I've always been fair when it comes to debts and favors."
'You have the nerve to bring that up? We didn't get a single ryo, and Jiraiya's about to explode with anger.'
Tsunade seemed a little guilty as she spoke, though it was unclear whether she felt guilty about the "money" or the "fairness."
Before long, a head cautiously peeked into the tent from outside.
The girl called out, "Lord Raikage, it's over here!"
Raj turned and glared fiercely at Tsunade.
Tsunade chuckled, making a money gesture - her meaning couldn't have been clearer: the Third Raikage had paid extra, so Yugito had been released.
"Meow!"
Raj raised a paw.
'Half?'
Tsunade's heart ached so badly her lips twitched, but seeing Raj's unwavering gaze, she nodded reluctantly.
Come to think of it, she felt like she was starting to understand "cat language."
Without needing explicit words, a simple "meow" paired with a gesture was enough for her to grasp exactly what the cat wanted.
'Could I have a natural talent...'
For raising cats?
"Don't run, Raj! Face me in a one-on-one battle between men!"
The Third Raikage moved with lightning speed.
The instant Yugito called out, he had already reached Tsunade's tent, ripping open the flap to corner Raj.
"Meow~ I'm a cat," Raj replied shamelessly.
"I've heard you're a male cat, and your fight with my son was incredibly spirited. Give me a battle like that!"
The Third Raikage was unusually energetic.
Now that his hand had healed, he felt like his old self again.
Of course... Raj couldn't use the Rasenshuriken; he hadn't yet figured out how to counter that technique.
"Raikage, I must remind you that your right hand hasn't fully healed and is temporarily unusable," Tsunade interjected, coming to Raj's rescue.
"No problem," the Third Raikage replied without hesitation. "I'll just use my left hand."
What he really wanted was a fight, especially to beat Raj to a pulp.
Before, Raj had always retreated while fighting, no different from those cowardly Kiri Ninja.
He'd assumed this was the cat's fighting style, but after witnessing Raj's battle with A last night, it was clear the cat's true style was bold, unrestrained, and utterly masculine - a style that resonated perfectly with him!
'Left hand? Are you underestimating me, you bastard?! Still, I like it.'
"Meow! What's in it for me?"
Raj rubbed his paws together.
This old geezer was being so generous - if the reward was good enough, he'd not only fight, but even perform his signature trick of walking on his tail.
"Rewards are easy. Come on, enough talk, let's fight first."
"You said it, meow!" Raj's eyes lit up.
He leaped off the table and dashed out of the tent.
By the time he reached the outside, Kakashi and Rin had just arrived.
"What's going on?" Rin asked.
"A fight," Kakashi replied calmly.
But the gleam in his eyes betrayed his excitement about the battle between Raj and the Third Raikage.
After all, the Third Raikage was widely regarded as the world's foremost master of Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
Guy, Obito, and the other two had already woken up early for training and were unaware of the situation, so they naturally weren't around to watch the spectacle.
Tsunade was quite pleased to let them fight here.
Even if they only destroyed a few tents, the Third Raikage would pay a heavy price.
"Let's take this outside," the Third Raikage said.
Anyone who couldn't dodge after being slashed twice by Bee's sword was dumber than a pig.
The Third Raikage pointed outside and vanished in a flash.
Though his Lightning Release Armor prioritized defense, it didn't mean he was slow.
Speed was relative.
Compared to Raj, Minato, and Aibi, he seemed slow, but against Tsunade, he was much faster.
And against Kakashi, Rin, and Yugito, who lacked Tailed Beast Chakra, he was practically lightning.
In mere moments, Raj and the Third Raikage had moved from the camp to the open field.
Since this was a hand-to-hand fight, the Rasenshuriken was off-limits.
Raj didn't mind. He needed points anyway.
Regardless of the Third Raikage's defenses, he was confident he could force the Raikage to surrender his points.
'If I can't beat you, I'll at least make you suffer.'
"Excellent! A man's battle! No one interferes! Anyone who does will face my wrath!" the Third Raikage roared, his beard bristling and eyes blazing.
Even though they were on Konoha territory, his domineering presence remained unchanged.
"Go, Lord Third Raikage!" Yugito shouted.
"Go, Raj! If you can't beat him, attack his right hand! He can't use Chakra with it yet!" Tsunade shouted gleefully.
"How could you say that?!" Yugito glared at Tsunade, indignant. "Attacking someone's weakness is completely unethical! And you're the leader of Konoha's eastern region and the Third Raikage's physician! This is outrageous!"
She was furious, but Tsunade was delighted, especially when she saw the little girl's face flush crimson with anger.
It reminded her of when Shizune had first started following her around.
Back then, Shizune would make the same expression whenever Tsunade went drinking or gambling.
'Now... Tsk, Shizune's completely lost her charm.'
Rin chuckled quietly beside them.
Tsunade occasionally enjoyed teasing others, but most of the time she was incredibly reliable.
"So fast," Kakashi murmured in surprise.
Rin looked up and realized Raj and the Third Raikage had already clashed.
Raj hadn't used the Expansion Jutsu. Instead, it exploited its smaller size to entangle the Raikage in close combat.
Its cat claws, now sheathed in thick ice armor, effortlessly pierced through the Raikage's Lightning Release Armor, rendering its lightning defenses nearly useless.
Boom!
After three or four thunderous clashes, the two combatants swiftly separated.
"Exhilarating!" the Third Raikage roared, his left hand slashing forward like a blade.
Though he couldn't match A's speed, Raj's predictive abilities and the power of his hand blade were far superior.
His strike nearly sealed off the Raikage's retreat, prompting Raj to abandon close combat.
He retreated a few steps, then...
It opened its mouth and unleashed a jet of water.
This wasn't an ordinary Iron Cannonball; it was a stream of water under immense pressure.
When it shot out like a blade, the Third Raikage instantly dodged.
But...
The water jet swiftly followed him.
Then...
Another water jet erupted from an unseen source, striking him almost simultaneously at the same point.
"Water Severing Wave!" Tsunade exclaimed in shock.
This Ninjutsu was notoriously difficult, mastered only by Tobirama Senju.
Yet Raj had not only learned it but also...
Cough, cough.
One had to admit, this guy's talent was truly absurd.
He could not only learn human Ninjutsu but also adapt it to suit his own needs - a feat beyond the capabilities of most humans.
"This guy... really... but the power is quite impressive," Yugito muttered, forcing her gaze away.