"What do you want now? I thought we were done with our deals?

" Klautz claimed.

Klautz scoffed. Scorn was oozing out of every ounce of his soul. He wasn't liking the fact that Akihiko was stalking him. How was he to give it his all and grind to all his heart's content? If he wasn't allowed to use his cards and skills?

By no means Klautz was going to reveal his classes to the 'Residents', it would only lead him to trouble. Every power that he possessed was unique and never seen before. Klautz didn't want to end up as a lab rat!

"Indeed we are,

" Akihiko nodded.

"But… that alone would not do.

"

Akihiko's eyes travelled over Klautz. He didn't like Klautz's attitude either. He wanted to teach him who was the boss! By strength alone Akihiko was several times ahead of Klautz.

'He should know his place!'

Klautz raised his brows. What else did Akihiko want from him? Wasn't he done with causing troubles for him already?

"What do you mean? Ugh…

"

*cough*

A wave of killing intent shot through Akihiko's body causing Klautz to crush under his pressure. His eyes glowed red. He appeared like a red demon that walked on the purple lands.

He really wanted to kill Klautz. If not for his morals that forbade him from doing so, Klautz would have been dead already.

*cough*

"What do you want?

" Klautz asked as he bent on his knees. He looked up at him with squinting eyes.

He was just too weak to face Akihiko at this stage. He can only use other methods to fend him off!

"I have been following you ever since. And every time you trick my eyes. Tell me what powers do you use. What powers do you possess?

"

Akihiko was damn serious. He wanted those powers for himself. He wanted those powers for his ninja village to grow. It was absolutely important for him!

If he could have his hands on that power what kind of cheat would it be for the ninjas? How much would his village grow?

Klautz was able to trick the eyes of a powerhouse like him! And escape his trail. Isn't that the epitome of a ninja? Akihiko wanted that power for himself.

But Klautz smirked even though he was being crushed by his spiritual energy.

"Ha Ha Ha Ha…

" Klautz started laughing.

He couldn't believe that Akihiko could be so shameless. Akihiko was stooping lower and lower in Klautz's eyes.

'Maybe because of such an attitude he died so soon.'

When you set out to prey, you always have to be prepared to be a prey yourself. And that is what Akihiko had failed to understand.

'But in the end he is the only resident I can rely on without fearing about my life. His morals are high.'

His desire and obsession for the growth of his village had caused him to fail to see the faults in his own self!

"Aren't you an incompetent to be not able to gauge the abilities of a mere newbie like me?

"

Klautz was getting on Akihiko's nerves and the same was true for Klautz as well. Both of them detested each other to a similar degree. Who had the upper hand? It was not too hard to guess.

"Are you going to reveal it! Or should I k..

"

"You know Akihiko. You are really foolish

"

Akihiko knitted his brows. Insult after insult, he was not able to bear Klautz any second now.

"You have tried multiple times to get a grasp of my powers. Yet you have failed. Shouldn't you give up by now. We both no that there is no way you can figure out what my powers are.

" Klautz continued.

Klautz was confident of his grit and endurance. There was no way Klautz was giving in so easily.

"Yes, I accept I have some powers which you might want but trust me you can never get your hands on it. Nor are you ever going to figure out what they are. I am going to keep escaping from your eyes as many times as it takes!

"

Akihiko understood the implication of Klautz's words. He might be appearing to be just mocking him but there was a hidden meaning behind them.

"Tsk,

" He clicked his tongue as he lowered his killing intent, freeing Klautz.

The residents would never have any access to the tutorial area!

He was the Kage of Mizukigakure, not a leader of mad scientists!

Akihiko had suspected this but even now he was not sure. All he knew was that Klautz could be tricking him. But what if he is not?

"Akihiko… naive Akihiko. Why do this? Aren't we just weakening each other while our enemies grow stronger?

"

Akihiko turned to face Klautz as he knitted his brows.

"Under your watch, I cannot unleash my true strength and grind to increase it. And because of your absence from your village your ninjas are also suffering. If you continue like this… what will become of us? Our enemies will grow stronger and will crush us!

"

Klautz sighed.

"You need to understand that rivalry is not always the best option

"

Klautz didn't lie.

Klautz wasn't a leader. But all he knew was that Akihiko was indirectly weakening him and he didn't like it at all.

Rivalry can be really toxic at times.

Akihiko was always fixated on beating the Kishiogarure, hence his village was never really able to grow. Not only that he had failed to even beat the one rival he had dead set on. That was because Kishiogakure never considered Mizukigakure as a rival and was only focused on increasing their sphere of influence.

Rivalry can be good but sometimes it can also be bad.

"Hmmph! As if a newbie like you would ever understand,

" Akihiko grunted.

***

Author: Like it? Add it to your library!

Creation is hard for authors. Cheer me up with your power stones

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