Authors note: Hi guys, I am back ! Still some small complications but expect 4-5 chapters a week at the minimum.
Chapter 51: KITTY CATTT
[Ninjutsu: Summoning Jutsu – Kuchiyose no Jutsu
Rank: B
Description: The Summoning Jutsu allows the user to summon creatures, weapons, or objects to their location by forming a blood contract and weaving the necessary hand signs. The effectiveness and size of the summon depends on the user's chakra, the strength of their contract, and their proficiency with the technique. Requires a blood signature and mastery of chakra control to summon larger or more intelligent beings.
Proficiency: 1/500]
Well…that wasn't that hard to learn. Learning the Jutsu itself was the easy part.
It was the animal I was going to be contracted to that would be considered the harder part…
Now that I know that this world was vastly different from the Naruto world I was familiar with, maybe it is time I explore things beyond the norms of the anime?
Normally, I would definitely jump for the Snake or Toad summoning contracts…and I mean, I could still end up with those push comes to shove.
But I felt like experimenting a little…and I did a buzz-feed quiz on what animal I most related with.
Hey, Buzz-feed somehow survived the apocalypse.
"Sensei," I said.
One eye opened slowly. "Did you pick the animal you want to summon?"
"Yes."
"So, which is it? Are you going to use Toads like the Perv?"
"…Cats."
The other eye opened. He dropped down from the tree and looked at me like I'd just confessed to kicking a puppy.
"…You want the cat scroll?"
Well…yeah?! Cats are cool as hell!
Sensei seemed to judge my choice quite a bit.
He didn't answer right away.
"…I'm more of a dog person," he said, shrugging.
I blinked at him.
"I have an idiot for a sensei."
"Hey," he muttered, scratching the back of his head, "cats are… fine, I guess. Dogs are just better."
"Sure, and you have hair."
Apparently sensei chose to ignore that statement.
Naido let out a long sigh, clearly regretting every decision that led him to be my mentor.
Still, a few minutes later, he returned from his sealed storage pouch with a worn, fur-lined summoning contract scroll tucked under his arm. The edges were scratched and slightly claw-marked.
"This was buried under about five layers of dust," he muttered, handing it over. "The Moonshadow Cat Clan hasn't had a summoner in years. You better not get scratched before you even sign it."
I grinned and knelt down, unfurling the scroll slowly.
There were only a few names etched onto its parchment. Some in bold, proud strokes. Some faded with age. But the last name was long blank.
Until now.
I bit my thumb, channeled my chakra, and pressed it onto the open space.
Let's see what the Moonshadow Cats have to offer.
I quickly weaved the hand signs, focusing intently as I channeled a generous amount of chakra into the summoning seal. The moment my hand struck the ground, I felt a pull—almost like something latching onto the chakra I'd offered.
A small puff of smoke burst in front of me, curling around the circle gently before dispersing into the wind.
From within it… stepped a tiny black kitten.
She blinked up at me with massive round eyes, shimmering like glassy obsidian, her little nose twitching as she looked around in curiosity. Her fur was sleek, midnight-dark, and a small bell hung from her neck, barely making a sound.
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then, in a soft, high-pitched voice, she asked:
"Mister Ninja… why'd you call for me?"
I paused.
Even the air felt still for a second.
"I want to form a contract," I said gently, "with your clan. I'm looking for allies."
She tilted her head to the side, one ear flopping down while she blinked slowly and brought a paw to her chin. The silence dragged. ..
And dragged…
And dragged…
Damit, what's with the suspense?!
I was about to ask again when she suddenly flopped onto her side in the most dramatic fashion possible.
"Hmmm… okay! But…"
She rolled onto her back and stretched all four paws out to the sky.
"You have to bring me fish."
I blinked. "Alright… how many fish?"
She squinted at me with mock-seriousness. Then, she rolled onto her belly and flopped her paws as wide as she could in opposite directions, her tail swishing behind her dramatically.
"THISSSSSSSSS much!" she declared with the kind of enthusiasm only a kitten could manage.
I tried not to laugh.
"…Deal."
She beamed. "Yay!"
And just like that, I had officially met my first Moonshadow Cat.
Apparently, a child.
A very hungry one.
Her name?
She said I could know it… after the fish.
And just like that, I found myself walking through the village with a tiny black kitty wrapped snugly around my neck like a living scarf.
She purred softly with every step, her tail flicking lazily as she peeked around, ears swiveling like little radar dishes.
It was a weird blend of adorable and majestic—like she ruled the world but couldn't see over the nearest counter.
Before I left, I swear I heard Naido-sensei mutter something under his breath.
"I'm definitely not letting Yuki sign a cat contract now…"
Instead, I headed straight to the village supermarket. It was time to pay my debt in fish, after all—and I wasn't about to skimp on the reward.
As I stepped inside, the warm scent of produce and grilled snacks hit me. A few villagers glanced over, but I kept my head down and headed toward the seafood aisle—
"AWWWWWWWWWWWW!"
The loud voice made me flinch.
I turned just in time to see Ino Yamanaka rushing toward me, practically glowing with excitement.
"Look at her!" she squealed, pointing at the kitten perched on my shoulders. "She's SO tiny! What's her name?! Is she yours?! Can I hold her?!"
The kitty blinked at Ino with those giant eyes and tilted her head… then promptly let out a polite:
"Mew."
That was all it took. Ino was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.
"…She doesn't have a name yet," I said, awkwardly. "She's… sort of my summon."
Ino froze, hand still outstretched.
"…You summoned a kitten?"
I nodded. "She asked for fish in return."
The kitten let out a happy purr as if confirming the deal.
"Well," Ino said, recovering, "you better buy her the best fish in here or I'm reporting you to the Hokage for summon neglect."
"Yes, ma'am," I replied with a smirk, grabbing the plumpest mackerel on the shelf.
Ino slowly, very slowly, reached her hand out toward the kitten perched on my shoulders—her fingers trembling with restraint like she was approaching a divine artifact.
The little black furball tilted her head with innocent curiosity, her wide eyes locked onto Ino's hand like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
Her tail flicked rhythmically, body still as a statue.
"…She's letting me," Ino whispered, grinning from ear to ear.
"Mm," I hummed, not convinced but unwilling to stop the incoming catastrophe.
Ino's fingers hovered just above the kitten's head—
And then—
SWAT.
The kitten's paw smacked her hand with surgical precision. Not enough to hurt, but just enough to offend.
"OW—HEY!" Ino recoiled, holding her hand like it had been slapped by royalty. "What was that for?!"
The kitten narrowed her eyes and gave the tiniest "hmph." Then curled her body tighter around my shoulders, as if daring anyone to try again.
I sighed, shaking my head.
"…Typical cat," I muttered. "Doesn't even know what it wants until the last second."
Ino glared at her. The kitten blinked back, smugly victorious.
"…I hope she eats your fish budget dry," Ino huffed as she turned on her heel and stormed off.
The kitten meowed once—quiet and smug.
"…I think she took that as a challenge," I said under my breath.
As I made my way back toward the training area, the bag of freshly wrapped fish swinging in my hand, I could feel someone tailing me.
Didn't even need sensory skills—Ino wasn't exactly subtle.
She was doing that exaggerated "I'm-not-following-you" thing where she stayed ten paces behind, ducked behind every lamp post like a cartoon, and hummed loudly whenever I glanced back.
Honestly? I didn't really mind.
Not like I had many people following me for non-violent reasons these days.
By the time I reached the usual clearing, Naido-sensei was—predictably—balanced upside down atop a tree branch.
His arms were folded. His eyes were closed. Either meditating… or napping with style.
I didn't bother greeting him. He probably wouldn't have responded anyway.
The moment we stepped onto the grass, the little black kitten uncoiled from my shoulders with a graceful hop.
She landed softly and sat perfectly still, waiting like a royal dignitary at a banquet table.
I pulled out the fish and placed it in front of her. She sniffed it once and dove in.
After a few enthusiastic bites, she paused, fish still dangling from her tiny mouth, and looked up at me with wide eyes.
"My name's Yoru!" she said between bites, tail swishing happily. "I always wanted to be a Ninja Cat!"
That made me blink. "…Is that so? Why?"
She nodded eagerly, eyes full of excitement.
"Because Mom said ninja cats rule all lands!"
I couldn't help it. A small grin tugged at my lips.
"…What a cute little cat."
From behind a nearby tree, I swear I heard Ino let out another muffled squeal.
Yoru went back to eating proudly, her dream of becoming the ruler of the ninja world through stealth, claws, and tuna—clearly in motion.
Well you're in luck my cute princess, since if anyone was ever going to rule these lands, it would be me.
...
Authors note:
You can read some chapters ahead if you want to on my p#treon.com/Fat_Cultivator