"So, the two of you really are idiots."
Uchiha Kamito said.
Even now, he still didn't understand.
There was clearly a much simpler way, and it was only a test.
As fellow transmigrators, was it really necessary to go this far?
Senju Hideki and Inuzuka Ryoha looked at each other and smiled.
"To be able to completely test the strength of our bodies without dying—opportunities like that don't come around often."
Inuzuka Ryoha said with a grin.
Beside him, Inuzuka Rinko looked at him with a face full of heartache.
"It's not just that we didn't die. Tsunade-sama is the strongest medical ninja. We only look miserable right now. Honestly, it's just a few surface wounds. Any internal injuries were healed long ago."
Senju Hideki said with a smile.
"Tch. People from the Senju clan really don't use their brains."
Uchiha Kamito said.
Whether it was their personalities, their way of doing things, or simply the fact they were from the Senju clan—he just couldn't stand them.
"Shikuro, that thing succeeded, didn't it?"
Aburame Shiken said in surprise.
"Everyone, I've got something to do. I'll leave first. Let's talk another day."
After saying that, Aburame Shiken hurried off toward the Aburame clan grounds with Aburame Shibi and Aburame Shikuro.
"That guy must've made some kind of weird new bug again."
Hyūga Hiyasu said.
"Who knows. Disgusting and targeted as always. Hiyasu, doesn't he feel like Iron Man and Batman? Always having a countermeasure prepared for everyone."
Uchiha Kamito walked over and said.
"Um… what are Iron Man and Batman?"
Minato Namikaze asked from the side.
These friends of his often said things that no one else could understand.
Yet they communicated with each other perfectly.
If he didn't see them every day, Minato might've thought they lived in a completely different world from him.
"Oh, Iron Man and Batman? Those are our newly decided codewords. Next time's reconnaissance password will be that."
Uchiha Kamito said casually.
Originally, he had cared a lot.
But later he realized—who in this world even knew what Iron Man or Batman were? And besides, the Aburame clan had always been strange. If you played with them long enough, not being weird would be the abnormal thing.
Aburame clan: ???
"Minato, I'm heading home. I've got a ninjutsu I need to study. Damn it, why do I have to be in the same class as Aburame Shiken?"
He waved as he spoke and walked off.
"Oh, bye Kamito."
"What's wrong, Minato? Something confusing you?"
Hyūga Hiyasu noticed the puzzled look on Minato's face.
"Hiyasu, I just don't understand. It feels like we're all in a hurry. You, me—everyone. At this age we should only be just starting to learn chakra, but we all began five years ago."
"Hiyasu, imagine this: one day Kushina is killed right in front of you. How would you feel?"
"I'd go crazy."
"Not just crazy. Your heart would hurt—an unbearable, tearing pain. And you'd feel like… if you were gone, why should I even keep living?"
"Kamito lost his sister. Hideki lost his family. Ryoha and Rinko… as for Shiken, I don't know. He hides things too deeply. Even now I have no idea what he's working so hard for."
"What about you, Hiyasu? Do you have something precious like that too?"
"Me? Maybe I do, maybe I don't. But I don't want to drag everyone down. I think Shikaku and the others feel the same way."
Nara Shikaku: I don't. I just feel like if all of you are extremely outstanding and I don't work hard, the gap will get too big. Then when I go home I'll get scolded by my parents—no, by my mother. That would be too troublesome.
Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance to explain.
Because a new ramen shop had opened on the street.
Chōza insisted on going to try it.
Wait.
A ramen shop?
"Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku"… had it officially launched?
After the remaining few exchanged opinions about their teacher, they looked again at Senju Hideki and Inuzuka Ryoha, who both wore expressions like they'd just made a huge profit.
Well then—comforting them might as well be replaced by comforting themselves.
Today they didn't get to eat dango.
Very depressing.
After that, everyone went home.
...
The next day.
My name is Fat Meow.
I am a majestic and heroic cat, handsome beyond compare.
Although my weight is already approaching 20 kilograms.
But that's entirely that fat woman's fault.
Ten meals a day—what kind of life is that for a cat?
So today, I began my first escape.
I jumped out the door.
Familiar Konoha.
Tall walls.
Fresh air.
Freedom really is precious.
Hm? What's with this bug? Completely ruining the scenery.
With a swish—
It felt like I was suddenly floating in midair.
"So heavy."
Who are you calling heavy?! I'm only 20 kilograms, okay?! How many of you humans are even 20 kilograms? Don't slander me!
"So annoying. Genjutsu."
So sleepy…
Those blood-red eyes.
Evil Uchiha.
While losing consciousness, I vaguely heard someone say—
"Mission complete."
When I woke up again,
I had once again returned to that familiar place.
But who do you think I am?
I'm Fat Meow!
How could such a tiny setback extinguish my longing for freedom?
I dodged left, I dodged right, avoiding my disgusting female owner's massive pounce.
Then I performed a graceful waltz, teasing the evil owner's accomplices—her servant minions.
Once again I escaped through that familiar doorway.
Next time—
No, I never want to see that door again.
Freedom, here I come again!
"Woof! Woof!"
Where did this stray dog come from?
Fat Meow turned to look—and all its fur stood on end.
Where did such a huge dog come from?!
"Woof! Woof!"
Run!
You run, I chase. Even if you grow wings, you won't escape.
A cat and a dog began staging a thrilling, high-speed chase across Konoha.
"Ryoha, isn't treating the mission target like this a bit… inappropriate?"
Inuzuka Rinko said.
"How could it be? Life lies in movement. Just look at that fat cat—it obviously doesn't exercise much. We're helping it get some proper training. Maybe the client will even thank us later."
Fat Meow: That's nonsense! What do you mean I don't exercise?! Do you know how many laps around Konoha I run every day?!
"Woof! Woof!"
"Sumimaru, you want to go too?"
"Woof! Woof!"
"Alright, go ahead. Be careful."
"Woof! Woof!"
Catching cats—every dog's favorite activity.
Moments later,
Fat Meow once again returned to that familiar place.
Once again dodging left and right.
Once again performing a waltz.
Once again leaping across that familiar doorway.
This time I definitely won't come back.
Ten minutes later—
The familiar scene.
Why is that blond kid so fast?
Let's end things here today.
Tomorrow I'll definitely keep trying.
Sigh…
Why is my body moving on its own?
I didn't even want to escape this time!
It ran straight toward Pineapple Head, Blond Ponytail, and Big Fatty.
Yamanaka Inoichi: "Shikaku, isn't what we're doing a little… unfair?"
Nara Shikaku: "It's fine. I've observed it several times. It's already escaped three times today. One more won't make a difference. Instead of searching the whole village later, it's better to act first."
Akimichi Chōza: "As expected of Shikaku!"
Sakumo Hatake covered his face.
Kids these days really had dark hearts.
But earning an extra bit of income was always good.
For genin team missions, the supervising jōnin got half the payment.
Happy, happy.
Fat Meow, who understood everything: He's cheating! Isn't anyone going to stop him?! I only planned to escape three times today! Don't add extra quotas!