A few seconds later, he realized: 'Could this mysterious ninja have approached me because I've been monopolizing the cat-catching missions?'
"Goodbye, meow."
Raj waved a paw.
The young boy had grown up, slowly transforming into a cunning man.
Earning Points from him was no longer as easy as before.
Though Kabuto had become much more cunning, he remained a highly skilled and good-hearted child.
However, Orochimaru, his old friend, had already added Kabuto to his watchlist.
The peaceful days for Kabuto and Nono were likely numbered.
Of course, from another perspective, Kabuto had been tricked into joining Root from a young age, moving between countries as a spy.
Now, things weren't so bad - he was merely under Orochimaru's observation.
Moreover, the orphanage had earned a substantial sum of money from this venture.
During his recent visit, the children's clothing had improved significantly.
Previously, they had to farm daily to sustain themselves, but now the orphanage had hired a tutor to teach them reading and writing.
This meant Nono no longer needed to return to Root under Danzo's coercion for financial reasons.
Combined with her connections in Kyoto, Danzo would have to adopt a more subtle approach to achieve his goals.
Even if Kabuto were to be abducted in the future, they could always send Nono...
'Heh heh, the pet industry's prospects are looking bright. Too bad I'm just a cat. Otherwise, I wouldn't have to worry about money!'
Kabuto nodded, then suddenly called out, "Wait!"
He hurried behind a cabinet and retrieved a small box, which he opened in front of Raj.
"What's this?" Raj asked, puzzled.
"The idea for this venture came from your master, and your suggestion to come to Kyoto made it all possible. The Director and I both felt you deserved a share of the profits, so please accept this without hesitation."
Kabuto handed him the box.
"Meow~ Then I won't be polite."
Raj's eyes darted around, and without hesitation, he slapped his paw onto the money.
Instantly, the words '25,000 ryo' appeared in his inventory space.
It wasn't a fortune, but for food and drink, it was more than enough.
He was quite satisfied.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu?" Kabuto asked.
"No, just a Summoning Technique. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now..."
Raj didn't elaborate, eager to leave with his earnings.
"Alright, safe travels."
Kabuto knew this seemingly small cat was full of tricks and surprisingly strong.
As long as he avoided that mysterious ninja from before, he'd be fine.
As for finding his way home... Ninja Cats weren't ordinary, foolish felines.
Though their wild instincts remained, their considerable intelligence...
It made finding their way back home a simple matter.
Raj had initially planned to find Minato, but after searching around, he found Minato and Kushina flaunting their affection in the streets.
Just watching from behind was enough to make his heart ache; following them would only make it worse.
'Better grab something to eat and then retreat.'
"Hmm?" Kushina turned her head, glancing at the spot where Raj had been standing.
"What's wrong? Worried about Raj? Don't be. He's very clever, and I left a Flying Thunder God mark on him. He'll be fine," Minato assured her.
"Is that so? Oh, look, there's a crowd over there. Let's go see what's happening."
"Alright."
The two gently held hands and walked toward the nearby theater troupe.
Minato subtly turned back and gave a thumbs-up to the top of a wall.
A black cat weakly climbed up and waved a paw at him.
'Ugh, lovey-dovey couples... I'm so jealous!'
Raj jumped down from the wall, bought some food with the money he'd gotten from Kabuto, and attracted a crowd of curious onlookers.
After earning over a hundred Points, he slipped away from the growing crowd and vanished.
There was no point in staying any longer; he decided to head home.
His encounter with Orochimaru had tightened the nerves he'd been letting relax.
He'd already gotten his fill of pressing and eating; lingering would be pointless.
Better to go home, enjoy some Deluxe Cat Food sleeping pills, and get some rest.
Leaving the area, he planned to return to Konoha by the same route.
But shortly after setting off, Raj caught an unusual scent.
Moments later, a man with a chillingly cold expression emerged from the side of the road.
'One of the Three Great Sages, hiding in the bushes like Garen?'
Raj's composure crumbled.
'If only I'd stayed with Minato!'
'A little PDA would have been nothing compared to being targeted by Konoha's mad scientist. What if this guy has some twisted ideas...?'
A cold sweat broke out across his body despite the sweltering heat.
'Can the Ninja World ever catch a break?'
Tears nearly welled up against his will!
"Raj, we meet again."
"Meow?" Raj called out.
Orochimaru crouched down, gently stroking the cat.
'As expected, every gift from fate comes with a hidden price.'
Though Raj had seemingly gained a substantial number of Points from Jiraiya, retribution arrived swiftly.
'The System has betrayed me!'
"Is that not allowed?"
"Of course it is, meow~"
Raj finished speaking, performed a certain gesture, and then stared at Orochimaru, trembling uncontrollably.
Life in the Ninja World was fraught with peril.
One couldn't afford to let their guard down for a moment, lest they become someone else's dinner or a lab rat.
Even when things seemed safe, you might still have to risk your life to save someone at a critical moment.
In the next instant, the figure vanished, revealing that the one crouching in the grass had been merely a Shadow Clone.
It made sense. Orochimaru wouldn't waste his time engaging in idle chatter with Raj.
Even a Clone could easily crush a cat.
'Your gifts are far too much for me.'
Raj wasn't particularly annoyed.
It was Orochimaru's parting words - "I'll bring you a gift next time we meet" - that made his heart leap.
Now was a time of relative peace between the villages.
Though occasional skirmishes still occurred, Minato's Team was strong enough to handle any situation without facing mortal danger, so Raj wasn't overly concerned.
While patrolling the village, he learned another piece of news: Sunagakure had completely withdrawn its forces, and Jiraiya had returned from the front lines.
This was perfect timing.
Raj needed to consult Jiraiya about Orochimaru's situation, and...
'It's been a while since I've earned any Points. Time to make some.'
Most people struggled to find Jiraiya, but Raj knew exactly where to look.
Konoha had few bathhouses, and only one or two were both popular and relatively secluded.
By checking each one, it shouldn't be difficult to find the trail of that lecherous old pervert.
'Hmm? Now we're getting somewhere.'