Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 146: The Gathering of Ten Thousand Cats

"Tonari, are you okay?"

Reika stared at the man lying on the lab table, her face full of worry.

Tonari struggled to sit up. No matter what, he knew that if he couldn't resolve his own issues, even seeking out Orochimaru wouldn't help much. Fortunately, during the ride back to Konoha on Little Blue's back, he had already devised a rough plan.

He glanced at Reika. "I might need your help later."

Reika nodded resolutely. "No problem!"

Tonari reached over to the lab table and grabbed a scroll. Unrolling it revealed a special sealing array that contained all the Yin Release chakra he had gathered during his experiments.

He unraveled the seal, releasing a dense concentration of black chakra into his palm.

"I can't fully integrate Hashirama's cells with my own just yet. For now, I'll have to seal them off."

There was no other choice. Like Danzō, Tonari decided to seal the affected arm temporarily.

He released his control over Matatabi's chakra, allowing the black Yin chakra to flow into his elbow. The cold energy surged through his arm, bringing a chilling sensation akin to being plunged into an icy abyss.

"Good thing I asked Kushina to work on this with me beforehand," Tonari muttered as he retrieved another scroll from his pouch.

This one was far larger, and the sealing formation drawn upon it was even more intricate. However, this particular seal wasn't storing anything. It was designed purely for containment.

Since his left arm was barely functional, Tonari turned to Reika for assistance.

"Reika, help me activate the Evil Suppressing Seal."

"Got it!"

As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Reika had a natural affinity for seals and chakra control. While Tonari had painstakingly learned the Evil Suppressing Seal from Kushina, Reika had mastered it far more quickly. Her proficiency now even surpassed his.

Reika formed a series of hand signs with precision and speed, pressing her hands onto Tonari's arm. Within moments, dark markings spread across his pale left arm, left behind by the seal.

Applying the Evil Suppressing Seal was no small task. But as the special chakra secreted by Hashirama's cells was contained, the pressure on the Yin chakra at Tonari's elbow eased. This allowed him to regain better control over his own chakra and use ninjutsu again.

Despite the searing pain in his left arm, Tonari clasped his hands together to form seals. Pressing his left palm onto the larger scroll, he activated the containment seal.

A virtual wheel-like formation emerged, floating above the scroll before wrapping itself around Tonari's arm like bandages.

However, the seal consumed chakra far faster than Tonari anticipated. Matatabi's chakra was already occupied suppressing Hashirama's cells, leaving him to draw from his own reserves—which had been severely depleted after his battle with Kakuzu and the subsequent journey back to Konoha.

Reika noticed his struggle. She bit her lip in hesitation, then rolled up her sleeve.

Over the past year, her Uzumaki resilience and Tonari's medical teachings had erased the bite marks that once covered her arm. Without a word, she extended her arm toward him.

Tonari hesitated, seeing the determination in her eyes. After a moment's pause, he bit down on her arm.

"Hnn—!"

Reika let out an involuntary whimper, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. She quickly bit her lip to stifle any further sounds.

The sensation surprised Tonari. The warmth of her skin and the rush of pure, untainted chakra flowing into him were intoxicating. It wasn't just chakra—her vitality also coursed through him, rapidly healing his lingering internal injuries.

The experience was addictive.

No wonder Karin had suffered so much in the original timeline, her body drained by too many people relying on her ability.

Still, Tonari retained his composure. Once his body felt restored and his chakra reserves replenished, he reluctantly released his bite.

Reika's flushed face paled slightly, but she simply smiled faintly, shaking her head when Tonari muttered an apology.

She had accepted the possibility of becoming Tonari's "personal battery" when she chose to follow him, but she hadn't expected him to treat her so well. Unlike her time in Kusagakure, where she was nothing more than a tool, Tonari saw her as a friend—a member of his team.

---

With his chakra fully restored, Tonari resumed the sealing process. The markings from the Evil Suppressing Seal became enveloped in the layers of the larger containment seal. By the time the process was complete, his arm resembled a carefully wrapped package, stabilized for the time being.

Finally, he allowed himself a sigh of relief. "It's done… That was way too close for comfort."

Despite the danger, Tonari felt a small sense of satisfaction. His gamble with Hashirama's cells had paid off, albeit barely.

---

Testing his left arm, Tonari willed a wooden tendril to sprout from his palm. The slender branch extended until it matched the length of his short blade, then snapped off into his grasp.

"Not bad," he mused, though his expression quickly turned wry. "But if this is my limit, my so-called Wood Release won't impress anyone."

Although he could generate wood, his limited chakra reserves and the seal's restrictions greatly hindered his potential.

Looking at his pale, black-streaked arm, Tonari sighed. "Guess I'll have to keep it hidden for now."

Wrapping the arm in clean white bandages, he completed his new look. To an outsider, it might resemble the style of certain members of Akatsuki.

---

Turning to Reika, Tonari handed her a small vial. "Here's a specialized restorative. It should help you recover quickly."

Reika accepted the medicine without hesitation, swallowing it in one gulp.

"I'm heading out again soon. The task I started isn't finished, and I need to round up the stray cats."

Reika nodded silently. As Tonari's assistant, her role was clear. She would manage the cat shelter and prepare for the influx of feline arrivals.

---

This time, Tonari decided to remain in Konoha and send an advanced puppet in his stead. The puppet, imbued with Little Blue's chakra, was sufficient for the task of recruiting the cats.

"Summoning an army of cats… I'll be the king of all felines," Tonari muttered with a chuckle. His brush with death had left him wary, and he wasn't keen to risk another encounter like the one with Kakuzu anytime soon.

---

Though the cat army was just the beginning, Tonari's vision was grand. Cats were natural spies—stealthy, inconspicuous, and found almost everywhere. While training them systematically would take time, the potential was undeniable.

Eventually, the feline network would span the entire shinobi world. Hidden in every village, every shadow, they would be Tonari's eyes and ears.

With a smirk, Tonari whispered to himself, "The era of the Cat Lord begins now."

End of Chapter

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