A few minutes later, in an underground corridor:
Granny Cat, beaming, pulled out a book titled The Complete Guide to Meatballs and announced the details of their mission.
"Granny Cat, there's something I need to discuss with you privately."
"Of course, dear Sasuke," Granny Cat replied with a warm smile. Turning to Naruto and Sakura, she said, "Why don't you two wait here for a moment? Tamaki, please take care of our guests."
"Yes, Grandmother."
Sasuke and Granny Cat then walked deeper into the corridor, one after the other.
"Sasuke, I apologize for what happened earlier," Granny Cat said as soon as they sat down in a nearby room. "You must have realized by now that Yugito is the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails. The Two-Tailed Matatabi shares a deep bond with my clan of Ninja Cats, and Yugito occasionally visits me. I never imagined your encounter today would end so unpleasantly."
"Granny Cat, you needn't apologize. The reason I came to see you has nothing to do with that incident," Sasuke said, shaking his head and cutting straight to the point:
"Granny Cat, does this mission have anything to do with Uchiha Itachi?"
"Has he come to see you before?"
Granny Cat exhaled a puff of smoke and shook her head. "I'm sorry, little Sasuke, but I can't reveal anything about Itachi to you, just as I've never told him anything about you."
"I understand," Sasuke nodded, ceasing his questioning.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Sasuke rose to take his leave, returning to the room where Naruto and Sakura had been waiting.
Together, they embarked on the mission they had been assigned.
The scene shifted to Konoha.
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage listened intently to the Anbu's report on the incident in the Empty District. His brow furrowed deeply, and after a long silence, he nodded solemnly. "I understand. You may withdraw."
"Yes, sir!"
After the Anbu operatives left, the Third Hokage picked up the report again. The more he read, the darker his expression grew.
He sighed inwardly, 'What a nuisance.'
"Shikaku," the Third Hokage said, turning to the silent Nara Shikaku beside him with a wry smile. "Do you think we should attempt diplomatic communication with Kumogakure to explain this situation?"
Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment before advising, "Third Hokage, I strongly recommend against that course of action."
"Oh?" The Third Hokage straightened up, his face now serious. "Explain your reasoning."
"According to the information Yamato provided, the Kumogakure kunoichi is a Jinchūriki. She's slender with straight, light brown hair. Her identity is likely Nii Yugito, the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tailed Matatabi."
Nara Shikaku nodded, analyzing the situation calmly and methodically. "Nii Yugito fought on the battlefield during the last Great Ninja War and clashed with Konoha shinobi. Based on our colleagues' recollections of those encounters and our intelligence reports, Yugito is an arrogant ninja, supremely confident in her own abilities."
"Yamato's report on the battle between Sasuke and Yugito clearly shows that she underestimated him, putting her at a distinct disadvantage and resulting in a minor defeat. Someone as proud as her would never report such an incident to her superiors or boast about it to anyone. Instead, she would secretly resolve to settle the score someday."
"After all, Sasuke is still just a Genin, while she is a prominent figure in Kumogakure. There's no need to worry about this escalating. If we approach Kumogakure with an explanation, we'll only draw their attention to it."
The Third Hokage remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.
"Let's hope you're right."
Regaining his composure, the Third Hokage shifted to another topic.
"I've decided to send Kakashi to lead Team Seven on the mission to the Land of Waves. What do you think, Shikaku?"
Nara Shikaku replied gravely, "The Third Hokage's foresight is admirable. Sending Kakashi's team is the most appropriate choice for this mission. I imagine the Third Hokage has also dispatched other teams to covertly assist, correct?"
The Third Hokage smiled. "Indeed. The mission to the Land of Waves is of utmost importance. Konoha must not allow Kirigakure's schemes to succeed!"
His voice rang with steely resolve, a stark contrast to his earlier hesitation when discussing Kumogakure.
The two men exchanged a knowing glance and a silent smile, their understanding unspoken.
__
That evening, in a mountain city not far from the Empty District...
"How is this possible?! You! How did you become so powerful?"
In the dimly lit palace, a massive white cat with a scar over its eye lay sprawled on the tatami mat, staring in disbelief at the calm young man standing a few meters away.
Beside the white cat, a group of trembling Ninja Cats huddled, covering their faces in terror.
"It seems Uchiha Itachi truly did strike some kind of deal with you," Sasuke said, his gaze sweeping across the room.
As Sasuke's gaze swept across them, the Ninja Cats paled visibly, their fur bristled, and they lowered their heads even further.
"You little ones, you may leave now. I need to have a serious discussion with your leader alone."
The Ninja Cats of Cat Mountain City were all from the Empty District, and even Denka had been raised by Granny Cat.
Sasuke had merely given them a beating, refraining from using excessive force.
Otherwise, with his current power, these Ninja Cats would have been reduced to dead cats.
The Ninja Cats trembled and nodded frantically. "Young Lord Sasuke, we'll take our leave now."
No sooner had the words left their mouths than the group scattered in panicked disarray, none daring to look at their leader, Denka.
Veins bulged on Denka's forehead as he cursed these cowards and traitors inwardly.
"Tell me," Sasuke asked calmly, his gaze fixed on Denka, "has Uchiha Itachi contacted you recently?"
"No, no, Young Lord Sasuke," Denka hurriedly shook his head, denying the claim. "Itachi hasn't contacted me recently. Today's incident was because... because..."
Denka hesitated for a long moment, ultimately refusing to reveal any information about Uchiha Itachi.
"Forget it, I'll just look myself."
With that, Sasuke activated his Sharingan and cast a Genjutsu.
Moments later, Sasuke extracted the information from Denka's mind.
"Is that all?"
Sasuke was somewhat disappointed. It was nothing more than a pact Uchiha Itachi had made with Denka long ago, hoping the cat would someday test Sasuke's full strength.
Another trial, masquerading as brotherly love.
However, based on his deductions, Sasuke figured Uchiha Itachi must have recently contacted Granny Cat.
That's why she issued the claw print collection mission at this specific time.
'Did he hear I graduated successfully and want to test my strength using Matatabi?'
With this thought, Sasuke glanced at the trembling Denka, tossed it The Complete Guide to Meatballs, and said coolly, "Go ahead and leave your clawprint."
Seeing Denka obediently imprint its clawprint, Sasuke continued, "If there's nothing else, return to the Empty District early. Wandering around outside all day and making your elders worry isn't good."
With that, Sasuke gathered the collected clawprints and left the palace under Denka's terrified gaze.
___
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