Naruto: Paws and Whiskers

"So, in the end, you had the chance to capture Raiga Kurosuki alive, but you chose to kill him instead?"

'Meow? Is that really the point here? Shouldn't the focus be on the legendary Black Cat Squad, led by none other than the unparalleled Takeshi, taking them down one by one and seizing the Kiri's 2 swords?' If Fuguki and the others hadn't run away, Takeshi could have wiped them all out. Unfortunately, he and Minato were just too strong...

Takeshi thought for a moment before replying with a hint of regret, "Minato-sensei got anxious. If he hadn't followed me and let me fight all six of them alone, I could have stalled them, placed Flying Thunder God marks on everyone, and taken them down in one go."

"Hahahaha, I wasn't thinking that far ahead at the time. I wanted to minimize the risks involved, the longer the fight drags on the more variables increase."

"Minato, don't spoil this brat. I'm going to beat him up!" Tsunade's furious roar echoed through the camp. Just hearing it sent shivers down everyone's spine, instantly bringing to mind the legendary beatdowns Jiraiya had suffered in the past.

Of course, that was just a joke.

But to be fair, Tsunade's fiery yet occasionally gentle personality was quite charming. 'If I want to get points, I would get it from her. But it did carry risk of being disciplined. And once in a while, I even get to see her softer, more beautiful side.'

Naturally, if she was angry, it was best to let Jiraiya take the blame. He was the only one who could endure her iron fists.

That took both talent and years of hard training.

"Alright, while you may have killed a panicked and fleeing Raiga, capturing Juzo Biwa alive is still a great achievement. And with Kubikiribocho and the Lightning Blades: Kiba in our possession, your promotion to Jonin should be a given."

Tsunade rested her chin on her hand, pulled out a document, and continued, "However, promoting you too quickly wouldn't be ideal. I have another plan in mind. Take a look."

Takeshi glanced down at the document. 

At first, he didn't quite understand. But after reading it more carefully, his eyes widened in shock.

Send him to Mount Myoboku for further training? That old swindler toad's territory?! What was Tsunade thinking? 'Is she trying to get rid of me?'

The black cat stared at Tsunade, completely baffled.

Tsunade blinked in surprise, flipped the document over, and then, as if nothing had happened, calmly put it away. "Oh, that was the old plan. This is the current one."

She pulled out another document.

Takeshi took a quick look at it. Listed on the page were the techniques Tsunade had mastered-Strength of a Hundred Seal, Creation Rebirth, and other medical ninjutsu.

The message was clear-Become Tsunade's disciple officially.

'Iryo ninjutsu?' Takeshi fell into deep thought.

In terms of cost-efficiency, Iryo ninjutsu was fairly cheap. It ranked just below Hair manipulation ninjutsu, Water release, and Wind release. Price-wise, it fell into the second tier of talents.

But...

'Was it even worth learning?' Takeshi had his doubts. Aside from a few forbidden techniques like Strength of a Hundred, Creation Rebirth, and Regenerative Healing Jutsu, he wasn't particularly interested.

Sage Mode would be nice, but Tsunade didn't know it either.

Other than that, the only real benefit would be the title of Tsunade's disciple. With that status, perhaps even Danzo and his schemers would think twice before making a move.

But then again…

Takeshi wasn't afraid of Danzo. If Danzo ever dared to provoke him, he'd make sure Root agents wouldn't even dare step outside their own headquarters.

Besides, being a Jonin didn't seem all that appealing anyway.

The illustrious Black Cat found himself in a dilemma, while outside the tent, Obito, eavesdropping out of both worry and curiosity, was practically burning with envy.

Listening to this, 'This is unbelievable? One against six, and after being handed such a valuable reward, he's still hesitating! I don't even know what the reward is, but it's definitely not something trivial. After all, that cat is different from me. I really am...'

Obito was on the verge of tears. The sheer gap in treatment between humans and cats was just too much to bear. Just as his resolve was about to crumble and he turned to leave, Minato-seated inside the tent-glanced briefly in Obito's direction, pondering something, before bowing slightly to Tsunade and saying, "Tsunade-sama, I have other matters to attend to and must take my leave. Takeshi..."

"Don't worry." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, her gaze drifting toward the entrance as if she could see through the very fabric of the tent. After a pause, she tapped her fingers against the table, keeping her expression blank.

"Actually, what I wanted to say is... after the war, come with me. Leave this wretched village and rebuild your lost heritage."

'Meow? Wretched village? Lost heritage?' Takeshi blinked, his tail flicking thoughtfully.

Tsunade's imagination runs wild sometimes, but when you really think about it, she might have a point. If the Holy Land hadn't been destroyed, how would a cat with such talent and capabilities end up scraping by on the streets of Konohagakure?

Besides, this cat possesses Senjutsu Chakra.

The ability to accumulate Senjutsu Chakra naturally is one of the defining traits of a Holy Land.

Initially, Tsunade had been skeptical about the existence of a fourth Holy Land, but to confirm, she even summoned Sage Katsuyu to ask. The wise slug's response had been- The world is vast, nothing is impossible. So there are possibilities of unknown Holy Lands existing. Sage Arts isn't restricted to just 3 Holy Lands, any living being that can learn Sage Arts if they have enough chakra and can balance their physical, spiritual and natural energy.

"Meow~ Do you really think I should leave the village?" For the first time in a long while, uncertainty crept into his voice.

Tsunade studied him carefully. "What's the point of staying? Danzo, that old vulture, hasn't fully revealed his true nature yet. But once the war ends, he'll start pulling his strings behind the scenes. When that happens, it won't just be you- even Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and I might find ourselves as his targets."

With a sneer she continued as she leaned forward, voice dropping lower. "You know how this village operates. You've seen what happens to those who don't fit the mold. You may be a hero now, but how long before they decide you're a threat instead?"

She had been away from the village for years and didn't know exactly what Orochimaru had been up to, but she refused to believe Danzo's hands were clean in any of it.

"Once the battlefield is quiet, the warriors are discarded, huh."

Takeshi exhaled through his nose, his ears twitching as if weighing her words against his own self-image. He was Takeshi, the illustrious Black Cat, the legend in the making! But even legends needed a place to thrive, not a cage to wither in.

"Meow! But about being a disciple… can we change that?"

The Wonderful Black cat licked his paw. He had really become Tsunade's disciple. Becoming Tsunade's official disciple wasn't a bad deal, really. In fact, it was quite the honor. But Takeshi was, above all things, a free spirit-brilliance like his couldn't be contained by rigid labels. Still, a direct apprenticeship under the Great Tsunade had a certain appeal.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "What, having second thoughts now?"

"Meow~ Let's just say I'd like a more... dignified title. Something that properly acknowledges my brilliance."

Tsunade groaned, rubbing her temple. "Absolutely not."

Tsunade said, sounding annoyed. Yet, as she spoke, her hand—almost absentmindedly—drifted toward the necklace resting against her chest, her fingers brushing against it as if lost in thought. There was a flicker of something in her eyes—nostalgia, maybe? Pain?

Takeshi tilted his head, watching her closely. Even the strongest people carried ghosts on their shoulders.

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