Cat seemed prepared, darting forward while flinging three kunai at the sound's source.
Bang!
A faint explosion—a clone.
"Damn it!" Cat cursed, searching for Ebara.
A few steps later, he ran into some street punks, their words dripping with disrespect, ignoring his Anbu status.
Cat didn't bother with them, only asking Ebara's whereabouts.
They claimed they hadn't seen him.
As he turned to leave, a shout rang out: "Secret Technique—Thousand Years of Death!"
Cat dodged instinctively, spinning around.
No Ebara—just one of the punks.
"What'd you just say?" Cat snapped, grabbing the punk's collar, lifting him off the ground.
The punk, trembling, spilled, "The guy you're after gave me 2,000 ryo. Half to hide his trail, half to yell that."
"Where'd he go?" Cat growled. "Truth!"
"Left," the punk said, not daring to lie.
"I'll deal with you later," Cat spat, rushing off.
A few steps in, he spotted Ebara.
Wary of a trap, he approached quietly.
Just as he moved, he saw an elderly man with a pipe, wearing Hokage robes, beside Ebara.
Who else but the Third Hokage?
"What are you doing?" the Third's piercing gaze locked onto Cat.
"Lord Hokage!" Cat knelt instantly.
Though loyal to Danzo's Root, it was still under the Third's nominal command.
He didn't dare disrespect him.
"Rise," the Third said. "Ebara's told me everything. As Hokage and his teacher, I have a right to know why you're dragging my student off the street."
Cat stood, stiffly. "Forgive me, Lord Hokage. I don't know."
The Third nodded. "Fine. Lead the way. I'll take Ebara to Danzo."
Cat hesitated but complied, walking ahead.
He fell in step beside Ebara, who smirked with disdain and pity.
That look infuriated Cat, but with the Third nearby, he swallowed his rage.
Ebara, however, didn't hold back.
He leaned closer.
The sudden move spooked Cat, who leaped aside, back against a wall, guarding his vitals.
To his shock, Ebara hadn't moved.
"Just kidding. Why so jumpy?" Ebara grinned.
Cat's anger boiled.
When you're in my hands, you'll beg for death!
Suppressing his fury, he led on, staying cautious, lagging two steps behind to avoid a sneak attack.
Ebara chuckled at his paranoia but said nothing.
A few steps later, Cat felt a sharp pain in his rear.
A sour, tearing sensation shot from his tailbone to his skull.
Two words: Pure bliss.
Cat felt transcended.
"Lord Third?!" he gasped, turning in disbelief.
Behind him wasn't the Third—it was Ebara.
"Then he…" Cat turned to "Ebara," who morphed into a twelve-year-old boy.
Tsunade's brother, Nawaki.
"Kid, you dare grab your grandpa?" Ebara sneered, retracting his hands.
The soul-shattering sensation in his rear was a brand-new experience.
Cat glared, furious. "Didn't you say you wouldn't use the same move twice in a day?"
Ebara scratched his head, sheepish. "Oops, forgot."
Cat's heart broke. Liar!
Then, a searing pain hit his groin.
"Lineage-Ending Kick!"
Ebara's stylish flying kick landed square on Cat's vitals.
"Ahh!"
If the last move was transcendence, this was ascension!
Cat clutched himself, launched skyward by the force.
The kid who'd seen Sheep soar now saw Cat, covering his groin midair.
"Mommy, look! Someone's peeing in the sky!" he shouted, thrilled.
His dad, stepping out, smacked him. "What a filial son you are!"
"Ebara-bro, you're so cool!" Nawaki said, awestruck.
Ebara, hands behind his back like a master, lectured, "Nawaki, today I'll teach you a secret taijutsu technique. It's not for men or women—it's for you. Remember it!"
Nawaki nodded eagerly. "Got it, Ebara-bro. Tell me!"
"No matter how tough or cold a man seems, those two spots are weak. Hit there, and you'll win every time."
Nawaki's eyes lit up. "I get it!"
Ebara nodded, pleased. "You're teachable!"
"Ebara-bro, after watching your secret move, I've got a question."
"Good students ask questions. Go ahead."
"Your Lineage-Ending Kick is fine, but Thousand Years of Death… You used two fingers, right?"
"Yup."
"Fingers are fragile. If you miss and hit elsewhere, won't they break?"
"Good point. That's why you practice to hit like me—100% accuracy, fingers like steel."
"No, no, you're missing my point. Can you use something else instead of fingers?"
"Sure, any stick works… though some don't, or it changes the fight's vibe…"
"You're still not getting it. Not a stick—something else."
"Like what?"
"Like an explosive tag. How's that?"
Ebara froze.
Thousand Years of Death with an explosive tag?
The legendary Boom (Butt)?