"You're hesitant, Ittoki," Kousetsu’s voice came from the shadows, cold and precise. She didn't look at him, her eyes fixed on the treeline where the Koga students—the 'elites'—were surely waiting. "In the world of shinobi, hesitation is a death sentence. The Koga don't care about your heart; they care about your head."
Kousetsu watched from the trees, a flicker of something—perhaps hope—crossing her features. The cycle hadn't broken yet, but for one night, in the heart of a simulated forest, the wheel had stopped turning. Shinobi no Ittoki (Dub) Episode 5
Haruka hit the ground, gasping for air. Ittoki stood over him, his breathing ragged. He had the opening. He could have ended the cycle right there. "You're hesitant, Ittoki," Kousetsu’s voice came from the