Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 23: Revealing Weaknesses

The next morning, as sunlight warmed the room, Tonari awoke to find the sun already high in the sky.

He jumped out of bed, only to realize something felt different.

His body seemed lighter, more agile than before. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused inward.

Within his pathways, he sensed a faint yet distinct energy flowing steadily—a discovery that sent a thrill through him.

"Chakra," he murmured.

The energy coursing through him matched the characteristics of chakra described in Introduction to Chakra Refinement.

"Wait… did I just…?"

Tonari's eyes widened as he recalled the book's explanation. Extracting chakra typically took days, even weeks, for most people. It was a grueling process that demanded intense focus and persistence.

Yet he, a supposed novice, had awakened chakra after one night of sleep.

"Does this make me… a genius?" Tonari smirked, rubbing his face. "Guess the handsome ones really are blessed by the heavens."

After ensuring his good looks were intact, he got dressed. The clothes from Shikashin's wife, Nara Shikimi, fit better than yesterday's oversized set, but Tonari still found them a bit loose.

It wasn't the clothes' fault; he was simply too skinny.

---

"Good morning, Aunt Shikimi!" Tonari greeted cheerfully as he entered the kitchen.

Shikimi's eyes sparkled as she beamed at him. "Oh, good morning, little Tonari! Come, have some breakfast. Shikashin left a couple of items for you—things they found when they brought you back."

After scarfing down his meal with gusto, Tonari turned his attention to the items left for him.

One was a sheathed short blade, and the other, a small yellow sachet emitting a faint minty fragrance.

He immediately recognized the short blade—it had belonged to the Cloud ninja who had pursued him. Its pristine condition suggested it was made of exceptional material, having survived a tail beast's destructive attack.

As for the sachet, it was likely nothing more than a trinket. But it had survived with him, and Tonari wasn't one to dismiss good omens.

Securing the blade at his waist and the sachet alongside it, Tonari left the Nara residence, calling out a quick goodbye.

---

He wandered aimlessly through Konoha's streets, his eyes drinking in the sights of a bustling village.

Tonari was confident in his ability to navigate, priding himself on a sharp memory and strong sense of direction.

Yet somehow, he found himself in an unfamiliar, secluded area near a stream surrounded by trees.

"Uh… where am I?" he muttered, glancing around.

He soon gave up on figuring out his location and decided to make the most of the situation.

"No one's around. Perfect place to test this chakra," he said, plopping down under a large tree.

Unbeknownst to him, several pairs of eyes had been watching his every move since he left the Nara compound. Hidden in the shadows, perched among branches, or lurking in nearby foliage, these figures observed silently, clad in black combat gear and white masks.

They were Konoha's ANBU, assigned to monitor and, if necessary, neutralize the Two-Tails Jinchūriki.

Their orders were clear: observe, document, and prevent any potential destruction.

---

Tonari sat cross-legged, contemplating how to test his chakra.

"Right, I need a jutsu to channel it," he recalled.

The Three Basic Techniques came to mind—a collection of beginner-level jutsu designed to train fledgling ninja.

While many dismissed these techniques as trivial after graduation, Tonari held them in high regard. The Three Basic Techniques—Transformation, Clone, and Substitution—were fundamental tools that even elite ninja frequently used.

In particular, Substitution Jutsu stood out to him. It was a life-saving skill, a cornerstone of any ninja's arsenal.

Before attempting it, however, Tonari decided to start with the simplest: the Transformation Jutsu.

"Transformation only requires one seal. Shouldn't be too hard," he mused.

While the Transformation Jutsu's primary use was disguise, Tonari knew it had other creative applications. When paired with Shadow Clone Jutsu, it could even become a trump card against powerful opponents.

As for Substitution Jutsu, Tonari viewed it as his ultimate insurance policy.

---

Tonari took a deep breath and formed the necessary seal for the Transformation Jutsu.

He concentrated, guiding his fledgling chakra into the seal's formation.

Nothing happened.

Tonari frowned, releasing the seal and trying again.

This time, a faint shimmer surrounded him, but the transformation failed to materialize.

The ANBU watching from the shadows exchanged puzzled glances.

"Is he struggling with a basic jutsu?" one of them thought.

---

Tonari wasn't discouraged by the failed attempts. In fact, he welcomed them.

"They need to see me struggle," he thought, smirking inwardly.

By deliberately displaying shortcomings, Tonari hoped to appear less threatening to Konoha's leadership. His strategy was to balance his obvious potential with a slew of weaknesses, making him seem more manageable.

"I can't hide how handsome and clever I am, but I can let them see my flaws. The more flaws they see, the more comfortable they'll feel keeping me around," he reasoned.

His supposed ineptitude with basic jutsu would soon make its way to the Hokage's desk, confirming Tonari as a harmless, albeit talented, young boy.

As the ANBU continued their silent watch, Tonari smiled to himself.

"Let the game begin," he thought.

For now, the power dynamics weren't in his favor. But Tonari knew Konoha's key players—he understood their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.

In this quiet corner of the village, Tonari laid the groundwork for his delicate dance with Konoha's leadership.

He would bide his time, playing the clumsy apprentice while honing the skills that would eventually make him a master.

---

Author's Note:

The slow burn continues as Tonari navigates Konoha's complex web of politics and power. How will his cunning strategy unfold?

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(End of Chapter)