"Meow~ Of course."
He watched as Tsunade fastened the First Hokage's necklace around his neck. He wasn't panicked, but he knew its history, how it had nearly broken her twice. This wasn't just a gift, it was a gesture of trust, a symbol of her support for him.
Refusing now would crush her. He might need the goodwill points, but he wasn't heartless. He couldn't do that to her.
"You've got this, Takeshi," Tsunade said, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she stroked his head.
She stood and turned toward the Hokage Building, her gaze settling on the carved faces of Hokage Rock. A wave of determination washed over her.
'Soon, my face will be up there with them,' she thought, her eyes tracing the stone carvings. 'Grandfather, Granduncle... Nawaki, Dan... I'll carry on your legacy. I'll make sure the Will of Fire burns brighter than ever in this village.'
Her hand tightened into a fist.
Takeshi watched her from the side, waiting until she seemed to come back to herself. "Don't get too comfortable just because you're going to be Hokage," he commented as they left the cemetery. "You've still got the two elders to deal with... and the Third. That's three mountains to climb before you can get anything done."
"Without Danzo, the path is already a lot clearer," Tsunade countered with a smile. "Things aren't that bad, are they?"
She had already considered the challenges. She knew the old man would step aside once she proved herself. The elders, though... they were the real problem. Stubborn and stuck in their ways, the only thing that had grown about them over the years was their age.
"Alright, let's go," Takeshi said, waving a paw. "We should pay a visit to the Gekko clan."
As a prominent member of the Nohara family, it was a visit he ought to make. If he wasn't around, Rin could have gone in his place, but this felt more appropriate.
"The Gekko clan..." Tsunade's expression softened. "I heard child there hasn't been well. I've been so busy, but please tell him I'll come by to help as soon as I can."
Jiraiya had filled her in on some of the village news she'd missed over the years, including the births of a new generation.
"Meow," Takeshi nodded, and with a flicker of the Flying Thunder God technique, he vanished.
The Gekko clan compound was right next to their new home, so it was a short trip. It wasn't nearly as large as the Uchiha or Hyuga estates, their territory was smaller and blended in with the surrounding civilian homes. The main distinction was the clan's martial arts dojo and the fact that nearly everyone here, ninja or not, carried a sword. It was a tradition passed down through generations.
Takeshi strolled toward the clan's dojo and spotted Naoki Gekko near the entrance. Inside, Hayate stood opposite him, gripping a sword with a tense expression. A very young Yugao Uzuki watched from the side, her eyes wide with concentration. She was a student at the dojo, and while she was too young to practice this particular form, she was allowed to observe.
Just as Takeshi reached the doorway, Naoki moved. In an instant, three shadow clones blurred into existence, their blades striking at Hayate's defenses. The boy scrambled back, his eyes darting between the figures, trying to find the real one.
But the "shadows" pressed their attack. Hayate parried desperately, but with a flick of his wrist, Naoki disarmed him, the flat of his blade coming to rest against the boy's neck.
"You're too stiff Hayate," Naoki said, sheathing his sword. "The Dance of the Crescent Moon uses shadows to create openings, yes, but you don't have to rely on three clones to do it. The real trick is to use the Transparency Jutsu to find your moment while they're distracted. Feints and reality become one."
"Thank you," Hayate said, bowing deeply. He understood the fundamentals, but seeing them in action was another matter entirely.
Takeshi waited a moment before padding inside.
Hayate turned, his eyes widening when he saw the black cat. He immediately snatched up a wooden sword. "What do you want?"
"Hayate, is that any way to speak to your Uncle Takeshi?" Naoki chided gently.
Hayate stared, bewildered. Uncle Takeshi? Since when did he have an uncle who was a black cat? This was the same cat who'd teased him and Yugao before. And most importantly, this cat was only about a year and a half old! The first time he'd seen it, it was a tiny kitten he could have squashed with one hand. How had it suddenly become his uncle?
What the hell? He was stunned.
Nearby, Yugao Uzuki looked equally conflicted. She found the black cat cute, but... calling it 'uncle' was impossible.
In a blur, Takeshi grew to a larger size and gently tapped Hayate's shoulder with his paw, like a friendly relative.
The speed was breathtaking, almost like teleportation.
'If he was still small,' Hayate thought, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow, 'I wouldn't have even seen him move before I was dead.'
"Ahem, Takeshi, don't scare the children," Naoki said with a light cough. "Hayate was just caught off guard."
Takeshi gave him an 'I understand' look.
"Don't worry, nephew," Takeshi purred, patting Hayate's head and ignoring the boy's terrified, near-tears expression. "We don't have to be so formal. You can just call me by my name."
"Y-Yes, Uncle," Hayate stammered, his voice thick with fear. What else could he do?
Takeshi retracted his paw with a satisfied "Meow" and turned his kindest, most friendly gaze on Yugao. She flinched, looking like she was about to cry.
'Do I have to call him uncle, too?' she wondered.
As if reading her mind, the cat said, "I'm not that old. You can just call me brother."
'Is he insane?' Hayate thought, irritated. 'He makes me call him uncle but tells her to call him brother? This cat is a menace. He's using every opportunity to mess with me!'
Ninjas tended to mature quickly, after all.
"Hahaha, that's right," Naoki said, either missing or ignoring the undercurrent of terror. "We'll be neighbors from now on. Hayate, Yugao, you should ask Rin for advice sometime. As Tsunade-sama's disciple, you could learn a lot from her."
"Yes, sir," they both mumbled.
The conversation continued after Hayate and Yugao had made their escape. Takeshi paid his respects and delivered Tsunade's message, but he also mentioned his own plans to leave Konoha for a while. The two children, now hiding somewhere and nursing their frayed nerves, had no idea. All they knew was that a devil of a cat had just moved in next door, and their lives were about to become much, much more complicated.
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