[Mad Tiger] Chapter 13

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a job well done. It makes you feel happy, content, and as snug as a pampered cat.

Naruto truly is a hardworking kid; his traps were no joke. I walked around the young Academy students and admired the scene one more time. Butterfly was stuck waist-deep in the pitfall, looking as wedged as Winnie the Pooh in Rabbit’s hole. Lucky for him there weren’t any stakes at the bottom, or he’d have been a very sore warrior.

Sasuke had triggered a snare and was now dangling upside-down from a tree branch, looking like Pinocchio, while I played the part of Basilio the Cat. Naruto? Let’s make him Alice the Fox, except here he wasn’t the demon’s vessel. I recalled Kubo-san mentioning in that meeting how the Nine-Tails had been sealed back into Kushina.

Pup and Deer were tangled up in a net. Their legs were bound with rope and stones, making them look like a human meatloaf. Or was that just me getting hungry again?

I couldn’t help but wonder—where did this kid even get all this gear? Did he plan it all just to catch a simple cat? Was he living out a lifelong dream of setting traps, and I just happened to be his lucky target? And Naruto came fully prepared—he was a true ninja enthusiast. It all proved the saying: “He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself.” Well, they fell right into it! They were lucky Naruto hadn’t brought a bear trap. Honestly, why settle for less when catching the daimyo’s cat is on the line?

Oh, these ninja kids, they’re going to be the death of me from laughter.

I didn’t stick around to watch them untangle themselves; I headed back to Kuromaru. I needed to urgently discuss my training breakthrough with my ninken teacher. Real chakra control was still as far off as the moon, but speeding up my flow was a start. Also, I was hungry and tired again. Not just from pranking the kids—my earlier training session hadn’t quite worn off. And it had been a long day, starting way too early. The journey from Himachi hadn’t allowed much sleep.

“So, kid, how’d it go?” Inuzuka Tsume’s voice reached me through my nap.

I don’t know about Kiba, but I could hear the hidden smirk in her tone. Poor boy had worn out his pants and scuffed his boots searching for the daimyo’s cat—me—who was now napping peacefully under the table on Kuromaru. Ah, the bliss of accomplishment. Sleep soundly, without a care.

“It was a disaster,” Kiba grumbled. “The guys are still waiting outside. I just came in for a whistle.”

“Still haven’t found Tora-chan?” Tsume teased, her voice both mocking and affectionate.

Now that’s what I call parenting. The harsh reality of the shinobi world: mess up, and even your mom won’t wipe your nose.

“And I lost Akamaru,” the kid sighed heavily. “Mom… what do I do now?” His voice broke, sounding pitiful.

Come to think of it, that little pup had been napping for an awfully long time. The sun would set soon. Even I started to worry. Alright, alright, my kind heart! What would these little shinobi-does do without me? Someone had to save the day and wipe their noses.

I slinked out from under the table, slipping past Tsume’s legs, who was covering for me and Kuramaru. I shot Kiba, who was standing there with his mouth open, a look that said, “You’re an idiot,” before strolling past him and sitting at the doorway. It wasn’t up to me to open doors now—he could handle that.

Kiba scrambled to open the door, and I marched out with my tail held high.

“Whoa!” the kids said, all at once, mouths agape.

“It’s Tora-chan!” Naruto exclaimed. Thanks, Captain Obvious.

I swaggered past the stunned boys and trotted over to where I’d hidden the pup.

“Let’s follow him,” Kiba told his friends. “Mom said Tora-chan would help find Akamaru.”

And so, I moved like I had my own escort: two on the left, two on the right, and one trailing behind. By the way, I found that traveling like this was surprisingly energizing and kept me moving at a decent speed. Once, I even kept pace with my owner’s palanquin, even when the oxen were moving at a good clip. The boys, on the other hand, were practically jogging to keep up.

Akamaru was exactly where I’d left him, under a cluster of leaves and burdock I’d thoughtfully piled over him.

“Hey, pup, rise and shine!” I nudged him with my paw. Branches parted, and Kiba’s face popped into our little green hideout.

“Akamaru?!” Kiba’s eyes shimmered with what looked suspiciously like tears. The tiny ninken yawned wide, stretched lazily, clearly not understanding what all the fuss was about.

“Akamaru!” The boys pulled the pup out of the bushes like they’d just won a prize.

Yup, it’s true: if you want to make someone happy, make them suffer a little first, then bring things back to normal.

“Tora-chan, you’re so smart! You found Kiba’s dog!” Naruto said, clearly impressed. “I told you guys it was your fault,” he scolded his friends. “You were acting like fools. Tora is actually really clever. He understands everything.”

I ambled over and let out a wide yawn. Carry me, oh great cat carrier!

“Tora-chan!” Naruto lifted me up with care and settled me in his arms. “Wow, you’re pretty heavy!”

Of course! I eat and train, after all. The daimyo’s cat isn’t just a fluffy coat—it’s a solid five to six kilos of pure muscle.

Purring contentedly, I let the squad of little “shenanigans” carry me through Konoha, lounging in Naruto’s arms, butt supported, while I listened to them recount my latest antics.

As it turned out, Sasuke had been the one to grab Deer Jr, who had been watching the “battlefield” from above. Sasuke was the only one who could more or less manage chakra control and “stick to branches.” Naruto promised him he’d learn to do it by the end of next week and train until he was even better than Sasuke.

Deer, on the other hand, made the guys swear not to tell anyone about his epic tree-hugging moment, otherwise his dad would make him train even more, and he was too lazy for that. Cheeky little guy! Still, the boys didn’t hold a grudge against me for my antics—they only teased each other. They’d recall how they played “The Turnip” game with Choji or how they got tangled up in Naruto’s miraculous net, which he strictly forbade Sasuke to cut with his “real kunai.” Sasuke freed himself by slicing the rope, leaving Naruto sulking about having to tie the knot again.

Akamaru, whom Kiba was joyfully carrying in his arms, listened to tales of my mischief with wide eyes and said I was amazing—because “I defeated so many people at once.” A compliment from the pup? Cherry on top!

“Tora-chan!” Shijimi shrieked like she hadn’t seen me in a century when Naruto brought me home after saying goodbye to his friends. “My baby! I was so afraid they wouldn’t find you before nightfall!”

“See, Naruto found your kitty. My son always keeps his promises, right?!” I turned to the pleasant voice’s owner and was delighted to see Kushina-san.

“That’s my nindo!” Naruto declared proudly. I squirmed out of his arms. Enough of being carried around! Now, who to visit first—my mistress or Kushina-san? Hmm, Shijimi first, then Kushina. No lady should be without a bit of feline attention!

“Tora-chan, my sweet boy!” my mistress cooed, giving me a pat. I strutted over to Kushina, then back to Shijimi, and then repeated the loop. Decisions, decisions! Why couldn’t they sit next to each other?

“Tora-chan, are you hungry?” Kushina-san made the choice easy. “Let’s feed you and have dinner ourselves, too.”

“Deal,” I meowed and nudged her cheek. Smart woman.

“Come join us for dinner, Shijimi-san,” Kushina invited my mistress. Shijimi pouted slightly, so I walked over and “kissed” her too. Pleasing everyone was tough, but better to do it yourself than be at the mercy of others!

“My sweet little Tora-chan,” Shijimi beamed. “Inviting me to dinner? You clever boy! You’re such a good kitty!”

That’s right—I am!

The Uzumaki home—mother and son’s cozy abode—was warm and not too big. From the anime, I remembered Naruto living in a tiny apartment, but here it was a full two-story house with a small garden. As they carried me in, I spotted a couple of bonsai trees and a fish pond.

The first floor was an almost empty living room with two small sofas and bookshelves lining the walls. Perfect for a training space. Plenty of room to spar.

The dining area was also downstairs, where we all had dinner together. Well, “together”—I ate from a bowl on the floor while they sat cross-legged at a low table. Something told me, judging by Naruto’s squirming and the regular table in the corner, that they’d gone with “traditional dining” just for Shijimi’s sake. Even at the palace, they only sat like that during formal events; most of the time, master and mistress sat at normal tables like normal people. But humans are funny that way—uncomfortable yet committed.

After eating, I sat with them, looking dignified. Naruto fed me bits of sushi, which I promptly licked clean of salmon and smoked eel, leaving the rice behind like a true connoisseur. It was clear the kid wasn’t a fan of the food either. He asked to be excused, claiming he was full and heading off to train.

I followed him. That’s right! Naruto! I’d found someone as training-obsessed as me. Not like that slacker Sano, who dreams of being a ninja but works as if he’s allergic to effort. Basically, just lying in the direction of his goals.

Kuromaru, when I met him again, showed me a couple of new “power-up” exercises. I tried them once, just to memorize, then concked out—completely wiped. But now I was refreshed and full of energy: I’d napped, rested, eaten! My dream was within reach—a small step for a shinobi, a giant leap for catkind!