Ninja Cat Kozunmaru

Early morning

Uchiha Naraku woke up. He had discussed Fuinjutsu with Uzumaki Nao late into the night, learning a great deal from him.

Under Uzumaki Nao's guidance, the Five Elements Seal and Four-Symbols Seal, which had once seemed obscure to him, suddenly became clear. He had successfully performed them right there and then.

With more practice, he would be able to master them completely.

After washing up, Naraku went out into the courtyard.

亥-戌-酉-申-未

"Ninja Art: Summoning Technique!"

"Meow!"

"Kozunmaru, good morning."

The ninja cat Kozunmaru was a calico with two short swords strapped to his back.

The Ninja Cat Clan were the Uchiha Clan's contracted summoning beasts. Most members of the Uchiha Clan had contracts with ninja cats.

Compared to combat-oriented summoning beasts, Naraku preferred ninja cats: they were stealthy, small, clever, and skilled at gathering intelligence.

"Meow, Lord Naraku, you really do train diligently every day, meow."

Kozunmaru looked glum about Naraku disturbing his sweet dreams every day, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"Haha, Kozunmaru, don't look so miserable. Look, what's this?"

Uchiha Naraku took out two dried fish and tossed them to the ninja cat.

Kozunmaru's eyes lit up. He leaped into the air, caught the fish perfectly, and eagerly gobbled them down.

"Meow, these dried fish are delicious."

After finishing the fish, Kozunmaru narrowed his eyes, looking thoroughly pleased.

"Lord Naraku, the white-haired ninja you asked me to follow, meow—he's been at home this whole past half-month without coming out, meow."

Kozunmaru licked his paw and reported to Naraku.

"Kozunmaru, that ninja's name is Hiruko. Please try to remember it."

Naraku was a little exasperated. Kozunmaru had been following him for more than ten days and still couldn't remember Hiruko's name.

"Right, Hiruko, meow. I've been remembering it, meow. I just haven't woken up properly."

As he said this, Kozunmaru gave him another mournful look.

He hasn't come out for half a month? Naraku rubbed his chin. Has Hiruko gone crazy from studying ninjutsu? He's researching forbidden techniques at home? What a lunatic.

No wonder Orochimaru had managed to research forbidden techniques until the end of the Third Shinobi World War before he was discovered and driven out. Hiruko had been discovered after just a few days.

Based on the recent enthusiasm of the Konoha villagers, and the sensitive phrases being passed around—things like the Land of Wind's crushing defeat, suing for peace, a great victory, and a triumphant return—Naraku guessed that the Third Hokage and the others had started spreading rumors again to build up excitement. The ninja forces who had gone off to war were probably about to return victorious.

Naraku remembered that when Hiruko had been hunted by the Sannin, they had all looked quite young. It should have happened within the next year or two.

Naraku made up his mind. The Sannin hadn't returned yet, so it wasn't time to hunt Hiruko. Once they came back victorious, Naraku would lead a team to capture him.

Hiruko had devoted himself to his research for more than twenty years before finally developing the forbidden technique: the Chimera Technique.

Given Hiruko's financial means and standing, he had to sneak around to find test subjects. He was short on money and couldn't afford equipment, so it was no wonder the research had taken him twenty years.

If I support his research, give him money, equipment, and test subjects, couldn't he produce results in just a few years?

"Kozunmaru, keep following him. Pay special attention to where Hiruko goes, and make sure you remember every detail!"

"Got it, meow!" A cloud of smoke appeared, and Kozunmaru vanished.

Uchiha Naraku felt that his strength had reached a limit. His Sharingan had grown to Three Tomoe, but there had been almost no progress since.

Naraku was sixteen. Although he hadn't reached the peak of his strength yet, he felt there might not be much room left for improvement.

Even if he gained some strength as he got older, he probably wouldn't become much stronger.

Naraku shook his head and decided to go to work. He had promised Uzumaki Nao a place in the Police Force last night. If he couldn't deliver, he'd look like a fool.

After all, there was someone above him in the Police Force: Uchiha Sanzang.

Though Sanzang had promised to step aside and pass the position to a worthy successor once Naraku had gotten used to the work, anything could happen until the handover was complete. After all, anything was possible.

Naraku had a bit of a headache when it came to the Police Force. The Uchiha Clan's obsession with it was almost fanatical.

Naraku wasn't sure how reforming the Police Force and recruiting more members of other ninja clans and independent ninja would affect the Uchiha Clan.

Lost in thought, Naraku arrived at the Police Force building before he knew it.

"Lord Naraku!"

"Lord Naraku!"

"Clan Leader!"

"Mm."

Naraku responded quietly.

Those calling him Lord Naraku were members of the First Division. He had emphasized that they should use his official title while they were in the Police Force, not call him Clan Leader.

He didn't want others thinking the Clan Leader had abused his power and forced his way into the Police Force to fight for influence. Making himself look power-hungry would be a bad idea.

Although Naraku really had come to fight for influence, he still had to be mindful of appearances.

The Criminal Investigation Squad of the First Division had little to do. Konoha was shaped like a fan.

The First Division was responsible for the upper third of the fan-shaped area, which included the Uchiha Clan Compound, Senju Clan Compound, Sarutobi Clan Compound, and Hyuga Clan Compound.

There were basically no major cases. Even when there were, they were family affairs within the ninja clans, and the Police Force couldn't very well interfere.

As for spies, their recent search had turned up nothing.

The Uchiha Clan had ninja cats as a source of intelligence. Most of the cats roaming the streets were spies from the Ninja Cat Clan, passing information to the Uchiha.

Since even the ninja cats had failed to uncover anything useful, the spy was clearly hiding very well.

"Where are your flak jackets?" Some Police Force members were in casual clothes, without their Konoha flak jackets. Naraku found it strange.

"Clan Leader, we're Genin, so we don't have flak jackets yet. Today's the Police Force's monthly meeting, so our squad leader brought us along to attend."

The two young men, dressed in black robes with a Gunbai embroidered on their backs, answered respectfully.

They weren't from the First Division. It was the Police Force's monthly meeting, so the other divisions had to attend as well. Even the teams on duty had sent key personnel to the meeting.

Looking at the variety of outfits, Naraku frowned slightly.

Those two Genin already had the strength of Chunin, but Konoha had held them back from promotion. They were the strongest members of their respective squads.

Perhaps the Police Force should have its own uniforms and distinctive ninja flak jackets, so its members could be distinguished from regular ninja.

After the last meeting, Naraku had taken charge as the First Division's squad leader and had been leading the division ever since.

This was his second time attending the monthly meeting, and only now had he noticed that many members of the Second and Third Divisions wore civilian clothes, with a Gunbai embroidered on the back.

This was practically inviting trouble for the Uchiha Clan. If someone got beaten up by Police Force members in civilian clothes with a Gunbai on their backs, they wouldn't blame the Police Force. They'd direct all their hatred at the Uchiha Clan.

Changing the Police Force would be a long and arduous task!