"A long time ago, there was a city called Sora-ku. The residents of that city strictly followed one rule: they were never allowed to kill cats."
"Why was that rule so important, Nekobaa?" Itachi asked.
Nekobaa's eyes twinkled. "Ah, that's the heart of our tale. Listen closely."
"As for how this law came about, the story goes back even further."
"Before the law was established, there was an old couple, reclusive farmers, living on the outskirts of Sora-ku."
"This couple hated the noise cats made at night, especially the sound of their paws on the sandy ground in the yard, that 'shhh, shhh' sound."
Some people in Konoha complain about animals too, he rcalled conversations he'd overheard in the village.
"At first, they simply disliked cats wandering on their land. Whenever they saw a neighbor's cat near their home, they would angrily chase it away with a broom."
"But one dark and stormy night, they strangled their first cat."
"With their hands gripping its throat, they found a sick pleasure in the cat's dying wails."
Itachi's fists clenched involuntarily.
"They became addicted to it, unable to stop."
"They were no longer satisfied with just chasing cats away. They began catching and killing any cat that wandered near their home."
"Over time, the couple grew more obsessive. They even set traps around their home to catch cats, bringing them inside to slaughter in increasingly brutal ways."
"Soon, the residents of Sora-ku began noticing their cats disappearing. They suspected the couple, as the sounds of cats' cries often came from their home."
"Everyone knew the couple was responsible for the deaths, but when the frightened townspeople saw the animal pelts on the couple's fence and the strange expressions on their faces, they hesitated to confront them."
"So, the issue remained unresolved. The people of Sora-ku hated the couple, but they feared them even more. All they could do was guard their own cats, hoping they wouldn't fall victim."
"Why didn't anyone try to stop them?" Itachi interjected.
Nekobaa gave him a sad smile. "Fear can make people turn a blind eye to cruelty. It's a lesson you'd do well to remember."
"One day, a group of travelers arrived in Sora-ku."
"They came in large caravans from the south, with wagons decorated with images of creatures like cat-headed humans, bird-headed humans, and lion-headed humans."
"They spoke an unfamiliar language, with dark skin and hair."
Itachi's imagination ran wild, picturing these exotic strangers and their fantastical caravans.
"The travelers set up stalls and started doing business in the city, blending in with the townspeople. They traded their goods for colorful glass beads, earning silver coins in return."
"Change often comes from unexpected places, Itachi. Remember that," Nekobaa added.
As she paused for a moment to glance around, Itachi also took a moment to look at his surroundings.
At first, there had only been a dozen or so cats around them. But at some point during the story, more cats had gathered.
Now, over thirty cats were seated around Nekobaa, their heads raised, gazing at her, as if eagerly awaiting the next part of the story.
Itachi blinked in surprise, realizing how captivated he had been by the tale. I didn't even notice them gathering.
These cats were of various breeds, but regardless of whether they were big or small, black or gray, yellow or white, at this moment, they all gazed intensely at Nekobaa, as if they could understand what she was saying.
It's as if they're hanging on her every word, he observed the cats' behavior.
Nekobaa nodded in satisfaction and continued her storytelling.
"Among the group of travelers, there was a young boy who had lost his parents during a plague."
"The only comfort in his life was a fluffy little black cat. The boy would often sit on the wagon's step, playing with the cat. Their bond far exceeded that of a typical pet and owner."
"However, on the third morning after the wanderers settled in Sora-ku, he discovered that his beloved cat had gone missing."
To lose a companion... I can't imagine how he felt, Itachi unconsciously reached out to stroke a nearby cat.
"The boy searched the entire city for his lost cat, but it was nowhere to be found. Finally, in despair, he sat down in the market and burst into tears."
"The kind residents of Sora-ku, seeing the boy's misery, told him that an old couple of farmers living outside the city had a habit of abusing and killing cats. The previous night, they had even heard cat screams coming from the couple's house. They speculated that his cat might have been taken by them."
"Upon hearing this, the boy stopped crying and fell into deep thought."
"After a moment of contemplation, he began to pray."
"He stretched out his arms toward the sun, chanting in a language that none of the Sora-ku residents could understand."
"As his chant grew louder, the clouds in the sky began to change in a strange way. The clouds gathered together and formed the shape of a cat!"
"It was a dark figure of a cat, its form mysterious yet captivating. Its long tail lashed at the sun like a living creature."
"Was it really just clouds, or something more... supernatural?" he asked.
Nekobaa's eyes twinkled mysteriously, but she didn't answer directly, continuing with her tale.
"That night, the group of travelers hastily left Sora-ku, but they weren't the only ones who departed. All the cats in the city disappeared with them."
"Every household's cat, regardless of size or breed, suddenly vanished. For a time, there wasn't a single trace of a cat left in the entire city."
"The residents immediately thought of the suddenly departed travelers, suspecting they had taken all the cats as revenge for the boy's missing cat."
"The people cursed them, calling them 'cat thieves,' but others believed that the old couple outside the city was more suspicious, as their cat-killing behavior had become increasingly bold."
There must be a connection between his prayer and the cats' disappearance.
"Moreover, some townspeople claimed to have seen, during the day, all the city's cats gathering around the cursed and foul-smelling cabin in the woods where the old couple lived. The cats formed two neat columns, surrounding the house, as if performing some kind of strange animal ritual."
"But no matter what, none of the residents had the courage to venture into the shadowy forest cabin to investigate. They decided to wait until morning to go together."
"By the next morning, the residents were shocked to find that all their cats had returned home."
"The cats lay in their usual spots by the fireplace, as if they had never left."
"Overnight, their fur had become sleek and shiny, their bellies full, and they purred contentedly in their sleep."
The cats seem... satisfied. But with what?
"This strange event became the talk of the town. Some believed the travelers had stolen the cats, but they had escaped and returned. After all, if the cats had fallen into the hands of the old couple, they wouldn't have survived."
"Others speculated that the cats had all gone into heat and had participated in some kind of wild gathering."
"One thing the residents all agreed upon was that after the cats returned, they refused to eat, lazily basking in the sun every day."
"A week later, the townspeople noticed that no lights had been seen in the old farmers' cabin for a long time."
"Upon reflection, they realized that the old couple hadn't been seen since the night the cats disappeared."
"Another week passed, and still no one had seen the couple."
"The townspeople gathered to discuss the matter. Even though the couple had been cruel cat-killers, they were still human beings."
"Finally, the residents decided to overcome their fears and investigate the old, shadowy cabin in the woods."
"Carrying torches, they entered the property filled with cat traps, pushing through the gate and breaking down the rotting wooden door. Inside, they saw a chilling sight."
"Two human skeletons, stripped clean of flesh, lay scattered on the muddy ground, and in the dark corners, countless black beetles scurried about."
Itachi's eyes widened in shock. "The cats... they couldn't have... could they?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
"The residents argued endlessly about what had really happened, but no one dared to name the true culprit. Only one decree was unanimously agreed upon by everyone."
"In Sora-ku, it was absolutely forbidden to kill any cats." Nekobaa let out a long sigh.
Looking down, Itachi noticed that the entire room, with Nekobaa at its center, was filled with hundreds of cats.
She lovingly petted a few nearby cats' heads and casually remarked, "That's not just the law in Sora-ku, it's the rule here as well."
Itachi understood her meaning and nodded.
Just then, footsteps echoed from a passage leading deeper within, and Fugaku returned with Denka and Hina.
"Granny!" Denka complained, seeing the room full of cats. "You told that story without me again! It's my favorite!"
"Mine too, meow~" added one of the cats.
Itachi was shocked. Could it be that these cats had gathered just to listen to a story?
How is this possible? Are all these cats... sentient?
Nekobaa, seeming to read Itachi's thoughts, took out a cat-ear headband and handed it to him.
"This is called a 'Cat Gear.' If you wear it, you'll be able to communicate with the cats."
Itachi hesitantly put on the Cat Gear.
Sure enough, the previously meaningless meows of the nearby cats transformed into words he could understand.
"So comfortable, so nice, meow~"
"This should have happened sooner, meow~"
"Well done, meow~"
"Not bad, meow~"
The cats voiced their praises, though it was unclear whether they were praising the story, the fate of the cat abusers, or the city's new law.
Itachi then returned the Cat Gear to Nekobaa. After paying, Fugaku bowed slightly to her, and they left.
Never underestimate those who seem small or weak, and the lengths someone will go to protect what they hold dear.
Nekobaa thought about the first time she had heard the story, feeling the same sense of awe.
Yes, this story wasn't her own creation. She had heard it from a member of a traveler long ago.
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