Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 128: Fishing, Anyone?

"Don't blame us; blame your Takigakure leader for siding with the wrong faction."

Tonari's tone was calm as he spoke, wiping the blood off his short blade using the clothes of a corpse lying on the ground.

With a practiced motion, he sheathed the blade, its metallic ring echoing in the air. Yet, despite his efficiency, Tonari's expression showed dissatisfaction.

"Puppets are still puppets. Their movements are too stiff. If my real body were fighting, these Takigakure ninja wouldn't have been such a hassle."

However, his thoughts shifted as he glanced at his teammates.

"Still, it's good practice for Yoshinari and Yoshino. They've come a long way from their first kills."

Indeed, both Uchiha Yoshinari and Nara Yoshino had changed. Their once hesitant expressions had been replaced by calm efficiency as they searched the bodies and carefully disarmed any traps the enemy may have left.

The two approached Tonari, shaking their heads.

"Forget it. They probably wouldn't have been able to catch any salamanders anyway. Let's not waste time—dump the bodies into the swamp. At least they'll serve as fertilizer," Tonari remarked.

The swamp had its advantages; disposing of corpses required no digging. A quick toss into the bog, and within minutes, no traces remained.

The Takigakure ninja were their first targets in this deadly exam, but they wouldn't be the last.

This year's Chūnin Exams weren't just a test for promotion; they were a microcosm of the tensions brewing between the major ninja villages.

The unspoken rule was simple: kill or be killed.

Tonari reminded his teammates, "Stay cautious. These Takigakure ninja were among the weakest participants. Our real opponents are the genin from the major villages."

His concern, however, was unnecessary. Yoshinari and Yoshino, once the softest among them, now wore expressions of cold resolve.

The trio had experienced too much during the mission where they had fought alongside Kato Dan and witnessed the harshness of battle. The weight of those memories had hardened their spirits, especially against Sunagakure.

Tonari noted their expressions and paused. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his stiff puppet face.

"Interesting. Something's happening nearby. Let's check it out—keep quiet and follow me."

With that, he leapt into the trees, his teammates following closely behind.

---

The Poison Mist Swamp was shrouded in a perpetual haze, the faint drizzle mixing with a thin layer of toxic mist that limited visibility.

Tonari and his team moved swiftly but carefully, eventually perching atop some tall trees. The branches creaked slightly under their weight, but they remained unnoticed.

Tonari extended his hand to stroke a small snake coiled around a branch.

While he still preferred the soft fur of cats, he had grown accustomed to the slick texture of snakes—thanks, no doubt, to Orochimaru's influence.

"Good work," he murmured, feeding the snake a small piece of meat before letting it slither back into his sleeve.

His attention then shifted to the scene below.

Two groups of ninja were locked in combat: Kusagakure versus Sunagakure. The fight seemed to revolve around a squirming salamander lying on the ground.

Tonari gestured for his teammates to remain still and watch.

The battle below was fierce. Though Kusagakure and Sunagakure were evenly matched in their use of poisons, the latter held an advantage with their puppet techniques.

Tonari's gaze fell on the Kusagakure leader—a young woman he recognized as Mogi Natsumi, the Grass Village leader's daughter.

As her comrades struggled, Natsumi bit her lip and threw several poisoned senbon at the Sunagakure leader.

The senbon struck a puppet with a dull thud.

"Natsumi," the Sunagakure leader, a boy named Kintora, sneered. "Hand over the salamander, and we won't make things difficult for you."

He manipulated two puppets with impressive skill, a feat that marked him as one of Sunagakure's more talented genin.

Natsumi scoffed, retorting, "Do you speak for all of Sunagakure? Or do you think you can take on the whole Rain Country to come after us?"

Kintora's expression darkened at her words.

Although Natsumi's words carried bravado, her team was clearly outmatched. Her two comrades were already on the verge of collapse.

Kintora chuckled darkly. "Don't think that being the Grass Village leader's daughter gives you immunity. I'll enjoy seeing your father's face when he learns you died here.

"And don't think that siding with Konoha makes you untouchable. Grass is a small village, and small villages should know their place."

Natsumi bit her lip harder, frustration and anger flashing in her eyes.

---

Watching from above, Tonari sighed softly.

The Kusagakure ninja were hopelessly outclassed. Their defiance over the salamander was pointless, especially when they lacked the strength to back it up.

Had they used the salamander as bait to lure the Sunagakure ninja into a trap, they might have stood a chance. Instead, they stubbornly chose direct confrontation, something they were ill-suited for.

Below, Natsumi executed a substitution jutsu just in time to avoid a fatal blow, reappearing above Kintora.

"Grass Style: Scattering Senbon Sakura!" she cried.

A shower of cherry blossoms filled the air, concealing dozens of poisoned needles aimed at Kintora.

Kintora's eyes widened as he swiftly maneuvered his puppets to block the attack.

The needles clattered harmlessly against the puppets, but Natsumi wasn't done.

Her final needles struck Kintora from an impossible angle, bypassing his defenses.

"You're not the only one who knows how to use poison," Natsumi spat.

Despite taking an antidote, Kintora stumbled, his vision blurring.

His puppets lashed out toward Natsumi, but a sudden barrage of kunai forced them back.

"Who's there?" Kintora demanded, his voice trembling.

Two voices answered in unison.

"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

A shadow immobilized one of Kintora's teammates while a roaring fire engulfed him, leaving behind only charred remains.

Before Kintora could react, a cold blade pressed against his throat.

"Well, well," Tonari murmured, his tone mocking. "Weren't you just saying something about killing all the Konoha ninja? Why not start with me?"

---

Kintora's teammates quickly fell to Yoshinari and Yoshino, leaving only him alive.

Tonari's short blade gleamed in the dim light as he smiled stiffly.

"You've heard of me, haven't you? Tell me my name," he demanded.

Kintora's voice shook as he stammered, "Konoha's… Little White Fang…"

Tonari chuckled. "Good guess. But not good enough."

With a swift motion, he slit Kintora's throat, watching dispassionately as the Sunagakure ninja collapsed.

"Too bad. I wanted all of Sunagakure to call me that."

---

With the Sunagakure team eliminated, Tonari turned his attention to Natsumi.

"Relax. We don't want your salamander," he said, sheathing his blade. "But I do want to know how you caught it."

Natsumi hesitated before explaining her village's method of using bait infused with trace poisons to lure amphibians.

Satisfied, Tonari took the bait she offered and smiled.

"Thanks. See you in the third round."

With that, the Konoha team vanished into the mist, leaving Natsumi to ponder her unlikely allies.

---

As they moved through the swamp, Yoshinari asked, "So, are we going fishing now?"

Tonari's smile grew mischievous.

"Fishing? Not quite. Let's see what we catch."

Yoshinari and Yoshino exchanged wary glances. Whenever Tonari spoke like this, someone was bound to suffer.

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(End of Chapter)

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