After training ended, everyone naturally went their separate ways.
On the way home, Miwa Masayo's excitement showed no sign of fading. Through their connection of chakra and natural energy, she kept chattering to Uchiha Yoru, repeating her thoughts over and over.
But as she spoke, her voice gradually lowered.
Then—
She hesitated.
"What's wrong?"
"…What do we do next, meow?"
"?"
"You told me to say that I'd teach senjutsu to the other cats in the Cat Castle… but how am I supposed to do that, meow?"
"I don't even understand it myself yet, meow. How can I teach others?"
"I'll teach you," Yoru replied calmly. "Then you can teach the other cats."
"Yoru… you said it yourself. What you're cultivating isn't the same as mine, meow. How can you teach me?"
"I can. Don't worry."
"Meow… I trust you."
Yoru's own path of cultivation was still unclear.
The seven chakra system he had observed was not yet complete.
But when it came to senjutsu chakra—
There were no mysteries left.
It was simply too straightforward.
To form senjutsu chakra, only two problems needed to be solved:
How to absorb natural energy.
And how to control the ratio of fusion.
The most critical point—
Natural energy must never exceed the amount of chakra within the body.
Once it surpassed that threshold—
Natural energy would occupy the pathways.
Unlike Yoru, who had gradually adapted through the Hundred Days of Tempering—
Ordinary shinobi and summoned beasts had bodies adapted to chakra.
They could not adapt to pure natural energy.
It would leak uncontrollably—
And cause physical mutation.
As for why mutation occurred—
Yoru didn't know.
After all, natural energy already existed in trace amounts within the human body.
A body completely devoid of natural energy—
Would only be a corpse, dead for more than four hours.
Perhaps it was simply a matter of dosage.
He made a mental note.
Another problem for the future.
Unlike the toads of Mount Myoboku or the snakes of Ryūchi Cave—
Who cultivated senjutsu in a vague, instinctive manner—
Yoru had already identified the core issue.
Once the problem was understood—
The solution was simple.
For ninja cats—
The key was to create an environment where natural energy was active—
But not overly dense.
So they could sense and absorb it easily—
Without exceeding their own chakra capacity.
In truth, the solution wasn't complicated.
Step one—
Use sealing techniques to create a barrier.
A controlled training space.
Step two—
Once the young Cat Sage stabilized her foundation, she would leave that space and gradually adapt to the less active natural energy of the outside world.
With a proper foundation—
The initial difficulty would no longer matter.
And the problem of over-absorption—
Would not occur.
Miwa Masayo's eyes lit up.
"Yoru, you explained it so clearly, meow! I actually understood it, meow!"
"But then… how did I succeed back then, meow?"
Yoru thought for a moment.
"You were in my arms at the time."
"When I was forming my foundation, I gathered all the fire-aspected natural energy across Konoha. The concentration was high enough for you to sense and absorb it."
"But because you couldn't compete with me, you never exceeded the limit."
"In fact, the training method I just described… comes from you."
"Thank you, meow."
"You're welcome. Then from now on, I'll call you Rika-chan—"
"Not allowed, meow!!"
Her sudden shout startled Yoru—
And half the street.
People turned, saw the small, adorable cat—
And immediately broke into amused smiles.
"Yoru, did you make Miss Miwa angry again?"
"Lady ninja cat, go ahead and hit him. Don't hold back—we won't feel bad for him."
"Big sister ninja cat, want some dried fish?"
"Get lost. What's good about smelly dried fish? Fresh fish is more worthy of a ninja cat."
"..."
Miwa Masayo puffed herself up proudly.
But secretly—
She reconnected their minds.
[Let's go, meow. Let's go. This is too embarrassing…]
[Go? Where?]
[Home. Let's go home, meow.]
[We can't go home.]
[Meow?]
[We're going to the market. I promised you—]
[Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, meow!!!]
The proud tabby froze for a split second—
Then immediately began swallowing, her throat moving as saliva pooled in her mouth.
All embarrassment—
Forgotten.
"Let's go. Buy ingredients."
"I remember everything you said. Not a single ingredient forgotten."
Like reciting a tongue-twister, she rattled them off in one breath:
"Sea cucumber, abalone, shark fin, scallops, fish lips, turtle skirt, deer tendon, pigeon eggs, duck gizzard, fish maw, gelatin, dried scallops, pigeon, ribs, razor clams, ham, pork belly, lamb shank, pig's trotter tips, tendons, hen, duck breast, chicken gizzard, duck gizzard, mushrooms, bamboo shoots…"
"…What did I miss, meow?"
Yoru gave her a thumbs up.
"Perfect. Not a single mistake."
"I only told you once two years ago, and you still remember it exactly—even the rhythm."
"Impressive."
"I am impressive, meow."
"Rika-chan, then what about the thing I asked you to bring back from the Cat Castle the other day?"
"…Meow? Did you? You asked me to bring something?"
"..."
"…Even if you didn't."
"Meow… you must be remembering wrong. I would never forget."
"..."
…
The ingredients for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall were numerous.
And many of them simply didn't exist here.
Yoru substituted where necessary, giving them the same names out of habit.
Abalone, shark fin, turtle skirt, razor clams, mushrooms—
None were authentic.
Even the duck—
Was replaced with a fatty water bird.
After all—
The essence of the dish was simple.
A stew combining land, sea, and air.
As long as he had dried seafood, poultry, and tendons—
And could produce a rich, concentrated broth—
The rest didn't matter.
Among these—
Dried seafood was the most troublesome.
And the most important.
Fresh ingredients would not work.
But Konoha was inland.
Fresh seafood was out of the question.
Soaking dried sea cucumber and abalone required time.
Yoru remembered it took more than five days—
But in this world, one day was enough.
Any longer—
And it would be ruined.
A lesson that had cost him ten thousand ryo.
Either way—
There was no chance of eating it today.
He set the dried ingredients to soak—
Then began preparing dinner.
"We'll be busy tonight," he said casually. "So we'll keep it simple. Mushroom fish vegetable pancakes."
"No problem, meow. Anything is fine."
The tabby's eyes were glued to the soaking basin.
She probably hadn't heard a word.
Yoru smiled.
He took out fish, eggs, peas, and carrots.
Cooked them separately.
Mixed them together.
Added beaten eggs.
Stirred everything into a smooth batter.
Formed small patties—
And pan-fried them until golden.
Soon—
A large plate of fish and vegetable pancakes was ready.
Along with a pot of noodle soup—
And a small dish of salted garlic.
In the end—
Food that could actually be eaten immediately—
Defeated future delicacies.
The two of them enjoyed the meal thoroughly.
After eating, Miwa Masayo suddenly spoke up,
"You go prepare things. I'll wash the dishes."
Yoru paused.
"…Let's not."
"The last time I let you wash dishes, that was my mistake."
"I don't want to buy another set tonight."
"Then what do I do?"
"Rika-chan, you'll have plenty to do."
"Meow… I'm not called Ri~ka~chan…"
"…Forget it. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall…" she muttered under her breath.
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