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Another day, another mission.
Izuna often wonders how many d-ranks they're going to have to take before they're allowed to do something fun. Not that he doesn't think rounding up stray cats isn't fun, in fact he loves it.
It's just, there are only so many times he can catch cats with Mito and Tobirama before he gets bored and who's letting all these cats out around the village anyways?
Sighing, he drops down into a grassy patch outside the building they've been searching for the better part of two hours now.
"I give up, I don't think it's here," he says dramatically, one hand dropping over his eyes to shield them from the afternoon sun. Tobirama sits down next to him with a grumpy huff, careful to keep in the patch of shade Izuna had made sure to sit close enough to.
"Maybe it left," Mito says, sitting down on Izuna's other side to lean back on her hands, head tilted towards the sun both he and Tobirama are intent on hiding from.
"Maybe," Izuna says, then shakes his head. "No, I don't think so. I think he's just smarter than us."
Most cats were very smart and knew how to avoid humans at all costs. This one shouldn't even be hanging around the half finished building but the workers there have seen it multiple times and it's always up to no good apparently.
Personally Izuna doesn't know if he believes that or not. He doesn't think cats get into trouble the way other people think so. It's not the cats fault humans have good smelling food and fun tools that often look like cat toys.
"I have an idea," Tobirama says, fingers fiddling with the white fur he's recently taken to wearing. How he stands it in the warm weather Izuna will never know.
"We've tried everything Tobirama," Mito says and sounds exasperated. "What else is there to try?"
Izuna perks up interested because they have tried everything but he's willing to hear whatever hair brained idea the Senju has if it means they can go home and not fail this mission.
"I'm going to use my water," Tobirama sighs and Izuna opens his mouth to protest him on the merits of how mean that is when Tobirama's stops him. "I know. But we're going to be here all night if we don't do something."
"Come on Izuna," Mito says. "It won't hurt it, not even a little. It'll just be a little wet that's all."
A little wet, that's all. Izuna crosses this arms and frowns deeply. He hates the idea and has stopped Tobirama from using his silly water justsu to round up cats before.
"Are either of you going to take it home with you and dry it off or will you just hand it over to sensei when the mission is over?" Izuna asks and pouts. He doesn't like this plan in the slightest.
"I'll keep him," Tobirama shrugs. "It's just a cat. Who knows, maybe it'll be a ninja cat and want a contract with me."
"Doubtful," Izuna sighs and is partially resigned to the fact that another victim of his missions will end up coming to the compound so he can at least make ammends with it.
Drawing in another deep sigh he stands up and nods.
"Fine, let’s just get this over with," he says and turns to head back into the building.
"You'll need to be able to dry it up with your fire," Tobirama tells him as they all three look around the place. "Least they dock us for making mud."
"Yeah, can't let that happen again," Izuna nods.
"Just don't burn the place down this time," Mito smirks and Izuna groans at the memory. Maybe there is a reason sensei doesn't let them out of the village yet.
"Don't worry Iz, I've got you," she adds, pulling out a seal he knows she developed just for moments like this when his fires need to be contained.
He rolls his eyes and glances to Tobirama and nods.
"Get it over with," he says and watches him form hand signs he knows all too well.
Water surges forward over the ground, washing around all the hiding spots it would be impossible for them to crawl in to. A loud hiss and growl later and the orange white cat comes running their direction.
Izuna makes to grab it but it instead jumps directly into Tobirama's arms, stopping the boy from continueing his water jutsu.
"Huh, guess that worked," Mito laughs next to them and Izuna nods.
"Looks like he's your responsibility after all," Izuna teases, watching as Tobirama starts wiping water from the cats fur as it cuddles against his chest.
Turning back to the building, Izuna forms the signs and blows out a low range fire that has the place dried up in seconds, Mito's seal covering the walls and ceiling to protect it just in case.
"So, what are you naming him?" Izuna asks as they head back to find Sensei.
It's clear to him the cat doesn't have any of the special skills the builders insisted it did. It's just a cat, not a ninneko, but if anyone could train it up maybe they can.
"I don't know," Tobirama says, petting it's chin and listening to it purr. "Maybe General Nibbles."
Izuna scoffs and rolls his eyes, but the cat purrs louder and seems ok with the name so who is he to argue?
General Nibbles it is.