Konoha cat Breeder

Chapter 23: Displaying Weaknesses 

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The Next Morning

When Toneri slowly awoke, the sunlight was already streaming through the windows, warming the room.  

He immediately got out of bed, leaping to the floor, only to notice something peculiar—his body felt significantly more agile than before.  

Closing his eyes to calm his mind, he concentrated and carefully examined his physical condition.  

He discovered a new energy flowing through his meridians, one that matched the characteristics of chakra described in *Chakra Refinement Basics*.  

It was unmistakably chakra!  

Not only that, but as the chakra coursed through his meridians, it was steadily growing in quantity. Each complete circuit seemed to increase its volume ever so slightly.  

"So, this is chakra? Is refining it really this simple? Didn't the book say it was supposed to be incredibly difficult?  

"Normal people need days—sometimes even weeks—just to sense the energy within their cells. To combine that energy with spiritual energy and transform it into chakra within a month would already mark someone as an extraordinary genius.  

"Does this mean that refining chakra after just one night's sleep makes me a genius among geniuses?  

"As expected, the heavens always favor the handsome."  

Toneri ran a hand over his still-flawless face, chuckling softly.  

The only thing he felt truly thankful for was that, unlike a certain "prince" of Konoha (*Naruto*), becoming the Two-Tails' Jinchuriki hadn't left whisker-like marks on his cheeks.  

He was still the epitome of flawless charm—365 degrees of perfection.  

---

After dressing, Toneri noticed that the clothes Nara Yoshimi had prepared for him fit better than before. However, they still seemed slightly loose.  

It wasn't the clothes—it was his body. He was simply too thin, and even standard-sized garments appeared baggy on him.  

(For reference, think of Yugao Uzuki's build.)  

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"Good morning, Aunt Yoshimi!" Toneri greeted with a polite, well-behaved tone.  

Seeing him descend the stairs, Yoshimi's eyes lit up with a warm smile. "Little Toneri, you're such a good boy! Come have breakfast. Shikaku and Shikamaru have already gone out, but Shikaku left some things for you. They were found with you when you were discovered."  

Toneri nodded, then swiftly and efficiently polished off his breakfast.  

---

After the meal, Yoshimi handed him two items: a short blade in its sheath and a pale-yellow sachet.  

Seeing these items preserved so perfectly left Toneri momentarily stunned.  

The short blade had belonged to the Kumo ninja who had been chasing him. At the time, it hadn't seemed significant, but now he realized that for it to survive a Tailed Beast Bomb intact, it must be made of remarkable material.  

As for the sachet, which emitted a faint minty aroma, it felt like a charm of good fortune.  

He fastened the blade, sheath and all, to his waistband. After sniffing the sachet lightly, he tucked it alongside the blade.  

"If they both survived intact, perhaps they really can bring me some luck..."  

"Thanks for everything, Aunt Yoshimi! I'm heading out!"  

With a cheerful farewell, Toneri left the Nara compound.  

---

Once outside, he began wandering aimlessly through Konoha.  

Besides the route he'd taken with Shikaku yesterday, the rest of the village was unfamiliar territory.  

But Toneri was confident in his memory—it was a skill he had refined out of necessity in the past. Once he walked a path, he never forgot it.  

As for getting lost? It was simply impossible.  

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"Wait… where am I?"  

Unknowingly, Toneri had wandered into a secluded grove by the river.  

The area was quiet and isolated, with no one else in sight. Looking around in confusion, he couldn't figure out where he was.  

"Well, it's still within Konoha, so it doesn't really matter. Since no one's here, this is the perfect place to test out chakra," he muttered, abandoning any effort to navigate.  

---

What Toneri didn't realize was that he wasn't truly alone.  

Hidden in the shadows, atop trees, and in the darker corners of the area, at least seven or eight masked figures in black combat uniforms observed him silently.  

They had been tailing him since he left the Nara compound, their presence perfectly concealed.  

Their mission was simple: **monitor the Jinchuriki.**  

They were tasked with preventing Toneri from going berserk and destroying Konoha. They also needed to submit a detailed report on his actions to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, by sunrise every day.  

These were the shinobi of Konoha's ANBU Black Ops.  

---

Standing beneath the tree, Toneri froze momentarily.  

"How am I supposed to test chakra?" he wondered aloud.  

He quickly recalled the books Shikaku had given him, particularly the section on the *Three Basic Jutsu*.  

For academy students or newly graduated genin, these techniques—Substitution, Transformation, and Clone Jutsu—were considered mere training exercises for passing their exams.  

But Toneri knew their true value.  

While most shinobi dismissed these E-rank techniques after graduation, Toneri saw them as indispensable. They were foundational skills that, when mastered, could save lives. Even Kage-level and beyond shinobi relied on them frequently.  

Of the three, Toneri valued the Substitution Jutsu the most. For someone like him, who prioritized caution and survival, it was the ultimate life-saving technique.  

His supposed wandering through Konoha wasn't a sign of being lost—it was a deliberate act of misdirection.  

He knew the Hokage had assigned people to watch him, likely some of Konoha's strongest. By pretending to be a directionally challenged child, he could create a false impression.  

Toneri chuckled internally.  

The more flaws he exposed, the more reassured the higher-ups in Konoha would feel.  

In the silent game of wits between him and Konoha's leadership, Toneri believed it had already begun.  

Though he was currently at a disadvantage—powerless and lacking influence—his deep understanding of their inner workings was his trump card.  

For now, he would play the part of a flawed yet promising Jinchuriki, carefully navigating the delicate balance of perception.  

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