Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 4: Big Beauty and Little Tsundere

The moment Toneri locked eyes with the enormous creature, an icy chill crept through his veins, his hands and feet turning numb.

Even though the air around him was stiflingly hot, a deep, bone-chilling cold gripped him from within. He shivered uncontrollably.

A sense of despair welled up, spreading like poison through his body. It whispered in his mind, urging him to give up, to surrender to death.

But just as quickly as it came, the sensation dissipated into nothingness.

Toneri steadied himself, thinking back to his past life as a battlefield doctor. If there was one thing he had learned in the chaos of war, it was to never give up, no matter how dire the situation. If he gave in, who would save the soldiers risking their lives on the frontlines?

The first lesson Toneri had mastered was survival—holding on, because only then could he help others.

In the towering creature's luminous, mismatched eyes, a flicker of surprise appeared.

"Huh—"

The Two-Tails had not expected this. A child with no chakra, no abilities to speak of, had resisted its Death Stare so quickly?

Though it was a Two-Tailed Beast, the number of tails didn't determine a beast's power. Its heterochromatic eyes weren't just for show—they were a manifestation of its ability to see into both the physical and spiritual realms.

Even though it could only observe and not interfere, this vision alone should have been enough to overwhelm a mere child, let alone one without chakra.

This was a test of Toneri's worthiness. If he couldn't withstand this simple gaze, then he wasn't even qualified to serve as its prison.

"Interesting..." The Two-Tails' massive form lowered slightly, its eyes narrowing with intrigue.

The beast wasn't uninterested in breaking free from its seal. During its previous Jinchūriki's final moments, it had maintained the man's broken heart just long enough to ensure it could be transferred to another host. That fleeting chance of freedom had slipped away.

It had even lent some of its chakra to complete the sealing process, a fact it was still bitter about.

But even with its limited strength, the Two-Tails couldn't fathom how this child had survived its Death Stare.

"You've got a peculiar soul, little one," the Two-Tails spoke, its voice echoing throughout the void. "Your spirit isn't fully connected to this world's realms of life and death. While that connection is forming, this anomaly should only occur in newborns."

The beast's tone carried a strange blend of curiosity and... respect?

Suddenly, a dim blue light illuminated the space. Ghostly flames ignited on the far side of the bars, casting eerie shadows.

In the flickering light, the Two-Tails emerged—a colossal feline-like figure cloaked in what appeared to be ethereal blue fire. Its massive form loomed behind the bars, its heterochromatic eyes glowing with unearthly intensity.

What a massive cat!

That was Toneri's first thought as he stared up at the Two-Tails.

To him, it resembled a cross between a tiger and a Persian cat, with its two long, swaying tails adding to its majestic and intimidating presence.

"So this is the legendary Two-Tails," Toneri muttered, his voice barely audible.

"You..." The beast's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "You know of me?"

"Yes," Toneri replied nonchalantly, stepping closer to the bars. "The old man mentioned you yesterday before he collapsed."

The Two-Tails fell silent, processing this response.

The child was clever, observant.

"And your name, little one?" the beast finally asked, its eyes narrowing slightly.

"Toneri! My name is Toneri!"

The boy grinned, his face lighting up with a genuine, innocent smile. The contrast was stark against the dim, oppressive atmosphere of the seal.

For a moment, the Two-Tails was taken aback.

It couldn't recall the last time anyone had smiled at it—genuinely smiled—without fear or malice.

Everyone it had encountered, even its previous Jinchūriki, had been afraid of it. Some hid their terror well, but fear was always present.

This child... was different.

"Now that I've told you my name, what's yours?" Toneri asked, his wide, curious eyes locked onto the Two-Tails.

The beast's momentary softness vanished, replaced by its usual cold demeanor.

"Two-Tails," it growled.

"Yeah, I know that's your species," Toneri said, unfazed. "Like how there are Persian cats, Siamese cats, and so on. But what's your real name?"

Toneri's playful curiosity surfaced. Despite the fusion of his two sets of memories, his childlike nature remained intact.

He knew the more he could talk to the Two-Tails, the better his chances of forming a connection.

"...Hmph," the Two-Tails snorted, its gaze icy.

It wasn't fooled by the boy's cheerful demeanor. This kid was up to something.

Oblivious to the beast's suspicions, Toneri cupped his chin, mumbling to himself.

"Hmm... You're actually pretty good-looking for a giant flaming cat. But your personality's a bit... tsundere."

The boy's eyes lit up with mischief, and he snapped his fingers as if struck by inspiration.

"How about I call you Big Beauty or Little Tsundere? Which one do you prefer?"

"..."

The Two-Tails was silent, unsure whether to be amused or offended.

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