The Chakra infusion dramatically amplified Haimaru's offensive power.
Raj dared not approach directly.
Haimaru's strength was overwhelming; one blow would be enough to crush him.
A defensive counterattack was his best strategy for now.
But he wasn't about to sit and wait to die.
Instead, he decided to play a little trick.
'Transformation Technique: Haimaru.'
The next moment, a miniature Haimaru appeared in the grass, grinning mischievously as it glanced down at itself.
'Hmm... this feels strange.'
The Transformation Technique didn't truly alter one's form; it was merely an illusion that deceived the eye.
It couldn't change one's fundamental nature - Raj remained a cat, merely temporarily adopting Haimaru's shape.
The greater the transformation, the greater the chakra consumption.
Thus, Raj didn't attempt a full 1:1 transformation, opting instead for a small alteration.
Haimaru stared in confusion for a moment, then quickly sniffed out the "dog's" true identity.
Enraged, it charged forward in a murderous frenzy.
The instant the attack landed, the small black cat reverted to its original form, curling into a tight ball.
Haimaru's paw slammed down, but almost immediately...
"Awooooo!"
A piercing howl echoed from the corner of the training ground.
When everyone looked, they saw a dog tumbling out of the grass, followed moments later by a small black cat emerging step by step from the bushes.
Haimaru's paw was pierced with several bloody holes, and it was now terrified of Raj.
The Ninja Dog didn't dare touch the black cat's body, or even let it get close, retreating rapidly despite the pain.
"Haimaru!"
"Raj..."
Hana and Rin rushed over simultaneously.
Rin had initially worried about her cat being injured, but when she saw the bloody holes in Haimaru's paw, she froze in fear.
"No bones are broken, but we need to get him to the medical team for treatment immediately," Hana concluded after examining the wound.
"I'm so sorry," Rin said, bowing deeply and standing nervously before Raj.
The Inuzuka Clan was a powerful and influential family.
"Don't worry, Rin. Haimaru probably provoked this fight. He's been wanting to challenge Raj for a while, but I never expected Raj to be this strong..." Hana remained calm, analyzing the situation rationally despite her Ninja Dog's injury.
As the others gathered around.
They noticed Haimaru's injuries and were shocked.
Raj did this? At only six months old, this wild Ninja Cat had already defeated Haimaru.
Its natural talent was beyond extraordinary!
Takuma chuckled softly.
"Looks like these two won't be fighting anymore. Let's take Haimaru to the school's medical room. A little Medical Ninjutsu should fix him right up."
Animal fights are usually about territory or mates.
Cats and dogs are unrelated, so mating was clearly not the issue.
The Ninja Cat's emergence and growing strength must have triggered Haimaru's territorial instincts.
After this crushing defeat, Haimaru would have to submit.
Even if it wanted to reclaim its territory, it would have to do so as a challenger.
For now, the class could enjoy a period of peace.
But in a month, they would be divided into different classes, making it much harder for Haimaru to see Raj.
'The Needle Jizo technique is powerful, but my Chakra reserves are too low to block all the damage... Hmm, I bet the skin under my fur is bruised.'
Raj thought to himself.
Compared to Haimaru, his injuries were minor and would likely heal before they even reached the medical room.
Moreover, both externally and internally, Haimaru was in far worse shape.
Raj's fur remained unscathed, while Haimaru bore at least seven or eight claw marks.
It would likely take a considerable amount of time for his fur to regain its former smoothness and beauty.
Rin stroked Raj's head with a complex expression, then cautioned, "I don't know how you managed to injure Haimaru, but you must never use such dangerous attacks against your comrades again."
'Once I grow stronger, I won't need Ninjutsu anymore.'
Raj thought dismissively.
This battle had made him realize his inherent advantages as a feline.
Once he reached adulthood, these Ninja Hounds wouldn't stand a chance against him.
By then, bullying these same-aged Ninja Hounds wouldn't even require the Needle Jizo.
He nodded lightly in agreement.
Hana escorted Haimaru to the medical bay, and the practical combat class resumed as scheduled.
Raj watched for a while, finding it rather dull.
The flying kunai seemed slow to his eyes, and the students' clumsy techniques meant their attacks rarely inflicted any real damage.
In short, it was just a bunch of noobs pecking at each other.
Of course, this only applied to some of the ninja.
Ninjas like Raido Namiashi and Aoba Yamashiro, whose names were well-known, possessed considerable skill, making their battles both visually impressive and highly entertaining.
Raj watched for a while before shifting his attention back to his System Panel.
By fighting Haimaru, he had completed the random "Territory Dispute" mission, earning an additional 300 Points.
Combined with the 200+ Points he received for defeating Haimaru, his panel now displayed a total of 610 Points.
This was enough to exchange for two portions of Ninja Cat Special Cat Food.
However, Raj harbored a dream: A Ten-Consecutive Draw!
The lottery was a man's romance, especially the anticipation and excitement of the unknown prizes before they were revealed - a thrill no mere exchange could replicate.
The Lottery Panel resembled a Russian Roulette wheel, featuring twenty prizes.
The worst were toys like scratching posts and climbing frames, while the best was the Wild Lion's Mane Technique.
Like the Needle Jizo, this technique had been developed by Jiraiya.
However, due to his distrust of his own fur color...
Raj exchanged for one portion of Ninja Cat Special Cat Food and saved the remaining 310 Points, planning to accumulate them for a future Ten-Consecutive Draw.
Ninja Cat-specific food was undoubtedly superior to regular cat food.
Though the exact benefits remained unclear, its higher price suggested enhanced palatability and psychological satisfaction.
As for the luxurious cat food costing a thousand ryo per serving, it was far too extravagant for consideration at the moment.
'Huh, Obito's up?'
Raj spotted a flash of green taking the stage and immediately struggled to squeeze to the front.
Rin, who had barely managed to follow, firmly restrained him.
She dared not let go of this mischievous cat again.
"Remember," Takuma reiterated, "both sides are prohibited from using Ninjutsu beyond what we've covered in class. Shuriken manipulation techniques are permitted."
He didn't want to repeat himself, but Obito was facing an Uchiha clan member who harbored a grudge against him.
As their teacher, Takuma had to emphasize the rules to prevent any underhanded tactics.
"Yes, sir."