Meiqiu

While the ninja cats watched Shinji, he was also sizing up the many different cats around him.

The Land of Cats was located in an abandoned city, so some of the city's original structure remained.

The original owner of this body had never been here, so Shinji knew nothing about the Land of Cats.

Only after arriving did he discover that it was completely different from what he had imagined.

The streets were full of ninja cats coming and going, as well as all kinds of shops. Neon signs flashed, and vendors' shouts filled the air.

He even spotted a hair salon.

A poster advertising an elegant white cat hung by the entrance. It even prominently advertised a free gift voucher with purchase.

"Here..."

For a moment, Shinji didn't know how to describe what he was feeling.

After wandering around the streets, he found a ninja cat who specialized in selling information.

"Meow."

The Tricolor Cat, sprawled across a tree stump, gave a lazy meow and held out its chubby paw to Shinji.

Shinji blinked. "What?"

The Tricolor Cat glanced at him. "Even if you're an Uchiha, you still have to pay to ask for information here!"

Shinji pulled out five hundred ryo and placed it in the Tricolor Cat's chubby paw.

The Tricolor Cat took the money, then held out its paw again. "Not enough!"

Shinji was speechless. "You... I'm just asking for some information. Five hundred ryo isn't enough?"

The Tricolor Cat looked entirely justified. "It's a thousand per question! Even if your clan leader came—forget it. What do you want to know?"

Shinji couldn't be bothered to argue with the fat cat. "I'm looking for a ninja cat skilled at stealth, preferably one who knows a little Medical Ninjutsu, too."

"That's a tall order!"

The Tricolor Cat dropped its lazy demeanor and, rubbing its paws together, launched into an animated introduction to the ninja cats in the Land of Cats who were skilled at stealth.

Stealth was practically a natural talent for ninja cats, so there were plenty who were good at it.

But ninja cats who knew Medical Ninjutsu were rare. Even in the Land of Cats, only a few fit the bill.

"One-Eyed Dragon, Mitsuha, and Yugimaru."

After saying goodbye to the Tricolor Cat, Shinji wandered around the Land of Cats, considering the three candidates it had suggested.

Of the three ninja cats—

'One-Eyed Dragon' was the most famous. It had signed a Summoning Contract with an Uchiha jōnin, but had recently become unemployed.

'Mitsuha' came next. Its strength and experience were both fairly average.

As for 'Yugimaru,' supposedly it was still a kitten, not yet grown. It had no combat experience and had never signed a Summoning Contract with a ninja, making it the least famous of the three.

Shinji wanted to contract a ninja cat so he could steal Fugaku Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan from the Root Base.

This was a dirty job!

Being famous wasn't necessarily a good thing. After thinking it over, he decided to meet 'Yugimaru' first, since it was the least well-known and had never signed a Summoning Contract with any ninja.

Following the address the Tricolor Cat had given him, Shinji zigzagged through the streets and finally found 'Yugimaru's' home in a narrow alley in the Land of Cats.

It was a shabby little house, and noisy sounds could be heard coming from inside.

He glanced at the number on the door: Sakagura Town, No. 33.

"This must be the place!"

Knock, knock.

Shinji walked up and knocked on the door.

It opened almost immediately, and a little black cat poked its head out. Its gaze fell on Lin Zhen, and it looked him up and down. "You're from the Uchiha Clan?"

Shinji nodded, then asked, "Are you Yugimaru?"

The black cat immediately perked up and introduced itself. "That's right! I am 'Yū, Beloved of the Night, Moonlit Spirit, Gi, Ruler of Shadows, Maru'!"

The little black cat in front of him was tiny, and its voice was childish, yet it put on a grown-up air that was downright comical.

Shinji curled his lip. "Just tell me what you can do!"

Yugimaru immediately picked up where he left off. "Good question! I'm skilled in more than a dozen kinds of ninjutsu, and I've mastered Medical Ninjutsu, as well as..."

"As well as what?"

Yugimaru didn't answer. It simply formed Hand Seals with both paws.

Whoosh.

In an instant, Yugimaru slipped into the shadow beneath it. All Shinji could see was a barely noticeable shadow on the ground.

Shinji froze. "What is this...?"

Yugimaru emerged from the shadow, looking smug. "Heh-heh. This isn't just any ordinary ninjutsu!"

Shinji's eyes lit up. "You're the one. I want to sign a Summoning Contract with you!"

"Not so fast!"

Yugimaru waved a forepaw in front of Shinji.

Then it spread its paws, looking haughty. "I, the great Yū, Beloved of the Night, Moonlit Spirit, Gi, Ruler of Shadows, Maru of the Land of Cats, am destined to become famous throughout the Shinobi World. Not just any ninja can sign a contract with me!"

Shinji frowned slightly. "What are your conditions?"

Yugimaru circled Lin Zhen, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "Have you awakened the Sharingan? What rank are you in the Konoha Military Police Force? Are you a Chunin yet? Do you get an allowance?"

Shinji's expression grew a little awkward as it questioned him. He felt like he was applying for a job.

Yugimaru swished its tail. "Heh-heh, don't tell me you're still a Genin who hasn't even awakened the Sharingan."

Shinji said, "Uh, I'm still attending the Ninja Academy."

Yugimaru muttered under its breath, "A student? Tch, how much money could you possibly have?"

Just then, an orange cat walked over carrying a crate of liquor and set it down in front of Yugimaru. "Meiqiu, this is the liquor your dad ordered yesterday. When are you going to settle the bill?"

Yugimaru, who had been so haughty moments earlier, stiffened. "What? It... it ordered another crate?"

The orange cat sighed at Yugimaru. "Sigh, Meiqiu, it's not that I don't want to help you out. You can't keep putting this bill off. I can give you three more days, at most! Also, Hanamaki asked me to remind you and your mom about the money for the perm."

With that, the orange cat shook its head and walked away.

Yugimaru stiffly turned to Shinji, looking flustered. "Actually, I don't know that cat very well. I have no idea what it was talking about!"

Shinji nodded. "Got it, Meiqiu."

"My name is Yugimaru!"

Shinji nodded seriously. "Sure thing, Meiqiu!"

Meiqiu covered its face with both paws and gave up trying to correct him.

Shinji craned his neck and peered through the crack in the door at the house behind Meiqiu. There were quite a few ninja cats inside.

A plump white female cat, its head full of curlers, was playing cards with several other female cats. On the other side, a black male cat lay sprawled drunkenly on a sofa, empty liquor bottles piled beside him.

In the corner, several black-and-white kittens happily played with a ball of yarn.

Shinji drew back his gaze. "Supporting the family?"

Meiqiu nodded helplessly. "Life's tough."

Shinji checked again. "You know Medical Ninjutsu?"

Meiqiu answered honestly, "I can handle basic treatment."

Shinji asked again, "And that move just now?"

Meiqiu told him the truth. "Shadow Release. But I'm still not very good at it. I can only manage it at night or in dark places, and even then I need to use shadows."

"A Kekkei Genkai?!"

Shinji was delighted to hear that.

Although Meiqiu wasn't grown yet, it was a perfect fit for his needs.

Having made up his mind, Shinji said, "I'm very satisfied with your abilities, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied with mine!"

Meiqiu was curious. "What can you do?"

Shinji leisurely took out his passbook.