Raj returned to the village with glee, having reaped a bountiful harvest that fully recouped the Points spent on Cat Food and the Eight Inner Gates - Opening Gate.
Now it had over four thousand Points.
However, the high-end Ninjutsu it coveted remained a distant dream.
Raj pondered the day's prize pool, which included the Mangekyo Sharingan.
'Though the other nineteen prizes are trash, what if I hit the jackpot on the first try?'
Torn between temptation and reason throughout the journey, it ultimately gave up.
'Daylight is for work, not dreams.'
Raj returned to Konoha and perched on the highest point of the street, scanning for potential targets to fleece for Points.
'Hmm? That's Asuma! You little brat, finally caught you! This time...'
Just as it was about to pounce, a cold voice suddenly came from behind.
"Leave him alone. If you keep tormenting Asuma, the poor guy will be ruined."
"Meow?"
Without turning around, Raj recognized Kakashi's dog-like stench.
"Do you know what he's been through lately? He's been holed up at home, practicing Fire Release day and night. He's finally made some progress, so don't mess with him now," Kakashi sighed softly.
He felt sorry for Asuma.
Why would he provoke this vengeful black cat?
Enduring its torment during their school days was one thing, but to still be haunted after graduation?
Raj felt a pang of guilt.
No wonder Asuma had been missing lately - he'd been holed up at home, researching Fire Release Chakra nature transformation.
'But Fire Release... would that even work?'
One couldn't blame Raj for its disdain toward ninjutsu.
Fire Release's performance in Naruto was underwhelming at best.
It was effective against weak opponents, but against evenly matched foes, its impact was mediocre.
'He'd be better off studying Wind Release and Flying Swallow, or learning a Summoning Technique. Was Enma the Monkey King not appealing enough? What a stubborn fool.'
Raj shook its head inwardly but decided against further tormenting Asuma.
After all, it wasn't a true villain.
Given his current misery, it would show mercy.
Yet a thought struck Raj.
'Kakashi's concern is odd. Has Guy been away from the village, leaving Kakashi with pent-up energy and nothing to do? How else would he have time to monitor Asuma's situation?'
Kakashi shot a cold glance at Raj.
Though he couldn't read its thoughts, he was certain it was up to no good.
After squatting down to stare at the cat for a moment, he said indifferently, "I just happened to chat with Kurenai for a few minutes."
"I didn't ask, meow..."
Raj leaped down the stairs, ready to leave the street and find another place to farm Points.
But as soon as it landed in a narrow alley, it noticed an overwhelming stench of dogs.
It could faintly detect the scents of Kakashi, Haimaru, and Hana Inuzuka.
Hesitating for a moment, it padded to the doorway, glanced up, and extended its front paw using the Partial Multi-Size Technique, enlarging it to gently push open the door.
Squeezing inside, the dog smell intensified.
Of course, the cat's scent was equally pungent to the dogs in the small room.
Soon, barking erupted, followed by several grey dogs and a large black dog charging out from the inner room, trailed by three or four dogs from Kakashi's household.
'I've stumbled into a dog den!'
Raj surveyed the scene, noticing dogs from various clans - not just ninja dogs, but also ordinary canines.
A few hid in the back, barking wildly to cheer on the others, but the most infuriating was Haimaru.
A coward in one-on-one fights, he now acted the bravest, snarling fiercely at the front.
'What's this? Strength in numbers, dogs?'
Raj bristled, immediately activating the Expansion Jutsu.
It grew larger than the massive black dog, startling all the canines into retreating two steps, including the Inuzuka Clan's great hound.
With another meow, the black dog lunged forward to bite, but Raj swiftly retaliated with two sharp slaps, leaving the hound dazed.
The dogs immediately fled from behind the curtain, with Haimaru leading the charge.
'All bark and no bite, huh?'
"Raj... what are you?!"
Hana Inuzuka recognized Raj's scent, but when the cat's paw lifted the curtain to reveal his transformed state, she was genuinely shocked.
What a massive creature.
This isn't a cat; it's clearly a leopard.
But after a careful sniff, Hana confirmed that this "black leopard" was indeed that mischievous cat.
Annoyed, she snapped, "You're here to cause trouble again!"
"Meow?"
Raj shrank back to his normal size and nonchalantly strolled past the dazed black dog into the shop, ignoring it as if it were nothing more than a stray.
He glanced around at the dogs and equipment inside...
'This is a damn carbon copy of Kabuto's massage parlor! Are you running a knockoff business too?'
"What did it say?" Hana asked Haimaru, who had trotted over to her side.
Haimaru met her gaze and shook his head slightly.
How could a dog possibly understand cat language?
Yet Haimaru's limited intelligence also wondered:
'Why can that cat understand my barks? Are cats smarter than dogs?'
He fell into deep thought.
Ignoring the dazed dog, Hana peered outside and bellowed, "Kakashi, take your team's cat back! This is a dog massage parlor, and I paid for my appointment!"
"Ahem, I just got back."
Kakashi stepped inside, awkwardly reaching out to grab Raj before quickly retracting his hand, remembering the cat's current strength.
After a light cough, he explained to Hana, "This shop is a joint venture between her and Kabuto, offering services exclusively for dogs. They don't cater to cats yet."
"What do you mean? Are you looking down on cats?" Raj protested indignantly.
No wonder this place was a dog's den - it really was a massage parlor exclusively for canines.
'What's the deal? Massage is for everyone, you know!'
"Stop fussing. Let's go out and I'll take you shopping."
"Meow! Barbecue?"
'Don't you know your own appetite? This is extortion!'
Kakashi felt resentful, but seeing Hana Inuzuka's "I won't start working until you get rid of it" expression and catching Pakkun's reproachful little glance, he could only sigh softly and beckon.
Raj immediately darted forward and leaped onto his shoulder.
'Kakashi used to bully me, but now the tables have turned. It's time for me to become the master!'
As they left the shop, Kakashi grew impatient.
However, he hesitated to burn his bridges.
This cat was clearly not to be trifled with.
The size-altering ability it had demonstrated earlier, combined with its other powers, might make it a match for him - at least when he had his blade.