Before Garfield activated his teleportation, he realized something important. He hadn't anchored the position of that arrogant orange fox at all.
So instead of being flung halfway across the world, he and Senju Hashirama merely vanished from Hokage Rock and reappeared in the small courtyard where Garfield and Rin lived.
Going out to catch the Nine-Tails with this level of preparation would be pointless.
Aside from cheering from the sidelines and yelling 'nice move.' he would contribute absolutely nothing.
Garfield sighed.
"Rin," he said seriously, "stay home for a few days. I'll go catch a fox with Hashirama. You watch the house."
Rin, having been teleported a moment ago, was still shocked.
"That's… the Nine-Tails," She said nervously. "The strongest of all the tailed beasts…"
But then she looked at Senju Hashirama.
It was said that the First Hokage had captured many tailed beasts and distributed them across the nations. Including the Nine-Tails.
If he could catch it once, he could catch it again. Garfield sensed her thoughts and waved a paw reassuringly.
"Relax. Hashirama is handling the tsundere fox. But you, while we're gone, be careful. Don't let anyone catch you."
Both Rin and Hashirama fell silent.
They understood the implication.
If something happened now, before history reached its 'proper' shape… the future itself could collapse.
Hashirama frowned slightly. "Why don't we have Tobirama come protect her?"
Garfield shook his head. "No need. I'll draw a boundary around the house."
"If anyone breaks in, I'll sense it and return immediately. We'll be back in three to five days."
"…Alright." Hashirama agreed.
Garfield raised a paw and traced a glowing sigil around the courtyard. The spell settled quietly into the earth.
Satisfied, Garfield turned to Rin. "Behave."
Then he looked at Hashirama. "Let's go."
"Where?" Hashirama asked.
"Outside."
"…What?"
A golden portal bloomed in the air, outlined by a circle drawn from Garfield's claws. Garfield stepped through without hesitation.
Hashirama stared, then hurried after him.
"Garfield!" He shouted from the other side. "Can you open it a bit wider?!"
Garfield paused and glanced back. He had, out of habit, opened a portal sized for a cat.
"…Ah."
The portal expanded. Hashirama stepped through, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
The portal closed.
A man and a cat appeared deep within a northern forest.
Hashirama surveyed the surrounding trees, judging their growth rings and density with practiced ease.
"This should be the northern part of the Land of Fire," he said confidently. "Based on previous information, the Nine-Tails should be further north. About two days' travel."
Garfield nodded calmly. "No rush. Let me locate it."
"How?" Hashirama asked curiously.
"Spells." Garfield replied. "Repeat after me, I am about to deceive you."
Hashirama blinked.
Ignoring him, Garfield raised his paws and traced a complex magic circle in the air. This particular spell specialized in detecting high-energy lifeforms.
The circle lit up… then lit up more… then lit up everywhere.
The display was filled with glowing points, many clustered together, many sharing similar signatures.
"…That's a lot." Garfield muttered.
Slug nests. Toad territories. Serpent lairs.
Summoned beasts. Ninja clans with animal contracts.
Even cats and dogs registered as faint blips.
There were also a few solitary high-energy signals that made Garfield uneasy. One, in particular, seemed to be watching from underground.
"…Could be a rabbit spirit." Garfield mused. "Or something worse."
Seeing Garfield frown, Hashirama asked innocently, "Which one is me?"
Garfield sighed. No wonder Madara gets annoyed. This man's thought process is truly unique.
"That one." He pointed to a bright green marker in the center of the circle.
Hashirama twisted left and right. The green dot barely moved.
"Why doesn't it change?" Hashirama asked.
"Try something bigger," Garfield suggested.
Hashirama nodded seriously, and he clasped his hands together. "Wood Release: Wood Clone!"
Four twisting, wriggling branches burst from Senju Hashirama's body like living vines, coiling until they slowly shaped themselves into human forms.
In only a few breaths, five identical Senju Hashirama's stood before Garfield.
The moment the Wood Release technique completed, the magic circle Garfield had drawn reacted violently.
The single green marker representing Hashirama flared, then split until five points burned brightly. Four of them glowed slightly darker than the original.
The five Senju crowded around the circle, staring intently at the five markers with identical expressions of delight.
"Good."
"So amazing."
"I love this."
"Quite fun."
"Should we run farther?"
Garfield raised a paw. "Hold it. You four don't run off. Go catch some summoning beasts for me."
Hashirama thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Most summoning beasts already have contracts. They live in groups. If you cause trouble, it'll spark disputes between villages."
"Peace talks are already exhausting enough." He paused, then brightened. "Why not send my clones back to the village to borrow some?"
Garfield nodded. "Fine. I'll open a portal back to the village. I'll pick you up at Hokage Rock in half an hour. Don't be late."
"Understood." The four clones nodded in unison.
Garfield drew a glowing circle with his claws, and a portal opened. The clones lined up neatly.
Then Garfield added kindly,
"By the way, remember to hide from your wife. I'm worried you won't survive the trip."
"…?!" The four clones froze.
Slowly, they turned their heads toward the original Hashirama.
"This is too much." One said quietly.
"You're sending us back to die?"
"Can you still call yourself human?"
"Even tricking yourself… this is excessive."
"Strike."
"We are on strike."
"Unless you explain."
Hashirama shot Garfield a desperate look. Why would you say that? I was counting on them to take the hit for me.
The four clones cracked their knuckles ominously.
"Don't force me!" Hashirama raised his hands hurriedly, beginning to form seals.
"We're not afraid."
"Worst case, we die."
"At least it'll be your turn to get beaten."
"Remember the washboard?"
Hashirama's face twitched, with a grimace, he pulled out a sealing scroll.
"…Fine. A man can bend as well as stretch."
Boom
White smoke burst forth as the seal released, a pile of coins spilled onto the ground.
Garfield leaned over to inspect it.
Ten-yen coins.
Fifty-yen coins.
A few one-hundred-yen bills, mostly fifties.
Judging by their condition, they had been saved for years.
"…Tsk," Garfield muttered.
Hashirama rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "My… pocket money. What I usually save."
He bowed deeply to the four clones. "Please."
To Garfield's surprise, the clones didn't grab the money.
Instead, they embraced Hashirama. "…you've worked hard."
"You're so poor."
"This is everything you have."
"I can't take it."
Garfield covered his eyes. "This is painful to watch, it's embarrassing to be this poor."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick stack of gleaming gold bricks stamped with cat paw marks.
"Here," Garfield said casually. "Use this to borrow summoning beasts."
Hashirama and the four clones stared.
"…"
Then, in perfect synchronization… they bowed deeply.
"King!" They said in unison.
Garfield nodded, satisfied.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
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