Stroking Cats Can Make People Feel Happy

"Where is the summoning scroll of the Ninja Cat Clan?"

"It's right in the scroll room... Could you possibly want—?"

"Yes, I want to sign it."

Uchiha Haru paused in her steps, finding it a bit hard to understand:

"Ninja cats are usually only responsible for transmitting partial commerce and intelligence. With all due respect, they aren't the slightest bit helpful to your personal cultivation."

"Well... don't be so serious. No one says you can only contract with a single summoning beast clan, right? I just want to raise a cat."

"...If you're happy, then go ahead."

That was what she said, but in reality, Uchiha Yuan really was just casually signing a summoning beast on the side, with his main purpose being to go to the scroll room to study other ninjutsu.

Now that his strength was gradually recovering, aside from the lost vitality that couldn't be reclaimed, he was no different than before.

A day passed, and using the convenience of his position, Uchiha Yuan successfully entered the scroll room. This time, no matter how people outside tried to stop him, they couldn't, because he was the acting clan head now!

"So this is how the Summoning Technique works. It feels somewhat similar to the sealing arts of the Uzumaki Clan."

The formations carved on this ninjutsu scroll of the Summoning Technique were very similar to those patterns in the sealing arts, and Uchiha Yuan suspected that this was a ninjutsu created by the Uzumaki Clan.

"This Summoning Technique seems to contain spatial principles. If... paired with... wouldn't... the Flying Thunder God be within reach?"

The principle of the Summoning Technique involved space; no matter where the contractor was, they could summon the contract beast, yet the contract beast was not a single specific creature, but rather a biological population.

In the original work, the only thing Naruto summoned at the beginning was a tadpole, yet later on he was able to summon Gamabunta.

"This is probably not a simple contract summoning; it definitely involves certain things I don't know about."

Uchiha Yuan wore a solemn expression. If a mere ordinary Summoning Technique already contained such profound knowledge, how hard must it be to learn the other sealing arts of the Uzumaki Clan?

He continued reading downward.

He discovered rows upon rows of Uchiha names below the summoning scroll. After a brief glance, he didn't recognize a single one of them.

Did Madara and Izuna not sign it either?

Could it be... Uchiha Yuan suddenly had a bold idea.

All along, Uchiha Yuan had felt that summoning beasts and contracting ninjas should be an equal relationship, or even worse, like those three sacred lands, belonging to a rather arrogant type where ninjas were the disadvantaged group, but now it might be the opposite.

The Ninja Cat Clan excelled at nothing. To be able to become a summoning beast of the Uchiha Clan, it was very likely that they had licked their faces and attached themselves to them. After all, the Uchiha belonged to the tier of top-tier clans. With such strong reinforcements providing shelter, it wouldn't matter even if they were given the cold shoulder.

Despite this, Uchiha Yuan still wrote his name at the very bottom.

Just as he said, he did indeed want to raise a cat, and it could also make passing messages to his ten human tools a bit more convenient.

"Good, with this I shall test what marvels this Summoning Technique truly holds."

Saying this, Uchiha Yuan unhurriedly began to form hand seals, though the sequence was the exact reverse of the one on the scroll.

Reverse Summoning Technique!

Poof!

Uchiha Yuan's figure vanished, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at another place.

"Meow~"

"Meow-aow~"

Uchiha Yuan's cheeks twitched slightly, his mouth slowly opening.

"Achoo!"

What kind of ghost place was this, and why was there so much cat hair?

Looking left and right, the surroundings were entirely young kittens in their infancy. Thick cat hair paved a whole layer over the ground, which was no wonder he felt his backside was so soft.

Just as Uchiha Yuan was observing the environment, the surrounding kittens also curiously looked at this suddenly appearing bipedal beast.

A few daring ones stepped closer, sniffed the scent, and were immediately frightened into running away. This unfamiliar odor made them feel exceptionally uneasy.

"Oh my~ Has someone from the Uchiha signed a contract with a newcomer?"

Hmm?

Uchiha Yuan looked toward the direction the voice came from, only to see a white cat of considerable size speaking in human language.

"You can actually speak?"

"After all, we are summoning beasts, and we have chakra within our bodies. As long as they have sufficient spirituality, any of us can speak."

"I see."

Judging by its voice, this old cat sounded like an aunt in her forties. Being watched by it made him feel completely uncomfortable all over; that gaze was just like that of an elderly senior.

"Well, you see, this time I used the reverse summoning because I wanted to choose a ninja cat as a long-term summoning beast."

"Oh? That is indeed quite rare."

Uchiha Yuan's brow twitched.

"How so?"

"You Uchiha have arrogant personalities and fickle emotions. You're the very first one who wants to summon a single, individual ninja cat. Those past contractors only cared about the transmission of intelligence."

Uchiha Yuan smiled indifferently:

"After all, this is the Sengoku period; who knows when I might end up headless."

"That is true."

The old cat nodded in a very human-like manner. Their ninja cats were not skilled in combat, and on this point, it still possessed self-awareness.

"Come with me. This is the ninja cat's litter of cubs. I'll take you to see the other cats. If there's a suitable one willing to follow you, you can pick whoever you like."

"Alright."

The old cat stuck its rear up, its tail held very high, leading the way while swaying back and forth in front.

Uchiha Yuan looked at this entirely snow-white old cat, wondering if he should also get one of this color.

He didn't know where the Ninja Cat Clan's clan land was established, but the surrounding buildings were quite quaint, and looking out as far as the eye could see, the surroundings were blocked off tightly.

Yet the environment was quite nice, featuring mountains, water, and forests. It truly was a good place.

Following the old cat through left and right turns, they entered a vast hall. At the very center and top was a straw meditation cushion, and resting upon it was startlingly yet another old cat.

"Clan head, the Uchiha contractor wants to choose one to act as his exclusive summoning beast."

The old cat on the straw mat looked even older. Clearly it possessed a cat's face, yet Uchiha Yuan could sense an aura of twilight.

"Go."

"Yes."

Uchiha Yuan remained entirely silent the whole way, which happened to suit him since he wasn't very good at socializing either.

After turning a few more corners, they entered a spacious room, and what came into view were cats of various colors.

However, some of these cats were resting on the crossbeams, while others were playing and frolicking in groups of threes and fives, projecting an overall feeling of vitality.

"Children, stop playing. Come down and sit properly."

This white cat seemed to have a great deal of prestige within the clan. As soon as it spoke, the surrounding cats one by one came down and squatted obediently in front of the old cat, sitting nicely.

The white cat glanced back at Uchiha Yuan and said:

"The rest is up to you."

Uchiha Yuan nodded, stepped forward, and sat cross-legged. He looked at the ninja cats before him; the terrifying number was probably no less than several hundred. They really were quite prolific breeders.

"I want a ninja cat to be my sole, individual summoning beast. That is to say, from now on, this ninja cat will be responsible only to me alone. Let me state the benefits first."

"First, becoming my ninja cat means sharing my status with me. No one other than myself has the right to interfere with your actions."

"Second, as your keeper, I will provide sufficient rations and the duty of protection, and I will do my utmost to take good care of you."

"Third, although you will serve only me, I will not restrict your freedom. As long as safety can be ensured, you can go wherever you wish."

When Uchiha Yuan finished stating the three benefits, quite a few ninja cats had their eyes light up. These conditions sounded pretty good, didn't they? They provided food and care, and the crucial part was that they didn't restrict a cat's natural freedom.

"Now, I will continue with the drawbacks."

"First! You must never disobey any of my intentions as a keeper. If something must be done, then you must give me a reason."

"Second! There must be no betrayal. If you have any thoughts of framing your keeper or breeding a rift between us, please bring it up early on. If an incident occurs where I am harmed, I will drag the entire Ninja Cat Clan down to be buried with you!"

After saying this, Uchiha Yuan's expression sank. The aura of someone who had long resided in a position of authority and the massive pressure of the Mangekyō Sharingan made even the air grow viscous.

Yet it only lasted for a mere two or three seconds before he returned once more to being that gentle and refined youth.