"Meow~ That one was easier to understand. I mastered the marking technique in a day, and then I just knew it," Raj said, stamping a paw print into the ground.
Flying Thunder God Technique... easier to understand?
Tsunade wondered if she'd misheard.
She sat cross-legged, propping her chin in her hand, staring at Raj for a long time before impatiently grabbing him and scrutinizing him from head to toe.
Finally, she reluctantly set him down.
This shouldn't be happening.
It's not scientific!
Tsunade retreated into her she'll, her fingers tapping lightly on the ground, making Raj's fur stand on end.
But then Raj glanced at the System Panel, where his Points were skyrocketing...
'Heh heh heh, nice. The cost has dropped to less than three thousand.'
The only problem was that Tsunade seemed to be a bit agitated.
Her behavior was clearly off, and Raj couldn't tell what she was thinking.
All he knew was that the Points had stopped increasing, so she probably wasn't thinking about him.
"Alright, let's stop training for now. Perfect timing to go grab a drink and celebrate you mastering Superhuman Strength and becoming a true monster!"
Tsunade leaped up, instantly bursting with energy, her vitality almost frightening.
Sensing trouble, Raj quickly protested, "Meow~ I'm still just a kid! I can't drink!"
"What's there to be afraid of? Alcohol is something every boy needs to learn. If you can't even drink, it'll be a disgrace to my name, Tsunade! Let's go!"
Tsunade grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out of the camp.
There were no houses or taverns near the camp, of course.
The real reason she was dragging Raj along was because she had no money herself, so she needed someone to pay.
She had heard that Raj had started managing his own money after arriving at the camp.
Since there was nowhere to spend it on the front lines, he must have accumulated quite a bit of savings.
Perfect for a good feast to vent her pent-up frustration.
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
Raj struggled, as if watching his wallet shrink before his eyes.
But running away seemed ungrateful; after all, Tsunade hadn't hit him and had even taught him Superhuman Strength.
'A meal... Fine, I'll treat! What's the big deal?'
In the mountains, Naoki sighed again, his worries deepening.
He had initially hoped that Tsunade's guidance might bring about positive changes in Raj.
But now, any hope for improvement seemed futile.
He could only pray that the damn cat wouldn't pick up gambling or drinking.
Oh, right!
Raj was also close to Lord Jiraiya and even wrote with him.
But Lord Jiraiya's writing specialties...
Hiss!
The veteran Special Jonin's mind raced, wondering if the cat might eventually inherit all the flaws of the Three Legendary Sannin.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Konoha's future looked bleak.
"Meow?"
"Just move it! Enough with the chatter. This is absolutely top-tier sake."
Tsunade, showing no pretense of politeness, dragged Raj away from the mountain, heading straight in one direction.
It seemed she had scouted out sake dens in this area before and knew exactly where to find the good stuff.
'Truly a seasoned sake fiend!'
Raj's wallet already felt the pinch.
This could be a major financial hit.
"Are we there yet, meow?"
"Almost! Hear the river? Cross it, and you'll see the village. There's a small sake den there run by a master brewer. His sake is the real deal-pure, authentic, and so rare you can't buy it with money alone."
Tsunade grinned, her mouth practically watering.
The sake at that place was truly exceptional.
She and Jiraiya had savored it several times and still craved it.
Back when she first left Konoha, she even made a special trip back just to drink it again.
'Homemade sake?'
Raj's heart sank.
'With titles like "master brewer," "pure," "authentic," and "so rare you can't buy it with money alone," even if the sake tasted awful, the price alone would be astronomical.'
'They're going to fleece me dry!'
Raj felt a pang of regret.
Though he earned his money easily, it wasn't like it grew on trees.
This meal could wipe out a significant portion of his savings.
After crossing the river valley, Raj indeed spotted a village.
The village nestled along the riverbank, its inhabitants having cultivated numerous fields.
When they arrived, the villagers were still working the land, relying on their own efforts without the aid of ninjas.
This was the Ninja World.
Even farmers who tilled the same fields received vastly different treatment depending on whether they lived within or outside the boundaries of a Ninja Village.
Raj felt grateful he had transmigrated to Konoha.
Had he ended up in some remote corner of the Land of Wind, he might have starved to death within days or spent his entire life trapped in the vast desert.
Ordinary cats rarely lived beyond twenty years.
'What a miserable existence!'
"This is the place. Hmm... the building seems a bit different, but I know the owner and his family, so it shouldn't be a problem."
Tsunade led Raj to a table.
The restaurant was nearly empty, so she shouted loudly, "Boss! Bring us a jar of your best homemade sake!"
'A jar? Damn it!'
Raj couldn't resist slamming a paw on the table, his emotions running high.
"Hm?"
"N-nothing. I just meant... we might not finish a whole jar," Raj quickly explained.
"What? You can't even-"
"You think I can't finish a tiny jar of sake? Are you underestimating me?"
Tsunade slammed her hand on the table, her voice brimming with excitement.
"You might be faster at learning Ninjutsu, but I'm definitely better at drinking! Look at this scrawny cat - the wine jar is bigger than it is! How can it even compare to me?"
"This stupid cat's getting drunk tonight! Not even the Third Hokage can stop me! That's a promise from Tsunade!"
"Oh, it's you, Lady Tsunade! We'll bring your order right away!"
Raj's mouth twitched.
The owner clearly recognized Tsunade. His face lit up like a chrysanthemum as he sent jar after jar of wine their way.
Within a minute, three massive jars were placed on the table.
Most taverns served wine in small jars, but these were clearly homemade, exceeding standard sizes.
The moment the lids were lifted, the fragrant aroma of wine filled the air.
'It's over. My money...'
Raj felt suffocated.
To make matters worse, Tsunade hadn't forgotten about him.
She poured a large bowl of wine and declared, "Come on, drink up!"
"Cats can drink wine?" the owner asked, surprised.
This customer seemed even crazier than before.
Last time, she at least brought a young girl. Now she was drinking with a cat...
Since children can't drink, she brought a cat instead?
He was baffled.
"It's fine, a little won't hurt," Tsunade said, placing the bowl in front of Raj.