Even as he hesitated, his paw lashed out with lightning speed.
Infused with Chakra, the claw struck with swiftness, precision, and lethal force, perfectly embodying feline hunting instincts.
An ordinary ninja would have no chance of evading it.
Shinku had anticipated the attack, instantly retracting his hand to avoid the strike.
'Did I just attack a Jonin?'
Raj's heart pounded with panic.
'What if I don't even get any points and end up being punished for this? That would be a total disaster!'
You probably won't believe this, but the Little Black Cat actually attacked on its own.
"Father..." Kurenai said anxiously, fearing her father might harm the cat.
Rin hugged Raj tighter, clearly sharing the same concern.
"It's quite wild, but definitely a Ninja Cat. With proper training, it could become a significant asset," Shinku remarked, unfazed by the attack.
He had deliberately provoked the cat to gauge Raj's strength and temperament.
The test confirmed the cat's lingering wildness, yet within manageable limits for children to handle.
This residual wildness also indicated a strong combat instinct, suggesting the cat would grow into a formidable fighter.
"That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Lord Yuhi," Rin exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy.
With a Jonin's confirmation, Raj would undoubtedly pass the village's registration procedures.
Ordinary cats and dogs didn't require registration, but Ninja Dogs and Ninja Cats did.
These ninja beasts possessed considerable destructive potential, making unauthorized ownership extremely dangerous.
Since Raj was a Ninja Cat, he would need to undergo inspection and registration.
Shinku's earlier test was part of this evaluation process.
"No need to thank me. It was a simple matter. By the way, are you planning to keep this cat?"
"Yes, I am."
Rin nodded.
In truth, Rin believed Kurenai would be the best caretaker for Raj.
Kurenai's family was wealthy, and Raj wouldn't suffer any hardship under her care.
But every classmate knew that Shinku was highly unlikely to agree.
"Ninja beasts might be different from ordinary cats and dogs, so I suggest you consult the Inuzuka Clan. If all goes well, it could become a valuable ally in the future."
"Thank you very much," Rin said, bowing deeply while holding Raj.
Shinku smiled, patted his daughter's head, and
They left with Kurenai.
"Rin, I know an old woman who dries a lot of fish. I'll go get some for you... I promised the Little Black Cat earlier. I'll bring it to you tomorrow!" Obito said before dashing off.
'With dried fish, the cat might be less of a burden on Rin's family,' he thought to himself.
"This... thank you, Obito," Rin said, momentarily stunned while holding the cat.
By the time she realized Obito had already run off, she could only call out her thanks from a distance.
"So, Rin, should we...?"
"You guys go ahead. I still need to register him. Oh, Aoi, could you tell my family for me?"
'Will my family approve? Never mind, I'll register him first. I can't just leave him to sleep on the streets,' she thought to herself.
"No problem," Aoi replied.
Aoi was Rin's neighbor. Like most children from ordinary families, they were quite independent, walking home from school alone without needing their parents to pick them up.
Registering the Ninja Cat today meant they'd likely be home late.
Raj felt a twinge of guilt.
'If only I'd latched onto a rich family, this little girl wouldn't have to worry so much.'
But when he glanced at his System panel, he felt a little better.
Even the missed claw strike earlier had earned him a substantial amount of points.
In addition to the two hundred-plus points he already had, he'd also completed the "Provoke a Strong Foe" mission, earning an extra three hundred points.
All told, he now had over five hundred points.
Five meals of special cat food secured.
Including the points he'd earned by charming girls at school, Raj now had over eight hundred points.
Most of these came from Shinku, but Asuma and Obito had also contributed significantly.
'With the System, as long as I work hard, I can be self-sufficient and won't burden Rin's family too much.'
Rin carried Raj toward the Hokage Building, Raj observing the houses and buildings lining the road.
Konoha was truly vast.
Even a Genin like Rin, barely out of childhood, needed a considerable amount of time to walk from the Ninja Academy to the Hokage Building.
After a long journey, she finally arrived at the building's base with Raj.
There was no need to meet the Third Hokage. With Shinku's confirmation, she only needed to go through a formality at the entrance.
Before long, Rin emerged with Raj.
Now, a nameplate hung around its neck: Raj Rin.
Originally, Rin had wanted to name him "Little Black Cat," but Raj vehemently refused.
The Konoha ninjas, aware that some ninja beasts possessed considerable intelligence and could name themselves, skillfully produced a dictionary.
The name "Raj" was derived by searching for each character individually in the dictionary.
This process had taken them quite some time.
As they walked, Rin cradled Raj and murmured to herself, "Perhaps you'll be the one to save me someday, Raj!"
She was overjoyed.
In the young girl's heart, Raj was no longer just a cat but a clever, reliable companion.
'Don't worry, I'll definitely save you,' Raj vowed silently.
Everything that followed in the Naruto World could be traced back to Rin.
Her death drove Obito mad.
Although Obito was also bound by the Restraining Curse Seal, forced to obey Madara, the difference between acting willingly and being forced was immense.
Therefore, Raj needed to save not only Rin but also Obito.
The Battle of Kannabi Bridge was still over three years away.
He had plenty of time to prepare, grow stronger, and, with his knack for mischief, earning the necessary points should be a piece of cake.
"Stay quiet outside for now. Let me talk to Father first. He'll agree," Rin instructed repeatedly.
She feared the little troublemaker might cause a scene, which would only make her father less likely to let her keep it.
Knowing this, Raj remained silent outside.
Rin walked in timidly, her hands fidgeting nervously.
Seeing her father Masato sitting at the dining table, her anxiety doubled.
After a long pause, she finally stammered, "Father, I... I adopted a cat."
"Aoi told me. Is it a Ninja Cat?" he asked with a warm smile, instantly easing his daughter's tension.
"Yes, a very intelligent and capable black Ninja Cat. I promise it won't cause any trouble for the family," Rin assured him.
"There's no need for such formality, my daughter. It's your companion. You'll graduate in a few months, and by then you'll be fully capable of caring for it yourself," her father said, affectionately patting her head.
"Thank you, Father," Rin said, bowing deeply.