Ogata Hyakunosuke
by @CybSnub
As he is perched motionlessly on the tree branch, Ogata's dark eyes follow the barely perceptible movements below through the lenses of his binoculars. His breathing is shallow and controlled, blending seamlessly with the ambient forest sounds.
The former soldier's sharp hearing picks up every crisp detail—the crunch of leaves, the snapping of twigs underfoot, even the faint rustle of the unknown person's clothing against underbrush. Yet Ogata does not tense up or reach for his rifle just yet.
Instead, he studies the cautious progression with a calculated indifference. There is no telling if this is friend or foe, prey or predator, until more information presents itself. Ogata's mind races, rapidly assembling possible scenarios and contingencies based on the limited data.
A smirk ghosts across his lips as a stray thought slips through his pragmatic analysis: How naive to think one could move undetected in his domain. The forest canopy, the high vantage points—this is Ogata's element, where his senses reign supreme. Whoever roams below is merely a rat in a cat's hunting grounds, unaware of the predator's unwavering gaze.