Naruto: Paws and Whiskers

"I'll give it a try," Obito reached out and grabbed the food immediately, his earlier desperate expression softening as he took a cautious bite. His eyes widened in surprise, and the faintest smile tugged at his lips. "It's not bad."

Kakashi hesitated for a moment before taking his share. Lifting the bottom of his mask just enough to taste it, he chewed thoughtfully. His lips curved into a small, rare smile. Compared to the metallic tang of soldier food pills, this was almost a delicacy. The pills had an infamous reputation—useful but far from enjoyable. 

Soldier food pills were efficient in a pinch but came with their drawbacks. Overuse could damage the chakra network, and their intentionally bitter taste served as a deterrent to excessive consumption. 

Kakashi, always pragmatic, had developed a tolerance, but even he welcomed the break from their usual unpalatable rations.

Rin, despite her earnest efforts, had yet to perfect the craft of soldier food pills. Hers were harsher and even less appetizing than the store-bought ones in Konoha. For her, the cat food was nothing short of a blessing.

The team polished off their packets quickly, and to their surprise, the recovery effects were even better than the pills. Most importantly, the cat food didn't leave their chakra networks feeling strained. Each of them received their own portion, and Kakashi along with Obito, handed Rin an extra pack as a gesture of appreciation for her efforts.

Rin, ever modest, suggested they split the extra pack equally, but both Obito and Kakashi refused. They acknowledged her contribution, knowing full well that her efforts were vital to their survival. In the field, she was their medic and their heart, her determination compensating for her relative lack of physical strength. 

The three of them soon felt their energy returning and decided to resume their training. The forest echoed with the sharp clang of kunai and the rustle of disturbed foliage as they threw themselves into practice with renewed vigor.

Takeshi pondered his next move. With nothing to do, he might as well visit Nekomata. Although the long-range Flying Thunder God technique consumed a lot of chakra, they were closer to Cat Castle than to Konoha.

Last time, he had spent around 80% of his chakra to send Kanna. Going there by himself should consume less. 

After thinking it over, he used the Flying Thunder God and teleported to the Ninja Cat Castle. The grandeur of the castle's architecture was undeniable; it was a work of art.

Takeshi had used the castle as a convenient scapegoat more than once, and now it was time to ensure his fabricated narratives aligned with reality. He also saw an opportunity to strengthen the castle's forces, envisioning a squad of elite ninja cats that could serve as a vital asset in the turbulent days ahead.

The system-bought ninjutsu in his arsenal wasn't limited to his use alone; it could be shared with others, including the ninja cats. However, Takeshi was cautious. 

Ninja cats were fiercely independent, their wild instincts making them difficult to manage. He would need to tread carefully to earn their loyalty without sowing chaos.

It would be challenging to subdue them enough to make them obey him. It took a long time to tame Nekomata, and the bond between them was forged through patience and determination.

On the castle's top floor, Nekomata lay sprawled in his chamber, his restlessness growing. He had indulged in a luxury cat food earlier and now felt uncomfortably bloated. The leader of the Ninja Cat Castle, Nekomata exuded authority, but even he couldn't escape the malaise of inactivity. 

The problem wasn't boredom but the discomfort of feeling a bit overweight. Staying at home was a luxury, but who knew how long it would last?

The problem is that he doesn't want to go out. Being able to stay at home is a luxury in itself, who knows how long he can stay at home?

It's uncomfortable! Ninja Cats have a strong sense of territory and respects the strong.

As soon as Takeshi openly beat him, the owner of the Ninja Cat Castle would change. Sadly, his fear came to reality as a figure suddenly teleported beside him. Nekomata sighed softly, the weight of his responsibilities settling in. He thought it was a hallucination. "Meow?"

"Meow," Takeshi responded casually, his tone light but his posture commanding. Though their conversation began in simple feline exchanges, the underlying tension was unmistakable. After a brief exchange of meows, Nekomata understood Takeshi had come with a purpose. Nekomata knew Takeshi had a job for him.

Without further ado, Takeshi produced four bags of ninja cat food, setting them neatly in a row before Nekomata. "How was the cat food last time, meow~?"

Nekomata gave a reluctant nod. "Aside from feeling overly full, it was fine. If you've got something to say, just say it."

Although he wasn't told, his instincts told him that Takeshi had created a mess for him, and the matter was serious. Otherwise, why would this black cat come in person and put out four bags of cat food right away? Takeshi wasn't that generous!

"Meow... It seems that you've gained a bit of strength. That you feel comfortable talking to me like this. It seems you've grown confident, speaking to me so casually. But let's cut to the chase. I've stirred up a little... situation for you. However, if you cooperate with me, I can ensure all ninja cats grow stronger."

To demonstrate his point, Takeshi raised a paw, letting his fur elongate unnaturally. Channeling Wind Release chakra, each strand transformed into a razor-sharp needle. The display was brief but potent—a glimpse of the power Takeshi could offer.

Although there were many ninja cats in the castle, none of them had the ability to use ninjutsu. Even Nekomata, the leader, had such strength only because of his genetic traits. His fighting capabilities were purely physical.

Nekomata remained skeptical. He shifted his weight uneasily, his claws lightly tapping the ground. "I find it hard to believe you'd share such a technique. Our strength has always been inherited, not taught."

After all, the techniques of ninja beasts relied more on genetic inheritance than teaching, and there were very few techniques that could be passed on through instruction.

In addition, Takeshi was using a carrot and stick approach again, to take over the entire ninja cat castle without bloodshed. Although Nekomata had experienced it before, it still felt uncomfortable.

Takeshi smirked, unfazed by the doubt. "It's natural to question, meow~. Let me teach you a simplified version first. Consider it a token of goodwill, you've already paid the price."

Then, Takeshi taught Nekomata the ninja cat version of the Needle Jizo. However, it wasn't guaranteed that every ninja beast could learn it. Each ninja beast had their own preferences and talents. Fortunately, the Needle Jizo was universal for ninja beasts.

After Takeshi's explanation, Nekomata tried it. Although he still couldn't use it, he could feel that this jutsu was useful and could be mastered with more practice. He thought about it and finally asked, "Can we also learn your other skills?"

"Of course, but I suggest keeping this limited for now. Focus on first improving yourself then forming a small, loyal group within the castle. Once you've mastered the basics, you can pass it on selectively."

"Meow!" (Wise choice!) Nekomata nodded gently and lowered his head in agreement, which, in feline terms, meant he was willing to surrender the Ninja Cat Castle to Takeshi and cooperate with all of Takeshi's actions.

While he was uncomfortable with this new reality, the benefits provided by Takeshi were irresistible. No one wanted to be a weakling.

Nekomata used to think he was quite strong, but after seeing Takeshi's power, he realized he was just domineering here and would be nothing outside the Ninja Cat Castle. This was another reason to stay at home. 

Now, with methods to become stronger and a way to obtain ninjutsu, why not? With these conditions, he didn't mind being Takeshi's enforcer.

"Meow~ I'll bring you some chakra paper later. Once we know your chakra nature, I can teach you more advanced techniques." Takeshi acted quite generous and magnanimous.

In truth, Takeshi had resources to spare. Between his dividends from Kabuto and his salary as a Special Jonin, his financial situation was more than comfortable. Procuring supplies like chakra paper was hardly a burden.

"Meow!" Nekomata nodded in agreement.

"Meow~ I'll go see Kanna, you can continue to sleep." Takeshi waved his paws and then left the hall, using the Multi-Size Jutsu to become larger and following Kanna's scent to find her.

Along the way, many ninja cats saw Takeshi but could also sense his strength, so they didn't dare to stop him.

'It seems she has been assigned a house.' When he arrived outside Kanna's house, she had already opened the door and come out. "Sir, do you have any instructions?"

"Just came to see you, meow..." Takeshi soon reduced his size. He saw a bunch of ninja cats fleeing in panic from inside the house, as fast as their legs could handle, but soon the house became empty.

After walking inside, he saw that the house was cleaned up, but there were inevitably a lot of cat hairs on the ground. It seemed that many cats usually came here.

"Meow, how have you been recently?"

"In the beginning, Nekomata-sama asked me to sweep the halls of the castle, but later he didn't ask me to do anything. Instead, he took good care of me. I felt bad, so I used some of my natural abilities to help the cats heal their wounds."

Kanna smiled sweetly. After coming here, she spoke more clearly. She didn't have to worry about food and survival every day, and her life was very good.

However, Takeshi immediately became alert after hearing this. After thinking, he said, "Meow, you have flaws in your natural abilities, so avoid using them. I will get you some basic medical skills later... Do you know how to use chakra?"

"I learned it a long time ago," Kanna nodded gently.

"Meow~ Very good, I will find someone to get a book about medical ninjutsu for ninja cats, along with some massage techniques and other skills, so that you can easily settle down here."

If Kanna was trained, based on her experience in helping these ninja cats, she would be far more guarded and safe here. This was also her plan, and Takeshi was just going with the flow and assisting her further. 

These ninja cats were too wild, and only cats understood cats' minds best. As their healer, she would be able to control them when they were unruly to an extent.

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