Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 10: Screw It, I'm Done Being Human!

Tonari had no idea about the events unfolding back at the caravan.

At this moment, his mind was fixated on one thing: getting to the Land of Fire as quickly as possible!

After a night of relentless travel through the dense forest, even with his experience navigating such terrain, his clothes were torn, and scratches marked his face and body.

The soldier pills he carried kept him from collapsing outright.

Staring at the boundary marker that signified the border of the Land of Fire, Tonari remained on high alert.

The closer he got to safety, the more he needed to be vigilant. Crossing into the Land of Fire didn't mean immediate safety—Konoha was still a considerable distance away.

Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "Phew… I don't know if it's my innate awesomeness or the soldier pills doing their job, but I'm not feeling as tired as I expected after traveling all night and into the morning."

He ran a hand through his unkempt hair, his tone self-mocking.

Sustainability was the key!

As if reminded of something, Tonari touched his stomach and murmured, "Or maybe… it's you, Big Beauty."

As a first-time Jinchūriki, Tonari wasn't entirely sure about his newfound abilities.

Looking at his arm, where his torn clothing revealed a small cut made by a sharp branch, he noticed that the wound, which he had wiped clean of any blood, had already healed without leaving a scar.

The sight shocked him. He remembered the anime where Naruto, thanks to the Nine-Tails, could recover quickly from even severe injuries.

"Maybe this is one of the few perks of being a Jinchūriki," he mused, running his fingers across his face. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about my handsome face getting scarred!"

Chuckling to himself, he pressed forward. The border of the Land of Fire was now in sight.

However, just as he lifted his foot to cross the threshold, his instincts screamed at him. His hair stood on end, and a chill shot down his spine.

He rolled to the side without hesitation.

Thud!

A black kunai embedded itself into the tree where he had just been standing. The blade quivered slightly, and the tree itself shook faintly from the impact.

"Huh?"

A low grunt came from behind. Perched on a tree branch not far away was the Cloud Village tracker ninja, the same one with the unique summoning beast on his shoulder. His white mask obscured his face, and his muscular frame seemed out of place for someone known for stealth.

The Cloud Ninja was genuinely surprised. He had been tailing Tonari for some time and had waited until the Land of Fire's border to strike, confident that his target was a non-shinobi child without chakra. Yet, the boy had evaded his first attack at the last second.

This piqued the ninja's curiosity. Although he found it hard to believe that a child could be involved in the chaos surrounding the Two-Tails, it was his mission to pursue any lead related to the tailed beast.

Of course, the mission was to bring the boy back alive, so he had held back on the kunai attack. But even with his restraint, the boy's reflexive dodge was unexpected.

Crouching where he had rolled, Tonari ignored the dirt covering his clothes and turned to face his attacker.

His pupils shrank as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

A Cloud Anbu operative!

Though his expression remained grim, his heart sank.

The worst-case scenario he had dreaded had come to pass.

Seeing the mouse perched on the ninja's shoulder, Tonari quickly pieced together how he had been tracked.

No matter how careful he had been, he had underestimated the abilities of a trained shinobi. Without firsthand experience, his understanding of their capabilities was inherently limited.

Swish!

In an instant, the Cloud Anbu vanished.

Tonari barely caught a shadowy blur in the corner of his vision.

Another roll saved him from a potential strike.

Even though he knew his chances of escaping were slim, surrendering was not an option.

Only one thought echoed in his mind:

If I survive this, I'll stay hidden until I gain the strength to fight back! Just one chance, that's all I need—then I'll play it safe until the very end!

Thud!

The Cloud Anbu appeared where Tonari had just been crouching. This time, his surprise was evident. Twice now, his attacks had missed.

Although not a combat specialist, as a tracker, his physical abilities were still formidable. It baffled him that a child with no chakra could evade his strikes.

Tonari scrambled to a safer spot, remaining in a crouched stance, ready to move at a moment's notice.

This particular stance, which he had honed on the battlefield, allowed him to maximize his leg strength for quick bursts of speed.

Though barely able to perceive the Anbu's movements, the fact that he could see anything at all gave Tonari a glimmer of hope.

If I can see him, he's not unbeatable. He's probably not a Jōnin… maybe not even a Chūnin.

The Anbu seemed to sense Tonari's growing confidence. With a faint hum, he drew the short sword from his back.

Curiosity flared behind his mask.

What kind of child could evade his attacks without chakra? And why was there no trace of fear in the boy's eyes?

Without a word, he twirled his blade in the air, signaling the end of his playful approach.

This time, he wouldn't hold back.

Swish!

The Cloud Anbu vanished again.

Tonari's eyes darted wildly. Where? Where? Where?

There!

Thud!

The Anbu reappeared before him, one foot raised high.

By the time Tonari saw him, it was too late.

"Ugh—"

Hot blood surged up his throat, spilling from his mouth.

The kick to his stomach landed with devastating force, sending him flying. His frail body couldn't withstand such a powerful blow.

The ridiculous hope he clung to was mercilessly mocked by the vast gap in their strength.

There was no contest.

Screw survival instincts!

---

Tonari hit the ground hard, his body tumbling uncontrollably.

The only thing he could do now was curl into a ball, using his hands to shield his head from rocks and tree trunks.

That was the extent of his resistance.

In short: completely powerless.

Screw it all—I'm done being human!

(End of Chapter)