Chapter 49: A World Without Cat Toneri is a World in Darkness!

Chapter 49: A World Without Cat Toneri is a World in Darkness!

Tsunade dragged Toneri around until midnight, occasionally throwing a punch or kick.

In comparison, maybe Orochimaru was gentler?

Well, aside from the creepy, slippery snakes he liked to summon, the sinister way he spoke, his habit of licking his lips, and… actually, Tsunade also liked to work with slimy, sticky stuff.

The next morning, even with the Two-Tails' help, Toneri hadn't fully recovered; he'd had way too little sleep.

So, Toneri decided to take the morning off. He sent a Shadow Clone to train with Minato in the grove while he rested during class. Last night's pummeling from Tsunade had left his whole body aching.

If he didn't sleep in class, could he really say he attended?

Besides, they had planned to meet in the afternoon. Everyone had their own things to take care of, but Toneri and Minato were more diligent and showed up early.

Kushina would usually join them after her morning classes, sharing lunch in the grove and skipping the afternoon class.

Despite her "fearless" attitude, she was actually a stickler for rules. Skipping half a day of class was the most she could tolerate. She genuinely considered Toneri and Minato her friends; otherwise, she wouldn't skip at all.

Lethargic, Toneri headed to the ninja academy.

Strangely enough, this was his first time attending school in person since he enrolled. Normally, his Shadow Clone would take his place.

After becoming Orochimaru's apprentice, the number of ANBU watching him in secret had decreased.

Now it was mostly like the safety surveillance Kushina had, rather than monitoring him for out-of-control behavior.

With Orochimaru interacting with him daily, Hiruzen's trust in Toneri had risen sharply.

Orochimaru was naturally low-key, so most of Konoha didn't even know he'd taken a student.

Toneri preferred it that way—no need for everyone to know he was Orochimaru's apprentice. The fewer people aware, the better.

He had some small expectations for today.

According to the novels he'd read, someone would surely find his "arrogant" ways intolerable, challenge him, then end up getting beaten. That someone would also happen to be a clan member, and when a clan elder appeared, he'd simply reveal his connection to Orochimaru, making the elder terrified and begging for mercy...

Cliché as it was, he couldn't help but look forward to it a bit.

He wandered leisurely through Konoha's streets, taking his time.

Meanwhile, he sent a Shadow Clone to meet Minato by the river to practice the chakra control technique he'd learned from Tsunade last night.

"Huh? Kushina, why didn't you say hi?" Toneri spotted Kushina at the school gate, her bright red hair standing out.

Kushina gave him an exasperated look. Did he really need to ask? Didn't he know what he'd done last night?

Toneri scratched his head, not sure why she looked at him like that, and followed her in.

Women are such mysteries...

"The Red Hot-Blooded Habanero is here—run!"

"It's the red-haired demon—everyone, get out!"

As soon as Kushina entered the academy, exclamations of fear sounded everywhere, all expressing dread at her presence.

Kushina's face tightened upon hearing this. Her clenched fist loosened, and she quickened her pace toward the classroom.

Her classmates might have teased her occasionally, but at least they didn't openly mock her, and after so many years, they'd mostly accepted her.

As a result, she usually stayed in her seat and rarely left the classroom unless necessary.

These taunts had been around for years. She went from feeling furious and lashing out to silently enduring it over time. She'd grown used to the way people spoke about her.

But just because she could tolerate it didn't mean others could.

Toneri's face grew serious.

He knew that many people disliked Kushina, especially because of her red hair, which even led her to dislike it herself.

This was his first time walking with her through the school gate, and he realized that she faced this kind of reaction every day.

Her feelings must be complicated—anger, hurt, and probably even more resentment toward her own hair.

Toneri's usual carefree smile faded, replaced by a sharp look.

He felt anger—not only at those who mocked her but also a bit at Kushina herself.

If she had initially fought back against their ridicule, why did she eventually stop?

Yes, even if she beat them up, they would eventually mock her again.

But if it happened again, she could just keep fighting! Fight until they were afraid, until they respected her!

If they never stopped, she could silence them for good!

The more she backed down, the bolder they became.

Though, it wasn't all her fault. Other kids had parents who could report her to the teachers, and those teachers would report to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage himself.

Hiruzen would then warn Kushina to behave.

In the end, the kids thought it was their parents' intervention that scared her into submission, making them even bolder over time.

They took Kushina's tolerance as fear.

For some reason, Toneri suddenly thought of Naruto and the way he was treated in the future. He also thought of his own life as a jinchuriki.

Was this the fate of jinchuriki? Even if others didn't know she was one, they instinctively rejected her.

Toneri refused to accept that.

Why should a jinchuriki, bearing such an immense burden, also suffer endless ridicule?

Just as Kushina had felt a connection to him upon learning he was a jinchuriki, he couldn't deny that he also felt a bond with her.

Whether he was punched or not, it didn't change their friendship. Both Minato and Kushina had become his true friends.

Toneri couldn't deny he owed this camaraderie to Hiruzen's decision.

He clenched his fists and headed toward the loudest group.

Seeing this, Kushina tried to grab him, but he was ready and dodged her.

"Toneri, don't! They're…" She tried to explain, but Toneri was already in front of them.

Looking up at the boy, who was clearly a head taller, Toneri noticed a flame-fan crest on his chest.

The boy sneered down at Toneri. "You want to be a hero, kid?"

"Don't get me wrong. I just want… to beat the crap out of you!"

Toneri cracked his knuckles.

Boom!

Without hesitation, he threw his full strength into a punch, smashing it into the boy's face.

The boy was sent flying.

No chance to react.

Finally, Toneri had a chance to show off—his first step to becoming Konoha's "Little White Fang."

In a world without Cat Toneri, the way of the sword grows forever dull!

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