After checking two bathhouses, the Little Black Cat quickly picked up Jiraiya's scent.
For ordinary people, moving around bathhouses required caution, but the cat had no such worries.
'I'm just a cat. Haven't you noticed how people caught doing wrong often meow like cats to play innocent?'
Who would care if a cat was on the roof of a bathhouse?
Raj crept along the roof, taking in the scene below.
The steamy, white-skinned spectacle inside was quite a sight.
He glanced down a few times before quickly averting his gaze.
'You can't just peek into Konoha's bathhouses.'
'Who knew if the bathers were the wives of Jonin?'
If he happened to spot someone like Hana Inuzuka or Kushina, he'd probably end up being held underwater and humiliated.
After circling halfway around the building, he followed the scent to Jiraiya's hiding spot.
The pervert was lurking nearby, peeking through a narrow crack at the scene inside.
Raj pondered for a moment before darting toward Jiraiya's hiding place.
The best way to earn a quick burst of Points was to give Jiraiya a good scare.
A bathhouse, voyeurism, and Tsunade - that was Jiraiya's worst nightmare come to life.
The cat moved silently, without a sound.
Jiraiya, having spent years on the battlefield, naturally possessed a first-rate level of vigilance.
But in the bathhouse... heh heh heh.
Raj crept up behind him and quietly activated his Chakra Transformation.
In the next moment, he roared, "Jiraiya, what are you doing here again?!"
The sudden shout sent Jiraiya into a full-body shudder.
He whirled around to see "Tsunade" and nearly lost his mind.
"N-no, no, it's a misunderstanding!"
"Tsunade" threw a fierce punch.
Jiraiya flinched violently and retreated swiftly, maneuvering with such skill that it looked as if he'd been sent flying into a tree.
Raj glanced at his paw.
'Did I really hit that hard?'
Jiraiya, having crashed into the tree, paused in confusion.
'This force is wrong. I overacted. And... that voice sounds off.'
Besides, Tsunade had left Konoha years ago, and no one had heard from her since.
How could she suddenly return today?
This impostor couldn't possibly be Tsunade!
The Three Great Sages were, after all, the Three Great Sages.
Though initially caught off guard by the comfortable bathhouse setting, it took only a moment's thought for him to realize he was dealing with a counterfeit.
"You! That cat smell... It's you, you little brat! You dare trick even an old man like me? Impressive!" Jiraiya roared.
Raj immediately leaped onto the bathhouse wall.
But in the next instant, Jiraiya, fueled by rage and embarrassment, formed a hand seal.
His white hair surged forth, attempting to ensnare the dead cat.
But at that moment...
"Aaaah! That white-haired pervert again!"
"I'm going to make Lord Third banish him from the village! He's disgusting..."
"Let's beat him up first!"
After a brief silence, the bathhouse erupted into a thunderous war cry.
Women armed with stools, sticks, and other makeshift weapons charged out.
Most terrifying of all was a tank - a massive, heavily built woman in simple clothing who transformed into her giant form and charged forward the moment she burst through the door.
Jiraiya's face paled as he abandoned Raj and fled.
Raj stood atop the bathhouse wall, watching the spectacle unfold.
He couldn't help but admire Jiraiya's universal love while lamenting the self-delusion of certain individuals.
Even Jiraiya, with his indiscriminate tastes, wouldn't go to such lengths for a tank, would he?
Yet here she was, chasing him with reckless abandon, completely oblivious to her own limitations.
It was truly the village's most spectacular drama.
Raj opened the System Panel...
'Whoa! Over fifteen hundred Points in one go!'
'Better not drain it dry.'
Raj was momentarily stunned.
This wave of Points not only replenished the loss from the Deluxe Cat Food but also added over five hundred more, bringing his total to around four thousand.
Still, this was a case of calculated effort against carelessness.
'Everything has its resistance. It won't be this easy again.'
He continued his pursuit.
Jiraiya was indeed formidable.
The women had managed to keep up at first, but he soon escaped using Earth Release Ninjutsu.
The Akimichi Clan tank, though burly and fierce, was clearly careless, failing to realize she was chasing only a Shadow Clone.
Besides, she couldn't even catch the Clone.
Just seconds later, Jiraiya materialized beside Raj, startling the Little Black Cat.
"You little brat! Why did you set me up?!"
"Orochimaru, meow~" Raj hissed through gritted teeth.
Jiraiya paused, then realization dawned on his face.
"Orochimaru came looking for you?"
"Meow!"
Raj was furious.
Being a rare creature subjected to a scientist's scrutiny felt like being a lab rat that somehow survived a round of experiments.
"I just mentioned it casually when I was drunk with Orochimaru back in the village, ahahaha..." Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly.
He knew Orochimaru's personality well.
He knew the scientist would be thrilled to discover Raj could perform the Wild Lion's Mane Technique and Needle Jizo without hand seals.
Jiraiya had even considered warning Raj at first, but he'd completely forgotten about it later.
Still, how could he blame Jiraiya?
If Raj kept using those techniques, Orochimaru would inevitably find out sooner or later.
Raj's remark was just meant to defuse Jiraiya's anger.
Sure enough, Jiraiya stopped being angry about being caught peeping.
It wasn't the first time, after all.
It was his only hobby in life, and he was used to these kinds of mishaps.
He grinned and quickly
He changed the subject.
"By the way, now that Rin and the others have returned from their mission, they might be able to take on higher-level assignments soon..."
"Meow?"
Raj was dumbfounded.
How had this situation suddenly arisen?
"This mission was a test. If they succeed, they'll be treated as an Elite Squad, eligible for A-rank missions and above. Given the village's current situation... ahem... well, the capable should bear more responsibility. Their Chunin promotion will be expedited as well," Jiraiya said with a slight cough.
Raj understood. Their squad had recently completed a series of high-difficulty missions, raising their evaluation.
The village now planned to promote them.
According to its memory, Obito and Rin were originally supposed to advance to Chunin through exams in a year or two.
This development might alter that timeline.
The problem was...
"What about me?"
"Huh?" Jiraiya paused, taken aback.
'What more could a cat possibly want? All the credit goes to your master, doesn't it?'
He didn't voice his thoughts, but his expression spoke volumes.
Raj felt a pang of disappointment.
'So I'm just a glorified errand boy?'
"Oh, right. With Sunagakure seeking peace, Chunin promotions can't be handed out casually anymore. They'll require exams. You understand what I mean?" Jiraiya said quietly.
"..."
'So this is about Rin's promotion? Why is her Grandmaster more concerned about it than her own Ninja Cat?'
Raj grumbled inwardly.