After a brief exchange with the Three Tails, Mizuki Ryosuke's consciousness returned to his body.
The oppressive white mist that once blanketed the eerie Haze Space had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only an ordinary underground chamber. What was once an enigmatic, dangerous realm had now been reduced to a lifeless cavern.
Ryosuke rose from the depleted Yin-Yang Spring and stepped onto solid ground. The cold underground chamber was no longer shrouded in illusions, merely a desolate space separated by walls of ice.
As the icy barrier dissipated, Terumi Mei, without hesitation, threw herself into Mizuki Ryosuke's arms, ignoring her wounds.
Ryosuke instinctively caught the girl, holding her close as he whispered in a voice only she could hear.
"Slow down, Mei. Your wounds—"
Hearing Ryosuke's rare gentle tone, Terumi Mei's eyes turned slightly red.
At this moment, she realized just how much she had come to rely on him. Every second he had been gone felt like an eternity of torment.
Ryosuke adjusted his grip slightly, ensuring Mei didn't strain herself unnecessarily. Though her injuries weren't life-threatening, excessive movement was unwise. Then, he slowly lifted his gaze.
Above them, at a height of over thirty meters, three enormous stone doors bearing the X-shaped insignia of an ancient Fūinjutsu came into view—these were the very doors that had trapped them inside the Haze Space.
With the mist dissipated, Mizuki Ryosuke could now leave with ease.
He extended a hand, molding Hyōton (Ice Release) into a staircase beneath his feet. As he ascended, the massive orange cat—previously lying motionless—abruptly sprang up with an exaggerated motion, following closely behind.
With a single palm strike, all three stone doors shattered from within.
Beyond one of the doors, Mizuki Mitsuhiko stood anxiously, his expression shifting from relief to shock as soon as he saw Ryosuke emerging.
At first, Mitsuhiko was overjoyed to see his master unharmed. But when his eyes landed on Ryosuke carrying Terumi Mei in his arms, his surprise turned into something else entirely.
Not to mention, the massive orange cat trailing behind them only added to his confusion.
"Master! Are you all right?"
Terumi Mei, still nestled in Ryosuke's arms in a textbook ōjō-sama-dakko (princess carry), didn't speak.
"I'm fine," Ryosuke replied calmly. "Terumi Mei sustained some injuries, but nothing serious."
While they were trapped in the Haze Space, Ryosuke had used the affectionate term "Mei" to encourage her, but now that the crisis was over, his formality returned.
In Kirigakure's culture, addressing someone by their given name was a sign of intimacy—usually reserved for family, lovers, or close friends. Otherwise, surnames were the standard.
Previously, Terumi Mei had always referred to Ryosuke as "Captain Ryosuke," mainly because two other Mizuki Clan members were in their squad. To avoid confusion, Ryosuke had instructed them to call him by his given name instead.
However, Mei, who had buried her face against his chest, softly murmured:
"Captain Ryosuke… just call me 'Mei' from now on."
Mitsuhiko, despite not seeing Mei's expression, immediately picked up on her nervousness—her flushed ears and reddened nape made it obvious.
"…What's going on here?"
Mitsuhiko blinked in confusion, shifting his gaze between his master and Mei.
The Big Orange Cat, having accompanied them through the entire ordeal, instantly recognized Mei's shy demeanor. Upon realizing the situation, its feline face contorted into one of sheer amusement.
Could it be that this so-called "cool-headed" boy had a hidden attachment to the girl in the "Demon King's" arms?
Two words immediately surfaced in the cat's mind: "Love Rivalry."
As the Big Orange Cat indulged in its own soap opera fantasies, Mitsuhiko's face darkened. He clenched his fists and suddenly blurted out:
"Hey! Terumi Mei! You're not thinking of joining Master's household, are you?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere turned deathly silent.
Even the Big Orange Cat—whose face had previously displayed an excited "this is getting good" expression—froze in place, staring at Mitsuhiko in utter disbelief.
"You better not be plotting something weird!" Mitsuhiko continued, completely oblivious to the fact that he was digging his own grave. "Don't think that just because you're injured, I'll show you any mercy! I know your insane Kekkei Genkai gives you a monster-like recovery rate! You're just pretending to be weak, aren't you? Hoping to gain Master's sympathy so you can weasel your way into his ranks!"
If Mitsuhiko's first statement was simply questionable, his second remark officially confirmed his status as the densest, most unromantic man in existence.
The Big Orange Cat—whose gossip-loving spirit had reached celestial heights—now stared at Mitsuhiko as if looking at some mythical, never-before-seen creature.
"So, beings this oblivious to emotions actually exist in the world?"
Boom!
Before Mitsuhiko could say another word, Ryosuke's iron fist descended upon his head like divine retribution.
"Show some respect to your injured teammates."
"…Yes, Master." Mitsuhiko groaned, clutching his bruised forehead, not daring to argue further.
Ryosuke wasn't particularly surprised by Mitsuhiko's behavior—after all, his disciple's banter with Terumi Mei had happened more times than he could count.
Terumi Mei, despite trembling with fury, took Mitsuhiko's words in stride. She had long since recognized his blunt and dense nature. Instead of responding, she simply shot him a cold, contemptuous glare.
However, deep down, she vowed that once she fully recovered, Mitsuhiko would pay.
While Ryosuke had no problem addressing his subordinates—like Takeda Yoichi and Mizuki Mitsuhiko—by their first names, calling Mei by her full name seemed oddly distant.
After a brief pause, Ryosuke nodded and said, "Alright, Mei. I'll be counting on you in the future as well."
Mei nodded slightly, but the faint blush on her face betrayed her emotions.
With formalities settled, Ryosuke's gaze turned toward the Big Orange Cat, which was still frozen in disbelief from Mitsuhiko's sheer emotional incompetence.
Seeing Ryosuke's cold eyes, the feline immediately straightened up, its tail fluffing in fear.
"S-Sorry! I'll take you to your teammates right away!"
The cat, in an uncharacteristically human-like manner, immediately dropped to the ground in a kowtow, pleading for mercy at lightning speed.
Ryosuke, satisfied, withdrew his killing intent.
Taking the lead, the Big Orange Cat guided them deeper into the cavern.
Not long after, they discovered Takeda Yoichi—still unconscious—bound tightly with five-layered rope restraints in a hidden corner of the cave.
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