"Wait a moment."
The Little Black Cat pretended to perform a Summoning Technique, channeling Chakra into the ground.
A bag of cat food materialized beneath his paw.
This bag contained ordinary special cat food, which, when eaten regularly, could transform ordinary cats into Ninja Cats.
However, the Double-Tailed Cat was already a powerful Ninja Cat.
This food offered little benefit beyond quickly replenishing its stamina and a portion of its Chakra.
'Cat food...'
The Double-Tailed Cat looked up, its mind filled with suspicion.
'What kind of food is this? Is it specifically for cats?'
It glanced down at the bag.
'A package? Is this a snack?'
The Double-Tailed Cat tore open the bag with its claws, revealing several small, biscuit-like treats.
It glanced at the Black Cat before cautiously taking a bite.
'Hmm? This texture... it's amazing!'
It reached for another piece, but the Little Black Cat swiftly snatched the bag away, stuffing the entire contents into its own mouth with a flurry of movements.
By the end, it had only left a tiny morsel for the Double-Tailed Cat.
"You-!"
"Who said it was for you? You're so shameless, meow~"
Raj finished eating and darted away, disappearing into the alleyways with a few leaps, leaving the Two-Tailed White Cat standing dumbfounded in the wind.
'What kind of trick is this? He pulls out a bag of cat food, takes one bite for himself, then gobbles up the rest and runs off!'
Suppressing its irritation, the Double-Tailed Cat Matatabi slowly made its way back to Ninja Cat Castle.
Yet as it walked, it couldn't help but savor the taste of that cat food again.
It was truly delicious.
More than just the taste, though - the texture was secondary.
'After eating it, my stamina and Chakra seem to recover slightly faster... Could this cat food actually enhance physical strength?'
After a moment's contemplation, the Two-Tailed White Cat immediately turned back toward the Cat Granny's shop.
When it arrived, it found only the Cat Granny and the two Ninja Cats who always accompanied her.
"Welcome back. How many shuriken will you need this time?"
"No, where's that other cat?"
The Double-Tailed Cat Matatabi entered and scanned the room again before scratching the ground with its paw and saying casually, "Never mind, I'll find it myself."
With that, the White Cat opened the door and left without another word.
Though the Little Black Cat had left, its scent lingered.
Following the trail, the White Cat was confident it could track him down.
But halfway through the pursuit, the scent suddenly vanished.
In Konoha, Minato urgently returned using the Flying Thunder God Technique and rushed to the Hokage Building.
Obito, eager to return the Clan Head's belongings, dared not linger outside.
Raj, heading home alone, casually opened his Points Panel along the way.
'Over two thousand? Another three or four hundred points gained. Heh heh... Maybe that silly cat got angrier the more it thought about it after returning, inadvertently contributing more points to me.'
Raj smirked inwardly, pleased with himself.
He had originally planned to leave after the fight, but at the last moment, he decided to let that silly cat taste the Cat Food he had exchanged through his System - just a single bite.
The method had worked perfectly.
The silly cat had initially given him five or six hundred points, and now another three or four hundred had been added.
The total was quite substantial.
With nothing pressing to do and Jiraiya's advice that exercise, running, and combat were the best ways to quickly digest Natural Energy, Raj, having just fought the Ninja Cat, had no desire to pick another fight.
After some deliberation, he decided to visit the orphanage first.
Kabuto's care, though not as meticulous as Minato's, was still remarkably attentive and deeply missed.
Unfortunately, when Raj arrived, he discovered that Kabuto wasn't home.
After inquiring, Raj learned that Kabuto and Nono Yakushi had moved to Kyoto and become major celebrities in the city's pet circles.
They hadn't returned to Konoha in quite some time.
Of course, they hadn't forgotten the orphanage.
On the contrary, the mother-son duo sent ninety percent of their earnings back to the orphanage.
Raj knew this because the furniture and other items in the orphanage were noticeably improved during his visit.
Several talented children had even been sent to study in Konoha, preparing them for future careers as ninjas.
It was a virtuous cycle.
Raj quietly made his rounds, but the First Medical Ninja wasn't back yet.
Disappointed, he returned home to rest.
When he got back, he checked his reflection in the mirror.
'My belly seems a bit smaller. Looks like I've digested a good portion of the Natural Energy. Hopefully, I can digest the rest soon and exchange it for another batch of Deluxe Cat Food.'
The Little Black Cat twisted his waist, confirming his belly had indeed shrunk.
Pleased, he leaped down and settled into his cozy nest for a nap.
Just then...
"Meow!"
A cat's cry caught Raj's attention.
It moved out and glanced at the top of the wall.
A large white cat stood there, radiating an imposing aura that dwarfed even Raj's own arrogance.
Did it come after Konoha?
Raj was startled, but his confidence quickly returned.
This was Konoha, and if the cat dared to attack him, he'd retaliate.
Without Konoha citizenship, the Double-Tailed Cat would be in serious trouble, possibly even ending up in the Anbu's custody before being allowed back.
With this thought, he raised his head and strode out.
"Meow?"
"..."
The Two-Tailed White Cat remained silent.
This brat was playing dumb, feigning ignorance despite clearly understanding the situation.
But if he spoke, would it undermine his authority as Boss?
Perched on the wall, it hesitated, unsure what to say.
Raj leaped onto the wall and joined the silence.
The two cats locked eyes, their gazes intense.
If they weren't both males, one might have mistaken it for a turtle staring at a green bean.
"What's the price of that Cat Food?" Nekomata finally asked.
"Priceless," Raj replied.
One hundred points hardly qualified as "priceless," but jacking up the price was the only way to make a profit.
These Ninja Cats had contracts with the Uchiha Alliance and pockets overflowing with cash.
"Not 'Selling?'
The White Cat seethed inwardly.
'Why show off if you weren't going to sell? You made me think you were actually going to sell it!'
"No sale. Go home."
Raj had been considering selling one or two portions, but when the Points Panel flashed again, his mood brightened, and he immediately refused.
"Meow!"
The Nekomata roared in fury, as if about to swell in size and attack Raj.
But then Raj pointed toward the Hokage Building.