Naruto: Paws and Whiskers

Plans often keep up with changes.

Originally, Fuguki Suikazan's plan was flawless. The strategy was simple: break free from the blockade of the *Ice Release: Crystal Ice Mirrors Jutsu*, use *Summoning Jutsu* to retrieve the Two Swords, and, at worst, sacrifice only two Jonins.

Kirigakure was short on Jonin, but not devoid of them. And when it came to the coveted Ninja Swords, there was never a shortage of candidates eager to claim them. Reassembling the Six Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was always an option.

But...

Now, the swords were gone.

What now?

The four remaining swordsmen ran, their minds racing to formulate a contingency plan. None more so than Fuguki. He was the leader of this operation, the one who had boldly proclaimed he would stand his ground against Konohagakure, and, in the end, the one who had attempted to betray his comrades.

If they returned to the village unscathed, punishment was inevitable. Hell would freeze over before they escaped unscathed.

Fuguki entertained the thought of defecting. But his three companions? They were unlikely to share his sentiment. Unlike him, they had followed orders from start to finish. Senjin Hozuki, in particular, had the backing of the prestigious Hozuki Clan, the one of the most influential family in Kirigakure. With their protection, Senjin would walk away unscathed. But Fuguki? He was another story altogether.

This was bad. Really bad...

The more he thought about it, the more defection seemed like his only viable option. He didn't want to die, especially now that he had obtained Samehada. With this sentient sword in his possession, he had plans—plans to grow stronger.

But then again, what the hell was that cat from Konoha? Flying Thunder God and Ice Release? The mere thought of it together sent a shiver down his spine.

---

As Fuguki pondered his next move, the scene back at Konoha's side was no less chaotic. Silence hung thick in the air, only broken when Shikuro Aburame finally spoke.

"You were too impulsive. If not for you, we could have wiped them out." His voice was devoid of emotion, a hallmark of the Root.

"Meow~ Even if you had stepped in, you might not have been able to stop them." Takeshi flicked his tail dismissively.

Before the tension could escalate, Hiashi interjected. "They were Elite Jonin from Kirigakure. The moment they saw our numbers, they would have fled. If anything, we were lucky to have kept two of them occupied. Where are their swords?"

"Meow!" The black cat's response was immediate-he had them.

Minato's sharp mind immediately identified the issue. "Don't take them out yet. Those swords contain Summoning Jutsu seals marked on them. If they aren't properly sealed, they can be recalled at any moment… Wait, where exactly did you put them?"

Takeshi simply waved a paw. "Don't worry, meow. They're absolutely safe."

Shikuro, meanwhile, knelt to examine the battlefield. His gaze lingered on the shattered ice as his Kikaichu scurried to collect residual chakra. 'Ice Release?' He found himself stunned once more. Just what kind of Kekkei Genkai did this cat possess? How did it wield such incredible abilities?

After a moment of contemplation, he straightened up, turning to Takeshi with a rare display of humility. "I was mistaken, Special Jonin Takeshi. I take back my previous words. Your contribution was invaluable. But tell me—what exactly are the abilities of their swords?"

Through his insects' reconnaissance, he confirmed the strength of their foes-each of them Elite Jonin. Indeed, as Hiashi had suggested, even if Konoha's forces had arrived earlier, they might not have been able to prevent their escape.

Had they followed his original plan, the enemy would have been long gone before reinforcements even set foot on the battlefield. Not to mention the Two of the Kiri's special swords-they wouldn't have recovered even one.

"Meow~ It's nothing."

Takeshi didn't really care. If anything, startling people like this would only earn him more Points, so why not? Speaking of which, he must have gained quite a few Points tonight, right?

After all, he'd run around multiple locations and put in significant effort. The Hozuki ninja's alone should have contributed a substantial amount of Points.

He quietly summoned the system interface and took a look.

'Whoa~ ' The 10,000 Points he had spent earlier had almost completely returned. The Points panel now displayed around 23,000 Points—just a few hundred shy of his previous total.

'Not bad!', Was this the reward of participating in a large-scale battle? No… this time, his strategy must have been more effective.

Got it!

Takeshi suddenly realized why his Point income had improved. His battle yesterday aligned better with the system's conditions for earning Points. Previously, when he defeated enemies in a single strike, they hadn't even had a chance to realize the danger they were in before being taken care off, barely had time to register fear or anger.

'So, I shouldn't have taken out that ninja squad so quickly…' He fell into deep thought.

Still not experienced enough. Every time he fought, he forgot the natural instinct of a cat-to toy with its prey. However, after some reflection, he concluded that his approach was still reasonable.

Damn it. Two versus six wasn't a one-on-one duel-what if they had managed to escape?

Despite his usual rough treatment of Kakashi and Obito, when it came to critical moments, he still remembered them. That remaining Lightning Blade Kiba was important to Kakashi-it had to be retrieved.

'Wait… No.' That sword originally belonged to Raiga Kurosuki. Rather than retrieving it, what he did should be seizing it.

Takeshi corrected his own thinking. Earning Points was important, but he couldn't forget his main mission in pursuit of them.

"Take the bodies back—wait, he's still alive! Get him to the medical corps, quickly!"

Shikuro had assumed both enemies were dead, but upon closer inspection, he noticed that Juzo Biwa, despite his gruesome injuries, was somehow still breathing.

'Wait… This looks familiar.' Hiashi stroked his chin, trying to recall where he had seen such an injury pattern before. After some thought, he suddenly realized it.

'Wasn't this the same kind of damage Jiraiya-sama always suffered when he foolishly provoked Tsunade? So the suspicions were true, Tsunade did take this cat as a disciple and taught him her techniques.'

"By the way, Takeshi-san, if we return to the village, would you do us the honor of visiting the Hyuga Clan? The incident with Masashi a while back was resolved thanks to you, and our clan must properly express our gratitude."

On the way back, Hiashi suddenly brought up the topic. His voice was calm and composed, but as experienced Jonin, everyone present understood the underlying meaning.

"Meow~ Anytime. But I don't know when we'll be able to return." Takeshi sighed regretfully.

Right now, the other four great nations all had their eyes on Konoha. Even Tsunade-who usually stayed out of political struggles-had been forcibly recruited into a command position. There was no telling when they would be able to return home.

"No matter, just giving you a heads-up in advance." Hiashi smiled slightly.

Hiashi smiled slightly.

Shikuro remained silent, leading the group forward without a word. After some time, he separated from the group and headed south. As the leader of the Southern Camp, he needed to return to his post now that the mission was complete.

Also… Not many people were fond of Root. Hiashi, for one, certainly wasn't.

These guys were too cold, too emotionless. It just felt too unnatural to be around them, it felt like being around human puppets.

"Hiashi-san, thank you." Minato bowed slightly.

At first, Takeshi didn't understand, but after thinking it through, he realized what was really happening.

Hiashi wasn't just inviting him as a guest-he was making a statement. By expressing that the Hyuga Clan owed Takeshi a debt, he was effectively warning Root- If they intended to target Takeshi, they needed to reconsider.

Never underestimate the weight of the Byakugan's influence.

The Byakugan of the main house had no drawbacks. Unlike the branch members, even outsiders could wield its power if successfully transplanted. The very reason the Hyuga Clan developed the Caged Bird Seal was to prevent their Kekkei Genkai from falling into the wrong hands.

If Masashi's body had been taken, it wouldn't just have been a disgrace to the Hyuga Clan-it would have been a disaster. As it would lead to other villages targetting other Hyuga's as well, this might also increase the attacks on Uchiha by relation of also being powerful doujutsu.

This favor alone was enough to justify Hiashi's stance in Takeshi's defense. Not to mention, Takeshi himself was powerful and had earned Tsunade's favor. Befriending him was entirely beneficial to the Hyuga Clan.

That said, Takeshi still felt a sense of gratitude.

Having someone stand up for him was far better than the lonely existence Naruto had in his early years, when no one openly defended him. With both Tsunade and the Hyuga Clan in his corner, even Danzo would have to think twice before making a move against him.

Still, the way Jonin communicated was too layered-so much meaning hidden behind just a few words.

I'll never get the hang of this. Just too complicated.

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