his head, squinting with one eye as he raised a claw and swept his bang aside, exuding an aura of effortless cool.
The entire Colosseum erupted into screams.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"Nosuke-sama!!"
A group of female ninja cats fainted on the spot.
Tomcats across the arena looked on with visible jealousy.
Mizuki Ryosuke was stunned.
He never expected his opponent to be this type of character.
The way Cat Nosuke acted… it reminded him of those old Hong Kong action movie protagonists from the 1970s and 80s, radiating pure chūnibyō (delusional grandeur).
The corner of Ryosuke's eye twitched slightly.
"…What am I even looking at?"
Before he could contemplate further, Cat Nosuke's aura suddenly changed.
"Human, DIE!"
The moment the words left his mouth, his body began to expand.
Muscles swelled.
Fur bristled with raw energy.
In an instant, Cat Nosuke had transformed into a towering "devil muscle cat", standing three meters tall and one and a half meters wide.
After striking a dramatic pose, he bared his razor-sharp claws, and his body vanished in an afterimage, closing the distance between him and Ryosuke at terrifying speed.
Ryosuke's eyes flickered with realization.
That movement technique…
His gaze momentarily shifted to Boss Nyataro, who stood at the edge of the arena, watching intently.
It's the same ability.
Having learned the history of the Country of Cats, it wasn't difficult for Ryosuke to deduce the abilities of the ninja cat clan.
So far, the ninja cats hadn't displayed any elemental affinities.
However, based on their physical traits, it was clear they had a natural aversion to water and fire.
Following that logic, they likely also struggled against Lightning Release techniques, given their thick fur coats.
Instead of elemental ninjutsu, the ninja cats had inherited techniques tied to Yin-Yang Release—a gift passed down from the Sage of Six Paths himself.
From what he had observed, most ninja cats specialized in either Yin or Yang Release, rarely mastering both.
Both Boss Nyataro and Cat Nosuke clearly leaned toward Yang Release.
Yang Release users focused on enhancing their physical prowess—specializing in raw strength and close combat.
Which meant…
Pure power was his opponent's greatest weapon.
Sure enough, Cat Nosuke's claws sliced toward Ryosuke's vitals at breakneck speed.
A hurricane of destruction.
But instead of dodging, Ryosuke raised his arm to block the attack head-on.
From an outside perspective, it looked suicidal—like a fragile ribcage facing a butcher's knife.
Seeing this, a glint of arrogance flashed in Cat Nosuke's eyes.
A foolish human.
He was about to be torn to shreds—
"CREAK!!"
A harsh, metallic screeching sound echoed through the arena.
Cat Nosuke's expression froze in shock.
Instead of tearing through flesh, his claws collided with an impenetrable force, as if he had struck solid diamond.
"What?!"
A glistening layer of ice armor covered Ryosuke's forearm, having materialized at the precise moment of impact.
Before Cat Nosuke could react—
"BOOM!!!"
Ryosuke's fist rocketed into his chin with devastating force.
The air itself rippled, and a sonic boom followed the impact.
A tremendous force catapulted Cat Nosuke into the air, his massive body spinning 360 degrees before slamming into the ground.
The once-mighty ninja cat lay motionless.
The audience fell silent.
Boss Nyataro's eyes narrowed.
"…Yang Release. The Strange Power technique."
Indeed, this was the very same chakra-enhanced strength used by Senju Tsunade, a technique that converted Yang chakra into raw destructive power.
Ryosuke lowered his fist.
"So… ninja cats really do specialize in Yang Release, huh?"
His eyes gleamed.
This battle… would be an interesting test.
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