Chapter 1010

The alley's light was not very adequate, but strangely, a faint blue glow flickered on the small, cat-like creature.

At least Akira would never mistake it for an ordinary cat.

"Mmum, I want it." Chikami Nenri stared fixedly at the little creature in Akira's arms; she, who had never been able to resist small animals, couldn't look away.

"Nyah nyah nyah, what are you staring at? Even if you want it desperately, I won't give it to you!" Akira stuck out her tongue and made a face at Chikami Nenri—she remembered how, during the second exam, Chikami Nenri and her group had made her suffer a setback, nearly costing her a spot in the third match.

"You fox woman, damn it!" Wealth is to be sought by righteous means; though Chikami Nenri was no gentleman, with Riyo beside her, she reminded herself to behave with restraint—so she wouldn't stoop to outright theft, which was beneath her.

"I doubt this cat belongs to you—probably just picked it up off the street, right?"

"Hehe, you don't need to care about that," Akira replied with a smile, showing no sign of weakness.

"Damn it! The fox spirit won't take the bait—too cunning!" Chikami Nenri gritted her teeth, having planned to exploit this angle to take the kitten from her—but now this situation.

"Fine! What do you want in exchange for this cat?" Knowing Akira's nature, Chikami Nenri was certain this wouldn't work—but she truly desired this cat with its strange fur color, not out of whim, but genuine longing.

"Come on, haven't you noticed? Or do you think it's always been this listless?" Akira had lost all hope for Chikami Nenri's eyesight; she pointed toward the Leaf Hospital, now nearby.

"We're going to visit a patient, and we'll have someone skilled in animal care look after it—want to come along?"

"Let's go together, Nenri-chan," Riyo, who had remained silent throughout, suddenly spoke—she knew Chikami Nenri, who adored small animals, had truly set her heart on this kitten.

If that was the case, then of course they should follow along and see if an opportunity arose to take it.

"If Riyo-nii says so, then let's go!" Chikami Nenri's face turned suspiciously red; she replied with slight fluster, then stepped ahead toward the hospital. Akira and Sakura exchanged a silent glance, then reluctantly followed.

"I knew you might be late today, Akira, but these three?" Kakashi had already returned to Sona's ward, reporting the situation at lightning speed; had there been enough personnel, this task would've been handled by another Leaf Anbu, and with Akira's delay, it seemed she'd made new friends.

"No, don't mind them! We just happened to be traveling together for certain reasons!" Akira refused to admit any connection to Chikami Nenri.

"That's right—this fox woman is currently hoarding my cat, so I've been following her all along," Chikami Nenri spoke without hesitation, lying freely—after all, the cat was found, and Akira had just gotten there first.

Since they'd come, they might as well visit; none of them were strangers, and Sona knew Chikami Nenri and Riyo. But the competition was over, and their meeting held no irregularities—besides, even by chance, they'd offered kind wishes like "Get well soon" and "Rest well."

· ·······request flowers····· ·····

Two more people coming to visit—this warmth had become precious to her now.

Kato Shion's office.

"To be honest, it's not a cat—or rather, it's a completely different creature that merely resembles one," Shion sighed, removing her disposable gloves; after a full examination, she realized the "cat" Akira and the others had brought in had somehow exceeded her understanding.

"It looks extremely weak, like a normal person drained of energy—let me think of ways to replenish its vitality." Shion's gaze shifted to the pet pig, Tonton, causing the sharp-witted Tonton to shiver violently.

"Hmm, yes—I've got an idea."

"Meow!"

"There we go—done! Full of energy, perfect!" Shion pulled out the needle, nodded in satisfaction as the "cat," bound to the pet surgery table and desperately struggling in fear, grew quiet again from the sedative's added hypnotic effect; then she turned to the onlookers behind her—Akira and the others.

"Well? Have you decided?"

"No no no, we don't need shots!" Akira instinctively shielded her round little buttocks—even as a ninja, she feared those gleaming needles; the others wore similar expressions.