Chapter 142 The Previous Mission
"Please, lend me a little more chakra—" Under the gentle sunlight, the blindfolded young man clasped his hands in front of the little Nekomata and bowed, "I'm just a little short of really perfecting that Lightning Release!"
This little Nekomata, no bigger than a palm, had soft and beautiful blue fur with black patterns that seemed to flow continuously in the sunlight, adding a touch of mystery. Hearing the young man's words, it stared at him with its heterochromatic pupils and said, "No way. You're practically risking your life when you train. I'm not giving you chakra today."
"Come on, don't be so heartless," the young man lowered the corners of his eyebrows, putting on a pitiful and fragile look. "Little Neko, you can clearly feel that I'm really okay..."
At this, the little Nekomata couldn't help but pat the stone beneath it with its paws. Its gentle voice sounded a bit irritated. "Feel a dried fish!
You just keep your head down and train. You just casually get through your meals. You've only rested for less than twelve hours in the past five days—and half of that was because you fainted! You were even grinning and telling me about your future training plan in the second before you fainted. Are you really not afraid of sudden death?
Humans are short - lived to begin with. It's not easy for me to meet such an interesting kid like you. Can you please cherish yourself a little more? Cats get emotionally unstable when they're bored! Think about who'll be in danger if I get emotionally unstable!"
"Little Neko, The Nekomata's Journey... Don't be like this. I'll be careful this time. Just lend me a little bit—"
"I said no, and that's final. Go rest now—right away, immediately!"
This young man and the little Nekomata were Ling and The Nekomata's Journey, who had come to the back mountain to train and adapt to the Tailed Beasts' chakra for the upcoming war.
Thanks to the self - healing property of the Tailed Beasts' chakra, after Ling could endure the Malice within it, he began to enthusiastically develop ninjutsu using this advantage. He even borrowed the chakra from The Nekomata's Journey and turned it into paper to record the routes of the jutsu in the Oni space created by The Nekomata's Journey several times.
When Ling was delving into ninjutsu, he always looked energetic, and The Nekomata's Journey could even feel the sincere love radiating from him.
Since The Nekomata's Journey itself could stay energetic for many days and then rest all at once, it didn't pay much attention to Ling's physical condition. Instead, it seriously thought about and answered every problem Ling raised, helping him make further progress in his training.
These minor oversights made The Nekomata's Journey quite shocked yesterday when it saw Ling confirm the next direction for ninjutsu development in the Oni space, leave the space full of energy, saying he was going to show it a demonstration, but then collapse the next second as if he'd lost all his strength. It didn't feel relieved until it confirmed that Ling had just fallen into a normal sleep.
However, it finally realized the difference between humans and Tailed Beasts. After Ling woke up, it flatly refused to lend him any more chakra for training.
Ling felt the resolve of The Nekomata's Journey and sighed softly. He knew that for the time being, he couldn't use the Tailed Beasts' chakra for high - speed training.
[It seems I went a bit too far... But this feeling of clearly sensing my own improvement is really addictive...]
Ling picked up The Nekomata's Journey and gently stroked the ruffled fur of the little Nekomata who was throwing a tantrum. However, his mind was still on training. [I really wanted to finish this enhanced ninjutsu before the war. I'm so close! If only the chakra flow could be a bit better...]
Although it felt really nice to have its fur stroked, The Nekomata's Journey quickly noticed Ling's absent - mindedness - this guy was even mumbling his thoughts out loud!
The Nekomata's Journey retracted its claws and couldn't help but lick its teeth. It began to seriously consider whether it should just knock the guy out and carry him back.
Just as it decided to forcefully take Ling back, a puff of white smoke suddenly exploded in the air. Ling stopped his absent - minded muttering and looked up at the sky. "Yata? Is there something going on at home?"
"Father is going to start assigning The Previous Mission and battle zones. He sent me to tell you to go to the meeting hall, caw." Yata landed on Ling's shoulder and nodded to The Nekomata's Journey. "But he also said that if your training isn't finished, you don't have to participate in the initial The Previous Mission. You can go to the battlefield after both sides have sized each other up, caw."
"I haven't been to the battlefield for almost two years. I still need to get used to it." Ling stood up, carefully placed The Nekomata's Journey on top of his head, stretched a bit, then picked up his staff sword and walked down. "Can you tell what kind of The Previous Mission Father is going to assign?"
"Master, you have to understand, I'm just a crow, caw." Yata first defended itself, then paused for a moment before speaking again. "I saw a map. There were quite a few symbols marked on complex terrains. I haven't fully memorized what those symbols mean. But I think in such terrains, the arrangements are just sneak attacks and setting up Booby Trap."
"Complex terrains?" Ling frowned slightly. "It's an advantage for both the Senju and our clan..."
Yata tilted its head and glanced at the silk ribbon Ling used to cover his scar. "Yes, it's indeed a bit disadvantageous for you, caw..."
"Let's see what kind of terrain it is. If it's not an overly humid and sweltering forest, I still have some room to maneuver. Also, it depends on the combat power of Senju Ichikata... Anyway, thanks. I'll go back, pack up, and head to the meeting hall."
Yata turned its head to the other side. After failing to come up with anything, it flapped its wings and took off. "Then I'll go back and report the news, caw?"
"Yeah, thanks."
Watching Yata disappear in a puff of white smoke, The Nekomata's Journey averted its gaze. "Are you really not going to think about it again?"
"Think about what?"
The Nekomata's Journey lowered its head. "Although I don't know about your past, based on what I've seen so far, as long as you show up on the battlefield, you'll undoubtedly become one of the targets the enemy will go after."
"Ah, this... There's nothing to think about." Ling chuckled softly. "Didn't I already say? There won't be anything in this world that can please me more than fighting with all my might. Let them come at me however they like. I'll just take them on."