For now, he was the only inhabitant of this realm, but that might change in the future.
"Still, this is a great training tool. Using it to improve speed would be quite interesting," Minato said, his eyes lighting up.
"Exactly, meow~ Let's call the special training... Operation: Catch the Rat!"
Raj grinned maliciously.
Who said only cats could catch rats?
Humans could do it too!
This time they'd be catching fake rats, but later they could organize a real rat-catching special training session for Kakashi and the others.
Not only would it be highly effective, but Raj would also earn plenty of Points.
Perfect!
"Interesting. I happen to have some free time between missions right now, so I can focus on training. We might need to move the training grounds closer to the Land of Fire, though, and I might not be able to supervise personally," Minato said apologetically.
He felt like a failure as a teacher.
He hadn't provided much guidance to his students, and now even the special training was being devised and overseen by a cat.
"Meow~ Just treat me to a meal when we get back to the village."
"Absolutely, absolutely... Hmm, that's right! Come to my place then, and I'll personally cook you a delicious meal," Minato said with an awkward smile.
Even if it's a feast, cooking it himself would save some money.
Minato was just too honest.
If he'd let Kushina cook for everyone, no one would ever bother him about meals again.
"Alright!" Raj agreed without hesitation.
'Overseer... Hehehehe, isn't this just a blatant opportunity to farm Points?'
Its heart swelled with glee.
When a cat is happy, someone else is bound to be unhappy.
Fortunately, Kakashi and Obito were still unaware of the situation, or they might not even be able to sleep properly - though they probably weren't sleeping well anyway...
Perfect timing.
Now that he'd mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, it was time to return home in glory.
"Meow~ I'm off. I placed a mark on Rin earlier, so I'll just teleport back to bed."
With that, Raj stretched languidly and vanished from the spot in a flash.
Minato was speechless.
'Show-off...'
Too bad Kakashi and Obito couldn't beat it, and he couldn't intervene himself.
Otherwise, he'd teach it a lesson.
Oh well, let it be.
He sighed, his mind still grappling with the question that had plagued him all day: how to simplify the hand seals for the Flying Thunder God Technique to a single, instantaneous motion, just like a cat.
This was crucial.
Though his speed was already exceptional and his Chakra control formidable, in high-level combat, even the slightest fraction of a second could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
If he could execute the seals instantly, the Flying Thunder God Technique's practicality would reach a new level.
'Hmm, let's make that my next research goal...'
'Why does this feel so disheartening?!'
Minato felt utterly drained.
After years of dedicated study, how could a cat that had just learned the technique surpass his mastery?
Incomprehensible.
Minato wasn't the only one tormented by the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Kakashi and Obito were currently questioning their entire existence, especially after Raj returned to Rin's side using the technique, "rejoining" the group.
"Everyone, congratulate me on mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique, meow!"
Perched on Rin's shoulder, Raj tilted its head back, gazing down at the others with smug satisfaction, openly boasting that it had done it on purpose to provoke Obito and Kakashi.
Kakashi and Obito glared at the cat with undisguised hostility.
Obito, in particular, had always assumed Raj was as academically inept as he was, only to realize he was the only true dunce among them.
"Raj, tell us, is there some secret to it?" Rin asked, her mood the most relaxed of the group.
After all, they were all family - whoever learned it, it was still one of them.
As for herself... she could learn it if she could, but it didn't matter if she couldn't.
Her attitude was fantastic, completely unlike the other two "geniuses."
"Meow? A secret? I don't really know. I guess you just mark a spot, feel like you're digging a hole, and then slip through," Raj said casually.
"..."
'Is it trying to provoke us?! It must be!'
Kakashi's eyes were bloodshot.
If he were an Uchiha, he probably would have activated his Sharingan right then and there.
But unfortunately, they couldn't beat Raj.
Even if they ganged up on it, they'd likely fail.
After all, Raj was no longer the same cat - it had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"I'm going out to train," Kakashi said gruffly, rising to his feet and grabbing his sword.
"Train? Oh, right, meow! Teacher Minato told me to take you all for special training tomorrow," Raj said casually, dropping this bombshell.
"What? You, us?" Obito pointed at Raj, then at himself, Kakashi, and Rin.
His expression... it was as if Raj were joking.
"Meow!" Raj nodded.
"..."
'If I become a Jonin, will things still be like this? I have to get stronger. Sooner or later, I'll catch that cat and beat it to a pulp!'
Kakashi clenched his fists.
But faced with the situation... he could only mutter, "Understood."
After speaking, Kakashi drew his sword and left, resolving to practice his family sword technique a hundred times... no, two hundred times.
"No, this can't be! I need to find Teacher and make him change his mind..."
"Forget it. I came up with the special training plan, meow," Raj said, waving his paw, delivering the most merciless blow to Obito.
'I, Raj, am now part of the team's management.'
Rin paused, then asked, "What's the special training plan?"
"Meow! I can't reveal it. Just remember, getting enough rest is crucial," Raj said, solemnly extending his paw.
If someone exhausts themselves practicing sword techniques all night like a certain someone, they'll definitely lack the stamina to keep up with the Rat the next day.
That's right, he decided to crank the Rat's speed to maximum, just like tonight.
Even he might need to activate the Gate of Opening to catch up at that speed.
Kakashi and Obito stood no chance of keeping up with the Rat.
'Hehehe, if they can't catch it all day, I'll just taunt them a bit. I remember plenty of lines from my past life for this kind of situation, like... You're the worst class I've ever taught. You can't even beat a Rat. Do you really call yourselves geniuses? Points, points, points!'
As Raj daydreamed, Obito felt a chill run down his spine.
He immediately abandoned his plan to vent his frustration through exercise.
He sensed the cat wasn't lying - it was genuinely advising them to conserve their energy.
Outside the camp, Kakashi began practicing with his blade, muttering with each swing, "One cat, two cats, three..."
Whether Kakashi and Obito accepted it or not, the special training had already been arranged.
That very evening, Minato reported to Jiraiya, mentioning the "Rat-Catching Operation" training plan to his teacher.
The next morning, before Raj even woke up, Minato had already delivered the "Special Training Consent".