In reality, it wasn't just similar - it was essentially the same technique.
The only difference lay in the anatomical variations between cats and humans.
But Obito, lacking such knowledge, simply perceived it as something that looked different yet strangely familiar.
"In that case, uh, Obito, why don't you learn from Raj? As for the Eight Inner Gates, I'll ask around about the situation. If you can continue training, focus on mastering the Eight Gates. But it's best to avoid Forbidden Techniques as much as possible. I'll teach you another Ninjutsu later."
Minato felt awkward as he spoke.
He had promised to train Obito himself, but after some consideration, he realized Raj was better suited to teach him.
What a mess!
"Um, heh heh heh, learning from Raj would be great! Raj, I didn't mean to..."
Even his teacher was saying this.
It seemed there was no escaping this predicament.
Obito immediately caved.
'The Dead Black Cat's heart was smaller than a pinhole.'
He knew he was in for it, but if he surrendered now, at least he wouldn't suffer too badly.
"Meow!"
Raj wasn't angry, but he still planned to teach Obito a lesson later.
People needed to learn respect.
Obito had gone too long without discipline and had gotten cocky again.
Kakashi cast a sympathetic glance at Obito, but deep down, he couldn't help feeling a bit smug...
"Meow~ To master my technique, you must first become a cat."
'Are you kidding me? This is the Taijutsu you said was suitable for me?'
Obito wanted to punch someone to vent his frustration, but unfortunately, he couldn't beat Raj.
Kakashi, standing nearby, might have been a viable target, but there was no legitimate reason to attack him.
"Raj, stop joking around and teach properly," Minato said, his voice tinged with exasperation.
Minato knew Raj's personality well.
He often enjoyed playing pranks and causing mischief, but his intentions were fundamentally good.
Minato naturally held this view because he had never been subjected to the kind of daily torment Obito endured.
Different perspectives led to different experiences.
This was perfectly normal.
Raj valued Minato's opinion, not because the captain was stronger, but because he was the leader and Raj was merely a subordinate.
After Minato's reprimand, Raj began instructing seriously.
"Turning you into a cat is indeed a tall order, but you must carefully observe my movements. Also, I need an opponent, meow!"
Upon hearing this, Kakashi's face drained of color.
Finally... is it my turn?
Rather than wait to be called out, it would be more dignified to volunteer himself.
With this thought, he mustered his courage and stepped forward, saying, "I'll do it."
"Meow? Alright then. I was planning to use my Water Clone instead."
"..."
Kakashi felt an overwhelming urge to punch something.
'This cat has so many tricks up its sleeve. Whether I agree or refuse, it's all disgusting.'
He sighed in resignation and created a Shadow Clone.
'Kakashi, it's just a Shadow Clone. Grit your teeth and get through it.'
After mentally steeling himself, the emotionless Shadow Clone materialized beside him, strode up to Raj, and launched an immediate assault without a word.
In the blink of an eye, the clone drew its blade, crackled with lightning, and charged forward.
'He must have wanted to hit me for a long time now,' Raj thought maliciously.
But a mere Shadow Clone stood no chance against him.
Even Kakashi himself couldn't land a blow in his current state.
The cat's reflexes were unparalleled.
Raj transformed into a form roughly Kakashi's size.
As the clone lunged, it suddenly crouched low, braced its front paws against the ground, and kicked its hind legs upward, striking the Shadow Clone's jaw.
Boom!
The clone was instantly kicked skyward.
Raj shadow leaped into the air, landing behind Kakashi.
Its fur erupted in a frenzy of growth, binding Kakashi in an instant.
Then...
The cat's tail swelled, its tip sprouting countless razor-sharp fur needles, a truly terrifying sight.
The tail swung in a wide arc, like a meteor hammer, smashing into Kakashi's clone.
"Incredible!" Obito exclaimed, witnessing the terrifying power of the strike.
Kakashi was even more apprehensive.
But the arrow was already nocked.
Fear was useless.
He gritted his teeth, determined not to cry out in pain.
Boom!
The combined force of the razor-sharp fur needles and the tail's immense power sent man and cat plummeting from the sky like a meteor.
Thud!
The clone vanished.
Kakashi stifled a scream, but his undignified writhing on the ground betrayed his agony.
Gulp!
Obito swallowed hard.
Terrifying.
He was relieved he hadn't been chosen to experience that firsthand.
He'd have been too busy enduring the pain to even observe properly.
"Did you see clearly? If not, we can do it again, meow," Raj purred, his words laced with temptation.
If Obito answered "no," Raj would have forced him to create a Shadow Clone to endure the pain of the beating.
Though Raj had just used the Gate of Opening, this level of exertion wouldn't matter even during his fatigue period.
Meanwhile, Kakashi, still writhing in agony, was startled by Raj's words.
"Again?"
"Are you kidding me?!"
He glared at Obito, ready to draw his sword and beat him senseless if the boy dared to nod.
"No, no, no! I saw it clearly! I saw it clearly!"
Obito frantically nodded.
He had indeed seen it clearly.
'But that raised a new question: how could a human without a tail achieve such a feat? Could it be... using...? Hiss~ That's a bit extreme, isn't it?!'
"Ahem, it doesn't necessarily require a tail or anything like that," Minato kindly stepped in to explain.
"The tail is just the Cat's method. What Raj is teaching are Taijutsu techniques and methods of channeling force. With your Sharingan, you must have observed everything clearly. Now, you need to analyze it and develop your own approach."
Judging by Obito's expression, Minato could more or less guess what the boy was thinking.
"Is that how it works?" Obito blinked, then snapped out of his daze and began pondering.
His own techniques.
'Too bad...'
Raj sighed inwardly.
If Minato hadn't intervened, it might have squeezed out a few more Points.
Not much, but every little bit counted.
The thought of all the Ninjutsu it couldn't afford to exchange made it feel like it was going broke.
Next up was Kakashi.
Raj couldn't offer much help with Kakashi's training.
The Chidori technique was priced similarly to the Flying Thunder God Technique in the shop, making it something he didn't even want to look at.
How Kakashi and Minato would figure it out was up to them.
'I'm staying out of this.'
He began to feign practicing the Wind Release: Rasengan.
At first, he was just pretending, but after a few attempts, he discovered he could actually achieve the four-cornered state that Minato had demonstrated.