Naruto: Paws and Whiskers

The Kiri ninjas were shocked as they exclaimed, "Ao-sama!"

Ao was a rare sensory ninja among the Kiri's assassination squad, with countless missions under his belt.

However, today he faced overwhelming defeat within blink of an eye, being pinned underwater by this cat and rendered powerless. 

Ao's team members also weren't visible, being Hozuki ninjas they were incredibly difficult to sense in water.

With them not emerging to regroup led the Kiri reinforcement squad to conclude that they were likely already fled or dead as well.

Seeing that they couldn't defeat this cat in short timeframe they had before Konoha clans came with overwhelming force, the Kiri ninjas decided to change their target.

They still had the Transformation Jutsu active on their bodies. But at such close range, even branch family members wouldn't fall for the disguise. Two of them had been left behind to cover the retreat, but now they were trapped.

While distracting Takeshi with constant attacks they captured 2 Hyuga Branch members, the two were pulled into the water and tied up, unable to resist.

"We have caught two, retreat!"

*Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave Jutsu*'s frequency reduced, as the tides receded they got ready to run for their lives, as they knew that the Konoha reinforcements would arrive soon.

"But Ao-sama?"

"Our objective is complete! He cannot be rescued right now..."

"Dodge!" While they were arguing, a giant paw came from above.

The Kiri Ninjas immediately used the Water Wall Jutsu, but the Hozuki ninjas knew the strength of Takeshi's attack all too well, as one of them had tried to engage Takeshi in taijutsu battle by inflating his body but was slapped away into a big splash immediately.

"Retreat quickly, we don't have much time left."

"Senpai you return with the captured targets, with them our secondary objectives would be achieved, we will hold them off..."

The four disguised ninjas knew they would be punished for failing primary objective, as they cancelled their transformation jutsu.

Their primary objective was to capture Hyuga from Main House but know with their objective clear to Konoha ninjas, they wouldn't get another chance like this again.

Their plan had been quite good, disguising as Uchiha patrol team, they waited till Hyuga clan's attention was diverted, with the disputes among two clans there was even less risk of being discovered, with multiple Hozuki ninjas, Once they got within the sea, they would have been able to encircle the patrol team, leaving no survivors.

But now? They arrived, and the enemies had already fled—except for two branch family members and a cat that had captured Ao, they hoped to reduce the punishment they would receive for failing so badly.

They used *Water Wall Jutsu* together and along with *Water Dragon Bullets Jutsu*.

**Foosh!**

**Spash!**

Takeshi used Partial *Multi-size jutsu* on his paw making it far bigger than water dragons and swept at the Water Dragon Bullets by enhancing his claws using Wind Release. And fur using Wind Release Needle Jizo. With a single swipe, the water dragons were obliterated.

'Hiss~, that hurt abit.' Takeshi took a deep breath. These water dragon bullet is quite powerful.

Even though he used Multi-size technique, Super Strength, Wind Release Needle Jizo and Wind Release Claw Swipe, he was still affected by the recoil of the attack. 'It felt like… getting pricked by a needle.'

"How is it possible?!" On the other side, the Kiri Ninjas who released the Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu's were dumbfounded. One attack from this ninja beast shattered their attack which even Jonins would fear taking head on.

Before they could decide what to do next, water surged under their feet and all four of them were pulled away by their allies.

Takeshi immediately grew in size and started scooping at them from above before they could get away, while the Hozuki ninjas easily avoided the attack, one Kiri ninja holding two captured Hyuga ninjas couldn't.

He was swept towards the shore, dragging Water Prison along and his arm got cut off releasing the Hyuga Branch family from the water prison.

The two immediately used *Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms* on the armless Kiri ninja crippling him further instantly, as he drowned being unable to move nor breathe, after which they pulled themselves up.

The nearby Kiri ninjas felt annoyed, at their targets getting away and ending their mission disastrously. Having no other choice they decided to retreat immediately.

But Takeshi wasn't willing to let them go so easily, Takeshi scooped another retreating Kiri ninja after giving him couple smacks he tossed him along with Hyuga branch members towards the shore.

Where exactly? Who cares, as long as it was far from here, 'Buy two, get one free. Nice!'

Kiri ninjas started expanding their chakra to create some barrier to continue their retreat, they weren't afraid of Konoha ninjas, they just weren't foolish enough to fight against a platoon of them with barely 1 team left. 

While the remaining Mist ninjas were furious, but what could they do?

Their comrades had been sent flying. At this point, all they could do was fume helplessly.

Hozuki ninja made a decisive choice. They collected the body of a slain Hyuga branch member along with their fallen teammates and retreated.

This cat was simply a monster.

Takeshi returned to his normal size and quickly ate couple packets of Special Cat Food.

The battle was chakra intensive, he barely had 30% of his chakra left, making him feel unsafe.

Takeshi observed his surroundings waiting for another sneak attack for couple minutes, after sensing anyone he decided to follow Masashi Hyuga's scent, carrying unconscious Ao along by his neck.

While occasionally dipping his head into water to confirm if he is actually unconscious.

Takeshi quickly saw couple squads of Hyuga clan members present, with Hiashi Hyuga leading them, "Are you Special Jonin Takeshi? I am Hiashi Hyuga."

Takeshi nodded along as he dragged Ao to solid ground, looking at Hiashi, Takeshi had to admit he looked identical to Hizashi.

"Meow~ How is the ninja from Main house?"

"Umm..."

The nearby Hyuga clan members looked at Hiashi, wondering how he would answer in front of outsider. As it was Takeshi he rescued Masashi and protected their Byakugan from being taken by Kiri ninjas but in his attempt to save him Takeshi slapped him abit too hard and Masashi might die, he could barely breath.

Hiashi thought for a second and replied, "Masashi won't make it, but fortunately, his Byakugan was not taken, so we want to thank you for your help."

After speaking, Hiashi bowed deeply. He was sincere, he underestimated how foolish his clansmen would be to fight Kiri ninjas above water and Main house being the targets today.

But Takeshi also indirectly killed member of their clan, so they had mixed feelings about it.

Though, Hiashi still blamed himself for this, as it was his negligence in leadership that led to this, so his attention drifted to the body being dragged by Takeshi.

'Is this cat dragging a corpse? No wait he is alive!' Hiashi glanced at it, and suddenly his eyes widened slightly, and he asked in surprise, "Is he Ao from the Kirigakure?"

"Meow!" Takeshi nodded, pulled Ao up like a ragdoll, and threw him in front of Hiashi.

"He has been relentlessly targeting us for awhile, Our ambushes to catch him kept failing. I didn't expect that... Can you tell me the details afterwards?" Hiashi felt excited, Ao played major role in the attacks launched against them in the time they have been in border duty, as whenever they were about to capture him, Hozuki ninjas would retreat with him. Hiashi was amazed by how this cat caught Ao in front of Kirigakure squads.

"Meow~ No problem, but, he can't be saved?" Takeshi pointed at Masashi.

"There's no hope he is too far gone, he will die in couple minutes." Hiashi sighed lightly. He knew he would be taking the blame for this from the elders, just because this this idiot got ambushed despite having Byakugan and chasing Kiri ninjas over the sea.

Takeshi nodded lightly. 'Though since there is no hope left, could I get some points from poking him abit?'

Looking at the system panel, he noticed he received more than 4,000 points, which would've been provided by Kiri ninjas, as the Hyuga's don't seem upset over Masashi's death

"By the way, meow~, I smacked two more people from the Branch house that way. You should go and save them."

Takeshi suddenly remembered that there were two branch families and a Kiri Ninja, and immediately pointed to the direction where they were beaten.

'Smacked them away..., Hopefully they survived.' Hiashi immediately ran towards that direction followed by his clan members, everyone activate their Byakugan in attempt to locate them.

It didn't take long for him to find them. The two Hyuga branch members were barely floating with each others support breathing heavily, but atleast they were alive and not crippled.

There is also Kiri ninja floating with his head facing down, almost drowning.

"Squad 1 stay with me, and the rest go back to the camp with them." Hiashi ordered, his expression grave, as he ordered them to take away the Branch house members.

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