Before leaving Konoha, Sora first placed another similar seal on Nonō's tongue.
As long as Danzo did not personally use a special method to probe deeply, it could deceive him.
According to Nonō, after this nearly seven-year mission, Danzo gave her a one-year vacation.
Sora estimated a full year was unlikely, especially during wartime, but several months should be possible.
Therefore, they still needed to wait a few months before gradually leaving Konoha.
Sora had already planned the evacuation order. First would be the less conspicuous Miyamoto Ichirō and Kabuto. The remaining two little girls and Nonō would depend on who got the chance to leave Konoha first.
As for Uesugi Min's choice, Sora respected her.
Everyone had their own bonds and choices. Forcing her to leave would not be good.
He only hoped that Asuma kid would be reliable and not let Uesugi Min get hurt.
...
Whoosh!
Sora's figure flickered rapidly between branches. Each push-off propelled him dozens of meters, extremely fast.
But he did not head towards the Land of Wind for long before turning and diving into a vast, uninhabited primeval forest at the border of the Land of Fire.
This time, the destination was Cat Village.
'Cat Village... I remember it's in the deep mountains near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers, a very hidden secret place.'
As he traveled, Sora recalled information about Cat Village.
In the original story, the Uchiha clan had summoning contracts with the ninja cats of Cat Village, and the Cat Granny was an information broker with well-informed sources.
His purpose in going to Cat Village was to find a few sufficiently intelligent ninja cats to serve as liaison officers for contacting Miyamoto Ichirō and the others.
Although Sora also left a shadow clone with ample chakra at the orphanage as a means of contact, it was not as flexible as a summoning beast. After all, his shadow clone could not always stay by their side.
Ninja cats were relatively small in size, agile in movement, good at hiding and transmitting information, making them an excellent choice as liaison officers.
Moreover, Cat Village existed independently of the major ninja villages, and the cats there would not attract special attention from Konoha or the Root.
As for the snakes of Ryūchi Cave, they were not within Sora's consideration.
...
After traveling continuously for a long time, Sora finally approached the area marked on the map where Cat Village existed.
The forest here was more ancient and deep, filled with a faint, peculiar aura different from ordinary beasts.
Sora stopped before a cliff face covered with vines.
He sensed his surroundings, confirmed there were no pursuers, then formed a special hand seal. He channeled a faint trace of chakra and infused it into a specific spot on the cliff wall at a particular frequency.
Hum...
The vines on the cliff wall seemed to come alive, slowly moving apart to reveal a narrow cave entrance.
A strange smell, a mix of catnip and dried fish, wafted out from inside the cave.
Sora took a deep breath and stepped inside.
After passing through a short passage, the view suddenly opened up.
This was a huge space hidden within the mountain. Light shone through natural crystal holes above, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
Looking around, cats were everywhere!
All kinds of cats!
They varied in size and fur color, but without exception, their eyes sparkled with a spiritual light far exceeding that of ordinary cats.
Some of the larger, stronger-looking ninja cats even wore small forehead protectors and weapons.
This was Cat Village!
Sora's arrival attracted the attention of many ninja cats.
Several cats that looked like guards silently appeared on higher ground nearby, watching him sharply.
Just then, a slightly aged, somewhat kind female voice came over.
"Oh? An unfamiliar guest... You don't carry the scent of an Uchiha, yet you know the method to enter Cat Village. Young man, what business brings you here?"
Sora looked towards the voice. An old woman wearing a plain kimono, with gray hair, a pair of reading glasses, and holding a long pipe, was sitting on a cushion not far away, smiling at him.
Around her were several ninja cats with clearly extraordinary presence and intelligent eyes.
This was the ruler of Cat Village, the Cat Granny.
Sora stopped and gave a slight bow as a gesture of respect.
"I am Konoha-nin, Sora. I have come uninvited to seek a few reliable partners in Cat Village."
Hearing Sora's purpose, the Cat Granny's wrinkled face showed no surprise.
She slowly took a puff from her pipe and spoke unhurriedly.
"Ninjas coming to form summoning contracts with ninja cats have become much rarer in recent years, especially those not from the Uchiha clan... However, since you could find this place and know the method to enter, it means you have a connection with Cat Village."
"But, the ninja cats of our Cat Village each have their own temperaments. If you want their help, you must pay a corresponding price."
Sora nodded, indicating he understood.
"That is natural, Granny. Please explain."
The Cat Granny signaled to a sleek black ninja cat beside her. The black cat meowed, swiftly darted away, and soon returned with several ninja cats of different appearances, lining up in front of Sora.
Looking at the row of ninja cats, Sora actually had the illusion of picking a hostess from his previous life.
"These are all currently suitable for forming contracts and willing to interact with humans."
The Cat Granny pointed with her pipe.
"Take a look yourself, see if any catch your eye. Remember, the choice is mutual. You must fancy them, and they must also be willing to go with you."
Sora's gaze swept over the ninja cats in front of him.
The first was a large tabby cat with sharp eyes and a hint of samurai-like pride.
The second was a pure white Persian cat, elegant in posture, leisurely licking its paw.
The third was an ordinary-looking orange cat, chubby and silly-looking.
The fourth was a small black cat, thin and small in build, but exuding a clever aura.
The fifth...
Sora's gaze lingered a bit longer on the third orange cat and the fourth black cat.
He crouched down, trying to release a peaceful aura as much as possible, and spoke.
"What I need are partners who can stably and reliably transmit information. They may often need to travel between the Land of Fire and... other distant places. The tasks might be somewhat dull, but regarding compensation, I will not be stingy."
Hearing this, the originally somewhat lazy orange cat twitched its ears, raised its head, and looked at Sora with bright amber eyes.
"Meow? Compensation? Specifically how much meow? Are food and lodging included meow? How is the fee calculated for each errand meow?"
As it asked, it somehow pulled out a small abacus from somewhere, flicked it a few times with its paw, looking like a shrewd businessman.
The little black cat nearby also came closer.
"Meow~ Money alone is not enough meow. I heard the human world has many delicious dried fish meow, the kind slow-roasted over charcoal fire, sprinkled with special spices, the ultimate dried fish meow... If you can provide that kind, the price can be negotiated meow~"
Looking at these two cats, the corner of Sora's mouth twitched slightly.
Good grief, one is a money-grubber, the other a foodie. Their characteristics are really distinct.
However, those with clear demands are actually easier to deal with. As long as their conditions are met, they will likely perform tasks diligently for the sake of compensation and good food.
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