At this moment, as the sky darkened, the entrance of the cave loomed like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, exuding an eerie, unwelcoming aura.
A cold gust swept past, carrying a ghostly howl from deep within the cavern, a sound that sent an involuntary shiver through Terumi Mei's body. Though she was renowned for her fearlessness, the impenetrable darkness ahead made hesitation flicker in her emerald eyes.
"This should be the place," Mizuki Ryosuke remarked, his sharp gaze scanning the cave's depths. "The enemy has the advantage of terrain. Stay close and don't stray too far."
Both Terumi Mei and Mizuki Mitsuhiko gave silent nods before the trio fashioned torches from nearby materials. With their makeshift lights flickering in the gloom, they ventured into the cavern's ominous depths.
The cave exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression—moist air clung to their skin, and the wind's ghostly whispers echoed off the stone walls. Stalactites and jagged formations lined the tunnel, casting monstrous, warped shadows that danced with every flicker of the torchlight.
As they pressed forward, the passage gradually widened, the narrow tunnel giving way to a cavernous expanse, its breadth comparable to a four-lane highway.
Mizuki Ryosuke instinctively took point, placing himself at the front while Mitsuhiko guarded the rear, ensuring Terumi Mei remained between them.
Suddenly, Mitsuhiko's muscles tensed, his eyes narrowing toward the darkness behind them.
"Who's there?!" he barked.
The abrupt alarm sent a ripple of tension through the group. Mizuki Ryosuke whipped around just in time to see a pale, ghostly figure flicker in the periphery of their torchlight, its shape hazy and indistinct.
"Ahhh!!!"
Terumi Mei's shriek pierced the silence, her hands moving faster than Ryosuke had ever seen before. In an instant, her fingers wove a rapid sequence of seals, surpassing her usual speed—a desperate, subconscious reaction.
Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
Five fireballs erupted from her mouth, illuminating the cavern in a sudden blaze.
Boom!
The fiery explosions sent embers scattering, their light revealing the entire cavern in brief flashes. Mizuki Ryosuke seized the opportunity to scan their surroundings—only to find nothing. The ghostly figure had vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but an unsettling silence.
Terumi Mei stood frozen, her breathing uneven, her hands still poised as if ready to cast another jutsu.
"…What's wrong with you, Mei?" Mizuki Ryosuke asked, concern laced in his tone.
She quickly waved him off, though her rigid expression betrayed her embarrassment. "I-It's nothing, Captain. Sorry for the outburst."
Ryosuke studied her carefully and sighed inwardly.
So that's it… She's afraid of ghosts.
He hadn't expected it—this fierce, confident kunoichi, who faced deadly foes without a flinch, had a weakness. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. They had already ventured too far to turn back.
"Mei, stick close to me," he instructed, his tone firm but understanding. "But be mindful—no more sudden outbursts."
A faint blush crept up Terumi Mei's cheeks. She had sworn to herself that she wouldn't be a burden to Mizuki Ryosuke, yet here she was, forcing him to accommodate her fears. Still, the oppressive darkness left her no choice.
Biting her lip, she forced herself to accept his offer. The distance between them shrank from three meters to less than one, and after a moment's hesitation, she reached out and grasped the hem of Ryosuke's cloak.
Feeling the gentle tug on his clothing, Ryosuke turned slightly, his gaze meeting Terumi Mei's flustered expression. He glanced down at her small hand clutching his cloak, then offered a brief, reassuring smile.
He knew reprimanding her wouldn't help. Encouragement, however, might.
Mei's face reddened further for reasons she couldn't quite explain.
Mizuki Mitsuhiko, watching from the back, raised an eyebrow at the unexpected development. The woman who never hesitated to trade verbal jabs with him… afraid of ghosts? If this were any other time, he would have had plenty of snide remarks, but for now, he decided to hold his tongue.
Still, he made a mental note—Terumi Mei's weakness: ghosts.
With their formation adjusted, the three pressed onward, deeper into the cave's underground labyrinth.
—
Meanwhile, in another part of the cavern, the atmosphere was drastically different.
A large chamber, illuminated by an eerie glow, bore an unsettling resemblance to a control room. Crystal screens lined the walls, displaying live feeds from various sections of the cave, revealing just how vast the subterranean complex truly was.
Beneath the screens, an array of bizarre buttons and joysticks hinted at an intricate surveillance system.
Figures shrouded in black robes moved with purpose, their silhouettes barely distinguishable in the dim light.
One of the crystal screens flickered, showing the advancing figures of Mizuki Ryosuke's team. Another screen displayed Takeda Yoichi—bound, unconscious, and slumped in a dark corner of the cave.
"Ssssss… Heheheh…"
A twisted, hissing laugh echoed through the chamber.
"The show is about to begin, meow~!"
The robed figure's words sent ripples of excitement through the room. A chorus of eerie chuckles followed, their voices slithering through the air like snakes in the dark.
—
At the same time, within Kirigakure's Mizukage Building, a sense of unease spread among the gathered Jōnin.
The water-screen projection that had been monitoring Mizuki Ryosuke's team had abruptly cut out, leaving the high-ranking shinobi questioning the situation.
Maeda Yuanshi stepped forward, swiftly addressing their concerns.
"This assessment isn't solely under the village's control," he explained, his voice calm but firm. "It has been outsourced to an external force. The village does not have direct access to certain segments of their constructed environments."
He continued, "However, due to the nature of the test, fatalities are highly unlikely. What you're witnessing now is a designated evaluation zone, where examinees are subjected to unpredictable scenarios."
Understanding dawned across the faces of the Jōnin as they absorbed Maeda's explanation.
"Squad Leader Maeda," one of them inquired, "who exactly is this external force? Why have we never heard of a collaboration like this before?"
Maeda Yuanshi's expression remained impassive as he shook his head. "That information is classified."
With no further answers forthcoming, the Jōnin turned their attention back to the water-screen, waiting for the next development.
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