Haruki had seen such a scene for the second time.
It was a desolate ruin.
A strange and cold wind blew across the festering earth, which was dry and cracked as if all moisture was lost, and between the cracks, the occasionally surviving plants were covered in grayish - black, twisted like the deepest nightmares, taking on various indescribable shapes.
As far as the eye could see, there was no sign of human habitation.
Only Mion, the ninja cat, was in high spirits.
As she walked, she couldn't help but jump and bounce.
She walked too fast and then licked her paw pads and claws, waiting for Haruki and Mikoto Uchiha.
Further ahead, it was as if cat houses of different heights had been stuffed into this post - apocalyptic wasteland world.
Haruki maintained his pace, and his eyes quickly scanned the various oddly - shaped cats.
There were normal ones, as well as those that looked like foxes and little tigers.
"We're here."
Mion stopped walking.
Before the two could say a word, two cats popped up in the corridor.
"They are Lady Hina and Lord Taka."
Seeing them, Mion introduced them to Haruki, "You have to gain the trust of these two to meet Nekobaa."
"Mion, why have you brought another human back, meow?"
Hina, wearing red clothes, wagged her cat tail and lay on the ground, her tone lazy.
"Lady Hina, we want to meet Nekobaa."
"No seeing," Hina shook her head. "He's not from the Uchiha clan, meow."
"Hi..."
"I'll handle this," Haruki interrupted Mion and walked up to Hina.
"Human, I don't fall for the handsome - guy tactic, meow."
Suddenly, Hina's eyes lit up, and her pink paw pad grasped a golden sphere.
"Is this enough?" Haruki smiled.
"Enough... not enough!"
Then its other paw pad also grasped a similar golden ball, and even its eyes seemed to be glowing with a golden light.
"Hina, you... mmm."
On the other side, Taka, who wanted to say something, had a big golden ball stuffed into its mouth.
"Human, I like you, meow."
Hina hid the golden balls, and there seemed to be a smile on its furry face.
"Speak, what's the matter, meow?"
"I want to hire a hundred ninja cats."
"Meow?"
Hina looked at him in confusion. It had never encountered such a situation before.
Apart from being summon beasts, the ninja cat clan also part - time sold information.
What was the purpose of hiring so many ninja cats at once?
"First, let's make it clear. We don't sell ourselves or catch mice, meow."
Sweat broke out on Haruki's forehead. What the heck is "selling themselves"?
"It's not for these things."
"Please follow me, meow."
Hina gracefully got up and walked deeper into the place.
Not long after, Haruki saw Nekobaa and a room full of cats.
It was a human woman wearing a dark - gray cat - ear decoration and holding a pipe.
She usually ran a weapon shop and was the contractor of the ninja cats.
She just happened not to be in the village today.
"Nekobaa, I want to hire a hundred ninja cats," Haruki said bluntly.
"A hundred?" Nekobaa stopped the pipe in her hand and looked at Haruki in surprise. "If you want to do an Experiment, go find a white mouse."
"..."
Haruki twitched the corners of his mouth.
What did the white mouse do wrong? So angry! I'm shivering with cold!
"Don't worry, I won't hurt any of the cats. I hope they can dance at the celebration."
"?"
A question mark appeared on Nekobaa's face.
Ninja cats dancing?
She couldn't understand Haruki's idea. What was so interesting about cats dancing?
Although they were indeed quite cute.
"Is it okay?"
Haruki noticed the change in her expression, which seemed unfavorable. He added, "It's paid. I'll pay each ninja cat 100,000-ryo according to the standard of a B-Rank Mission."
One gasp after another sounded.
Almost all the cats raised their heads.
100,000-ryo. For a hundred cats, that would be ten million.
Their eyes instantly turned into the shape of money.
"Really... a big spender."
Nekobaa took a puff from her pipe and then reached out to soothe the restless ninja cats beside her.
"If you're willing to sign a contract, I'll agree to the deal with you."
"Of course, I'm willing."
Haruki showed a smile.
Sure enough, money can make... cats dance.
Nekobaa quickly prepared the contract. After seeing Haruki sign it, she asked, "Did you sign a Summoning Contract?"
"Yes, I did."
"What a pity." Nekobaa looked like she'd lost a big spender. Then she regained hope and asked, "Can you change it?"
"..."
Cold sweat broke out on Haruki's forehead.
"I'm afraid it's impossible. I signed a contract with Katsuyu."
Nekobaa couldn't help but be stunned.
It was actually one of the Three Great Holy Lands.
It was indeed impossible to sign a Summoning Contract with the ninja cat clan then.
"If Nekobaa wants to find someone to sign a contract, there might be many people willing after the celebration."
"Why do you say so?"
Nekobaa didn't believe that a dance could make any difference.
Because the ninja cat clan is not considered powerful among the summoned beasts.
Those real powerhouses preferred the Three Great Holy Lands or some strange beasts, like Sanshouo, Rashomon, and Enma.
Haruki didn't explain. He said, "I wonder if Nekobaa would like to make a bet with me. If what I said comes true, how about opening a new store together and splitting the profits fifty-fifty?"
Nekobaa thought for a moment and nodded.
Anyway, it didn't cost her anything.
Haruki smiled. She didn't understand the power of cuteness.
Moreover, who says ninja cats have to be bound to ninjas?
After leaving, Mion immediately asked, "Rich human, can I go dance too?"
Even though Mikoto Uchiha was nice to it, at this moment, it had an urge to change its master.
In its eyes, Haruki was like walking money.
"Of course, you can." Haruki replied.
"You guy, I didn't expect you to be greedy for money besides being gluttonous." Mikoto Uchiha grabbed the back of its neck and held it with her hand.
"Only with money can I buy food."
"..."
Mikoto Uchiha raised her eyebrows. It made quite a lot of sense.
She stroked the cat's soft fur and asked, "Teacher, why did you ask the Uchiha people to do this?"
Haruki glanced at her and didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
"What do you think of the relationship between the Uchiha and the villagers?"
Mikoto Uchiha was a bit surprised but remained calm. "It's not going well. They're overly proud and handle things without any leniency, which has offended many people."
"It seems you know them well," Haruki said softly. "If you don't release your pent - up emotions, they'll only damage your health. The same goes for the Uchiha. Once their pent - up emotions burst out, it'll harm both themselves and Konoha."
"But what does this have to do with the celebration you mentioned?"
"If you suddenly discover a very serious person has another side, like being forgetful, having a bad sense of direction, liking to be patted on the head, or swallowing at the sight of food, how would you feel about her?"
"She'd seem kind of cute," Mikoto Uchiha thought carefully. It seemed Kushina was like that.
"It's called the 'cute contrast effect'. To change a fixed impression, you have to show a completely different side. Besides, a celebration is an entertainment form that everyone loves. The Uchiha are too arrogant and have gradually become isolated from other villagers."
Seeing Mikoto Uchiha deep in thought, Haruki slowed down and said, "This is called 'getting closer to the masses'."
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