Although Masato had been rescued, the journey back to Konoha from the border took over a day, even with Rin's medical treatment and Jonin carrying the stretcher.
Raj glanced around, then leaped onto the wall, circling the corner along the top.
As I peered around the bend, searching for Kushina, I suddenly realized a pair of bright eyes were staring up at me.
"Little Black Cat, why are you following me?"
The red-haired woman reached up, plucked me off the wall, and held me up for a close look, her expression suggesting she was about to give me a good scolding.
"Meow!"
Startled, Raj immediately pointed a paw at the bright tag around his neck.
Kushina lifted the tag and examined it. Seeing "Raj," she didn't react, but when she spotted "Rin," recognition dawned.
"Minato's student's cat."
Kushina turned the tag over and over, even peeling back the Ninja Cat's outer coat to peek underneath. A strange smile bloomed on her face as she cradled the cat in one arm and carried her basket in the other.
"And he's a male! Ninja Cats are so rare. When you grow up, I'll find you a female to have kittens with."
"Meow?"
Raj was shocked.
'Is this woman a pervert? Stripping me bare the moment we meet and already talking about finding me a mate?'
'Even though I'm a cat in this life, I was human in my past life! Besides, I'm not even a year old yet - isn't this a bit premature?'
"Come on, let's go to my house."
Ignoring his protests, Kushina tightened her grip and carried him toward Minato's residence.
As they approached the house, the scent of Minato grew stronger.
No wonder Raj couldn't find Minato's house.
It was located in a rather remote area and didn't look very large from the outside, but inside, it had three rooms.
From the layout, it seemed like one room belonged to Minato and another to Kushina.
'They haven't shared a room yet...'
Raj understood the situation immediately.
There wasn't a trace of Minato's scent in Kushina's room.
'I don't believe this!' he muttered inwardly.
"Minato hasn't returned yet, but he'll be back soon," Kushina explained. "We're going to Kyoto today, so he'll definitely come back."
"Meow?"
'You promised to take me to Kyoto, but it turns out you'd already planned to take Kushina, and I'm just tagging along?'
Raj felt utterly exhausted, realizing how difficult a cat's life could be.
While Kushina went to prepare the meal, Raj perched on the table, waiting for the blond-haired man to return.
The food was nearly ready.
Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the house.
Moments later, the door swung open, and a flash of golden hair appeared in the doorway before a figure stepped inside.
"Kushina, I'm back..."
Minato was about to greet Kushina when he suddenly noticed a pair of black cat eyes staring intently at him.
The gaze was a complex mix of resentment, anger, and grievance, a hundred emotions swirling within it.
He ran a hand through his hair, offering an awkward smile.
"Raj," he explained, "I've been busy with matters in Kirigakure these past few days and haven't had time to take you. Today, today I'll take you to Kyoto."
"Ah, is it coming to Kyoto too?"
Kushina, carrying a dish to the table, overheard the question and paused in surprise.
Minato's embarrassment deepened, and he could only chuckle awkwardly before falling silent.
"Meow~ Time to eat!"
Raj guarded the bowl of fish Kushina had brought over.
The fish wasn't cooked well, with some parts even slightly burnt.
Originally, this bowl of grilled fish was meant for Minato, but now it belonged to Raj.
Minato didn't mind, maintaining his awkward smile.
At the table, the couple chatted intimately, oblivious to anyone else, reminiscing about how they first met and recalling the time Kushina was kidnapped by Kumogakure and rescued by Minato, bringing her back to Konoha.
Raj, who was eating nearby, felt thoroughly tormented.
The already unappetizing grilled fish became even harder to swallow, and he felt like a third wheel at the table.
Midway through the meal, he deliberately disrupted the atmosphere.
Though it didn't make up for the days he'd spent eating cat food, it was the first time in days he'd earned any Points.
Thus, what should have been a warm and intimate dinner ended abruptly, disrupted by Raj.
They packed their belongings and left Konoha for Kyoto.
Normally, Minato was too busy to handle many personal matters.
This trip was different.
They traveled along the main road, moving at a slower pace than during missions, allowing them to take in the sights of the bustling towns along the way.
Raj gazed around, absorbing the customs and culture of the Land of Fire.
They arrived in Kyoto just before dinner.
Raj followed Minato and his wife as they browsed the roadside stalls.
The stingy Minato didn't think to buy anything for him, but Kushina remembered and bought him a few things.
Of course, Raj didn't really care about such things.
As they strolled along, Raj suddenly spotted a small shop ahead, its exterior carrying a familiar scent - the combined aroma of Kabuto and Nono.
It darted inside.
Minato and Kushina, absorbed in browsing and whispering to each other, didn't even notice the Little Black Cat slip into the shop.
Inside, Raj found Nono and Kabuto exactly as expected.
A middle-aged man stood outside, likely from the orphanage, helping them manage the shop.
'They even have a shop now... it seems they've really made it big. I wonder if their skills have fallen behind...'
After pondering for a moment, Raj followed the scent deeper into the shop.
It found Nono treating and massaging a cat while Kabuto stood beside her, looking every bit the apprentice.
A noblewoman sat nearby, clearly a member of Kyoto's aristocracy and the cat's owner.
When Kabuto saw Raj, his eyes lit up, but after glancing at the noblewoman, he subtly waved his hand, signaling Raj not to speak rashly.
"Alright, Madam, when you take this cat home, please pay close attention to its mood. Avoid feeding it..."
Nono spoke with practiced ease, while Kabuto stood beside her, listening attentively like an apprentice.
But Raj knew the truth: it was this young boy who had developed these techniques.
He was a genius.
Raj secretly observed from the sidelines, watching Kabuto deliberately act cute and tell jokes to charm the noblewoman, who beamed with delight.
He understood why Kabuto had so quickly established himself, taken over this small shop, and become famous.
Danzo and Orochimaru hadn't been wrong about one thing: Kabuto