Naruto: Paws and Whiskers

After obtaining Ice Release, Takeshi's mind flooded with knowledge. Water Release combined with Wind Release transformed into Ice Release, and along with nature transformation, it came with Crystal Ice Mirrors—a Secret Ice Release Jutsu.

Buy one, get one free. A bargain.

10,000 for Ice Release was just 2,000 more than the cost of Lightning Release Lightning Ball, but this was a Kekkei Genkai. And Lightning Release Lightning Ball? A basic low jutsu. Spending 8,000 points on that felt like absolute rip-off. How could it compare to the satisfaction of gaining another Kekkei Genkai?

Unfortunately, there was still no good way for him to use Lightning Release…

Takeshi sighed. It wasn't a big deal. If he didn't have the talent, he just didn't have the talent. Even if he forced it, the chakra cost would be too high, making it inefficient. He wasn't trying to be Copy Ninja Kakashi.

'Ice Release…'

Takeshi scratched his claws against the ground, casually digging up shards of ice. He controlled it deliberately—releasing Ice Release outright would be too conspicuous.

Kakashi was preoccupied with his own thoughts, not paying attention to this side at all. At this moment, his mind was filled with the two problems of "Shape Transformation" and "Fusion."

Every ninjutsu involved Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation, but Lightning Release's Shape Transformation was notoriously difficult.

Lightning was powerful, wild, unpredictable. Controlling it required extreme chakra precision. And as for fusion…

His gaze dropped to the sword in his hand.

One of the Lightning Blade Kiba swords. Without the full pair, it lacked the amplified Lightning Release properties Kurosuki Raiga wielded, but its compatibility with Lightning Release ninjutsu was still remarkable. It could fully absorb and merge with Lightning chakra.

The problem was control. The fusion itself.

Kakashi sighed, then looked up at Takeshi.

"Thank you, Takeshi. Your words gave me an idea for a new technique."

"Meow~ Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas at all. It seems I'm not suitable for Lightning Release." Takeshi sighed softly.

"Maybe your chakra nature just doesn't lean that way. There is nature transformation cycle, each element is compatible and contradictory to another element..." Kakashi launched into an explanation.

Takeshi had already learned all this from the Naruto manga. He'd also overheard these same lessons back in Konoha Academy. Did Kakashi really think he didn't know? But this time, Takeshi humored him.

For once, something had finally stumped him. Usually, it was the opposite—Kakashi and the others would struggle with something for ages while Takeshi mastered it instantly.

Flying Thunder God? No problem. Tsunade's Super Strength? Easy.

But now, finally, there was something Takeshi couldn't do. And Kakashi? He took the chance to lecture. Unfortunately, Kakashi didn't understand.

Obito would've handled this differently. He wouldn't have gloated—he'd just give a simple "uh-huh" and move on, completely unfazed. A strategy Takeshi found infuriating.

Now then...

Kakashi was enjoying himself. Time to ruin it.

After letting him talk for a while, Takeshi stretched lazily and said, "I discovered my clan's inheritance has a special ability—Wind Release combined with Water Release. So I'm planning to develop in that direction."

Kakashi froze. His mind processed the words. Then, realization hit.

Special ability… Wind and Water…

'Damn it. That's just Ice Release!' He gritted his teeth. 'You have Ice Release in your hands, and you're out here worrying about Lightning Release!'

'Did you come here just to mock me?'

However, after careful consideration, Kakashi figured it out. Water Release combined with Wind Release could indeed produce Ice Release, but very few truly mastered it.

Perhaps this black cat did have heritage for potential to learn Ice Release, but that didn't necessarily mean the black cat himself had actually use it. If he had, he would have used it already—why wait until now?

To put it bluntly, this was just an experiment.

With that thought, Kakashi felt somewhat comforted. At least this damn cat was struggling just as much as he was. And upon further reflection, he began to understand why Takeshi was so determined to obtain both Lightning Release and Ice Release.

The Hozuki Clan.

The Hydrification Technique was countered by Lightning Release—a conclusion reached after countless battles between the Kumo and Konoha villages against the Hozuki Clan of Kirigakure. But Ice Release also had a certain restraining effect. If one could master both, they would have the perfect arsenal against the Hozuki.

In the end, they were all serving Konoha.

Kakashi found himself oddly moved by the thought.

Meanwhile, Takeshi stared at the panel before him, watching as his points increased by a mere 400. He sighed inwardly.

It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Having gotten used to increases of thousands of points, this income of a few hundred points felt insignificant.

Oh well, no big deal.

Once he fully mastered Ice Release, he could deal with those damn Hydrafication users properly—freeze them solid, bring them back like ice sculptures. Then points will come rolling in, won't they? Perfect.

Leaving Kakashi's alone, he quietly tested Ice Release in the forest. Ice formed with ease, and the more chakra he poured into it, the stronger it became.

Perfect.

He hadn't tried Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors yet, but the results would surely be impressive.

With that experiment done, the sting of spending 10,000 points faded away.

That night, Takeshi slept soundly.

Kakashi did not.

Takeshi's words had given him an idea, but now he faced a dilemma—should he focus on shape transformation first, or work on integrating ninjutsu with kenjutsu before tackling shape transformation?

He fell into deep thought, so he didn't sleep well the whole night.

The next morning, Takeshi woke early—not out of diligence, but because Shizune, acting on Tsunade's orders, had dragged him awake. They were relocating the camp.

This was a temporary base set up by the Uchiha Clan near the northern part of the Eastern Front. Tsunade, as the commander-in-chief, had no intention of keeping it there permanently. The new location was strategically placed between the three major camps, closest to the Hyuga Clan.

Had yesterday's events not happened, the alliance between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans would have been problematic. But now, the Hyuga had suffered a blow at the hands of the Hozuki, while the Uchiha weren't confident enough to face Kirigakure alone.

With the right coordination, their mixed formation could work. However, internal rivalries would still be an issue—one that Tsunade would have to manage carefully.

Upon arriving at the newly designated camp, many people had already arrived and started setting up essential constructions. What surprised Takeshi was that when he arrived, Ao and another Kirigakure ninja were also being escorted over.

Both were in miserable condition.

Ao had taken a direct hit from Takeshi's Rasengan, leaving him critically wounded. If not for Konoha's skilled Iryo-nin, he might not have survived the night.

As for the other prisoner, an Elite Chunin, he had been struck with Gentle Fist strikes from Hyuga ninjas, after being sent flying by Takeshi. He had been severely injured upon impact, with chakra points blocked he would heal quite slowly.

When they arrived, both were still on stretchers, accompanied by medical-nin…

Truly miserable.

Takeshi hadn't come for anything important—just to see Ao and play with him a little, maybe even squeeze a few more points out of him.

After spending 10,000 points, he couldn't stop thinking about how to earn those points back, he felt worse than his wallet being empty.

Since the ANBU intelligence squad who are also proficient in torture and interrogation hadn't arrived yet, Tsunade had allowed him to see the prisoners.

When Takeshi entered the tent, Ao was still unconscious.

Heavy seals had been placed on his body, and shackles bound his hands, leaving no chance for escape. As for biting his tongue to commit suicide...

That wouldn't work either. With a medical ninja stationed nearby, even if Ao tried, Konoha's medics would simply reattach and heal it. Just their presence would save the time from him trying suicidal techniques to avoid interrogation.

Takeshi walked in and immediately performed the Transformation Technique, changing into the appearance of another Kirigakure ninja. Then, he sat by Ao's bedside and waited.

Before long, Ao stirred and slowly opened his eyes.

"Ao-san, I am decided to join Konoha."

"What!?"

Seeing what appeared to be a teammate sitting beside him and uttering such shocking words, Ao was momentarily stunned. But he quickly realized the truth—this was a Transformation Technique. The person before him was a Konoha ninja.

"Forget it. If you're trying to extract information from me, don't bother. I am a Kirigakure Jonin. I will never betray my village."

His tone was firm, but his expression wavered.

Because in an instant, the figure before him morphed again—this time into a black cat. Not just any black cat, but the same ruthless one that had nearly beaten him to death in seconds.

"Meow~ Just messing with you."

A moment later, sharp claws raked across Ao's face, leaving several stinging cuts. They weren't deep, but they were painful enough to make him grit his teeth.

Satisfied, Takeshi turned and strutted out of the tent, head held high.

700 points gained, relatively speaking, this is not a small income from one individual for couple minutes of playing.

Given his dire shortage of points, he couldn't afford to be picky.

Of course, he hadn't come all this way just to bully Ao. Before leaving, he had subtly placed a spatial mark on him.

'Hopefully, the Kirigakure ninjas would launch an attack soon. If luck was on my side, maybe he'd capture another member of the Hozuki Clan...'

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