"Listen to meow explain, Lord Takeyasu."
"Meow didn't do anything."
"Meow is innocent."
"Meow was forced into it, too."
"Meow was only petted!"
Tachibana stretched out her paw, trying to stop her male owner, who had vanished with a Body Flicker without looking back. A series of mournful cries came from her mouth.
(So cute. I want to cuddle her.)
(She must be Lord Takeyasu's Ninja Cat. I'd better ask what's going on.)
Tachibana's sorrowful, pitiful appearance made Uchiha Naori's hands itch, though she had nothing better to do.
The cat's sharp instincts caught sight of the "ill-intentioned" purple-haired girl nearby. Startled, Tachibana let out a meow and leaped away, arching her back as she warily watched Uchiha Naori, who had tilted her head.
Tachibana said indignantly, "Princess Kaori had that same adorable expression like she didn't know a thing when she lured me into her trap!"
Tachibana's fur stood on end as she recalled how, after leaving Uchiha Takeyasu's embrace, she'd somehow ended up meeting Minamoto Kaori.
After all, she was Uchiha Takeyasu's future wife, and Tachibana had been a little worried she might get hurt.
Tachibana might be weak, but she was brave, too!
Then she'd been captivated by the other girl's deceptively beautiful face—no, tricked by it.
In the end, she'd fallen helplessly into Minamoto Kaori's clutches, until Uchiha Takeyasu summoned her back.
Tachibana lowered her head and sniffed the sweet fragrance clinging to her fur. Her cat face drooped at once, as if her whole life had lost all hope.
Putting herself in Uchiha Takeyasu's shoes, Tachibana would've thrown a fit if he smelled like a cat she didn't know—or, no, even a cat she did know.
Uchiha Naori didn't understand what was going on, but seeing Tachibana looking so lost, the gentle and kind girl still reached out to help.
"Um, if you're looking for Takeyasu Young Lord, I can help you."
A gentle yet cool female voice reached the cat's ears. Tachibana was delighted, but after noticing the Uchiha Gunbai Clan Crest on the other girl, she grew worried again and shook her head vigorously.
"No, meow can't stay with you people anymore. Tachibana belongs to Lord Takeyasu!"
"Tachibana? What a lovely name."
Uchiha Naori couldn't help thinking of her own Ninja Cat.
Her Ninja Cat had not only grown up ugly, but was also extremely talkative.
Just last night, it had complained that she wasn't ambitious enough and asked why she still hadn't awakened the Mangekyo. The girl had been so angry she'd nearly hit it.
Comparing that with Tachibana, whose heart and soul belonged to Uchiha Takeyasu, Uchiha Naori couldn't help feeling that there was quite a difference between Ninja Cats.
"Meow won't talk to you anymore. Meow's going to find Princess Kaori and let Lord Takeyasu know that meow isn't a faithless cat. No outsider has been touching me all over!"
Tachibana started walking, and Uchiha Naori curiously followed.
They crossed a badly damaged street and reached a spot three or four hundred meters from the Konoha embassy. The daimyo's envoy group was on its way back, led by members of the Senju Clan.
Tachibana caught her breath, then slowly headed toward the group. The shaken envoys didn't pay any attention to a chubby orange cat, letting her approach. Tachibana leaped toward the carriage and nearly failed to make it inside.
Watching from a distance, Uchiha Naori covered her mouth and laughed softly. She hadn't expected the decisive, sharp-witted Takeyasu Young Lord to have such a cute Ninja Cat.
(If I marry Takeyasu Young Lord, Tachibana will be my Ninja Cat, too.)
With that embarrassing thought in mind, Uchiha Naori suddenly saw Tachibana being carried into the carriage by a pair of slender, fair arms. Before long, the envoy group stopped in front of the Konoha embassy, and a petite girl stepped down from the carriage. She wore a veil over her face and held Tachibana in her arms.
Recalling Tachibana's words, "No outsider," Uchiha Naori furrowed her fine brows slightly. She concealed her presence, flashed forward, and began gathering information—in other words, eavesdropping.
Back in her room, with no outsiders around, Minamoto Kaori lifted her veil and happily gave Tachibana a kiss. "You suddenly disappeared from my arms, Tachibana. You gave me such a fright."
"Lord Takeyasu summoned me."
The girl's way of petting her was completely different from Uchiha Takeyasu's. The former was gentle and soothing, while the latter was rough but gave her a tingling sensation. Tachibana liked both.
But this wasn't the time to enjoy herself. Tachibana hurriedly said, "Princess Kaori is Lord Takeyasu's fiancée. You need to tell Tachibana..."
"Fiancée?!"
Two voices rang out in unison. Uchiha Naori appeared, her gaze fixed on Minamoto Kaori, a charming girl with black hair and red eyes.
Minamoto Kaori was also staring in surprise at Uchiha Naori, who was tall and coolly beautiful, with purple hair and black eyes.
"Meow."
Tachibana didn't know why she suddenly felt something terrible was about to happen, but trusting her instinct to avoid danger was definitely the right move. She immediately used the Summoning Jutsu and returned to the empty ruins.
With the loudmouth cat gone, Uchiha Naori stared intently at Minamoto Kaori. She was short, with a completely flat figure, but her stunning, coolly beautiful face made up for every flaw.
And with her status as a princess, there was no doubt she was a peerless beauty.
After two elders had tried to arrange a match for her, and since she had feelings for Uchiha Takeyasu, she spoke softly. "I'm Uchiha Naori. The orange cat just now was the Summoning Beast of our clan's Young Lord, Uchiha Takeyasu."
Uchiha Naori focused her attention and gave Minamoto Kaori the sharp, scrutinizing look she'd use to interrogate a criminal.
"So, about you being Takeyasu Young Lord's fiancée—Princess Kaori, can you tell me what that's about?"
Minamoto Kaori collected herself.
In the space of just a few hours, she had first encountered a talking Ninja Cat, then a blood-red warrior who rose from the ground and sent everyone scrambling to evacuate.
And now a purple-haired beauty had suddenly appeared before her. Minamoto Kaori was becoming more and more capable of accepting the unexpected.
(So Tachibana is his cat. No wonder she suddenly came looking for me.)
Keeping her expression calm, Minamoto Kaori saw that Uchiha Naori had no intention of attacking and that she belonged to the Uchiha Clan. She had no intention of calling for help, either. Her eyes, as red as blood-red jade, blinked as she spoke in a clear, lilting voice.
"I'm only following my father's arrangements. I'm to marry the Young Lord of the Uchiha Clan—that is, Lord Takeyasu."
Uchiha Naori narrowed her eyes, and the room's atmosphere instantly grew oppressive. Seeming to notice that Minamoto Kaori was uncomfortable, Uchiha Naori drew back the pressure she'd been exerting.
At the same time, she realized something: Tachibana was Uchiha Takeyasu's Ninja Cat, which meant Uchiha Takeyasu had most likely—no, definitely—already learned about this.
So what was Uchiha Takeyasu's attitude?
Would he accept it gladly, or reject it outright?
Uchiha Naori's thoughts were in turmoil. She glanced at Minamoto Kaori, who looked so frail she couldn't even withstand Naori's aura, and felt a strange emotion begin to grow within her.
On one side was the lesson she'd received all her life: the daimyo was supreme. On the other was the reality that this exalted princess could be killed by her with a casual flick of the wrist—and the envy that had begun to stir in her heart.
She envied Minamoto Kaori's status and beauty, which meant almost no one could refuse to marry her.
There was a very good chance the Takeyasu Young Lord she had feelings for would marry Minamoto Kaori.
With those three emotions intertwining in her heart, Uchiha Naori unconsciously took a slow step forward. She looked down at the petite girl, who was a head shorter than her, her black eyes as deep as a shadowy pool.
"Princess Kaori, I'll be waiting for you in the Uchiha Clan."
Understanding what she meant, Minamoto Kaori met her gaze calmly and smiled sweetly, like a hundred flowers in bloom.
"Lady Naori, I look forward to seeing you in the Uchiha Clan."
Before you continue