Chapter 264: The

Just as Ringo Ameyuri's expression shifted from shock to mild anger, and she prepared to explain herself.

A flash of resolve crossed Terumi Mei's eyes, and she gave Ringo Ameyuri's shoulder two heavy pats.

"Listen to me, it's not—cough, cough, cough."

Following Terumi Mei's forceful pats, Ringo Ameyuri suddenly began to cough, her small face turning beet red.

"Ah? It's not? What's not?"

"Are you saying it's all my fault, and I should have packed the books properly?"

"Yes, yes, yes! It's all my fault for not packing the books well. Forgive me, Yuri-chan!"

Terumi Mei put on a fawning smile and shouted deliberately, while pretending to help Ringo Ameyuri "clear her throat."

In reality, the reason Ringo Ameyuri couldn't stop coughing was, of course, Terumi Mei's "masterpiece."

Ringo Ameyuri made a move to struggle, but Terumi Mei grabbed her body, locking her firmly in place to prevent any resistance.

"You... cough, cough..."

Ringo Ameyuri was about to say something, but under Terumi Mei's "assistance," her coughing only grew more violent.

You "Old Six"! I am truly finished with you!!!

Ringo Ameyuri even had tears of frustration at the corners of her eyes.

How does this woman have so much strength!

She looked at Terumi Mei, who was currently holding her tight, with a gaze of astonishment and shock, as if looking at an alien.

"To get through this, I'll give it my all!"

Terumi Mei shouted in her heart while maintaining a smiling face, her arm hidden under her sleeve already white from the exertion.

She had used every ounce of her strength; after all, everyone has moments where their potential explodes.

Seeing this, everyone's expressions became increasingly strange.

Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's gaze shifted from Terumi Mei to Mizunuki Ryosuke, then back to Ringo Ameyuri, cycling between the three with an extremely odd look.

As for Hozuki Mangetsu, he merely looked at Mizunuki Ryosuke beside him with a teasing gaze, his eyes full of the look of someone watching a good show.

As the person involved, Mizunuki Ryosuke's expression seemed unchanged, yet he suddenly turned around to face the violently coughing Ringo Ameyuri and the Terumi Mei who was still "clearing her throat."

"Little Yuri, is this your book?"

"I didn't see the title clearly just now; could you let me take another look?"

Mizunuki Ryosuke feigned great interest and reached out toward the book in Ringo Ameyuri's hand.

"No!"

Terumi Mei was alarmed and immediately moved to stop him.

But with Mizunuki Ryosuke's strength, how could Terumi Mei possibly stop him?

Taking advantage of the fact that neither had reacted, Mizunuki Ryosuke snatched the book from Ringo Ameyuri's hand with a speed invisible to the naked eye.

In an instant, both Ringo Ameyuri and Terumi Mei revealed expressions of shyness bordering on collapse.

"Oh my, a mosquito."

But who would have thought, Mizunuki Ryosuke said with sudden surprise, and then subconsciously used the hand holding the book to release a Fire Style technique at the "mosquito" in the air.

"Roar!"

With the flash of fire from Mizunuki Ryosuke's hand, the sinful book was reduced to ashes, leaving only a pile of paper dust on the ground.

"I am truly sorry, it seems I accidentally burned Little Yuri's book."

"Please rest assured, I will definitely compensate you."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said with a hint of apology.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

At this, Ringo Ameyuri immediately wanted to shout out loud: "This book isn't mine, it belongs to this 'Old Six' beside me!"

But under Terumi Mei's increasingly vigorous "throat-clearing," she couldn't cough out a single word.

"It's okay, it's okay!!"

Seeing this, Terumi Mei was naturally overjoyed, waving her hands repeatedly at the "sin" that had been burned to ashes.

At this moment, Hoshigaki Kisame and Kaguya Yuta happened to walk over, looking at the scene with some curiosity, and Kaguya Yuta prepared to ask.

"Hmm?"

To this, Mizunuki Ryosuke merely let out a casual nasal sound, then tilted his eyes slightly. Kaguya Yuta's burly body trembled, and he wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.

Not only that, Mizunuki Ryosuke smiled and looked at Mizunuki Mitsuhiko on the other side with a gentle expression.

"Forget everything that just happened, okay, Mitsuhiko?"

Hearing Mizunuki Ryosuke's gentle tone, Mitsuhiko felt a chill in his heart and nodded his head like a bobblehead.

Seeing this, Mizunuki Ryosuke nodded with satisfaction.

But when he noticed Hozuki Mangetsu beside him, a hint of helplessness flashed in Ryosuke's eyes.

At this moment, Hozuki Mangetsu's gaze toward Mizunuki Ryosuke was full of mockery, looking like someone who had seen through it but wouldn't say it.

To this, Ryosuke shook his head helplessly and let Hozuki Mangetsu be.

He knew that with Hozuki Mangetsu's personality, he wouldn't go around spreading rumors.

"Right, Yuri-chan isn't feeling well, I'm taking her to see a doctor!"

Terumi Mei said hurriedly, then pulled the still-coughing Ringo Ameyuri and ran toward the Ninja Cat Hospital, leaving behind only a hurried silhouette.

Seeing this, Mizunuki Ryosuke could only shake his head helplessly.

Before Ryosuke could calm down to continue observing the battle in the mist, a slightly nervous and hesitant voice sounded in his ear.

"Lord Mizukage, may I have a word with you?"

Ryosuke turned to look and saw a fair-skinned, curvaceous blonde girl asking him with unease, while a middle-aged ninja with a square face followed beside her.

The two were the Cloud ninjas Samui and Troy.

The reason Bee was fighting to the death here was for a chance to see the Fourth Mizukage.

And now that the Fourth Mizukage had appeared on his own, Samui naturally wouldn't give up such an opportunity, so she chose to step forward and initiate a conversation.

"Oh, so it's Miss Samui of the Cloud."

"We can talk, but I am only a clone, so the content of our conversation can only be limited to things like going out for dinner or a date tonight."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said with a smile, also indicating that the person who arrived here was merely an Ice Clone.

Hearing Ryosuke's words, two red clouds appeared on Samui's fair cheeks. Looking at Mizunuki Ryosuke's face, her heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.

"Samui! Pull yourself together!"

Samui encouraged herself internally, trying to resist the opponent's "handsome man scheme."

After she forcibly calmed her emotions, learning that the Mizunuki Ryosuke before her was only a clone, Samui felt some disappointment.

"Lord Mizukage, our request is very simple; we just hope you can spare some time to meet with us."

"To hear the appeals of the Cloud."

Even if it was just a clone, Samui chose to seize the opportunity; surely a clone could make the decision to agree to a meeting.

"Very well."

Hearing this, Mizunuki Ryosuke just nodded faintly.

Having expected the Fourth Mizukage to find excuses to decline, Samui was surprised that he had agreed so readily.

"After all, this is Miss Samui's request; I have no reason to refuse."

Seeming to see Samui's surprise, Mizunuki Ryosuke explained with a smile.

Seeing this, Samui's face flushed, and her demeanor became somewhat uneasy, her soft, fair hands having nowhere to rest.

"Th-thank you, Lord Mizukage!"

After a hurried expression of gratitude, Samui turned and left as if fleeing.

Watching Samui's back, a hint of depth flashed in Mizunuki Ryosuke's eyes.