A warm breath against my ear pulled me out of my torpor. I blinked, weighed down by a clammy heaviness. My paws refused to move.
Then a wet gurgle splashed against my face.
I twitched my whiskers… That wasn't rain.
I looked down. A chubby little creature, with rosy cheeks and dark hair, had clung to me like a leech. His thin arms were wrapped tightly around my waist, and from his half-open mouth spilled a line of drool that soaked into my fur.
Sasuke… for heaven's sake.
A low growl rose in my throat, which I immediately stifled. If I woke him, he would scream, and I was in no condition to endure the decibels of a baby Uchiha.
Hearing a small rhythmic sound, I turned my head and saw Itachi sitting at a table not far away, writing on a scroll.
I meowed softly so as not to trigger the ticking bomb that had attached itself to me.
Sitting at his desk, leaning over his scrolls, Itachi turned his attention toward me.
His expression remained impassive, but his eyes gleamed with subtle mischief.
— … Meow? I pleaded.
He didn't answer. Not even a gesture.He simply turned a page, as if my distress wasn't worth anything, and went back to his writing.
Bastard, I'll get my revenge for this. How did I even end up in this situation?
I tried to piece together my crazy memories from last night.
Damn it, what was in Serene's damned packet to hit me like that?
It wasn't drugs, was it?
I couldn't remember everything, but I had made quite a mess.
I remembered setting fire to a curtain. I hope it wasn't here, but at her place.
I suppose it was Itachi who carried me back home.
The door opened softly.
— Itachi, I… oh.
Mikoto appeared, gentle and calm as always.
Her gaze lingered on me, trapped under Sasuke. She stifled a laugh, then came to pick up her baby with infinite delicacy.
— Did you find yourself a new cushion, Sasuke-kun? she said, kissing his forehead.
Finally freed from the sticky grip, I leapt from the bed at once, shaking out my damp fur. Mikoto gave me a tender smile.
— Looks like you really went through a lot.
I rolled my eyes in indignation. Then I smacked one of Sasuke's toys toward Itachi.
I had reinforced my paw with energy, launching it at high speed.
Itachi dodged the improvised projectile without even looking.
I was about to rush him to teach him a lesson when I was seized by the scruff of my neck.
— Now, now, be good, let Itachi finish his work. You haven't eaten anything since you were under the effect of catnip, aren't you hungry?
So it was catnip?
Serene wouldn't have left it there just to trap me, would she?
Considering her obsession with cats, it's possible she has enough of them.
Mikoto set me down in the living room. Once on the ground, I stretched, loosening my stiff body.
Remembering the quests whose rewards I hadn't claimed, I opened the system window and collected them.
I started by claiming the moves first.
[Quest: Complete the genjutsu tolerance trainingReward: A random Psychic-type ability]
[Skill acquired: Psyshock – Psychic – Special]
[Quest: Succeed in poison trainingReward: Ability – Toxic – Poison – Status]
[Skill acquired: Toxic – Poison – Status]
[Quest: Succeed in stealth trainingReward: A random Dark-type ability]
[Skill acquired: Pursuit – Dark – Physical]
The three abilities I acquired were extremely good, especially Toxic.
I wonder how Pursuit's damage boost will work.
I could now convert my energy into poison and control its composition.
This ability was broken, but then I realized something: I'm not a Poison type, and judging by the effect catnip had on me, I can be poisoned.
Don't I risk poisoning myself?
Am I immune to my own toxins?That would be a ridiculous way to die, wouldn't it?
But what interested me the most was the psychic ability my first one.
I would have preferred it to be a utility move like Telekinesis or Hypnosis.That would have been cooler and, above all, more useful to expand my move pool.
Acquiring this technique made me aware of the use of "mental force."
The attack itself was nothing but a manipulation of this energy to generate a shockwave and damage the enemy.
I should test it to see how useful it is, but not inside the house.I already checked and there were no burn marks, which means the fire was set at Serene's place.
That's for the best I wouldn't want to damage this place. Fugaku would never let that slide, no matter the reason.
I don't want to sleep outside; the basket is way too comfortable.
Maybe I should go to Serene's to test it?
No, that lunatic is stronger than me, if she catches me, I'll never know peace.
Suddenly Mikoto placed a dish in front of me.
I lowered my head to see not only meat but also rice and some vegetables.
I looked at the dish, intrigued.
Mikoto, noticing my surprise, chuckled softly.
— Well yes, you can have that now. The results from the vet are out, and Serene tested you during your training to confirm.
She leaned toward me and patted my head:
— I didn't expect you to actually be omnivorous. Cats are normally strict carnivores, even the ninken are, but as the vet said, you're not really a cat… I also learned that you have a pretty developed vision, enough to see all colors?
I wanted to answer her, but my stomach roared with hunger.
— Looks like you can do that too, so eat, I won't bother you. I'll give you a more balanced diet from now on.
As she left, I claimed the next reward while starting to eat.
[Quest: Successfully decrypt the messageReward: An additional Psychic talent]
[Talent acquired: Vital Spirit]
The moment I gained this new talent, new information about its effects poured into my mind.
In the game, it only prevents the user from falling asleep, but here, it's much stronger:
Increased mental resistance
Improved use and management of energy
Increased strength of the mind
A spirit more attuned to the body
Resistance to will alterations caused by the body
I didn't quite understand the last effect, but I could now feel my mental strength more clearly.
Better resistance to genjutsu, who would refuse that?
I started eating with more enthusiasm as I turned to the last quest.
Without realizing it, my posture and the way I carried myself had already changed.
[Quest: Complete the three days of training with Serene and impress her
Reward: Clue about ????]
Let's go for that.
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