Of course Kei knew who Kisame Hoshigaki was.
But that knowledge came from his memories of his previous life. In this life, this was Kei's first meeting with Kisame Hoshigaki, so he naturally had to act as though he had only just learned who Kisame was in front of Ranne, even though they attended the same Ninja Academy and were both taking this year's graduation exam.
But a single Ninja Academy had well over a thousand students, didn't it?
Each year alone had three or four hundred students. Unless they were in the same year and the same class, they could not possibly know the other students, except for those who were famous throughout the entire Ninja Academy, such as Mei Terumi, hailed as the academy's greatest beauty!
She truly was known to everyone throughout the Ninja Academy, and Kisame Hoshigaki clearly did not fall into that category. Kei had also maintained the most regular, standard routine over the past three years, so it was perfectly normal for him not to know Kisame Hoshigaki. Naturally, Ranne did not suspect anything about Kei's puzzled response.
"That guy's name is Kisame Hoshigaki. He's in the same year as me, though we're not in the same class. I'd heard other friends say he was very strong, but I really never imagined he'd be this strong. As for why we fought, it was over this mission item. He and I have the same exam assignment. I thought that even if I couldn't beat him, I could at least retreat safely. Now it looks like I really was kidding myself. And I dragged you into it too, Kei. I'm truly sorry!"
Still pale, Ranne took a sealed brocade box out of her clothes and spoke in a very weak voice.
"So that's what happened. Yes, that guy's strength is already far beyond an ordinary graduate's. With Water Release techniques on that scale and that much chakra, I doubt even an average Chunin could match him."
Kei nodded as well, speaking with a feigned look of realization.
It was also at that moment.
Without even noticing it himself, Kei unconsciously glanced at the special mission item resting in Ranne's palm.
And the perceptive Ranne happened to catch it.
"Yes, I never imagined that among our generation, aside from those of us from the three great clans, there would be someone as frightening as Kisame Hoshigaki, when we already had Mei Terumi. I was too conceited this time."
Ranne shook her head gently with a trace of bitterness, and a hint of complex feeling showed in her eyes as she looked at Kei. After all, Kisame Hoshigaki was not the only one she had underestimated. Kei, standing before her, was the one who had exceeded her expectations the most.
"I still overestimated myself."
For someone with such strong pride, a defeat like this could easily strike a blow to their spirit. It was only because Minazuki Ranne was strong-willed that she held on; otherwise, falling straight into endless self-doubt or even breaking down would have been nothing strange.
But even though she could still hold herself together, Ranne clearly needed some time to adjust her state of mind.
And so.
Before Kei could speak again.
Ranne continued, "Kei, since you came here, I imagine your exam assignment is the same as mine. Take this mission item. Consider it my thanks for coming to my aid. Of course, I don't think this is enough. I'll definitely repay you properly in the future!"
Ranne raised her head and looked at Kei with a very serious expression.
"Huh?"
Those sudden words.
Left Kei momentarily stunned.
He truly had not expected this older clanswoman of his to see through his exam assignment so easily, much less hand him the most important mission item so readily!
At that moment.
Kei really did struggle to react.
But just a second later, Kei hurriedly waved his hands and said, "There's no need, Ranne. My exam assignment is indeed the same as yours, but this isn't the only copy of that mission item. According to what the examiner said earlier, there should be two or three in this nearby area alone. That's not why I came to help you, Ranne!"
And the more he spoke, the more serious his expression became.
Heaven was his witness!
Although he had hesitated a little before stepping in, he truly had not given even the slightest thought to stealing the mission item!
Ranne's identity as a member of the Yuki Clan, and the impression she had left on Kei in the past, were the most important reasons.
"Of course I know you're not that sort of person, Kei. It's just that I can't continue the exam assignment anymore. If yours is the same as mine, you should know that we need to collect more than just this one type and quantity of mission item. Even if this is the most important item, without the others, we still can't complete the exam assignment. Think of it as me offering a gift with something borrowed. Please don't turn it down, Kei!"
Ranne shook her head gently, then looked at Kei with a very weak, bitter smile as she spoke.
Ranne really was not putting on an act or lying to Kei.
Unlike Kei, Ranne had decided from the outset to first obtain this mission item contained in a glass bottle, which was both the most important and the hardest to collect. In her view, once she found the hardest one, she could pick up the remaining mission items along the way. What she had not expected was that not only would this mission item be difficult to locate and find, but more importantly, she would encounter such a terrifying opponent as Kisame Hoshigaki.
Right now, aside from this single most crucial mission item, she truly had not found a single other thing required by her exam assignment. And now that she had been severely injured, there was no way she could continue the exam assignment in such a weakened state!
Never mind completing the assignment; dying right here in the exam grounds was her most likely outcome!
There was another reason she could not share with others: after this exam, especially after watching Kei's battle with Kisame Hoshigaki, although Ranne was far from a mental breakdown, she had gained a profound understanding of her own shortcomings.
She planned to spend more time honing herself and take the graduation exam again next year!
Ultimately, she was still a proud person at heart.
"Ranne..."
He understood what she meant without needing it spelled out.
Kei had some understanding of Minazuki Ranne's personality. Besides, this older clanswoman of his had already made herself so clear. Kei could not possibly be foolish enough to offer to help Ranne collect the other mission items, or simply give her his own.
Leaving everything else aside, Ranne herself clearly would never accept such an outcome.
And so.
After giving Ranne a look of somewhat complex feeling, Kei nodded gently. Then he reached out and accepted the item in her hand, the last one he needed for his own exam assignment, and said in a low voice, "Since you've put it that way, Ranne, it would be overly fussy of me to keep refusing. I'll gratefully accept it!"