Haruki saw this scene for the second time.
A desolate ruin.
A strange, cold wind blew across the decaying, parched earth, which had lost all moisture and cracked like a dried-up husk. The plants that occasionally survived between the cracks were covered in gray-black, twisted shapes like the deepest nightmares, presenting various inexplicable forms.
Looking around, there was no sign of human life.
Only the ninja cat, Mei Yin, was in high spirits.
She couldn't help but hop around as they walked.
Occasionally, she would lick her paw pads and wait for Haruki and Uchiha Mikoto.
Further ahead, it seemed like a post-apocalyptic world mixed with cat houses of varying heights.
Haruki maintained his pace, his eyes quickly scanning the various strangely shaped cats.
Some looked normal, while others resembled foxes or small tigers.
"We've arrived."
Mei Yin stopped.
Before the two could speak, two cats appeared in the corridor.
"This is Lord Hina and Lord Tanbi."
Seeing them, Mei Yin introduced Haruki, "To see the Cat Elder, you must gain their trust."
"Mei Yin, why did you bring another human back, meow?"
Hina, dressed in red, wagged her tail lazily on the ground.
"Lord Hina, we wish to see the Cat Elder."
"Denied." Hina shook her head. "He isn't one of the Uchiha, meow."
"Hi..."
"I'll handle this." Haruki interrupted Mei Yin, stepping forward.
"Human, I won't be swayed by your charm, meow."
Hina's eyes suddenly lit up as she grasped a golden ball with her pink paw.
"Is this enough?" Haruki smiled.
"It's enou...not enough!"
Hina then grasped another golden ball with her other paw, and both eyes seemed to glow with a golden light.
"Hina, you...hmm."
Tanbi, who was about to speak, had a large golden ball stuffed into his mouth.
"Human, I like you, meow."
Hina hid the golden balls, and a smile seemed to appear on her furry face.
"Speak, what do you want, meow?"
"I want to hire a hundred ninja cats."
"Meow?"
Hina looked at him in confusion. She had never encountered such a request before.
Besides being summoning beasts, ninja cats also dealt in intelligence.
Why hire so many ninja cats at once?
"First of all, we don't sell ourselves or catch mice, meow."
Haruki broke out in a cold sweat. What did she mean by selling themselves?
"Not those things."
"Come with me, meow."
Hina gracefully stood up and walked deeper inside.
Not long after, Haruki saw the Cat Elder and a room full of cats.
The Cat Elder, a human woman with dark gray cat ears and a smoking pipe, usually ran a weapons shop and was the contractor for the ninja cats.
Today, she happened to be in the village.
"Cat Elder, I want to hire a hundred ninja cats," Haruki said directly.
"A hundred?" The Cat Elder paused, her smoking pipe stopped in mid-air as she looked at Haruki in surprise. "If you want to do experiments, get some lab rats."
"..."
Haruki's mouth twitched.
What did the lab rats do wrong? So unfair.
"Don't worry, I won't harm any cats. I hope they will dance at the festival."
"?"
A question mark appeared on the Cat Elder's face.
Ninja cats dancing?
She couldn't understand Haruki's idea. What was so good about cats dancing?
Although it was indeed cute.
"Can you do it?"
Noticing her skeptical expression, Haruki added, "This is paid. I'll pay each ninja cat 100,000 ryō, according to the B-rank mission standard."
The sound of sharp intakes of breath filled the room.
Almost all the cats raised their heads.
100,000 ryō for each, making it a total of 10 million.
Their eyes instantly turned into money symbols.
"What a...generous offer."
The Cat Elder took a puff of her pipe, then extended her hand to calm the excited ninja cats around her.
"If you're willing to sign a contract, I'll agree to your deal."
"Of course."
Haruki smiled.
Money indeed makes the cats dance.
The Cat Elder quickly prepared the contract. After Haruki signed it, she asked, "Have you signed a contract with any summoning beasts?"
"Yes."
"What a pity." The Cat Elder looked disappointed, then asked hopefully, "Can you switch?"
"..."
Haruki broke out in a cold sweat.
"I'm afraid not. I signed with the Slug."
The Cat Elder was stunned.
One of the Three Great Sage Regions.
That definitely couldn't be switched to a ninja cat contract.
"If the Cat Elder is looking for a contractor, maybe after the festival, many people will be willing."
"Why do you say that?"
The Cat Elder couldn't believe a dance would have such an impact.
The ninja cat clan was not particularly strong among summoning beasts.
True powerhouses favored the Three Great Sage Regions or some exotic beasts like the Salamander, Rashomon, or the Monkey King.
Haruki didn't explain. He said, "Cat Elder, would you like to make a bet? If what I said is true, you and I can split the profits 50-50 and open a new store together. How about that?"
The Cat Elder thought for a moment and nodded.
After all, she had nothing to lose.
Haruki smiled. She didn't understand the power of cuteness.
And who said ninja cats had to be tied to ninjas?
After leaving, Mei Yin immediately asked, "Rich human, can I dance too?"
Even though Uchiha Mikoto treated her well, she felt a sudden urge to switch owners.
To her, Haruki was walking money.
"Of course," Haruki replied.
"I didn't expect you to be greedy for food and money." Uchiha Mikoto grabbed her by the scruff, supporting her with her hand.
"With money, I can buy food."
"..."
Uchiha Mikoto raised an eyebrow. That made sense.
Stroking the soft cat fur, she asked, "Teacher, why involve the Uchiha in this?"
Haruki glanced at her but didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked a seemingly unrelated question.
"What do you think of the relationship between the Uchiha and the villagers?"
Uchiha Mikoto was surprised but answered frankly, "Not very good. They are too proud, dealing with issues without considering others, and have offended many people."
"You understand well."
Haruki said softly, "Emotions, if not vented, will only harm the body. The Uchiha are the same. If accumulated too much, when it erupts, it will harm both themselves and Konoha."
"But how does this festival relate to that?"
"If a very serious person is suddenly discovered to have another side, like being clumsy, a poor sense of direction, liking head pats, or drooling at the sight of food, what would you think of them?"
"Seems pretty cute." Uchiha Mikoto thought for a moment. It seemed like Kushina was like that.
"The so-called gap moe. To change a fixed impression, you must show a completely different side. Besides, festivals are an entertainment method loved by everyone. The Uchiha have been too aloof, gradually isolating themselves from the other villagers."
Seeing Uchiha Mikoto's thoughtful expression, Haruki slowed down his speech and said, "This is called going with the masses."