Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 147: Peeping?

"Dai, that's it for today. I have things to take care of at the shop. I'll head back first."

Tonari wiped the sweat from his forehead as he addressed the thick-browed, square-jawed middle-aged man standing nearby.

"Huh? Calling it early today, Tonari? But youth doesn't take breaks!"

The man flashed a thumbs-up, his gleaming white teeth reflecting the sunlight with an almost blinding brightness.

Tonari squinted at the shine, feeling both envious and slightly embarrassed—his dental care couldn't compete.

This man was none other than Might Duy.

Yes, the famed "Eternal Genin" of Konoha, Might Duy.

Despite being middle-aged and stuck at the Genin level, far behind his peers, Duy showed no signs of discouragement. At around 30 years old, he continued his intense taijutsu training every day, year after year, with unwavering dedication.

"You should head home early too, Dai. Spend some time with your son."

Waving casually, Tonari quickly made his escape.

Hearing Tonari's words, Duy's eyes filled with tears. Watching Tonari's retreating figure, he shouted loudly, "Is this what youth is, Tonari?! Thank you for remembering my family! Alright, it's decided—if I can finish 2,000 push-ups in half an hour, I'll head home early today. If not, I'll do another 2,000 frog jumps!"

The passionate declaration echoed in the distance, spurring Tonari to run even faster.

When Tonari first sought out Duy for training, he hadn't expected Duy's regimen to be so intense.

Tonari had thought his own training routine was already extreme, but compared to Duy, it was nothing.

This was when he learned about the forbidden Eight Gates Release Formation.

Duy's legendary power wasn't merely from explosive bursts of energy—it was the culmination of more than 20 years of relentless physical training. The Eight Gates merely unlocked the limits of the body he had meticulously forged.

Tonari hadn't approached Duy out of a desire to learn the Eight Gates. While undeniably powerful, especially with the terrifying strength of the final gate, Tonari had no intention of shortening his life in exchange for such power.

His goal was simple: to stimulate his body and enhance his physical strength through Duy's training methods.

Tonari believed that his inability to fully integrate Hashirama's cells stemmed from his body's lack of inherent strength. If he could strengthen himself to Hashirama's level, why would he still fear rejection of the cells?

Admittedly, it was an ambitious goal, bordering on impossible. But having a goal, no matter how distant, was better than none.

Over the past year, Tonari had reaped significant benefits from training with Duy.

While there hadn't been any dramatic leaps, his taijutsu abilities had noticeably improved.

Even Duy admired Tonari's dedication. Despite his evident talent, Tonari trained with relentless determination, inspiring Duy to increase his own training intensity repeatedly.

The first three months were grueling for Tonari. He would leave the cat shelter at dawn, only to be carried back horizontally under the moonlight—either by Little Blue, Reika, or one of his friends.

By the end of the next three months, he could finally stagger home on his own.

But Duy wasn't one to rest on his laurels. He ramped up the intensity yet again, leaving Tonari to spend the next four months collapsing mid-training. It wasn't until recently that he could barely keep pace.

If not for being a Jinchūriki and the subtle strengthening effects of Hashirama's cells, no one could have endured such torturous training.

Even Minato, who once joined out of curiosity, lasted only half a day before passing out.

Since then, Minato never brought up joining them again.

Skipping half a day of training for the shelter's anniversary celebration, Tonari relished the rare sense of leisure as he strolled toward the cat shelter.

Passing by the public bathhouse, however, he spotted a familiar yet unexpected figure.

The man was perched outside a window, his posture bent forward, his rear sticking out. A lecherous grin adorned his face as drool dripped from his mouth.

Sneaking up quietly, Tonari found the man completely absorbed in his activity.

Standing next to him, Tonari poked a small hole in the window with his finger and peeked inside.

A moment later, Tonari wore the same lascivious expression as the man next to him.

For five peaceful minutes, the two silently enjoyed the view.

"Today's selection is pretty good, huh?"

The sudden voice snapped the white-haired man out of his daze. Startled, he turned to see Tonari beside him, his own face just below the man's hole in the window.

Wait, when did this guy get here?

As he pondered, the noise from Tonari's remark alerted the bathhouse's patrons.

Cries of alarm erupted from within.

An experienced peeper, Jiraiya knew it was time to make a swift exit.

But before he could act, Tonari's swift kick sent him crashing through the window.

Boom!

The side window exploded, and Jiraiya tumbled into the bathhouse, landing among a throng of shrieking women.

Tonari perched on a nearby tree, watching the chaos with delight. While he couldn't enjoy the close contact, the occasional flying piece of fabric made for a decent spectacle.

After savoring the scene for three more minutes, Tonari prepared to leave, only to freeze mid-movement.

Sensing danger, he spun around and delivered a spinning kick.

Thud!

The figure behind him caught the kick effortlessly with one hand.

Tonari quickly distanced himself, observing the intruder.

"Hmm? Decent strength, kid. But your demeanor doesn't match the stoic Orochimaru, nor does it seem like the work of that busty Tsunade," the man said, his gaze amused despite the bruises on his face.

Tonari suppressed a laugh, struggling to maintain composure. "Pfft—hahaha! Sorry, sorry, couldn't help it. Jiraiya-sama, I didn't expect it to really be you."

Jiraiya's expression darkened. "Alright, kid. I wasn't going to take this seriously, but now you've asked for it!"

The two engaged in a spirited clash.

Tonari used ninjutsu and feints, but Jiraiya countered effortlessly. A massive fireball from Jiraiya forced Tonari to erect a defensive water wall, only for the older man to crush him with a powerful stomp.

Forced to reveal his trump card, Tonari unleashed an S-rank jutsu: Water Release—Hard Whirlpool Cutter!

The technique's devastating force carved through the terrain, reducing trees and rocks to shreds.

Yet Jiraiya emerged unscathed, protected by a grotesque ball of flesh that had absorbed the brunt of the attack.

Tonari sighed, realizing just how formidable Jiraiya was. As the older man closed in, Tonari muttered under his breath, "Maybe it's time to call Orochimaru-sensei for help…"

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*