Chapter 123: Then don

In the ninja world, the strength of one’s power cannot directly determine the outcome of a battle.

Belief, will, awareness, wisdom...

These things all influence the final result of the battle.

As strong as Sasori of the Red Sand, in the absence of awareness, he still couldn't defeat the combined efforts of Sakura and Granny Chiyo.

Awareness, sometimes, can really change many things.

Facing the aggressive ninja cat, Terumi Mei didn't have the slightest intention of dodging this time; she first used the Shadow Clone Jutsu at an extremely fast speed.

Then, she and the shadow clone stood back-to-back, and then began to weave hand signs to cast ninjutsu.

Seeing this scene, Mizunuki Hikohiko under the arena frowned.

He naturally knew that Terumi Mei had a hidden combined ninjutsu that could be used.

Could it be that Terumi Mei’s purpose in using the clone was for this?

But the opponent wouldn't give her the "643" time to cast a high-level ninjutsu.

Soon, Terumi Mei’s behavior broke Mizunuki Hikohiko’s conjecture.

This time, she used the Water Release she was most proficient in.

Water Release: Water Wave Jutsu!

A large amount of water waves surged toward the ninja cat on the opposite side under Terumi Mei’s control.

Similarly, Terumi Mei couldn't cast high-level Fire Release in a short time, and naturally, she couldn't cast high-level Water Release either.

This Water Wave Jutsu was just a C-rank Water Release, and could even be considered the basics among the basics of Water Release ninjutsu; its power was truly limited.

The slow-moving water flow couldn't threaten this "Adamantium Cat," which was already murderous, in the slightest.

Unlike the big orange cat that almost drowned in the Mist space, this Adamantium Cat’s footsteps were extremely light; it even performed a "dragonfly skimming the water" right in front of Terumi Mei.

It suddenly stepped on the water surface, leaped high, and then crossed its ten sharp claws to kill toward Terumi Mei.

Seeing this, Terumi Mei took out bladed tools from her tool pouch again, seemingly forced into a desperate situation, and could only be forced into close combat with this ninja cat.

She raised her hand to block with the bladed tools.

"Clang!"

As expected, the kunai in Terumi Mei’s hand only blocked for a moment before being cut off by the opponent’s sharp claws.

Following this angle, and the sharpness of the opponent’s claws, I am afraid that after cutting straight down, one of Terumi Mei’s arms would be cut off directly.

Seeing this, Terumi Mei still didn't intend to dodge, her eyes only filled with a resolute expression.

Under the arena, Mizunuki Ryosuke smiled slightly, seemingly having understood something, and slowly closed his eyes, no longer looking.

Because he knew that Terumi Mei had already won this battle.

As the sharp claws came into contact with Terumi Mei’s body again, the sensation transmitted made the Adamantium Cat very surprised.

Because the feeling fed back by the claws didn't feel like cutting into flesh at all; instead, it felt like cutting into a diamond.

At the same time, Terumi Mei was also somewhat dazed; she had already prepared to lose an arm, but she didn't expect that after the opponent’s sharp claws attacked her body, she remained unscathed.

Even Terumi Mei herself didn't know that the ice pendant she had been wearing around her neck had already turned into a thin layer of ice armor attached to her shoulder at this moment.

It was clearly Ryosuke under the arena...

But now was not the time to be surprised; the opponent had already fallen into the trap Terumi Mei had carefully prepared.

She saw her backhand kick away the opponent’s sharp claws, and then she and the shadow clone quickly retreated backward.

The "Adamantium Cat" wanted to pursue, but found a sticky pulling force coming from under its feet, making it unable to pull its legs out no matter what.

It lowered its head and looked closely.

Except for a layer of water flow, the originally flat arena floor had long since turned into a mud swamp.

In this instant, the Adamantium Cat suddenly understood everything.

Facing an opponent with absolute advantages in attack and agility, Terumi Mei wanted to defeat the opponent, and could only release higher-level ninjutsu to win.

To release high-level ninjutsu, she had to fight for enough time to weave hand signs.

And thinking and thinking, Terumi Mei could only think of one way.

That was to limit the opponent’s movement speed.

To achieve this, and lure the opponent into the trap, Terumi Mei could only use herself as bait.

Thus, she created a shadow clone, using herself to block the opponent’s line of sight, and let the shadow clone stand behind her to release Earth Release: Mud Swamp Jutsu.

And she herself, under the opponent’s vision, released Water Release: Water Wave Jutsu, using a large amount of water flow to cover the changes that appeared on the arena floor.

On the surface, Terumi Mei’s Water Release was used for attack, but because of the characteristics of Water Release, a large amount of water flooded the entire arena, temporarily obscuring the original appearance of the arena.

This also caused the entire arena to be filled with water flow, but in reality, under the water flow, it had already turned into a mud pit under the shadow clone’s Mud Swamp Jutsu.

The most dangerous part of this strategy was that Terumi Mei used herself as bait; once she was engaged in close combat by the opponent, she would inevitably be severely injured.

And now, the opponent had completely taken the bait, and Terumi Mei didn't need to hide anything anymore...

As everyone knows, once the body falls into a mud pit, one must not struggle.

The more one struggles, the deeper the body will sink.

This Adamantium Cat clearly forgot this principle at this moment; after struggling a few times to no avail, it could only watch as Terumi Mei began to weave hand signs not far away.

"Meow! Not good!!!"

The Adamantium Cat was shocked and hurriedly increased the intensity of its struggle, but doing so only caused it to sink deeper.

Originally, Terumi Mei had already prepared to stop if the opponent surrendered.

But this Adamantium Cat’s heart seemed to still harbor a bit of wishful thinking, and it had no intention of surrendering at all.

"Then don’t blame me!"

A hint of coldness flashed in Terumi Mei’s eyes; having been suppressed and beaten for the whole battle, she was also somewhat repressed at this moment, and it was just right to use the following ninjutsu to vent her emotions!

Fire Release: Great Fireball!

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Terumi Mei’s clone and main body released Wind and Fire ninjutsu of the same level almost simultaneously.

With the wind aiding the fire’s momentum, the scorching flames, carrying the waves swept up by the gale, submerged toward the Adamantium Cat.

The manic flames even caused many ninja cats on the sidelines to dodge toward the rear.

The high-level composite ninjutsu caused the ninja cats watching under the arena to gasp repeatedly; while gasping, they also covered their eyes with their paws, not daring to look.

"It’s over!"

The Adamantium Cat sighed and gave up struggling.

Before this terrifying wave of flames, it had already given up.

Just at this moment, a hulking figure blocked in front of the Adamantium Cat.

"Elder!"

The Adamantium Cat was shocked.

"Boom!!!"

The next second, the flames arrived with a roar.

As the wave of flames dissipated, a broad back, scorched somewhat charred black, was revealed.

At the critical moment, it was the Cat Elder who appeared rapidly and saved the Adamantium Cat.

The Cat Elder chose to take Terumi Mei’s composite Fire Release head-on with its own back; the result was that the fur on its back was burned completely charred black.

Apart from this, the Cat Elder and the ninja cat it protected in its arms were completely fine.

Instead, the Cat Elder’s back, scorched by the flames, revealed a slight metallic luster.

"This battle, human wins."

Subsequently, the Cat Elder said in a steady voice, without any change in tone due to having taken the Fire Release head-on just now.