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After missing two attacks in a row, Natsume's temper completely exploded.
Her red eyes burned with anger. Her tail lashed violently behind her as she twisted in mid-air and launched a powerful kick straight toward Uchiha Lie's head.
This time, he did not step back.
Instead—
He caught her ankle cleanly with one hand.
"Let go of me!" she snarled.
She reacted instantly, swinging her other leg upward to smash into his chin.
But—
He caught that ankle too.
Now she was suspended upside down in the air, both legs firmly locked in his grip.
Her body swayed helplessly like prey caught by a predator.
Her face turned red—not from embarrassment, but rage.
"You bastard!"
In desperation, blazing red flames ignited in her palms. The fire crackled fiercely, growing larger in seconds. She prepared to slam the burning attack straight into his face.
However—
Before the flames could even get close—
Uchiha Lie swung her outward like a meteor hammer.
Her body cut through the air.
Bang!
She released a burst of demonic energy mid-flight, performing a nimble somersault before landing over ten meters away.
She slid back slightly, boots scraping against the ground.
This time, her expression changed.
No more carelessness.
No more arrogance.
Only seriousness.
"Very well," she said, voice low and sharp. "You really do have some skill. I'll stop playing now."
She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
In an instant—
Raging red flames erupted around her body.
The fire coiled around her like a living serpent, dancing and twisting. Her aura expanded outward, heating the surrounding air. Leaves near her feet began to curl from the heat.
Her red eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.
"Now," she declared arrogantly, "prepare to beg for mercy!"
Uchiha Lie rubbed his chin calmly.
"Fire techniques?" he muttered. "I'm not particularly talented in Water Release… but this should be enough."
Her eyebrow twitched.
"Stop looking down on me! Take this—Fireball Jutsu!"
She thrust both hands forward.
Several basketball-sized fireballs shot through the air like blazing meteors. The heat was intense enough to distort the air.
The forest trembled as the flames closed in.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
His hands formed seals rapidly.
He inhaled deeply—
Then expelled a massive stream of water.
The water rose instantly, forming a thick spherical wall around him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fireballs collided with the water barrier, exploding into clouds of white steam. The forest was soon covered in thick mist.
Natsume clicked her tongue.
"Tch. I hate water!"
She watched as the water wall dissolved into a rushing current that surged toward her.
Her body reacted instinctively—like a cat encountering a sudden splash.
She leapt onto a nearby tree branch, avoiding the flow entirely.
"So you're afraid of water," Uchiha Lie observed with a faint smile.
Before the current could fully fade, his hands formed seals again.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
The scattered water suddenly surged violently, gathering into a towering wave nearly ten meters high.
With a deafening roar—
The massive wave charged toward Natsume like a raging beast.
Her confident expression vanished instantly.
"You're kidding me?!"
Before she could escape—
The wave swallowed her whole.
Trees snapped. Rocks were pushed aside. The forest floor was reshaped by the rushing water.
Fortunately, the DĹŤri Oni who had followed her had already fled when the battle escalated.
The water thundered forward for several seconds—
Then gradually weakened.
Uchiha Lie had intentionally reduced the chakra output. There was no nearby river to replenish the technique, so the waterfall faded quickly, leaving only a shallow flooded area.
He stepped calmly onto the water's surface.
Walking across it as if it were solid ground, he reached the center.
There—
Natsume floated face-up in the shallow pool.
Her red hair clung to her cheeks. Her clothes were soaked. Her tail lay limp against the water.
Her earlier pride was gone.
She looked like a drenched, exhausted kitten.
He bent down and lifted her gently.
"Hey," he said lightly, "are you still alive?"
"Cough… cough…"
She spat out water and glared weakly at him.
"You… you did that on purpose… didn't you?"
Her voice trembled—not from fear, but humiliation.
"If you're going to kill me, just do it! My Big Sister Leader will avenge me!"
He placed her carefully on dry ground.
"I'm not going to kill you."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Then what do you want?"
He looked at her seriously.
"I want you to sign a Summoning Contract with me."
She blinked.
"A… what?"
"A Summoning Contract. You'll become my Summoning Beast."
Silence.
Then—
Her tail puffed up slightly.
"Absolutely not! I am a warrior of the Leopard Cat Clan! I will never submit to a human!"
He nodded calmly.
"I expected that answer."
He pulled out a scroll from the Kamui space and spread it open.
He placed his palm on it and channeled chakra.
Poof!
A puff of smoke cleared—
And a nearly one-meter-long fresh sea fish appeared on the ground, still twitching slightly.
The scent of salt filled the air.
He pointed at it casually.
"Let's forget the contract for a moment. How about some fish? Fresh from the seaside."
Her gaze locked onto the fish instantly.
Her nose twitched.
Her mouth moved before her pride could stop it.
She swallowed.
Her head nodded unconsciously.
Then she froze.
Realizing what she had done, she turned her face away sharply.
"Y-you think I can be bribed with one fish?! Don't insult me!"
Half an hour later—
A campfire crackled in the forest.
Around it—
A dozen golden-brown sea fish roasted over open flames.
Fat dripped onto the fire, sizzling loudly.
The aroma was irresistible.
Natsume sat cross-legged near the fire.
She held a roasted fish in both hands, biting into it eagerly. Oil glistened around her mouth.
"Delicious!"
Her earlier arrogance had disappeared completely.
She spat out a fish bone and looked at him with shining eyes.
"More."
He handed her another one without hesitation.
She bit into it happily, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
He watched her silently.
His preparations had not been random.
When he first heard from KĹŤzĹŤ about a cat yokai searching for the Shikon Jewel, he had guessed it might be the Leopard Cat Tribe.
He had prepared accordingly.
Sea fish.
Catnip.
Yarn balls.
Even small teasing toys stored inside Kamui.
He had previously worked with Ninja Cats of the Uchiha Clan. He understood feline habits quite well.
After being summoned to this world through Edo Tensei, his previous summoning contracts were no longer valid.
He needed a new summoning partner.
And the Leopard Cat Tribe—
Powerful.
Fast.
Intelligent.
Perfect candidates.
As she devoured her fifth fish, he spoke casually.
"You came alone."
She paused slightly.
"Yes."
"You're searching for the Shikon Jewel to resurrect your clan's leader."
Her eyes sharpened.
"How do you know that?"
He smiled faintly.
"Because ambition leaves footprints."
She looked at the fire silently.
The Leopard Cat Clan had once fought against the forces of Inu no Taisho.
After defeat, they were forced to leave the Western Lands.
Now—
They wanted revenge.
They wanted restoration.
They wanted their ancestral home back.
The Shikon Jewel was their key.
He studied her carefully.
"You're loyal," he said.
She stiffened.
"Of course I am."
"But loyalty alone isn't enough."
She looked up sharply.
"What are you implying?"
"If you want to protect your clan," he continued calmly, "you need strength beyond emotion."
She fell silent.
The fire crackled between them.
Then—
He unrolled the summoning scroll again.
"This contract doesn't make you my slave," he said. "It creates a bond."
She looked at it warily.
"You would call upon me in battle. I would provide strength when needed."
"And what do I gain?" she asked bluntly.
He looked at her directly.
"Power. Growth. And a partner who can push you further."
She frowned.
"I don't trust humans."
He shrugged lightly.
"Trust is built. Not given."
He reached into Kamui again.
This time—
He placed a small pouch of dried catnip beside the scroll.
Her nose twitched violently.
Her tail moved unconsciously.
She tried to ignore it.
Failed.
He hid his smile.
He had not been accepted by Mount MyĹŤboku as a summoner. The toads had never fully acknowledged him.
But here—
He could build something new.
A different path.
A different contract.
The firelight flickered across her face.
She stared at the scroll.
Then at him.
Then at the catnip.
Her pride fought hard.
Her loyalty resisted.
But curiosity—
Curiosity began to win.
"This contract," she muttered slowly, "doesn't mean I serve you?"
"No," he replied calmly. "It means we fight together."
The forest remained silent.
The flames reflected in her red eyes.
Finally—
She spoke.
"If I sign… and I grow stronger… and I can defeat you one day…"
He smiled slightly.
"Then I'll acknowledge your victory."
Her tail swayed thoughtfully.
For the first time since they met—
She was no longer acting out of anger.
She was thinking.
And somewhere deep inside—
The first seed of agreement had already been planted.