Ryuji simply no longer wanted to fight weak opponents.
After spending this period challenging dojo after dojo, he had come to clearly understand that most people in this world simply weren't worthy of fighting him. Only a small handful actually qualified.
As for the rest, if he got serious, they probably wouldn't even be able to withstand a single move. Their fighting techniques were of no use to him either.
So, during this period, Ryuji's daily life became very regular. Every day, he either spent time making love with the girls, trained, or checked on the progress of the World Martial Arts Tournament.
As for teaming up with Bison and Rugal...
That could wait until later.
However—
Although Ryuji himself didn't have many things keeping him busy, in this world where multiple universes had merged, many events were set in motion because of his reckless actions.
"Damn it... What exactly is DOATEC up to?"
Kasumi, who had escaped from DOATEC, frowned as she looked at the newspaper in front of her.
On top of a tall tower some distance behind her, a man dressed as a traditional ninja watched Kasumi, who was wearing a cloak, and silently observed her.
This ninja was Ryu Hayabusa, one of the allies of the Mugen Tenshin Clan. Officially, he had come here to eliminate the rogue ninja, but in reality, he had no intention of attacking Kasumi. And he wouldn't even tell the Mugen Tenshin clan that she was here unless absolutely necessary.
Although he also lived by the code of a ninja, he didn't want his friend to lose his younger sister like this. He had no desire to judge his friend's weakness or ruthlessness in this matter. Just as he disliked others interfering in his own affairs, he had absolutely no interest in the Mugen Tenshin clan's family matters.
The only reason he had come here...
...was because DOATEC had crossed the line.
Unlike the Shiranui-ryu, the Mugen Tenshin ninja clan guarded many sealed things that should never exist in this world. Ryu's own ninja school existed specifically to deal with such things.
If DOATEC continued digging deeper into the Mugen Tenshin clan's hidden sites, then many demons would appear, and even another invasion from the Demon Realm could begin.
Although his own strength was already considered exceptional, his abilities were especially effective against creatures from the Demon World. As a result, when it came to the human world, he wasn't overwhelmingly powerful.
Moreover, DOATEC had already achieved some results. According to the information he had gathered, the Tengu clan living in the mountains had become interested in some of DOATEC's research. Even the Great Tengu had joined DOATEC and was now working for this sinister corporation.
"However... Douglas hasn't crossed that line."
Ryu frowned. Although Douglas using clones to test drugs and conduct experiments was certainly evil, his clones had no independent will. He had no ambitions of conquering the world, nor was he foolish enough to try ruling the world through cloned soldiers. Among all the heartless capitalists, Douglas could at least be considered one with a bit of conscience.
Under normal circumstances, Ryu would have killed Douglas as well. But now Douglas had put up a prize of one hundred million dollars to host the World Martial Arts Tournament. The attention of the entire world was focused on Douglas and the internal split within DOATEC. So, killing Douglas or attacking DOATEC now would only expose the Mugen Tenshin Clan's hidden ninja village.
Which made the situation very troublesome.
Standing beside him, a shrine maiden dressed in light clothing also noticed Kasumi resting in the distance and couldn't help but sigh.
She is a shrine maiden named Momiji. She had come here because she was worried about Ryu and her friends, though she wasn't responsible for most of the fighting.
"It looks like Kasumi really hasn't been in good condition lately."
Normally, even if they were standing this far away, Kasumi would have easily sensed their presence. But now she couldn't detect them at all. It was obvious that not only was she in poor condition, but even her spirit was on the verge of giving out.
"Isn't Hayate... a bit too heartless?"
Momiji asked, then sighed helplessly. Hayate had mysteriously disappeared some time ago, and no one knew where he had gone.
"The affairs of the Mugen Tenshin Clan are complicated. We shouldn't interfere... and it's not really our place to. As for Hayate, I'll investigate his whereabouts. You should go and prepare a secluded place outside. Someone from the Mugen Tenshin Clan may need a refuge in the future."
Thinking of the countless cloned Kasumis he had seen during his investigation, Ryu didn't know what to say. Especially those clones that possessed Kasumi's memories and personality. Even he found it unsettling.
But he knew that if his friend Hayate were the one handling it, there was a high chance he would simply kill every single clone, regardless of whether they were good or evil. Then he would claim that Kasumi had been among them and had already died.
To save his younger sister and allow the real Kasumi to hide away and live in peace, Hayate would definitely do something like that.
Ryu didn't know how to judge such a decision. From a purely moral standpoint, Hayate's actions would undoubtedly be an atrocity.
But from a ninja's perspective, Hayate was too merciful.
Kasumi had broken the rules, and by those rules she shouldn't have been spared either.
The problem is that Ryu's own school didn't have such foolish rules.
If you had to describe him, he was less of a ninja and more of a chivalrous hero.
As for the refuge he had mentioned, he was certain that the Mugen Tenshin Clan would suffer a devastating blow. They would probably even have to abandon their ancestral home.
***
Ryu Hayabusa (Image)
Momiji (Image)
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