"I was going to give you two bags of cat food, Meow, but now..."
Raj tossed out one bag of Deluxe Cat Food and four bags of Ninja Cat Food, then set down Kabuto's box of Soldier Pills.
These Ninja Cats were still too weak.
Even Matatabi, at his strongest before mastering Ninjutsu, had been no better than this.
Raj hadn't asked recently, but judging by Matatabi's current state, he had undoubtedly mastered it and should be significantly stronger than before.
But it still wasn't enough.
"Take these two bags. As for the rest... Ori, distribute them to the other four later, Meow?"
"Yes, Lord Matatabi," Uzumaki Ori replied with a nod.
Matatabi deeply regretted his actions.
If he could do it again, he would have been more decisive and cheerful, instead of his current dejected state.
Otherwise, he could have gotten two bags of cat food instead of just one.
He knew firsthand the benefits of cat food, especially that last batch.
After eating it, he immediately fell into a deep sleep, and when he woke up, his physical abilities had significantly improved, along with a noticeable increase in his Chakra.
If it could get two bags...
The thought made it want to slap itself.
In reality, Raj only intended to give one bag.
No matter how much Matatabi pleaded, there would only be one bag of Deluxe Cat Food.
It wasn't being stingy; this single bag already cost over two thousand Points.
But Raj wouldn't reveal this truth to Matatabi.
'What else were subordinates' Points for if not to be harvested?'
'I provide Ninjutsu and cat food. Harvesting a few Points is hardly excessive.'
'Why should I feel guilty about spending Points when those benefiting from it aren't even grateful?'
After deliberately making a mess, Raj wrapped the blanket and stored it in its spatial storage.
With a wave of its paw, it said, "Meow~ I'm taking the blanket. Don't feel pressured here.
Feel free to go out and bask in the sun."
"Yes, Lord Raj," Ori replied softly, her voice tinged with happiness.
Raj found it odd.
When it first saved Ori, it genuinely intended to save a life.
But somehow, the situation had gradually morphed into something resembling "keeping a mistress in a gilded cage" or "maintaining a secret affair."
'Wait, I don't even have a girlfriend. How could I be keeping a mistress?'
The more Raj pondered, the stranger the situation seemed.
After the Flying Thunder God Technique teleported Raj away, Matatabi's gaze fell upon the cat food on the seat.
"Lord Matatabi, if you try to steal these four bags of cat food, I won't help you when Lord Raj finds out," Ori said with a faint smile.
"Meow!!! I didn't! I didn't do it! Stop making things up, meow!" Matatabi waved his paw in denial before swiftly fleeing.
Ori smiled faintly and placed the four bags of cat food in a small cabinet in her room.
Though young, she still remembered some of the tricks her clan teachers had used during her studies.
'Lazy? Don't want to learn? No more cat food for you!'
Only after mastering certain Ninjutsu would she give Matatabi the cat food.
While the final result would still be one bag per cat, the process would serve as significant motivation.
Raj hadn't considered this approach, but Ori was happy to help.
Leading students is a delicate art, a true test of patience and temperament.
Raj had always considered himself to have a decent temper.
After all, who hadn't been a struggling student at some point? Mutual understanding, right?
But now that he was actually in this position, mutual understanding seemed impossible.
The thought of having to lead Guy and his team tomorrow filled him with dread, as if facing an abyss of darkness and hopelessness.
This world devoid of hope... Sigh!
This world devoid of hope... Sigh!
Raj curled up in his nest, his heart heavy with melancholy.
'Forget it. I'll deal with whatever comes tomorrow.'
'Forget it. I'll deal with whatever comes tomorrow.'
After being infuriated by those fools Matatabi and his gang, he felt utterly drained, exhaustion pulling him under.
He might as well take advantage of the drowsiness and get a good night's sleep.
Initially, Guy and his teammates were unaware of their new teacher's arrival.
Furukawa Makoto, the Jonin who had been leading them, had left without explanation, simply instructing them to report to Lord Third for mission assignments and scheduling.
"What's our plan for today?" Genma Shiranui looked utterly drained, barely managing to keep his toothpick in his mouth.
"Fetching water? Farming?" Ebisu muttered, deep in thought.
Genin teams rarely received complex missions, especially without a Jonin present.
At best, they might get cat-catching assignments, but even those were usually reserved for higher-ranked teams.
Don't underestimate cat-catching.
While low-rank, it required skill, experience, and precision.
The cats had to be captured without a scratch; otherwise, the noble ladies would be furious.
Moreover, cat-catching required leaving the village, while fetching water and farming kept them within its borders.
"Alright! A new day, new missions! Let's go get some assignments!" Guy declared, clenching his fist with boundless energy.
However, the other two weren't nearly as enthusiastic.
They exchanged glances, and though Genma Shiranui couldn't see Ebisu's eyes behind his sunglasses, he sensed his equal frustration.
What kind of irresponsible Jonin is this?
Even Asuma and the others had been sent to the front lines, yet their team was stuck fetching water and farming.
Was this the fate of a ninja squad seeking vengeance? A neglected team, unwanted by either father or mother!
"Sir, we're here to accept a mission. Will it be fetching water or helping with the farming today?" Guy rushed forward eagerly to inquire about their mission as soon as they reached the mission assignment area.
He didn't mind the low-level tasks like fetching water or farming; after all, his father, Guy, had been doing such missions for over twenty years and still served Konoha faithfully.
The Chunin teacher in charge of assigning missions to Genin glanced at the register, then looked up with a peculiar expression.
"Hmm... Team Guy has new arrangements. If you wish to accept a mission, please have your Team Leader Jonin come here."
"Team Leader Jonin?" Genma Shiranui and Ebisu shouted in simultaneous delight, then slapped hands and began cheering wildly in the hall.
"A Team Leader Jonin? For our team?" Guy asked, barely daring to believe it.
After being left to their own devices for so long, had the village finally assigned their Jonin, Furukawa, to other duties?
It was truly a miracle!
"Yes, for your team, but..."
"Great! Let's go find the Jonin!" Guy let out a joyous shout, then dragged Genma Shiranui and Ebisu out of the Hokage Office, leaving the Chunin who had assigned them the mission sitting there with a strange expression.
He had been debating whether to tell them about the Jonin's identity.
Raj...