Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 167: Strategizing the Ninja World

The Second Prince continued to stroke the white cat in his arms, his expression shifting with thought.

The man behind him, a powerful ninja, had approached him the previous night. This mysterious figure promised to help him secure the Daimyo's position and even assist in secretly building a military force.

The condition? Full support from the Land of Fields. He, the soon-to-be Daimyo, had to commit fully to their cause.

This military force would not only grant him some autonomy but also provide him a certain level of influence. Of course, all of this needed to be carried out in utmost secrecy. For the time being, the Land of Fields would still rely on the Land of Fire and Konoha for its external needs.

The Second Prince was unlike his ambitious elder brother. From the start, he had never thought himself capable or deserving of becoming the Daimyo.

But now, his brother, full of grand ideals, had perished before assuming power.

If given the opportunity to become the Daimyo, who would refuse? Even at the cost of family ties.

And now, before him, lay not just the Daimyo's position but also the chance to fulfill his brother's long-held dream of creating a military force for the Land of Fields.

It felt like a gift from the heavens.

"Are you sure all I need to do is provide a secluded place for you and grant you certain autonomous rights?" the rotund Second Prince asked again for confirmation.

The black-cloaked man nodded, adding, "And funding."

"Oh, yes, some financial support as well."

"Correct. You've seen our sincerity. I trust you'll make the right decision. However, should you ever breach our agreement, remember: the same way we dealt with your brother, we can just as easily deal with you. I'm sure your other siblings would be more than willing to take your place as Daimyo."

The Second Prince hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his pudgy hands, stroking the cat in his arms nervously. "Of course, of course. Honesty is the most important virtue."

Knowing when to yield is even more crucial, the black-cloaked man thought to himself.

"Good. Since you trust us, we trust you. But remember, we'll be watching you at all times. Don't disappoint us." The black-cloaked man raised two fingers, pointing first to his eyes, then to the Second Prince.

The glowing green eyes beneath the hood were eerie, like something from the depths of the abyss. The Second Prince shuddered involuntarily at the sight.

"It's time to leave. If that guy dies, we'll lose money," the black-cloaked man muttered to himself.

With their agreement finalized, he didn't linger. With a swift leap, he exited through a side window of the Daimyo's tower. In just a few blinks, he disappeared from view.

Only after the man left did the Second Prince exhale deeply, stroking the white cat in his arms to calm his nerves.

But he didn't notice the subtle glint of intelligence and emotion flickering in the cat's eyes.

---

Meanwhile, Tonari was sprinting through the dense forests, leading the half-Tailed Beast-transformed Han away from the Daimyo's palace and the Land of Fields' capital.

Whether Han still retained his consciousness, Tonari couldn't be sure. Judging by Han's frenzied behavior, there seemed to be some lingering will, but it was likely clouded by the beast's instincts.

He'd probably fixated on one thing: killing Tonari.

After running a considerable distance and ensuring there were no other presences around, Tonari finally came to a stop.

Boom!

An entire swath of forest collapsed as the three-tailed Han landed heavily, his guttural roars echoing through the trees. His appearance was feral and menacing.

Though three tails had manifested relatively quickly, the fourth had yet to emerge even after significant time had passed. Whether it was due to Han's own will suppressing it or the inherent difficulty of reaching that state, Tonari couldn't tell.

The white energy surrounding Tonari began to dissipate as he deactivated the Eight Gates. His flushed skin and bulging veins slowly returned to normal.

But the aftermath of using the Eight Gates was excruciating. A deep, bone-penetrating pain wracked his body, causing him to grimace and draw sharp breaths.

Unfortunately, Han, now dominated by his beastly instincts, showed no intention of giving Tonari a reprieve.

Han opened his maw, and a dark sphere of energy began to form within. Simultaneously, blue energy from the surrounding forest and sky converged at the sphere's edges.

Tonari's face paled.

Ignoring his pain, he bit into his thumb and quickly formed hand seals with precise movements.

"Summoning Jutsu—Triple Rashōmon!"

A dual-layered summoning seal appeared on his palms. Such a large formation was necessary to summon the colossal defensive gates.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the heart of the forest, three towering gates erupted from the ground, each nearly a thousand meters high—like three massive mountains piercing the sky.

This was the Triple Rashōmon, the strongest defensive technique Tonari had learned from Orochimaru.

Each gate featured a grotesque, gaping demonic face, seemingly mocking anyone who dared attack.

The Rashōmon gates were said to be the infernal gates guarding the underworld, summoned to absorb and nullify incoming attacks. Summoning three simultaneously created Tonari's ultimate physical defense.

The gates worked in stages: the first absorbed the attack's power, the second reduced its force, and the third dispersed its energy. Together, they formed an impenetrable barrier against most physical assaults.

But even such an incredible defense paled in comparison to the destructive power of a Tailed Beast Ball.

Whoosh!

The dark sphere shot forward.

Tonari couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Now I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of a Tailed Beast Ball."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The three Rashōmon gates held valiantly, but the immense power of the Tailed Beast Ball proved too much. Despite significantly weakening the attack, the gates eventually crumbled.

The remnants of the blast carved two massive trenches through the forest, each several kilometers long and over a hundred meters wide. The Rashōmon had redirected the force, sparing Tonari from the brunt of the explosion.

Crawling out from beneath the softened earth, Tonari looked disheveled but unharmed.

However, Han—drained after expending his chakra for the attack—was visibly struggling to maintain his form. His chest heaved, and his movements slowed.

"Not bad, but this is getting out of hand..." Tonari muttered.

"How's this mess coming along?"

A low, gruff voice cut through the air.

Tonari turned to see a familiar figure descend beside him—the black-cloaked man from the Daimyo's tower.

"You're late. Look at the mess here! I almost died. If it weren't for my skills, I'd be dead by now," Tonari snapped, clearly annoyed.

The man casually pulled back his hood, revealing a face crisscrossed with stitches.

It was Kakuzu.

"You're still alive. Guess you're as hard to kill as ever," Kakuzu replied, unamused.

"Don't just stand there. We don't have much time before more Iwa-nin show up. Get moving!" Tonari barked.

Kakuzu rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Two years ago, I couldn't kill you. Now it's even harder. If you're so tough, give me your heart already."

Despite his complaints, Kakuzu shed his cloak, revealing the four masks on his back and the fifth embedded in his chest.

With all five hearts intact, Kakuzu was at full strength.

Tonari began weaving hand signs as a summoning jutsu circle formed beneath him.

"Seal Formation: Four Paths Subjugation!"

(End of Chapter)

---

Read up to 20 chapter ahead of time on patreon.com/Legendryweeb

{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}

*Thank you*