Kusa Often Mentions You

Win the recognition of Cat Castle's boss—Nekomata.

This was the condition set by the summoned yokai, Cat Merchant. It had been fulfilled when the former chose to enter Konoha alongside the two girls of the Uzumaki Clan, and the Uchiha Clan's five-year partnership with Cat Castle was subsequently extended indefinitely.

Arata was familiar with the emotion revealed in the catgirl's eyes. It was the same bone-deep hatred he himself carried.

The person she had lost must have been incomparably important and irreplaceable to her.

"Is the thief and murderer you speak of the owner of this power?"

As he spoke, a pair of broad, dark-purple chakra wings abruptly unfurled from behind him. Compared to the last time he had used them, their color had become deeper, and the patterns along the wings had grown clearer.

[Secret Technique: Mysterious Peacock Method.]

The reason this secret technique had been refined to such an extent in only a few short years was entirely due to Oitsuki's influence.

Under Hoshigakure's faith, she had gradually gone from a fraud who called herself a god to walking the path toward becoming a true deity.

The stronger her power became, the greater the aid she could provide.

"It really was you!"

Sensing an aura that closely matched that of the murderer, and watching the human before her display it so casually, Cat Merchant nearly ground her back teeth to pieces.

The ferocity in her cold eyes intensified, while hatred utterly ruined her delicate face.

At this moment, she wanted only to avenge that gentle woman!!

"Kuro-no-suke, Snow Princess, Chacha!"

"Seize the criminal for me!!"

At the catgirl's sharp cry, three cat yokai—black, snow-white, and tabby respectively—suddenly descended from thin air and pounced toward the place their mistress indicated.

[Secret Technique: Summon Cats.]

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