Chapter 19: I Want A Cat!

Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!

And like always, remember if you want to read up to 12 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

I'm currently updating the novel 2-8 chapters a day in patreeeeon. On chapter 31 so far, though by the end of today it will be chapter 33-34.

Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz

Enjoy you sexy bastards.

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Today, like any other day, after my training with Itachi, I came to the forest alone to train with Teresa, the not-so-imaginary friend inside my head.

Right now, I stood in a clearing deep within the forest, away from prying eyes. The sun filtered through the dense trees, casting shadows on the ground. I could feel the weight of the Claymore in my hands, as I panted, my muscles aching from the exertion.

"Tired already?" Teresa questioned, tilting her head playfully.

"A bit, but I'll manage," I replied, taking a deep breath.

"The key to mastering the Phantom Mirage is not just speed but precision and control," Teresa repeated, for like the tenth time today.

I took a deep breath, centering myself. The technique Teresa was teaching me, the Phantom Mirage, was one of the many techniques she knew. She didn't really use it because her natural speed was more than sufficient for anything she ever had to deal with.

I was already able to use the Phantom Mirage. It had taken me less than two days to learn how to use it, but being able to use the technique and mastering it were two entirely different things in the eyes of Teresa. The process entailed a split-second burst of chakra enhancing my speed to the point that I leave an afterimage of myself.

The problem came with repetitive use.

I was able to use the Phantom Mirage around thirty-five times, maybe forty if I didn't come particularly tired from my training with Itachi that day, before I started to show clear signs of exhaustion. There was also the fact that the Phantom Mirage had some movement problems. It didn't allow for free movement just yet, meaning I had to stop for a second to change my trajectory before using the technique again.

For Teresa, this was unacceptable.

Her goal was simple: me mastering the technique to the point it would allow for more precise movements and, most importantly, near-limitless usage. We wouldn't stop practicing until the Phantom Mirage became second nature to me, going from a technique to a movement as natural as breathing.

"Start with the basics," Teresa instructed, pointing at one of the trees ahead of me. "Visualize your target and move with purpose. Speed alone won't suffice if your movements are erratic."

Nodding, I pushed off the ground, using the technique. One moment I was standing still, the next I was on the other side of the clearing. Wasting no time, I turned on my heel, using the Phantom Mirage once more to return to my original position.

I repeated this process again and again, a blur of motion in the otherwise serene forest, feeling how, with each new burst, my chakra reserves dwindled, draining faster. Maintaining control over the technique became significantly harder.

"Again," Teresa said. "Remember, precision and control. You are putting too much emphasis on the energy aspect of the technique when the technique itself doesn't necessarily need chakra or Yoki to be used. Your chakra is just there to increase the efficiency of it, if needed."

I gritted my teeth and tried again. This time, I concentrated on the flow of my movements, trying to accomplish the technique with nothing but physical effort. I moved swiftly, but slower than usual, and for a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of an afterimage lingering behind me.

"Better," Teresa acknowledged. "But you need to sustain it. Keep your movements fluid and continuous. Though credit where it's due, you almost managed to use the technique without chakra."

Hours passed as I continued to practice, each attempt bringing me closer to the goal. Teresa was an unforgiving teacher, pushing me to my limits and beyond with no qualms for anything. Despite the exhaustion, I felt a strange exhilaration, a sense of progress and growth that spurred me on.

"You're improving," Teresa noted, a faint smile on her face. "Eventually, you should be able to take it up a notch. Combining your speed with your strikes, making your afterimages an extension of your attacks."

That… sounded unimaginably cool, and I wanted that now.

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After hours of training with Teresa, I started my way back home, feeling a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. I was learning more and more as the days went by. I could honestly feel my abilities growing stronger each day. As I walked through the familiar streets of Konoha, spotting a black cat on my way, I found my thoughts drifting towards something else, something I had been wanting for a long time but my parents kept saying no to: a pet.

I had always loved animals, especially cats, and the idea of having a little companion was appealing. I had asked my parents multiple times before, but they had always refused, citing various reasons.

However, today was a new day. With my spirits high from the progress in my training, I felt a renewed determination to ask them once more. Besides, even if they said no, I could always ask them another day. There was nothing to lose, but a lot to gain here.

Smiling, I entered our home. My parents were in the living room, my mother reading a book while my father worked on some documents regarding some orders for his shop. They looked up as I walked in, their expressions softening into smiles.

"Welcome back, Takeshi," my mother said warmly. "How was training?"

"Tiring but productive," I replied, placing my Claymore by the door. "I've been making progress."

My father nodded approvingly. "Good to hear. You've been working hard. As expected of my boy, soon he will be working the ladies of Konoha hard, hehe, like his old man in his prime."

My mother glared at him for his crude remark, causing my father to chuckle sheepishly.

"That was until I met you, honey, you know that," my father added hastily, trying to appease my mother while flashing her a sheepish grin from across the room. She simply rolled her eyes in response, but I caught the ghost of a smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

I just sighed and rolled my eyes at the scene, used to his odd sense of humor. Then again… he seemed very serious every time he said things like this.

I took a deep breath, gathering my resolve. "Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you both about."

My mother raised an eyebrow, setting her book aside. "Oh? What is it, dear?"

"I was thinking," I began, choosing my words carefully, "about getting a pet. A cat, specifically."

Both my parents exchanged glances, my mother's face immediately showing concern. "Takeshi, you know I'm allergic to cats," she said gently.

"I know, Mom," I replied quickly. "But I've been reading about hypoallergenic cats. They produce fewer allergens and might not trigger your allergies as much. And I've really wanted a pet for a long time. I promise I'll take full responsibility for it."

My father leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You've asked about this before," he said slowly. "And we've always said no. But you've proven yourself to be responsible and dedicated to anything you start, so if you can find a cat that won't trigger your mother's allergies, we might consider it."

I smiled. "Really?"

My mother sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "If it makes you this happy, we can at least look into it. But the moment it affects my health, we'll have to reconsider."

"I understand," I said, trying to keep my excitement in check. "Thank you, both of you."

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The very next day, we visited the local animal shelter. Why so soon? I was not going to let my parents change their minds. The staff was helpful, guiding us to the section where they kept hypoallergenic breeds. Among them was a small, black, sleek cat with bright green eyes and a curious demeanor. I felt an immediate connection.

"She's perfect," I said, looking at my parents hopefully. She had all the requirements they had put for a potential pet: she was hypoallergenic, was potty trained, and was adorable. That last one was a me requirement, but potato, potahto.

My mother knelt down, reaching out to the cat. The little feline sniffed her hand before nuzzling against it, purring. My mother's smile widened. "She is quite adorable."

It was almost as if the little cat knew it depended on my mom whether or not if she was adopted.

My father nodded in agreement. "Alright, Takeshi. If this is what you want, we'll take her home. But remember, you have to take care of her, feed her, clean after her, everything, the entire deal."

"Are you guys sure you want this little gal?" one of the staff members asked, looking between my parents and me.

"Yes," I answered definitively, grinning as I looked down at the black furry creature that was now playfully batting at the edges of my mother's scarf. "We're sure."

From there on, things moved fast. Or maybe I was just hyper for having a pet. Who knows? The only thing I know is that I could hardly contain my joy as we completed the adoption process and brought the cat home. I named her Tsuki, which meant Moon. I know, a cliché, overly used name, but I liked it, and that was enough for me.

"We need to buy a few things for her," my father said, looking over at Tsuki as she pounced on a tiny speck of dust, her green eyes filled with playful determination for world domination. "Food, a litter box, toys..."

My mother nodded in agreement. "I saw some pet stores on the main street when we were out for a walk last week. We could go there."

I nodded, smiling at them.

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Later that night, after having set up all the things Tsuki needed in my room, from her litter box to her food, water, and toys, I laid on my bed, watching Tsuki explore my room, her tail twitching with curiosity as she ventured into every corner, under every piece of furniture. Her green eyes shimmering in the low light, catching glimmers from the moon that streamed in through my window.

"You are the most adorable thing in Konoha, you know that?" I asked, watching her do her thing.

Tsuki's ears perked up at the sound of my voice, her whiskers twitching as she glanced my way. She seemed to consider my words as if understanding them before letting out a small, appreciative mew, quickly vanishing under my desk. I had always wanted a pet, and now I had it. Of course, being a shinobi in training meant I had to balance care for Tsuki with my daily training and studies.

I wasn't too worried about it though. If my schedule ever became too tight, I could always use a clone. Before I could ponder on that thought for much longer, a strange sensation washed over me. My senses, honed by the rigorous training with Teresa, were now finely tuned to detect even the subtlest shifts in chakra around me.

And right now, something felt off.

I closed my eyes, extending my awareness outward, trying to pinpoint the source of the disturbance. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but definitely there: a chakra signature appearing and disappearing at the edges of the village, sometimes inside the village in different locations like the Uchiha District, The Memorial Stone, and… a few different places I didn't know. The pattern was erratic, and the sensation reminded me of Minato's Jutsu, but in a different way…

Maybe I was wrong comparing the sensations, seeing I had only seen the Hiraishin in action on two occasions, both where Minato was showing Itachi and me his technique under Kushina's request to show us how awesome he was. But the sensation behind this chakra felt remarkably similar to the sensation Hiraishin left behind after being used, at least, on a fundamental level.

The Hiraishin and this strange chakra felt like… something vanishing out of existence before reappearing somewhere else.

Perhaps whoever was entering the village was using a technique similar to the Hiraishin, meaning that whoever I was feeling was possibly using space-time ninjutsu to do what he was doing.

I furrowed my brow, focusing harder. This chakra signature was different from anything I had encountered before. It wasn't just the strangeness of its behavior, but the quality of the chakra itself. It felt... unearthly, unnatural, almost alien, compared to the familiar energies of those within Konoha.

This was a security concern. I had to let someone know.

Fugaku was the head of Konoha's police, and Minato was the Hokage and the only expert in space-time ninjutsu in the entire village.

I had to let them know.

Whoever this intruder was, they were skilled, evidently more skilled than I was prepared for. Based on how they moved, they knew how Konoha's security operated, at least enough to know where to go without a patrol seeing them.

I had a bad feeling about this.