"Let me go! You Konoha scum only know how to bully people with your power! I didn't lose this battle completely! If he hadn't suddenly awakened his power, you would have been the ones to die!"
Yukimura Rin gave him a faint glance, her tone laced with mockery.
"There are no what-ifs in battle. A loss is a loss.
As an Elite Jonin of Sunagakure, being unable to accept defeat is the most laughable thing of all."
Inoue Tsukasa spoke slowly, his voice steady.
"You were too arrogant. You underestimated the resilience and potential of Konoha's ninja. That was the only reason for your defeat."
Kawaki Aoba watched Shouya roar and struggle without pause, yet his heart remained utterly calm. Having gone through this life-and-death battle, his state of mind had become even more steady and resolute.
"On the battlefield, only the outcome ever matters.
You deliberately hunted us down. Since you lost because you were inferior, you should bear the consequences."
Yuhi Shinku looked at the three of them, her tone considerably gentler and touched with approval.
"You did very well in this battle.
Faced with the killing trap of a Sunagakure Elite Jonin, you did not retreat or give up. You worked together seamlessly, adapted in a crisis, and even broke through your own limits in a desperate situation. Your performance far surpassed that of every other ninja student in your class."
Inoue Tsukasa bowed slightly and spoke respectfully.
"It was all thanks to your timely support, Senior. Otherwise, we would have perished long ago."
Yukimura Rin nodded in agreement.
"If you hadn't restrained the enemy and stabilized the battle, we would not have had the chance to break through and counterattack."
Yuhi Shinku gently shook her head. Her gaze fell on Kawaki Aoba, and her tone was