Naruto: Paws and Whiskers

"Fugaku-sama..."

"Act according to the plan. Don't let any of them escape."

Fugaku's already severe expression tightened, his frustration barely holding in. If looks could kill, the nearest tree would have been reduced to splinters.

"Yes!"

Had this been before the formation of the mixed unit, the Hyuga clan members might have scoffed at such a sight. But now, not a single one dared to show amusement. To laugh would be to invite Fugaku's wrath-and no one was willing to give Wicked Eye Fugaku an outlet for his frustrations.

Instead, they stifled their reactions and turned their attention back to the real enemy: the approaching forces of Kirigakure.

News of the enemy's landing spread swiftly through the Aburame clan's insect network, leaping from one outpost to the next until it reached the other two camps. Before long, Konoha's forces in the surrounding areas were also made aware of the incursion.

However, fighting the Hozuki ninjas required more than sheer numbers-conventional tactics would be ineffective against their Hydrafication Jutsu. Thus, only shinobi proficient in Lightning Release were deployed. 

While Konoha's Lightning Release wasn't particularly refined, even an accumulation of smaller efforts could prove effective against the Hozuki's formidable jutsu.

The last to receive the message was the base camp.

Not due to inefficiency, but out of caution. The information exchange between the Uchiha and the base camp had been deliberately severed to avoid alerting the enemy.

Tsunade received the intel via the Hyuga camp.

"Takeshi! where is Takeshi?"

A voice responded, with a slow drawl, "Meow~ I'm here. No need to call me so many times. If I don't get enough sleep, how am I supposed to deal with enemies?"

A sleek black cat slinked under the tent. Takeshi yawned widely, stretching before flicking his tail. "Just a few Kirigakure shinobi? Tch, even tied together, they're hardly worth worrying about. You already have the forces in place."

The Kirigakure invaders had not anticipated an organized resistance, let alone one that coordinated seamlessly across three major factions-Uchiha, Hyuga, and ANBU. Old rivalries had been cast aside for the sake of a greater objective. And in war, true cooperation was never as simple as one plus one.

"Go assist," Tsunade instructed. "Make it quick, and if possible, capture a few alive."

She leaned against her desk, her hands sifting through a mountain of scattered reports. The weight of war pressed down on her shoulders. If she had her way, she would never witness another bloodshed again.

"Meow? There were almost twenty of them, right?" Takeshi asked, recalling the earlier count.

"They came in two waves. Almost twenty in total," Tsunade confirmed. "Don't underestimate them. Minato and Kakashi are heading out as well-so your mission…"

She lifted her hand, fingers subtly indicating a height reference.

Kakashi's height.

At this stage in his life, Kakashi Hatake was far from the commanding presence he would one day become. He was still a short, unimposing figure. If not for his silver hair and signature mask, he would have been just another face in the crowd.

Takeshi's sharp gaze flickered toward the entrance, where a certain someone had been lingering just a moment too long.

*Hiss~* Kakashi is also developing perverted tendencies. He hasn't eavesdropped before. Sure enough, staying with Obito and Jiraiya for a longer duration makes people perverted...

Takeshi's tail swished, as his voice took on a lazy yet mocking tone, "Let Minato-sensei handle it. I have better things to do, meow. Kakashi's still a fledgling-he'd just slow me down."

The insult was as casual as it was cutting.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow at the remark, pausing for a moment before repeating, "Fledgling?"

Then, understanding dawned. Her brow twitched, though whether from amusement or mild irritation was unclear.

"Enough. Stop whining and get going already, or I'll give you something to really complain about."

Tsunade spoke in a calm, measured tone, but her words carried a deadly weight. This wasn't the kind of punch that left a bruise-it was the kind that could break bones. Jiraiya's wounds hadn't even fully healed yet.

Takeshi, sensing the danger, dropped his usual cheekiness. He slinked away from Kakashi's hiding spot, raising a single paw toward the tree where Kakashi was crouching. "Meow~"

"..."

Outside, Kakashi's grip on his sword tightened before he finally exhaled and relaxed his hold.

'Damn it! So he knew I was here the whole time… and said that on purpose for me to hear. Even knowing that, it still stung. I get it-I'm weak. But what am I supposed to do? Nine years old, an Elite Chunin-already considered a genius in Konoha. What more can I prove?'

"Where to?"

"Meow! Don't ask questions. Just follow me!"

Takeshi shot him an annoyed glance before leaping onto a branch, heading toward the Hyuga Clan camp. If there were two enemy squads, it made sense to eliminate the backup batch first.

'I wonder if its someone I know.'

---

Konoha's intelligence network moved quickly.

Within a day, even though Ao's squad had yet to extract information, the Yamanaka clan had already uncovered everything about one Kirigakure Chunin-down to his mother's name. Which happens to be some civilian named Sachiko.

The leaders of the two backup squads from yesterday were Yusuke Hozuki and Kaito Tsurugi-both Jonin, and among Kirigakure's more formidable ones.

Yusuke Hozuki's team consisted entirely of Hozuki Clan members, making them particularly difficult to deal with. Aside from him being a Jonin, the rest were Tokubetsu Jonin.

Tsurugi Kaito's team, however, was made up of Elite Chunin.

The Land of Water was remote, lacking the vast resources of the Land of Fire or Lightning. For Kirigakure, this configuration was already considered top-tier squad.

At that moment, the Kirigakure assassination squad had reached the outskirts of Konoha's base camp. Meanwhile, Yusuke and Kaito were crossing Uchiha-controlled territory.

'Something didn't feel right.' Kaito slowed his pace, instincts flaring. 'It's too quiet.'

Yusuke, noticing the hesitation, formed his head from his liquid body, giving Kaito a questioning look.

Tsurugi responded with a silent hand signal.

The Kirigakure secret code: 'Something is wrong.'

Most of the ninja in the border were from the Hozuki Clan or assassination squads infiltrating from the northern Land of Iron border.

But their squad was different.

Unlike the others, they weren't from the Hozuki Clan. And they had entered through the Uchiha's perimeter, drawing attention as part of their plan.

Yet no one had reacted to their presence. No alarms. No opposition.

"We might be walking into an ambush," Kaito murmured.

"What about Fuguki-sama's orders-?" one of his men whispered.

Kaito went silent.

Right... Fuguki Suikazan.

That man was not one to accept failure. If they abandoned the mission, returning would mean certain death anyway and a brutal one at that to make an example out of them.

With a resigned sigh, Kaito gestured forward, signaling them to press on. But just as he took a step, the rustling of leaves in the forest reached his ears.

As experienced shinobi, they didn't need to be sensory types to recognize it.

That wasn't the sound of animals.

It was the sound of people.

"Go ahead," Kaito commanded, voice steady. "We'll cause a distraction."

He formed a hand seal. Four of his men followed suit, weaving different ninjutsu in synchronized movements.

The trap had already been set. Now, it was a matter of who would strike first.

As the rustling in the forest grew louder, the enemy had already completed their hand seals.

"Fugaku-sama, they're using Water Release Ninjutsu!"

"Water Release? Counter with Earth Release! Now!"

Fugaku's eyes narrowed. Something was off. These bastards weren't just attacking-they were trying to flood the camp. But before he could react, the battlefield shifted.

A black blur shot across the terrain, rapidly expanding in size. In an instant, the sleek feline became a massive, rolling force of destruction, barreling forward like an iron boulder. It was reminiscent of the Akimichi clan's Human Bullet Tank, but far more terrifying-

**Boom!** 

The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, leaving a deep crater in its wake. Kaito had managed to evade, but his teammates weren't as lucky. One was crushed instantly, while the other two barely escaped-only to be ensnared by thick, wiry fur that coiled around them like living chains.

A blade gleamed in the moonlight. A swift arc of silver.

Hmm, just one left.

Tsurugi Kaito stood frozen, stunned by the sheer destruction and commotion, their primary mission was accomplished but this chaos hadn't come from his own squad. It was the enemy's doing.

"What are you waiting for? Move!"

Fugaku snapped out of his own momentary shock, barking the command before launching forward with *Shunshin Jutsu*.

As he moved, his Sharingan spun into full Three-Tomoe.

*Genjutsu!*

His plan was simple: ensnare Kaito in an illusion and finish him off with a well-placed blade. But-

Before he could execute, the black cat blurred into his vision, moving impossibly fast. Even with his sharinga's enhanced perception, cat was already behind Kaito before Fugaku could act.

Then-

**Boom!** One devastating swipe of his claws sent tremors through the ground. Kaito collapsed, unconscious.

"Meow~ Fugaku-senpai, I'll leave the rest to you."

Takeshi's voice was casual, with a wide smirk on his face. No wonder Tsunade loved using raw strength-it was just so damn effective.

Without missing a beat, he turned, sprinting along the riverbank toward the base camp.

The Hozuki ninja's must've passed through here already. If he didn't hurry, there wouldn't be anything left for him to claim. And if someone else caught one before him? No dice. Takeshi had to bring one in himself if he wanted a reward from Tsunade.

He wasn't about to miss out.

-------------------

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