Fortifying the Nest!

I halted my training and headed back to the house. The sight that greeted me was unexpected. The Hokage sat comfortably in the waiting area, enjoying refreshments served by the ninja cats. I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Good afternoon, Third Hokage," I greeted politely.

Hiruzen chuckled. "Sasuke-kun, good afternoon. So, this is your arrangement? Not only security but also a retinue of… subordinates. I must admit, I was initially quite concerned about their sudden appearance and the chaos they caused."

"That was indeed a mistake on our part." I conceded. "They were unfamiliar with the village. It won't happen again. Their duties will be confined to the Uchiha district."

"Indeed." Hiruzen agreed. "I'm confident it won't occur again. So, how many of these… ninja cats are we talking about?"

I strategically downplayed the number. "Four hundred. With Yugao-san by my side, I'm certain we can handle any threat. And while I wouldn't consider myself weak, I'd say I'm at a low chunin level."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow but let the comment slide. "Very well, Sasuke. This arrangement seems satisfactory. Do keep me informed of any suspicious activity."

"I appreciate that, Third Hokage. And one more thing…"

The Hokage gestured for me to continue.

"Since they'll be residing here, I'd like to request a permanent D-rank mission for the village. It involves providing them with a day's worth of food, repeated daily. I have no objection to different ninjas handling the deliveries. You could even consider it a C-rank mission considering they are ninja cats."

Hiruzen considered the proposition. "Agreed, Sasuke. The Uchiha clan account will cover the expenses."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage. However, I'd appreciate a monthly bill for accounting purposes. Additionally, a list of the ninjas assigned to these deliveries would be helpful for records and security reasons."

"A very reasonable request, Sasuke. I'll ensure that's taken care of. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must take my leave."

I bowed slightly and escorted the Hokage to the district border.

"Oh, and Sasuke," Hiruzen called out as he was leaving. "The jutsu you perfected needs to be documented. If possible, include details about its potential dangers, suitability for wider use, and any necessary precautions. Just a standard record, you understand."

"Of course, Lord Hokage." I replied. "You'll have that information by tomorrow, delivered through a ninneko."

Providing details wasn't ideal, but it seemed unavoidable. I'd focus on safety measures – the importance of proper chakra channeling, the inherent risk of elemental style jutsu, and the need for responsible practice. After all, a powerful jutsu in the wrong hands could be disastrous. And the most important, Fire style is the most dangerous of all five and should not be used carelessly.

With that settled, I returned to my training, the rhythmic hum of electricity crackling around me as I continued my pursuit of mastering the lightning style.

Returning home, I found it surprisingly clean. Evidently, the ninja cats had taken the initiative during my absence. I summoned Denka and Hina to the meeting room.

The two feline leaders approached, their tails held high with pride.

"Everything is under control, Lord Sasuke, nya!" Denka declared confidently.

"The district is secure and the others are briefed on their duties, nya," Hina added.

"Excellent." I acknowledged. "Now, I need to delve into some specifics. The Uchiha compound layout, potential threats, intruder protocol – those are all crucial aspects. Additionally, there are hidden pathways you should be aware of."

Denka's ears perked up at the mention of hidden passages. "Interesting, nya!"

I smirked faintly. "Indeed. Now, gather everyone around. This briefing won't take long."

Denka and Hina exchanged a glance, their whiskers twitching in anticipation. They both nodded curtly and departed to gather the group leaders.

Despite their large number, the ninja cats seemed to function in smaller units with designated leaders, resembling a miniature version of a Jounin-led squad structure.

Soon after, fifty-two cats, including Denka and Hina, assembled before me. The ninja cats assembled, their eyes gleaming with focus as I outlined the specifics of their mission. I reiterated the importance of maintaining order within the district and avoiding unnecessary conflict with the villagers. I meticulously explained the compound's layout, potential threats, and the locations of hidden traps and seals. One crucial detail I omitted, however, was the Naka Shrine's secret passage. I also pointed out the location of training grounds for the Uchiha police force, instructing the cats to leave them undisturbed.

"They'll be receiving food deliveries soon." Sasuke informed them. "There might be a problem today, but it'll be a regular occurrence from tomorrow onwards."

A collective meow of acknowledgement rippled through the feline ranks. Food was a serious business, after all.

"Lastly," Sasuke added, his gaze sweeping over the assembled cats, "you must have seen an anbu inside the district, that's Yugao-san, my Anbu guard. Treat her with respect and also as a superior of yours, and under no circumstances attack her, nya."

The cats listened attentively, their heads bobbing in agreement. The ninja cats chorused their understanding with a chorus of "Understood, nya!"

WAIT! Did I just also said "Nya"?! ok, as long as I don't do it in front of anyone, I will be fine.

Once dismissed, I signaled Denka and Hina to stay behind.

"Listen carefully," I began, my voice dropping to a low growl. "This information must be shared only with those you trust implicitly. Select a few ninneko to integrate with the village cat population. They'll act as informants, gathering information and uncovering any rumors or hidden knowledge. Most importantly, two of them will be assigned to discreetly observe the Hokage Tower. Any developments there must be reported directly to me."

Denka tilted his head, a sliver of confusion clouding his emerald eyes. "We understand, Lord Sasuke. But why the distrust, nya?"

I hesitated. "There's much I suspect, but now's not the time for explanations. Patience, my friends, that's what's needed."

Hina stepped forward, her voice reassuring. "Don't fret, Lord Sasuke. We'll handle it. Leave everything to us, nya!"

With a curt nod of acknowledgement, I dismissed them and headed to the kitchen. Dinner wasn't going to cook itself.

Later, in the quiet of my bedroom, I focused on documenting the jutsu details. Once finished, I summoned my personal attendant, Kurobane, a sleek white cat with eyes that held an air of mischievous intelligence. Denka and Hina had insisted on providing me with an assistant, and I saw no harm in utilizing the extra pair of… paws. They also made me sign a summoning contact with cats.

Kurobane materialized in a puff of smoke, stretching languidly. "Seems you've had a busy day, nya!" she purred. "Need a paw with anything? A massage, perhaps? My kneading skills are unmatched, nya!"

I chuckled, a rare sound in my usually stoic demeanor. "Not today, Kurobane. Though I may very well take you up on that offer in the future. Here, hold onto this scroll. Keep it safe and deliver it to the Hokage tomorrow night, not before."

Kurobane inspected the scroll with a curious sniff. "Got it, nya! A mission is always a welcome distraction, nya." she replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Following a brief meditation session, I finally succumbed to sleep.

(Done! Enjoy!)