A half-year-old kitten had even blocked his path earlier, causing him to be late.
For some reason, a wave of melancholy washed over him.
Young Kurenai was clearly enamored with cats, cradling Raj with obvious affection.
It was clear she wasn't just fond of him because he was a Ninja Cat; she genuinely loved him.
Unfortunately, her strict father would never allow her to keep a cat.
No matter how much she adored him, she could only hold and cuddle Raj here.
If she brought him home, Raj would likely be mind-controlled into running away the very next day.
Asuma, witnessing this scene, decided not to make things worse for himself.
He now fully understood his mistake: how could a person ever compete with a cat?
Even when cats misbehave, girls just see it as playful mischief.
But he was different.
Asuma's mood sank at this realization, and he eventually left the scene, his spirits crushed.
Raj felt no remorse; on the contrary, it believed it had performed a virtuous act by saving a boy from puppy love.
Besides, it thought, if Asuma works hard and trains diligently from a young age, who knows how far he might go in the future?
'I'm such a good person!'
It mused narcissistically.
However, it now faced a new crisis.
Raj stared at Obito, knowing exactly where the boy was referring to.
For generations, the Uchiha Clan had maintained close ties with the Cat Granny, who in turn had forged contracts with a group of Ninja Cats.
The most powerful among them was the Two-Tailed Cat, which, while not on par with elite ninja, could easily crush Raj.
Cats are fiercely territorial creatures.
If Raj went there, it wouldn't even get a chance to act like a bully - even a simple prank would likely result in a gang beating by a horde of unfamiliar Ninja Cats.
'I have to do something!'
Its front paws nervously clawed at Kurenai's hand, careful to avoid scratching the girl with its sharp claws.
"The place you mentioned... hmm, we could ask about it."
Hana Inuzuka knew some of the details but couldn't reveal too much in front of the crowd.
She nodded, patted her beloved dog Haimaru reassuringly, and said apologetically, "Haimaru gets a bit uneasy around Ninja Cats. I'll head out now.
If you have any questions, you can ask me in class tomorrow."
"Thank you, Sister Hana," Rin said, bowing respectfully.
Hana Inuzuka was slightly older than them and a renowned prodigy of the Inuzuka Clan.
She often helped her classmates, earning their deep respect.
"Mm."
Hana nodded curtly, then led Haimaru away.
"Let's leave school first," Rin suggested.
"Well... okay. Oh, Rin, you can hold the cat. My father doesn't approve of me keeping pets," Kurenai said reluctantly, handing over the black cat that had been clinging to her arm.
"Only the clan knows about that place. I'll ask later. If..."
Obito began to say, but the black cat suddenly leaped from Rin's arms and slapped him on the head.
Raj hadn't used much force, careful not to hurt him.
Still, the scene was comical, and the cat's timely display of displeasure was unmistakable.
"What was that for?"
Obito clutched his head, looking genuinely hurt.
'I'm trying so hard to help, and this black cat still hits me? That's so unfair!'
Before he could protest further, the cat bounded back into Rin's arms.
Many of the girls exchanged odd glances.
The cat was undeniably cute, but it was also a little tyrant, acting as if the rules didn't apply to it.
"Could it be that it doesn't agree with the place you mentioned?" Rin spoke up thoughtfully.
"Ah~"
Obito was bewildered.
'Could his guess have been wrong?'
"Maybe she's right! Look at it..."
She pointed at the Black Cat.
After Rin's words, the cat had begun affectionately nuzzling against Rin's chest, as if agreeing with her earlier statement.
"So, it's not from the place Obito mentioned. It might really be a purely naturally born Ninja Cat."
Kurenai couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
If the Black Cat had truly come from the place Obito described, it might have been sent back, and she would never see it again.
This was much better.
At least now she had a chance to see it and even hold it.
'Perfect!'
With this thought, she became even more reluctant to let Obito take Raj away.
"Well... that's possible, I guess."
Obito wasn't sure either.
He was a poor student and had little contact with matters related to the Cat Village within the clan, so his understanding of the place was mostly based on his own speculation.
"But who can take care of it? And if it's a Ninja Cat, shouldn't we report it to the village?" a Yamanaka Clan girl whispered.
"We should register it, have it examined, and then decide who will take care of it. If all else fails... my family could take it."
Rin came from a commoner background.
Her father was only a Chunin, and their family wasn't wealthy - just comfortably middle-class.
Keeping a cat would be a bit of a financial strain.
But Rin was too kindhearted.
She couldn't bear to let such a small cat wander the streets.
Since it was a Ninja Cat, she thought her father might be willing to make an exception.
Her kindness was pure and innocent.
She chose to keep Raj without any ulterior motives, only thinking that its status as a Ninja Cat might convince her father to pay for its upkeep.
"I'll ask my father to talk to him," Anko offered.
"My father..."
Kurenai hesitated, then gritted her teeth and said, "He should be outside. I'll go find him."
"Kurenai, are you sure?"
Rin knew about Kurenai's father's situation and didn't want to trouble her.
But Kurenai was resolute.
Before Rin could protest, she had already left the school gates.
The group exited the school and soon spotted a tall man standing opposite the main entrance, stroking Kurenai's hair before turning to look their way.
After a moment, he approached with Kurenai.
His expression was grave.
Everyone held their breath, even Raj dared not breathe too loudly.
As a Konoha Jonin who trained Chunin and Genin, his commanding presence was truly formidable, like that of a strict homeroom teacher.
"Is this the one?"
Shinku's eyes scrutinized the Little Black Cat.
As a Jonin specializing in illusions, his sensory perception was naturally sharp.
He fixed Raj with a fierce gaze, slowly extending his hand.
Raj's eyes involuntarily tracked the approaching hand, his mind racing with a daring thought.
'How many points could I earn by taking on a Jonin?'
It was an audacious idea.
But what choice did he have?
He was desperate for points, and Shinku's beloved daughter clearly liked him.
Judging by the man's expression, he didn't seem angry.
'This might be worth the risk!'
Yet deep down, Raj still felt a primal fear of Jonin.
'Strike, or hold back?'