Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Chapter 44: Beast Ears and Tail!?

Afterward, Katsuragi begins to experience the changes brought about by the Three-Tailed Fox's awakening. As his first shikigami and the one he has spent the most time with, Katsuragi has a special fondness for the Three-Tailed Fox. Moreover, if it hadn't been for the Three-Tailed Fox's power, he couldn't have survived until Hiashi saved him.

"This is..."

Since he is most familiar with the power of the Three-Tailed Fox, Katsuragi, when he calms his mind to sense the changes, immediately notices the differences from before. If before the awakening he had inherited only seventy percent of the Three-Tailed Fox's power, now he truly possesses all of it, granting him a speed that rivals that of a ninja, which finally provides Katsuragi with some security.

"I'm probably the strongest child in the ninja world now!"

The seven-year-old Katsuragi thinks to himself, somewhat smugly. In fact, not just among children, but even among many ninjas, those without special abilities or extensive combat experience would probably not be his match.

Of course, although Katsuragi is strong, he is still a child, and his small stature means he cannot endure or consume as much as an adult in battle. Thus, his current weakness is quite apparent: he cannot last long. If his opponent can hold out until he is exhausted, Katsuragi is sure to lose.

After the Three-Tailed Fox's awakening, Katsuragi notices another significant change: he can alter his own appearance, and not in the way transformation techniques do.

"Am I turning into a demon?"

Standing in front of a mirror, looking at the white fox ears and tail formed by his demonic power, Katsuragi feels a bit helpless. His originally handsome face seems to have taken on an enchanting quality, filled with a captivating charm.

Previously, he could only produce fox tails when using abilities, but after the awakening, it seems there are no more restrictions. He can use his demonic power to freely form tails and ears whenever he wishes.

"What's the use of this thing?"

Katsuragi touches the fox ears on his head; they're quite soft, just like real ones. The tail could serve as an additional means of attack, but the ears—were they just for show?

Just as he finishes thinking, the pure white ears twitch slightly, picking up several voices:

"Old man, what are we eating tonight?"

"Whatever you decide!"

"Then let's have porridge!"

"Okay, okay."

Katsuragi is somewhat dazed; these seem to be the voices of the elderly couple next door and the uncle, as clear as if they were speaking right beside him.

"Wow! Is this the hearing of a fox?"

Katsuragi is somewhat astonished. The Three-Tailed Fox's ears are this powerful; if he ever awakens the Mountain Rabbit and produces her ears, just how sensitive would they be?

"I wonder if Enenra and Yuki-onna, if they were awakened, would it be like this?"

Katsuragi is curious. He isn't sure if these abilities are divided by the type of demon or if each demon has unique powers. This is something he can only find out once he accumulates enough gold to awaken both Yuki-onna and Enenra.

...

In a forest within the territory of the Hyuga clan.

"Phew, phew!"

Neji, panting heavily, looks at Katsuragi, who is only slightly sweaty, and feels somewhat frustrated. He refuses to admit he is less diligent than Katsuragi, but the gap in their strength seems to be widening.

"Even though I'm also the top of my grade, how does Katsuragi train?"

Neji has a question similar to Sasuke's—actually, he is even more puzzled.

Being a member of the Uchiha clan, Sasuke certainly doesn't know about Katsuragi's situation with the Hyugas, but Neji often trains with Katsuragi. However, from their daily routines, there doesn't seem to be anything special.

"Do you want to take a break first?"

Seeing Neji lost in thought, Katsuragi, a bit bored, asks. With his current strength, using even a tenth of his power feels like bullying Neji. The only benefit of fighting Neji is to practice endurance.

"No, keep going! I'm going to defeat you today!"

Neji snaps back to reality, clenches his teeth, and assumes the Gentle Fist stance again. As a member of the Hyuga clan and with Byakugan already activated, he begins to learn their clan-specific martial art.

"Alright then, come on!"

Katsuragi shrugs, watching Neji calmly. As Neji attacks, Katsuragi's ears subtly twitch, and in the blink of an eye, he disappears, reappearing in another location.

"Hinata, why are you here?"

"Eh!" Surprised by Katsuragi suddenly appearing in front of her, Hinata, who had planned to secretly watch from the side, is startled. She stammers, "No... nothing, I just wanted to watch you train."

"Oh, is that so?"

Katsuragi smiles warmly and says, "Okay, watch from there. We're about to spar. Oh, and Hinata, if I win, how about a reward?"

"Eh!?" Hinata's face turns red, immediately understanding Katsuragi's implication, and says somewhat indignantly, "No... that's not possible! Neji... Neji will definitely... not beat you!"

Hinata, while naive and adorable, is not foolish. After all this time, Neji has never won once, so she clearly understands Katsuragi's superior strength.

"That's not necessarily true!"

Katsuragi quickly argues, "Look, Neji has been working so hard lately. His strength must have greatly improved. Maybe this time he'll defeat me!"

"Really? Neji, you just said you were definitely going to beat me today!" Katsuragi also calls out to Neji, who looks furious, effectively adding fuel to the fire.

"You...!"

Hearing Katsuragi's conversation with Hinata, Neji feels like he could ignite with just a spark. If he were stronger than Katsuragi, he'd really like to pin Katsuragi down and give him a good scrub.

"See, Neji looks like he's about to eat me. He definitely won't go easy, might even unleash 200% of his power and win!" Katsuragi, eager for his "evil reward," is quite desperate.

"But... but..."

Hinata stammers, unable to speak, though she thinks that even if Neji explodes with 250% of his power, he couldn't win. But seeing Neji, who looks about to explode, she doesn't voice this thought.

Eventually, Hinata succumbs to Katsuragi's "pitiful" gaze and bashfully agrees, "Okay... okay!"

"Yes!" Katsuragi cheers, then instantly moves in front of Neji, ignoring his furious expression, and urges, "Come on, Neji!"

Seeing Katsuragi's demeanor, Neji doesn't waste words. With a loud "Byakugan! Activate!" he attacks Katsuragi, his aura indicating he's unleashed more than 200% of his power.

End of Chapter 44