Kin walked toward home.
The Uchiha clan grounds were even more deserted now, as most of their combat forces had been deployed to fight against Kirigakure.
Upon reaching his doorstep, he expected the usual mess. But when he opened the door, the house was unexpectedly clean and tidy—even more so than when he had left. This surprised him. Last time hadn't been like this; after all, a certain "Meow Overlord" had quite a few underlings.
Stepping inside, Xiao Miao trotted down the stairs and rubbed against Kin's pant leg.
"Meow~ You're back."
Kin picked Xiao Miao up with both hands, scrutinizing it.
"Are you sick?"
He didn't recall Xiao Miao ever acting like this. This was a ninja cat, with human-like intelligence—and the same infuriating pride as the Uchiha. Who knew who had learned it from whom?
Hearing Kin's sarcastic tone, Xiao Miao bristled.
"Meow! Human, don't push your luck! This lord was just welcoming you home!"
Its true nature quickly resurfaced as it struggled in Kin's grip, trying to swipe at him. After all its effort, this wretched human remained unmoved.
"Oh, right."
Kin suddenly realized why Xiao Miao was acting this way.
"Our contract must have expired."
Their agreement had been for a year's supply of cat treats in exchange for Xiao Miao's stay. But Kin had been away on missions long past that deadline.
At these words, Xiao Miao calmed down, licking its paws and adopting a "beckoning cat" pose.
Xiao Miao's Adorability Attack!
"Meow~"
Kin: (￢_￢)
Attack Ineffective.
Seeing Kin's unimpressed expression, Xiao Miao lowered its paws, its face twisting into a distinctly human-like look of pleading.
"Let's talk this over~ The stray cats outside are so mean."
It even managed to conjure up teary eyes, playing the victim. Life was hard for ninja cats these days, with bully cats running rampant. Handsome calico toms were monopolized by gangs of thugs, and poor little white cats like it were constantly picked on. Here, it had food and shelter—it didn't want to go back to being bullied. Those cats that had visited last time were all victims too.
Kin shrugged. "But I was planning to let Xiao Bai stay here."
At the mention of Xiao Bai, the little white snake poked its head out from Kin's collar, tilting its head dumbly at Xiao Miao with its beady eyes. It slithered up Kin's arm to his shoulder, where Xiao Miao immediately wrapped a paw around its head.
"Xiao Bai and I are life-and-death comrades! We'll get along great!"
Xiao Bai blinked cluelessly as Xiao Miao hugged its head.
Kin placed both creatures on the floor and crouched down to eye Xiao Miao.
"You sure about that?"
"Absolutely!"
Xiao Miao nodded vigorously. As of today, Xiao Bai was its sister-from-another-mother. (Both were female, after all.)
"Fine. As long as you two get along."
Kin finally relented and headed upstairs.
Xiao Miao watched him go with a smug, human-like grin. Xiao Bai tried to follow, but Xiao Miao tightened its grip, muscles bulging as it held the snake in place. Only when Kin was out of sight did Xiao Miao relax, wiping nonexistent sweat from its brow (which was just white fur).
"Disaster averted."
It could stay in this house after all. From now on, it could eat cat treats to its heart's content—no bullies to steal them. And once that pesky Uchiha fell under the spell of its ninja cat charm, the Meow Overlord would rise again!
"Ahahahaha!" Xiao Miao stood up, crossing its paws triumphantly.
Xiao Bai butted its head against the cat, reminding it of its presence.
Xiao Miao's laughter died as it glared at the dumb snake.
"You stupid serpent!!"
Xiao Bai tilted its head in confusion.
Before it could react, Xiao Miao pounced.
"I'm the boss of this house!"
Xiao Bai didn't dodge.
Cat and snake instantly tumbled into a chaotic brawl.
Xiao Miao, now a full-grown ninja cat, was a force to reckon with among weaker summon creatures. Xiao Bai, still young and without Kin's chakra support, held its own surprisingly well. The fight was evenly matched—for now.
Outside, Kin watched the entire scene from his perch on the windowsill. He shook his head regretfully.
"Xiao Bai's still too weak."
The two wouldn't settle things anytime soon.
Kin slipped back inside through the second-floor window, deep in thought.
"Time to teach Xiao Bai a technique to boost its strength."
"Maybe a Demonic Cultivation Technique?"
"Tricky, though."
Winter had draped the shinobi world in silver, pressing a temporary pause on the war.
Clashes between villages grew fewer, and many forces withdrew. Konoha recalled a significant number of its troops, awaiting the next call to arms.
Among the returning ranks were Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina—two young shinobi who drew little attention. Without extraordinary achievements, most ninjas' deeds went unnoticed.
The returnees were mostly the wounded and the very young. Though they were back in the village, their faces bore no joy—only numbness and exhaustion.
As they passed through Konoha's gates, the villagers were ready.
"They're back."
"Konoha's heroes."
"I see my son!"
The crowd surged forward eagerly—but the excitement was short-lived.
Some found sons missing arms. Others saw daughters without legs. Even those physically unharmed stared blankly, their eyes haunted by unshakable terror.
The cheers died.
War was cruel.
Minato and Kushina slipped away from the crowd. As orphans, no one waited for them.
"Should we find Kin? He's probably in the village," Minato asked.
"Let's clean up first. We reek," Kushina replied, not refusing outright. But she knew their current state would only invite mockery from that jerk.
Their clothes were in tatters, stained with dried blood—they looked like beggars. Their spare uniforms had long been used up; these were the least ragged they had.
Laughing, the two walked home together.
Settling the returning shinobi would take considerable effort.
Late at night.
...
Read 50 advance at patreon.com/CNBLUE
(End of Chapter)