Kabuto tried to politely decline, but Tsume's warmth was overwhelming, and he eventually relented.
For Kabuto, this was a completely new experience.
While similar situations had occurred in Kyoto, those noblewomen had either been merely polite or had ulterior motives.
The aunt before him harbored no malice, only a hint of sympathy.
This made Kabuto feel deeply uncomfortable, yet... he didn't dislike it.
Raj nudged ahead of him, demanding a massage.
Kabuto gently stroked the cat, then incorporated Medical Jutsu techniques to soothe its body, making Raj purr contentedly.
Rin watched nearby, marveling at the technique's effectiveness.
However, such a "Secret Technique" couldn't be easily shared, so she merely glanced at it before looking away.
"Senior Rin, there's no need to be so reserved," Kabuto explained, noticing her hesitation. "It's just a combination of ordinary massage and basic Medical Jutsu."
After a moment, Raj was handed over to Rin.
As Rin massaged the cat, Kabuto continuously guided and corrected her technique.
Before long, she had mastered the method herself.
Raj subtly raised a paw in silent approval.
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
From now on, the cat wouldn't need to rush to Kabuto's side every day; it could receive the ultimate massage experience right here with Rin.
Kabuto merely smiled faintly.
Raj's immense contributions to the Orphanage far outweighed any repayment he could offer.
Without the cat's guidance, he would never have researched pets or traveled to Kyoto.
Without that, the Orphanage would never have acquired such wealth.
The improvement in their living conditions was immediately apparent.
The Nohara family was exceptionally hospitable.
Learning of Raj's awakening, Tsume had prepared a lavish meal.
Unfortunately, Raj had already devoured a large meat skewer and plenty of snacks that afternoon, leaving little room for the feast.
Despite this, the sight of the steaming fresh fish proved irresistible, and it managed to eat quite a bit.
If you don't eat good food when it's available, you might not get another chance for a long time.
Since becoming a teacher, Masato Nohara's life had become more stable, but his income had also decreased.
As a result, fresh fish was no longer a frequent treat at home, making each missed meal a significant loss.
After finishing the meal, Kabuto thanked them profusely and prepared to leave.
He had originally planned to walk alone, but Rin insisted that Raj escort him.
Thus, Raj found itself tasked with escorting him.
The orphanage was located a bit outside the village.
Raj led the way, walking slowly with Kabuto.
With its strength, they should have been safe under normal circumstances - unless they encountered...
"Heh heh heh... Look who's together. Saves me the trouble of searching."
A chilling laughter echoed through the air.
Kabuto and Black Cat tensed, especially Black Cat, who stared intently at the source of the voice, its entire body arched.
'Does Rin know what's happening here?'
It secretly hoped Rin would summon it away, yet it knew such a thing was almost impossible.
So this escort mission had turned out to be a buy-one-get-one-free deal.
"Greetings, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto said, bowing respectfully.
"Meow~"
Raj offered a simple greeting.
Orochimaru cared little for formalities; his interest lay in talent.
Both Kabuto and Raj were talented, especially Kabuto.
His nimble hands and calm demeanor made him perfectly suited to be a Medical Ninja and researcher.
As for Raj... it was better suited to being studied.
"Your entrance gift," Orochimaru said, tossing a scroll to Kabuto before glancing at Raj.
He hadn't expected to encounter this cat, so he hadn't prepared the promised gift.
But he figured... the cat probably wouldn't want it right now anyway.
Kabuto bent to catch the scroll.
At that moment, Raj leaped onto Orochimaru's shoulder.
Orochimaru was mildly surprised.
'This cat isn't afraid of me?'
Instead of brushing it off, he curiously grabbed the cat, holding it up to his face.
This cat wasn't an ordinary wild beast; it possessed intelligence comparable to Orochimaru's and Jiraiya's Summoned Beasts, having been highly intelligent since birth.
This allowed it to overcome the natural fear wild animals typically felt toward him.
What Orochimaru couldn't understand was why this cat would overcome its fear to approach him.
Puzzled, he held Raj for several seconds, scrutinizing him.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Kabuto grew anxious, abandoning the scroll in his hands.
"Relax, I'm just observing," Orochimaru said, setting Raj down.
His mind still churned over the cat's unusual behavior.
Having visited the Ninja Cat Fortress before, he knew the true attitude of Ninja Cats toward him.
This Ninja Cat was indeed acting abnormally.
After releasing him, Orochimaru vanished on his own, returning to his true form.
This had merely been a Shadow Clone; Orochimaru's true self had no time for such a stakeout.
Kabuto and Raj exchanged glances before Kabuto unfurled the scroll and examined its contents under the moonlight.
After a quick glance, Raj's fur stood on end.
The scroll contained detailed research on cats, including internal anatomy diagrams and even studies on "Ninja Cats."
'This is a fucking encyclopedia of cats!'
Kabuto glanced at the Cat Encyclopedia, then at Raj, his eyes filled with scrutiny and a hint of eagerness.
"Meow~ I thought we were friends, and you want to dissect me!"
Raj instantly leaped away.
Man and cat stared at each other.
Kabuto sighed softly and explained, "I didn't mean it that way. I was just curious...
Let's go. The orphanage is just ahead.
Do you want to stay the night?"
"No, I'd rather go home early."
Raj jumped away warily.
'Orphanage? This place looks more like a research lab to me!'
"Hmph... Well, with your strength, you should be fine as long as you don't run into someone like Lord Orochimaru."
Kabuto tucked the Cat Encyclopedia into his robes and continued down the path.
"Don't jinx me, you fool!" Raj hissed indignantly.
'Setting up a flag for me? As if I'd actually run into Orochimaru!'
"Heh."
Though he didn't understand what "setting up a flag" meant, Kabuto found Raj's reaction amusing.
Raj followed him.
The orphanage was just ahead, still faintly tinged with Orochimaru's serpentine scent.
This confirmed that Orochimaru had indeed visited the orphanage and lingered for a while.
As he lingered, Raj couldn't help but recall the time he'd been ambushed by Orochimaru in the grass on his way back to Konoha from Kyoto...
'If worse comes to worst, I'll just stay the night.'
The orphanage had changed dramatically.
The courtyard was much larger than before, and while the exterior of the buildings remained the same, the interiors had been lavishly renovated.
"Aren't you leaving?"
"I've decided to stay the night and head back tomorrow morning."
Raj felt no shame whatsoever.
Cats were naturally fickle, and besides, safety trumped pride.
He was sure Rin would understand.
At that moment, a boy ran out and greeted Kabuto cheerfully.
"Kabuto, you're back! The aunts were just discussing... Huh? Who's this cat?"