Original subtitles

[blowing]

Paw Encyclopedia, ehhh...?

[meowing]

Huh? Sure haven't seen him in a while, meow.

Hmm?

Granny Cat... Give me 400 ninja cat kunai knives and 600 shuriken, meow.

Well, well... Isn't this quite the surprise! I'm amazed you would actually come here yourself...

The Uchiha brat was really very cute back then, wasn't he?

What?! Seriously? We're going to catch another cat?!

Well... Not quite. You're actually after Nekomata.

And your mission is not to capture him, but to get a paw print from him.

[groaning] Nekomata, mountain lion, cute little kitty cat, whatever it is...

This is just a D-rank mission, so no thanks! - - I say just let someone else handle small-time

stuff like this!

Right, Sasuke? I mean, aren't you tired of lame missions like this one? Go on! Tell him!

Uh, Sasuke...?

You don't have to come along if you don't want to.

This is an Uchiha- No, wait... my mission.

But why?!

"Sasuke's Paw Encyclopedia"

I'm glad you've come, Sasuke boy.

It's been a long time, Granny Cat.

My, you're all grown up.

You know her, Sasuke? She's weird...

What kinda place is this?

This shop is where the Uchiha clan traditionally buys all its weapons.

Granny Cat also provides intel for the Uchiha, and she's our client for this mission.

Tamaki... Get the Paw Encyclopedia and bring it to me.

Sure thing. Here you are, Grandma.

You bound all of them into a book?

You know, Sasuke... You sure do seem to know a whole lot more about this mission than we do.

I think you'd better start doing some explaining...

[chuckling]

This book started as a game between Sasuke and his brother.

Itachi-

Don't talk about Itachi!

Uh!

I'm going to start preparing for the mission.

So what was that all about?!

They used to be so close back then...

I remember... Itachi would often come by on errands and bring little Sasuke in tow...

Sasuke would get bored, throw tantrums, and give Itachi such a hard time.

So Itachi came up with a game for him to play...

He had Sasuke chase down all the quick and nimble cats he could catch, and then gather paw prints from them.

It was a silly kid's game!

Yes, I suppose...

But remember... Sasuke already had the skills of a genin even before he entered the Academy.

From the start, he was an Uchiha through and through.

[grumbling]

In any event..., it was merely a cute game at first.

But things quickly began to escalate.

Sasuke completed nearly all the assignments Itachi gave him, even the ones given half in jest.

And then we collected his stockpile of paw prints and compiled them all into this book.

But even though Sasuke no longer plays the game, something about it bothers me...

Sasuke never completed two of the assignments Itachi gave to him.

One was Ni'i of the Hidden Cloud, but I asked for her paw print, and she kindly agreed.

Ni'i of the Hidden Cloud? What's that?!

Let me guess: you're asking us to go and get the final paw print, is that it?

Yes. However...

The print you're after is from Nekomata, a big player in the ninja cat

underworld; he never shows his face in public.

His hideout is an impregnable fortress.

And he's guarded by a seemingly endless amount of ninja cats.

Can a three-man team of genin handle something so hard?

Are you kidding me?! We've handled way worse than this! Just leave it to us! Right, Sakura?!

Keep in mind that Itachi thought this assignment was too dangerous for Sasuke and wouldn't allow him to go.

You'll have to be very careful.

So that's what was bothering Sasuke.... this whole thing with his brother...

Whatever limits he set for me, I'll go far beyond them.

Hey! Sasuke!

Come on! Let's transform into cats and sneak into that guy's fortress!

I guess the best way to infiltrate a fortress of cats is to become a cat...

Transformation Jutsu!

What kind of cat looks like that?!

Aww, but I actually thought it looked pretty good.

But you don't need to transform, meow!

And transforming won't let you understand cat speech, meow.

So here you go!

If you put these on, the cats will think you're one of them, and you'll understand them!

If it's that simple, then why didn't you just give us these from the very start?!

I... actually have to wear... this thing?!

We're known in these parts, so I'm afraid we can't go any further, meow.

No ninja cat has ever seen Nekomata's face. Do you think you'll be able to find him, meow?

Thanks to these, infiltrating his fortress shouldn't be a problem.

You look so cute in those, Sasuke!

If we can get inside his stronghold, then the rest will be no problem.

Come on. Let's go.

Wait. Hold it.

Sasuke... Look, we're supposed to be able to talk to ninja cats if we wear these.

And that means you won't have to go start a fight with the Nekomata guy.

Let's just talk to him about it; I bet that he'd be willing to give you a paw print or two!

Impossible.

What?! But meow?!

Having your paw print taken is extremely embarrassing for a cat, meow. He'd never allow it!

For a human, it's just like someone stripping off your clothes and

taking a photograph of you naked, meow.

A naked photograph; is that all? You just have to sweet-talk someone into doing something like that!

I mean, I bet I could even get Sakura to do it. Meow, Sakura?

As if! You big pervert!

I doubt talking will do you any good, meow.

All right, well... Thanks for showing us the way, meow.

Get going, pervert meow.

Who's next?

I haven't seen you guys before meow.

We're newbie cats! meow.

Here.

Hmmm...

For someone new, you're quick to catch on to the way things work here, meow.

[gasping]

[growling]

But what gave us away?!

Who knows?!

It's time for us to give you your reward. This is how we welcome in new kitties, meow!

Heh?!

What's the matter? You're welcome to play with them, meow.

Guys, play along or they'll get suspicious. Go on...

[meowing]

I can't believe I have to do this to get that paw print!

You know, this is fun. Huh?!

[sneezing] Achoo!

Ugh, stupid sneeze. Anyway... Meow! This is fun, meow!

There's a human in our midst, and he's trying to sneak inside!

Huh?! What're you meowing about?! I'm a cat, meow!

You idiot! Let's go!

Hey, those two probably aren't cats, either!

More impostors! Alert! Alert!

Sasuke! Sakura! Come back!

Ah!

Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow?!

Meow meow meow, meow!

Okay, okay, calm down! I'm guessing that what you're saying is that you

want me to leave, right? Okay, I'm going!

I guess it's back to the drawing board!

Meow! Meow! Meowwwww!

What's with this increased security? Does anyone know what's going on, meow?

I heard some humans slipped in past the guards, meow.

If they come close, I'll catch 'em and show 'em a thing or two while I'm at it! meow.

Don't worry about Naruto. I'm sure he's fine.

Let's take advantage of this commotion and search for Nekomata.

Sakura, you go look to the East. I'll go west.

Huh? But we have to stick together if this is going to work!

They already know that we're inside the fortress. Time's of the essence.

Right now, it's smarter to split up to look.

Oh, okay... Let's do it!

What's all the commotion out there, meow?

Boss, a couple humans got past the guards and infiltrated the fortress, meow!

What?! Human intruders?! Find them and get rid of them this instant, meow!

Yes, sir, meow!

A human in my stronghold?! It's been seven years since the last time...

No, it couldn't be, meow...

If I can't go through the front gate, I'll just sneak in from the side! I am a ninja, after all!

The best place to get information is a bar...

[sighing]

Huh?!

Your catnip drink, miss, meow.

Thanks, but I didn't actually order anything yet, meow.

Compliments of that customer.

Hello. May I come and join you, meow...?

Oh. Sure!

Well, always nice to meet someone new.

How about a little treat?

You simply must try this, meow!

[gobbling]

Excuse me, by any chance do you happen to know a cat named Nekomata?

Boss? Yeah! He always stays in the main tower.

Oh, thank you very much! Have this if you want, meow.

Really?!

[struggling]

Rigged plastic bottles?!

These are supposed to be used against cats, not by them!

Boss is in the main tower! There!

[meowing]

I'm sure Sasuke is heading there, too.

Uh!

You don't look familiar. Who are you, meow?

Uh... I'm new here.

Oh, I see.

So, just what do you want with the boss, meow?

Oh no. He overheard my conversation before.

[meowing]

Who are you, meow!

He must have sneaked in here with that human that tried to get past the guards meow!

Just stay out of this, loser.

Don't call me a loser, meow!

I won't let you near the boss, meow!

He's fast! But I should have an opening to strike when he lands!

Hyah, meow!!

What just happened? I know I landed a hit, but he didn't react at all!

He's too quick and flexible...

I'll have to take advantage of his power and use it against him!

She telegraphed that counterstrike...

[yelping]

What-?! You-?!

Huh... So you're a human, meow?

Then you'll get no mercy from me, so prepare... To die, meow.!

[grunting]

[meowing]

Feline fur can't repel water. So when a cat becomes soaked, its body

temperature drops rapidly.

[shivering]

It's so cold, so very cold, meow.

I give up, meow!

We know when we're beaten! We surrender, meow!

So you managed to make it all the way here, huh...? Who are you, meow?

You the one they call Nekomata? It'll be easier if you volunteer your paw print.

Otherwise, It's going to get painful.

I'm impressed that you have the guts to stand before me and make a

threat like that, meow. However...

[chuckling]

What is this?

Huh?!

Who are you?

[snarling]

[groaning]

[meowing]

[meowing]

[meowing]

[meowing]

[meowing]

Sharingan!

What's that...?!

[snarling]

Begone!

Sharingan can see through genjutsu. So it has no effect on me.

You're pretty good.

I'll just have to use brute strength, meow.!

[gasping]

[roaring]

Uh!

Sasuke...!

[grunting]

Time to die.

Uh?!

Hurry up, Sasuke, snap out of it!

Sasuke! Are you all right?

Sakura... Naruto...

So this is Nekomata, huh?

It's time for you to meet the real star of the show, Naruto Uzumaki!

Stay out of this!

What?!

This guy is mine!

And besides... It's almost over anyway...

Ha! I didn't even have to dodge that!

[gasping]

Paper bombs?!

You didn't think I was just running around to escape, did you?

Mission accomplished!

I'd say that you certainly drew an unlucky hand of cards that time around, Nekomata.

Nah! I wanted to have a go with Itachi's brother, so I could see what he's made of.

Besides, I couldn't refuse a request from Itachi, now could I?

You... meownster!

In time, my kid brother will come to see you. And when he does, I want you

to fight him with all your might.

He probably won't have the strength to defeat you yet...

Then why do it?!

Because growth occurs when one is pushed beyond his limits.

That knowledge is a vital part of training.

I hate to admit it, but when he faced me, Sasuke passed Itachi's test with flying colors.

Indeed, I agree with you.

But it's so unfortunate. Those two boys were so close when they were young.

They call you the Eternal Genin... but just how long have you been doing this?

This year will mark fifty years as a ninja for me.

That's some history!

I have my share of memories with each of the Hokage.

I even had the chance to work alongside the renowned Lord Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin.

With Pervy Sage?!

Next time on Naruto Shippuden: Naruto and the Old Soldier.

Who is this gramps anyway?