Naruto: Paws and Whiskers

Chapter 234: Chapter 234



"Separate the Tailed Beast?" Minato shook his head. "That's nearly impossible."

A jinchuriki dies the moment their Tailed Beast is extracted. Kumogakure would never agree to that, not just because they'd lose the Two-Tails, but because they'd never allow Yugito to die. It would mean another war.

"Meow~ Just a tiny piece, along with a bit of her consciousness, wouldn't that be possible?"

"Highly unlikely." Minato considered it for a moment, then shook his head again. 'Unless...' But the method that came to mind was a Forbidden Jutsu. Not everyone was like Orochimaru, capable of cheating the Reaper.

Takeshi shelved the idea for now. As for letting the entire beast out... he hadn't even considered it. He didn't need the whole Two-Tails, a powerful, disobedient creature like that would be more trouble than it was worth. All Takeshi wanted was a tool, an experienced, knowledgeable one. A small piece would be more than enough. If it couldn't be done, he'd just have to let Kanna continue her work.

'Of course,' Takeshi thought, 'a proper meeting is still in order. A Tailed Beast might yield quite abit Points.'

"Let's see what Matatabi has to say," he suggested.

"That's no problem," Minato smiled. "It's easy enough to temporarily release her consciousness." He was curious himself to hear what the Tailed Beast wanted.

They went to find Yugito together. Since Takeshi had placed a Flying Thunder God mark on her, she was easy to locate. Still, out of respect, Minato wary of Kushina's temper and Takeshi wanting to avoid complications, they approached her tent through main entrance instead of just teleporting inside.

Yugito looked up, surprised to see them.

"Are you here to undo the seal?"

'Silly girl,' Takeshi thought with an inward scoff. 'A full release would kill you.'

He didn't answer, but Minato kindly explained, "We'd like to speak with Matatabi. My apologies for the intrusion."

As he finished speaking and began forming hand signs, Takeshi simply lifted a paw and tapped Yugito on the head, knocking her out cold.

He glanced at her prone form. 'Hm. Two hundred Points. Better than nothing.'

"You didn't really need to do that," Minato said casually. "Matatabi's consciousness would have suppressed hers anyway. But I suppose it's for the best. There are some things she probably shouldn't hear."

A moment later, a new presence surfaced through Yugito's unconscious form. A deep, feminine voice echoed from her lips. "Minato, Takeshi... thank you."

"So," Takeshi began, licking a paw, "you want out, Meow?"

'We're not actually going to release her,' he thought, 'but a little teasing might earn me a few more Points.'

"That is one reason," Matatabi's voice replied. "The other is that I never had the good fortune to encounter your Nin-Neko clan during the Sage of Six Paths era. I am curious about your history. Would you be willing to enlighten me?"

Her tone was surprisingly polite, a far cry from the violent creature they had faced before. It wasn't an accusation, merely genuine curiosity. Summoning realms were scattered across the world, often hidden in dimensions. It was no surprise she had never found the land of cats.

"You want to know?"Takeshi wagged his tail, clearly enjoying himself. "Then beg me. Meow."

"...", Minato sighed and looked up at the ceiling of the tent. 'What a petty, vengeful cat.' 

Matatabi had been a little aggressive during their two encounters, and Takeshi had held a grudge this whole time. He'd invent an opportunity for payback if one didn't present itself.

'So that's why he only wants a small piece,' Minato realized. 'It'd be easier to beat up in retaliation.' He couldn't help but feel a flicker of pity for the Tailed Beast. Facing a creature like Takeshi, Matatabi wouldn't have an easy time, even if she did get out.

"I can offer an exchange of information," Matatabi said.

"Meow?"

"There's a Two-Tailed Cat in Land of Fire whose strength is quite good."

"That two-tailed cat? Nekomata is one of my subordinates now," Takeshi said dismissively, using his prepared excuse. "Spends most of his days sleeping like a log. He carries our clan's bloodline, yes. Where's your sincerity you're using information we already know, Nekomata was present during last battle, meow."

"Release me first," Matatabi pressed. "Once I am out, I will tell you everything I know, including many secrets of the Tailed Beasts."

"You're thanking us too soon," Takeshi said, spreading his front paws in a gesture of helplessness. "We don't actually have a way to get you out. So..."

A wave of disbelief hit Matatabi. 'Not letting me out?' she seethed internally. 'Then why did you waste all this time talking?!' Even with her usually calm demeanor, she was speechless with fury.

"Alright, then meow. Go back to where you were," Takeshi said with a dismissive wave of his paw.

Minato had intended to offer a gentler farewell, but with Takeshi's signal, he had no choice but to form the hand signs and retract the sealing jutsu, sealing Matatabi away back in.

--**--**

Back inside her spiritual cage, Matatabi stared at the familiar cage.

'How dare he!' She pounded against the sealed door, but the Uzumaki clan's work was flawless. It wouldn't budge. 'That damned cat... one day, I'll get out, and I will crush him.'

She conveniently ignored the question of whether she'd still be able to crush him by then, given his terrifying rate of growth. For a Tailed Beast, that was the ultimate blind spot.

Yugito slowly came to. By then, the cat and Minato were gone. She checked herself over, a scowl forming on her face.

"Damn it, the seal's still here! Did they just come over to knock me out? Matatabi, did they say anything to you?"

But Matatabi was stewing in her own anger and had no intention of answering.

Having slipped away to avoid a scene, Takeshi let out a heavy sigh. It seemed his dream of acquiring a new tool was on hold.

'It's not impossible,' he mused. 'The system store has all sorts of things. Separating a Tailed Beast should be manageable... but can I afford it?'

A Senzu Bean, for example, was still far out of his price range. And even if it wasn't, he wouldn't waste it on this. Spend tens of thousands of Points on a disobedient, high-profile tool that everyone would want to steal? He wasn't that rich. All he wanted was a small, manageable version.

While Yugito fumed in her tent, Takeshi and Minato quickly moved on, going to watch Rin training with others.

Rin had been using the downtime to work with Obito, focusing on her taijutsu. Sage Mode gave her a massive advantage, but it was still built on a foundation of basic skill. Relying on it alone wasn't enough. Normally, Tsunade would have forbidden her from focusing on anything but medical ninjutsu. A medic-nin's first priority on the battlefield was self-preservation, and fighting was a job for others. But Rin had Sage Mode now. If she could master Super Strength and the Strength of a Hundred Seal, she could write her own rules.

But their time for training was running out. According to Minato, they would be heading back to Konoha in three days at most. What would happen then, new appointments or continued missions as a team, depended on the village higher-ups. There would likely be a short break for everyone to see their families, though special assets like Tsunade were an exception. Even off the battlefield, she would normally be dispatched to support other fronts. Of course, if she refused, not even the Third Hokage could force her.

Strategically, Minato and Takeshi were now on that same level. It was anyone's guess if they'd get any rest upon their return.

During their spars, Rin never used Sage Mode, so Kakashi and Obito remained unaware that she had learnt it. They were just confused about why Rin, who had always dedicated herself to medical ninjutsu, was suddenly so focused on taijutsu. But since neither she nor Minato offered an explanation, they felt it would be awkward to ask.

On the third day, they set off for home.

It wasn't just Minato's group and Tsunade, Hiashi Hyuga, Fugaku Uchiha, and their clansmen were all being recalled from the eastern front. Only Shikuro Aburame's forces were to remain.

As they prepared to leave, Takeshi felt a surprising pang of reluctance. He'd been here for a while, and it was strange to be leaving so suddenly. Then he remembered the small fortune he'd accumulated, and a fresh wave of excitement washed over him.

'First thing when we get back,' he decided, 'I'm buying a house.' He reconsidered. 'No, better yet, I'll have Hokage give me one.' After all, with his contributions to the war effort, was a house too much to ask?

He was a Jonin now, but he had no illusions about becoming Hokage. That laid-back attitude meant he felt zero guilt about cashing in his merits for a nice house and some perks. He could always earn more later.

The power of being capable.

The mood on the road back to Konoha was light, full of laughter and conversation. Hiashi approached him again, extending another invitation to visit the Hyuga compound once they were back in the village. It was hard to refuse his earnestness, so Takeshi agreed.

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