[Mad Tiger] Chapter 29

The hope that had lit up in me flickered out the moment Minato stood and sneered at Kushina-san.

“The ‘one clan genjutsu can’t touch!’? You’re talking about the Uchiha, aren’t you?” His voice dripped with mockery. “Who do you think helped unleash the demon from you? Or have you never wondered why not a single one of our red-eyed ‘friends’ was with us that night you gave birth? You thought they were following Hiruzen’s orders, didn’t you? The old monkey might be playing his sly political games, but he won’t outmaneuver me.”

Minato formed a sequence of hand seals, then pressed his palm to Kushina’s stomach. A greenish ripple of energy spread across her body.

“Recognize your suppression seal?” he asked with a dark chuckle. “I improved it. Now, you’re weaker than a common villager. Despite your quick recovery and ridiculous resilience, I’ve made sure you’re powerless. Did you really think I didn’t notice your feeble attempts at resistance? But I have important matters to attend to now. I’ll be back later, and we’ll continue this little conversation.”

“How are you planning to seal the Nine-Tails into Naruto?” Kushina rasped, her body trembling as she slumped onto her side. Whatever Minato had done was clearly taking its toll. “I never told you how to seal a biju. You don’t know the fuinjutsu!”

“I didn’t need you to tell me,” Minato replied nonchalantly. “Hiruzen shared the technique with me while you were giving birth. ‘Reaper Death Seal.’ Quite the poetic name, don’t you think?”

Kushina let out a strange, broken sob. Judging by the sharp change in her scent and aura, whatever Minato had sealed her with was truly brutal. But she was alive—barely. Damn it! Just leave already, Minato, you bastard! I’ll save her while everyone’s distracted. I’ll chew through the ropes binding her ankles and wrists. But what the hell? Why is she tied up so tightly? These knots go all the way up her arms and legs! Then again, she is a shinobi—they probably used extra precautions to prevent her from escaping.

Finally, Minato left, and it was just Kushina and me again. I darted toward her, biting down on the ropes, which were thin but frustratingly strong.

“Tora-chan?” she whispered softly. Whatever Minato had done to her must have been agonizing. I could feel the spasms radiating off her, her body trembling as she stifled quiet sobs. But she didn’t give up. She twisted and shifted, trying to make it easier for me to gnaw through the bindings. I focused, channeling the scraps of chakra I had left into my teeth to make them sharper. It helped, but the ropes still cut into her skin, drawing blood.

“It’s okay, Tora-chan,” she murmured, her voice filled with encouragement. “You’re doing great. Keep going. I can take it. Come on, little one, just a bit more!”

Her composure in such a dire situation amazed me. I didn’t know how long I kept biting. My jaw throbbed with pain, my head spun from the metallic tang of blood, and the ropes tasted bitter, as if soaked in some foul substance. I chewed and chewed, feeling like I’d been at it forever. My teeth ached, my tongue was numb, and I was starting to lose hope. But finally, the ropes gave way, and her hands were free. Relief and bitterness swirled in me.

And then… darkness.

I must’ve blacked out. The idea that someone had gouged out my eyes felt absurd, yet I couldn’t shake the sensation. Distantly, like the faint hum of a mosquito, I heard someone calling me.

And they called me something strange… Gregory.

I knew it was supposed to be my name, but it didn’t feel like mine. Who was Gregory? And what kind of ridiculous last name is Pestretsov? It sounded so foreign, almost laughable. No, that couldn’t be right. That wasn’t my name. But what was it? The answer hovered just out of reach, a frustrating void. Who am I?

Then, the darkness began to fill with light—pinpricks that sparkled like stars. Except… they weren’t stars. They looked more like glowing eyes, scattered and unblinking. Some blinked occasionally, but most were pale green. And there were more and more of them, all watching. The silence was oppressive, like a vacuum pressing in on my ears, yet at the same time, it was full of whispers. A silent cacophony of “shu-shu-shu,” as if a million voices murmured without sound. It was madness. Where was I? What was this strange starry world? Is “starry-eye-land” even a word?

Among the sea of green, I noticed one—red. Why? What made it stand out? Ah, curiosity. It killed the cat… Wait! That’s it! I’m a cat! More precisely, I’m a tomcat! I remembered! Oh, how wonderful it was to have something to hold onto. Waking up in an unfamiliar place without any sense of self is terrifying. Huh… why does this feel oddly familiar?

It was strange not having a body, yet I could see and feel everything. A new mystery? No matter! I “ran” toward the red star. Somehow, despite lacking legs, I could move. The star got closer, its crimson glow reminiscent of Kushina-san’s hair. Of course! I have a mistress! That’s right! Having no owner is the worst—no one to feed you or scratch your belly or behind your ears. Ah, those were the best… And there was a boy too! He smelled of milk and peonies. Weird combination, but I liked it. His name was… something silly… Ryota? Nura? No, that’s not it. Ugh, my memory is awful for a cat!

That endless “shu-shu-shu” was grating now. Why were they silently arguing? I wanted to listen too! Oh, no… I take it back. Be careful what you wish for, right? If I had ears, they’d be curled back in discomfort. The sound was overwhelming, a furious debate crashing down on me.

“One life!”
“Only one!”
“He exchanged it for a human life!”
“That’s unacceptable!”
“But he was granted it!”
“A proper cat life includes nine lives—everyone knows that!”
“But he was given just one!”
“It counts!”
“It doesn’t count!”
“One!”
“Nine!”
“Did he deserve it? Don’t make me laugh!”
“One means one, not nine!”
“Can’t you count?”
“His life ended!”
“But he traded a human life for a cat’s!”
“Yes, he gave it up just now!”
“Should that be considered?!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“One!”

“Stop! I’ve changed my mind! I don’t want to hear this!” I interjected, and the cacophony returned to its subdued whispering.

Honestly, it’s the same everywhere. No peace, no consensus. Great, now I’m a feline philosopher and pacifist. The red star still blinked, pulling me toward it. Naruto! That was the boy’s name! My little chick—a skinny, blue-eyed bundle of fluff with spiky blond hair. I loved burying my nose in it. But… something felt wrong. What had happened to him? Why did it hurt so much to think about him? Where were my paws? My whiskers? My tail?!

The red star vibrated, sending strange waves my way. Sound waves? Wow, I’m smart! How do I even know about stuff like that? But why couldn’t I hear them? I wanted to listen!

Summer Star, Why are you so red.

Because, I had a sad dream last night.

My eyes are red from the tears I've shed.

Swollen as I cried.

Summer Star, Why've you lost your way?

I'm searching for a child whose gone afar.

He can't be found, though I've searched all day.

My sad dreams come once more.

Summer Star, Why are you so red.

Because, I had a sad dream last night.

My eyes are red from the tears I've shed.

Swollen as I cried.

Summer Star, Why've you lost your way?

I'm searching for a child whose gone afar.

He can't be found, though I've searched all day.

My sad dreams come once more. (1)

A soft, haunting melody began to echo, familiar and bittersweet. Was Kushina-san singing? Her voice… it called out, but to where? The red star pulsed again, and the song grew clearer, closer. A warm wave swept over me, like a gentle caress. A hot droplet landed on my nose, and an unbearable itch made me sneeze.

“Tora-chan! You’re alive!” someone exclaimed.

Oh, right! My name is Tora! Phew, for a moment there, I was worried the memory loss was permanent. Okay, systems check. Tail? Still there. Paws? I can feel them. Claws? Extendable. Ears? Yep, they’re twitching. Wait, I’m forgetting something. Oh, right—eyes. Let’s open them!

Holy… Whoa. Uh, wow. I might be a cat, but something feels… off. Also, I think I died. Why else would I be staring into two red eyes and a face I recognize, even though I’ve only seen it once before? But the scent—it’s unmistakable. Yes, it’s him! I know it! Though… where have I seen him before? From my owner’s lap? Wait, do I have an owner?

“Tora-chan, we thought you weren’t going to make it. That rope was laced with poison,” a woman’s voice said softly above me.

Kushina-san! I tried to get up but couldn’t. What is going on?

“Don’t move, don’t move, sweetheart. You’ve been very sick. You were in a coma for three whole days. I… I thought I lost you…” My owner sniffled.

So, all that darkness with the “star-eyes” was just a fever dream?

“The ropes they used to bind you were coated in snake venom. A neurotoxin,” Kobo-san explained, his voice firm yet concerned. “It was applied specifically to neutralize anyone who tried to chew through them. Even if a cat like you avoided the venom entirely, gum injuries would still be unavoidable. But for someone your size… that dosage was lethal.”

Wait. Kobo-san? No way. He’s alive?!

I couldn’t even muster the energy to be relieved because, once again, the world tilted, and I fell back into darkness.

Thankfully, no creepy “star-eyes” this time. Just a dream. In it, there was a pig and a busty woman whose chest was oddly comforting to knead. And there was my little chick, Naruto, sitting all alone on a swing, crying.

Don’t worry, little chick. Your Tora-san will get better and come back to you…

________________________________________________

• Natsuhiboshi (夏母子, literally meaning: Summer Mother and Child) is the title of the song that both Sumaru and Natsuhi sang in the Star Guard Mission. It is a lullaby Natsuhi sang to her son when he was an infant. He usually sings the lullaby whenever he remembers his deceased mother.