Nighttime.
Kin leaped down from his room's window.
"Little White."
He called out, and a small white snake with beady eyes peeked out from his collar.
He had left a tracking mark on White Fang.
To file a complaint, mere words wouldn't be enough—he needed concrete evidence.
For this purpose, he had even devised a ninjutsu specifically to leave behind proof.
"Little White, where did he go?"
Kin asked.
The snake's tail extended, its invisible nose sniffing the air before pointing the way.
Kin followed its guidance, moving through the streets.
"Once I have leverage, let's see how you dare provoke me."
Kin gritted his teeth. White Fang's actions felt like a direct challenge.
This was the kind of thing he usually pulled on others.
But such tactics required strength to back them up.
Without it, he was left in this sorry state.
However, with evidence in hand, the tables might turn.
Following Little White's directions, Kin wandered through the deserted streets.
Shops were shuttered, and not a soul was in sight.
Kin frowned.
"Does this town even have a red-light district?"
After circling around for a while, Kin stopped in his tracks and fell silent.
"Little White."
The snake tilted its head, beady eyes blinking in confusion.
"Why did you lead us back here?"
Little White looked up at the inn in front of them, its tail scratching its head.
It didn't recognize this place.
To it, everywhere looked the same.
Kin sighed. He should've known better than to rely on this dim-witted snake.
Little White's intelligence was... lacking. It was only tracking scents.
A loud clang echoed from above.
A window opened—White Fang's window, if Kin remembered correctly.
Sure enough.
White Fang poked his head out, feigning ignorance as he asked,
"What are you doing out so late?"
Kin smirked. "Weren't you out drinking at a brothel?"
"This backwater town doesn't have brothels. If you wanted to go, you should've said so earlier. Next time we're somewhere livelier, I'll take you."
White Fang grinned, his expression oozing slyness in Kin's eyes.
The man was a full-blown scoundrel.
Then, White Fang dangled a piece of clothing from the window—the one Kin had marked.
So he'd been found out.
Kin clenched his teeth, refusing to respond.
"Alright, come back up and get some sleep."
White Fang withdrew, closing the window behind him.
Kin looked up at the sky. The bright moon hung high, stars twinkling around it.
He decided to give up.
The gap in their strength was too vast.
Damn you, White Fang! ×2
Konoha.
The village gates came into view as the two approached.
Two figures in green flak jackets lounged by the entrance, bored out of their minds.
Though Konoha had protective barriers, guards were still necessary—and only Special Jōnin or higher were assigned this duty, as they represented the village's face.
When White Fang appeared in their line of sight, the guards rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Once they confirmed who was walking toward them, they shrieked in unison.
"Lord White Fang has returned!"
Behind him, Uchiha Kin watched impassively, marveling at how a grown man's voice could reach such a pitch.
The cry spread like wildfire.
A thunderous rumble followed.
White Fang stared as a crowd gathered, even ninjas leaping down from rooftops.
Finally, he spoke.
"Maybe... you should head back first."
"Goodbye."
Kin's figure had already vanished, reappearing behind the two guards.
He'd been itching to get away from White Fang for a long time.
The guards didn't even notice him.
Kin watched as White Fang was swiftly swallowed by the crowd, the gatekeepers joining in.
Soon, White Fang was hoisted onto shoulders, carried triumphantly into the village.
Kin stepped aside, letting them pass.
"Lord White Fang!"
"Lord White Fang!"
"Konoha's White Fang!!"
The cheers grew louder, merging into a deafening roar.
It was Konoha's welcome for White Fang's return—a display of fervent admiration.
But.
Kin's gaze lifted to the Hokage's office in the distance, visible even from here.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen isn't dead yet."
The more beloved White Fang was in Konoha, the greater the threat he posed to the Hokage.
Kin's eyes seemed to pierce through the layers of obstruction.
For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a figure standing at the Hokage's office window.
Expressionless, watching the crowd and the man they celebrated.
That was.
The Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Kin had no interest in village politics.
After all, opposing the Uchiha was the current leadership's stance.
As an Uchiha, meddling would be suicidal.
As for his reputation as a genius?
Konoha had never lacked for geniuses.
Kin headed straight home.
But when he stepped inside, his face darkened at the sight before him.
"Miao Ba!!!"
His roar sent the cats in the room scrambling.
That's right.
His house had been turned into a cat den. Everywhere he looked, cats lounged about.
A chorus of meows erupted.
"The human's back! Will he kick us out?"
"Stupid human. Miao Ba will drive him away, don't worry."
"But he called Miao Ba's name!"
The cats chattered among themselves, completely ignoring him.
"Shut up!"
Kin glared, his battlefield-honed killing intent silencing them instantly.
Soon, a small white cat sauntered out from another room.
The moment it saw Kin, it spun around to flee—but Kin was faster, grabbing it by the scruff.
"Fix this. Now. Or I'm having cat for dinner tonight!"
Miao Ba nodded frantically.
"Cat meat's sour! Tastes terrible! I'll fix it right away!"
It turned to the other cats and yowled.
"The boss is back! Scram, or he'll eat you!"
Kin's eyebrow twitched.
The other cats, already terrified by his aura, vanished in puffs of white smoke.
In seconds, the house was empty.
They were all ninja cats.
"And clean this place up. I want it spotless by tomorrow."
"That's impossible for a cat!" Miao Ba protested. Cleaning such a big place would exhaust it!
Kin smirked.
"Then it's cat meat tonight."
"Cat meat's sour!!"
"Not for me."
Little White poked its head out from Kin's collar, beady eyes fixed on Miao Ba.
"For it."
Miao Ba struggled desperately.
"I'll do it!!"
It had no intention of becoming snake food—especially not for a snake this dumb!!
...
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(End of Chapter)