Shinji Hirako, please meet your lord!

"Collection!"

[Collection successful, do you want to make a request?]

A flicker of anticipation gleamed in Shiroishi's eyes.

Who would respond from across the countless worlds to Uchiha Shisui's characteristics? What kind of abilities would the chosen Ninja Cat gain? How powerful could it become?

And, what kind of reward would he receive?

"Make a request!"

[You have sent a request to the heavens and all the worlds. In the vast universe, countless eyes turned toward you, and an existence named Shinji Hirako responded to your call.]

[You received an A-level response.]

A glowing orb of white light appeared in Shiroishi's hand, pulsating with energy.

"Shinji Hirako..."

Shiroishi's mind quickly sifted through the information he had on this figure.

In the world of the Shinigami, Shinji Hirako wasn't frequently at the forefront, and his record wasn't overly impressive. But he was a captain-level being, and his Zanpakutō had a unique and formidable power.

When released in Shikai, the blade emitted a subtle fragrance. Anyone who inhaled it would find their perception flipped—up became down, left became right, and even the direction of attacks and defense became reversed.

And after attaining Bankai, this ability grew even more dangerous, distorting the very reality and cognition of those trapped within it.

However, it came with a catch—it didn't distinguish between friend and foe. This limitation made it tricky to use, but in the right circumstances, Shinji's power could turn the tide of battle. One man could become an army.

"Because Uchiha Shisui excelled in genjutsu, it makes sense that the responder would share expertise in illusion and mental manipulation."

"There's also an uncanny similarity in their experiences."

"In their respective worlds, both suffered betrayal from within."

"Shinji Hirako was deceived by his own vice-captain, while Uchiha Shisui was ambushed and robbed of his eye by Shimura Danzo."

"Both stood at the heart of complex, dangerous situations, caught between loyalty and betrayal."

Shiroishi mused on the connection between the two. "Maybe that's why Shinji Hirako resonated with Shisui's characteristics so strongly."

"But this... A-level response. What could it really mean?"

His gaze drifted to the ninja cats scattered nearby. 

Shiroishi extended his hand and gently tossed the glowing white orb towards the ninja cats. However, most of them seemed completely unaware of the orb's existence, only observing Shiroishi's seemingly empty gesture. Confused by his lack of apparent action, they quickly lost interest.

But one cat saw it—a slender orange tabby, not the typical plump variety, but one with a long, sleek body. Though it often appeared lazy, there was always a keen intelligence in its sharp, alert eyes. This orange cat noticed the glowing ball and, without hesitation, pounced toward it.

As soon as the orange tabby made contact, the white orb merged into its body. The cat froze, and then, in an instant, it was engulfed in a brilliant white light, forming a glowing cocoon around it.

Moments later, cracks began to spread across the cocoon.

"Crack!"

An orange figure stepped out.

It was the same orange cat—but no longer the same in appearance. Now, it stood upright, clothed in an outfit that was reminiscent of something out of the world of the Shinigami—like the attire of the reapers, though with its own unique, feline flair. The cat's aura had shifted, now bearing a striking resemblance to that of Shinji Hirako.

There were two types of ninja cats in the Uchiha compound.

One type was immature ninja cats, virtually indistinguishable from regular cats, save for being stronger and more intelligent.

The other type was the mature ninja cats, who could walk on two legs, speak the human language, wear clothes, and use ninja tools. These cats were somewhat similar to the Inuzuka family's ninja dogs or Kakashi's summon pack.

However, the orange tabby standing before Shiroishi now was something more—a step beyond even the mature ninja cats. It was almost fully humanoid in its form and movement.

The orange tabby saluted sharply. "Shinji Hirako, reporting for duty, sir!"

Text suddenly appeared beside the transformed cat.

[Name: Shinji Hirako (cat).]

[Gender: Male.]

[Strength: Elite Jonin (can be further improved).]

[Weapon: Reverse Caress (Shikai level).]

[Abilities: Perception Distortion, Instant Step.]

Shiroishi smiled in satisfaction, feeling a surge of excitement.

An elite Jonin-level ninja cat was far beyond anything he had anticipated. And this was only the beginning—Shinji's power still had room to grow. If he could rise even further, reaching Kage-level, this cat could become a force to be reckoned with.

In the Fourth Great Ninja War era, even when Jonin-level shinobi were relatively common, a Kage-level warrior could still dominate the battlefield.

For Shiroishi, the appearance of Shinji Hirako marked a turning point. With an elite Jonin who was entirely loyal to him, Shiroishi now had a significant layer of protection. As long as no Kage-level ninja or multiple elite Jonin came after him, he was relatively safe.

And this was just the beginning—his first ninja cat.

The thought of collecting more favorability points from others stirred excitement within him. With each collection, he could summon more ninja cats, steadily building a formidable force under his command.

"If I gather enough ninja cats, even the night of the Uchiha genocide won't be a threat to me. I'll survive, no matter what happens," Shiroishi thought, determination solidifying in his mind.

Suddenly, another voice echoed in his head.

[You successfully cultivated a ninja cat and received a reward. Do you wish to claim it?]

Shiroishi didn't hesitate for a second.

"Claim!"

[You have received a strengthening!]

A surge of power rushed into his body. Shiroishi could feel his chakra pool expanding, growing deeper and more potent. The energy then began to focus on his eyes, and in the next moment, he felt a sharp, almost burning sensation in them.

A flash of red flickered in his gaze.

A single tomoe slowly rotated around his pupil.

"Sharingan!" Shiroishi murmured as he stepped toward a mirror, a mix of awe and emotion rising within him.

He had always known that his body's talent was mediocre. At thirteen, even after a year of graduating from the ninja academy, he was still far from becoming a Chuunin. Uchiha Shisui, who was the same age, had already become an elite Jonin, and the name "Shisui of the Body Flicker" was known throughout the entire ninja world.

But now, as he gazed into his own reflection, his Sharingan staring back at him, Shiroishi felt a flicker of hope.

"It's not too late to awaken the Sharingan at thirteen," he told himself, drawing strength from the thought. "Uchiha Madara didn't unlock his Sharingan until he was a teenager, either."

He smirked, recalling the legendary Uchiha. "Madara had the power of Indra behind him, but I'm not so different. The system that backs me is even stronger than Indra's."

Shiroishi turned his attention back to the ninja cats lounging nearby. His newly awakened Sharingan spun in his eyes, and everything felt different. His vision was sharper—details and movements that once seemed imperceptible were now crystal clear. His observational skills had heightened to an entirely new level.

"No wonder Uchiha ninjas become so much stronger after unlocking their Sharingan," Shiraishi mused, his thoughts racing as he pondered the newfound power in his eyes. "Just having dynamic vision alone is an enormous advantage."

His lips curved into a slight smirk. "And that's not even mentioning the Sharingan's exclusive genjutsu. Now, in terms of basic abilities, I've finally reached the level of a Chuunin."

Shiraishi leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of his accomplishments. "This is the change that Shinji Hirako's appearance has brought me," he reflected, satisfied. "One enhancement granted me the Sharingan. If I can receive a few more boosts like this, my strength might even surpass the Kage level."

With a deep breath, Shiraishi allowed his eyes to return to normal, the magatama in his Sharingan fading away as his irises darkened back to black. He sank into his chair, contemplating his next move. His thoughts drifted to the next person he might want to increase favorability with.

Uchiha Shisui came to mind. They had been friends for a while. But in truth, Shiraishi didn't have many close friends. As he was lost in thought, two figures approached the ninja tool shop—one after the other.

The first one entered quickly, his voice abrupt. "Two explosive tags and a sword," he said, businesslike.

"Right, give me a second," Shiraishi replied. He turned, disappearing into the storage room to gather the requested items. After handing them over and accepting the payment, his attention shifted to the second person who entered.

"Senior Shiraishi," a young voice called out.

Shiraishi's gaze landed on Uchiha Itachi. At nine years old, the boy already carried an air of maturity that seemed far beyond his age. His dark hair, longer than Shisui's, framed his face and fell to his shoulders. Despite his youth, his expression was serious—perhaps too serious for someone his age.

"Itachi," Shiraishi greeted with a nod. "Good morning."

Itachi's gaze flickered around the shop. "Is Nekobaa here?"

Shiraishi shook his head. "No, she's on a long journey. I'll be looking after the shop in the meantime. If you need anything, just let me know, and I'll get it from the back."

Itachi, however, shook his head. "I'm actually looking for Shisui-senpai. Someone mentioned he might be here."

"You're a bit late. Shisui was here earlier, but he already left after buying some tools."

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you know where he went?"

Shiraishi shrugged. "No idea."

"Thank you," Itachi said softly, before turning and heading out of the shop.

As Shiraishi watched him leave, he raised an eyebrow, noticing something unusual. He had always kept track of the favorability scores of those around him, and to his surprise, Itachi's favorability score was quite high—66. That was unexpectedly impressive, considering their limited interaction over the years.

Shiraishi pondered it. They had barely crossed paths during their time in the ninja academy. When Itachi entered, Shiraishi was still there, and by the time Itachi graduated early, Shiraishi had yet to move up in ranks. Their only real connection seemed to be through Uchiha Shisui.

Still, 66 was high.

However, Shiraishi quickly dismissed the thought of focusing on Itachi as a target for further favorability gains. Something about Itachi didn't sit right with him. He couldn't shake the unease, especially knowing what was to come—the Uchiha clan's future genocide.

Both Itachi and Shisui played pivotal roles in the tragedy. But in Shiraishi's mind, Shisui's motives had always been more complex, more conflicted. He cared deeply for Konoha but also held his clan close to his heart. Itachi, on the other hand, seemed to prioritize Konoha far more, and Shiraishi couldn't accept the idea that even innocent members of the Uchiha clan—civilians—had been slaughtered under Itachi's hand.

"If Itachi truly feared a civil war, if he believed the radical faction of Uchiha posed such a threat, he could have dealt with them alone," Shiraishi thought grimly. "He could have taken on that burden himself, become a rogue ninja to deflect the clan's hatred toward him. That would've lessened the tension between Uchiha and the village."

But no. Itachi, in Shiraishi's eyes, had chosen a different path—one that didn't sit well with him.

Before Shiraishi could reflect more deeply on Itachi, Shinji Hirako's voice broke his thoughts.

"You don't like him, do you?" Shinji said, standing by Shiraishi's side, his cat-like form as sharp as ever.

Shiraishi glanced at him and nodded. "You saw that?"

Shinji smirked. "I'm perceptive in these matters, you know."

Shiraishi chuckled to himself. In the world of Bleach, Hirako Shinji was one of the first to notice Aizen's treachery. It seemed this ninja cat had inherited some of that perceptiveness as well.

"I don't like him," Shiraishi admitted.

"Want me to keep an eye on him?" Shinji suggested, his tone casual yet keen.

Shiraishi shook his head. "No, that's not necessary. Your job is to protect me. Just make sure to stay out of sight when others are around, keep your presence hidden."

"Understood," Shinji replied, and with a nod, he returned to his quiet corner, blending seamlessly with the other cats lounging around the shop.

The rest of the ninja cats went about their usual routines—eating, sleeping, and occasionally venturing outside for a bit of fresh air or lounging beside Shiraishi, offering their warmth and softness.

A small white cat leaped onto Shiraishi's lap, curling up comfortably as he stroked its soft fur. It wasn't until noon that Shiraishi finally rose from his chair, dishing out the food that Nekobaa had left for the ninja cats.

After feeding them, Shiraishi decided to leave the Uchiha compound for a while and made his way to Konoha's bustling commercial street. The familiar aroma of ramen wafted through the air as he approached Ichiraku Ramen.

"Shiraishi!" Teuchi called out as Shiraishi entered the shop.

With a smile, Shiraishi sat down at the counter. "Hey, old man, and hello to you too, Ayame," he greeted Teuchi and his daughter warmly.

"What'll it be today?" Teuchi asked, already grabbing the ingredients.

"One serving of tonkotsu ramen, please. And double the portion."

"Coming right up!"

As Shiraishi waited for his food, he reflected on his few friends. Even though Itachi's favorability toward him was surprisingly high, he had no intention of pursuing that relationship further. Instead, his eyes lingered on Teuchi and Ayame.

Above Teuchi's head, a simple text appeared: [76. For those who like ramen, it's not too bad.]

Shiraishi chuckled to himself. "76? Not bad. But judging a person based on how much they like ramen… that's a little childish, isn't it?"

Next, he glanced at Ayame.

Above her head, another text appeared: [85. Shiraishi is a gentle, handsome, and mature younger brother who will definitely become a good husband in the future.]

Shiraishi blinked in surprise, unable to suppress a small, amused smile. "Well, that's certainly… unexpected."