'I shouldn't have left the house.'
A five-year-old child with the eyes of a mature man stands without fear, not trembling at the sight before him.
A normal kid would have cried at the sight of standing before so many elders, adults, and the head of his clan. Each of them has a large dog resting beside them or on their laps.
But there is one key difference between everyone present, they all bear important marks on their cheeks, except for the child.
The boy feels no fear because he holds a secret. If people knew of his knowledge, they would try to pry into his mind. This child is a reincarnated person, now in the body of Inuzuka Kiba.
Among the crowd, his mother and sister, Tsume and Hana, watch as the scene unfolds. His mother's expression is one of annoyance and frustration, while his sister looks on with concern and worry.
"Child, do you know what you did wrong?" the head of the clan asked, his voice firm.
"Yes, I know," Kiba replied, staring blankly at the head of the clan.
But inside, he felt like giving up after his accidental words.
'This is my fault though. I have to live with it. I should've been careful with what I said.' He chuckled to himself. 'Looks like I'm gonna be one of those reincarnators who die earlier than they're supposed to. Bye, world.'
"We've overlooked your refusal to wear the clan markings. We've even tolerated you not bonding with a Ninken by this age, understanding you wanted to pursue other paths. But insulting our clan crosses the line." The clan head's voice grew stern. "Take back your words and apologize, and your punishment will be light. The choice is yours, Inuzuka Kiba. What will it be?"
Kiba was no coward. He wouldn't take back his words. He doubled down, exhaling before speaking with conviction. "I won't take back what I said. What I said is right. The Aburame clan is far better than the Inuzuka clan, they're far more versatile than us. If our clan went extinct, the Aburame would take our spot. We're not like the Uchiha, who could still rise even if only one person remained."
Some of the listeners agreed silently, while others seethed, hating the idea that their clan was inferior to others.
"Are you really not afraid of the consequences?" the head of the clan asked.
"Yes, I'm a man, I won't take back a word I say," Kiba replied, his gaze steady on the adults who might assassinate him. "Even if I die by your hands, that just proves I'm right."
Some of the clansmen tightened their fists, but under the watch of the head of the clan, they held back. Even the elders stayed silent, knowing who held true authority, the strongest among them.
"Are you sure, Inuzuka Kiba?" the head of the clan pressed one last time. "The moment you accept this, there's no going back."
Before answering, Kiba glanced at his mother and sister. His mother shook her head, silently pleading for him to refuse, while his sister's face was etched with worry.
He gave them a reassuring smile before turning back to the head of the clan, confidence unwavering.
"Yes," Kiba declared, his voice firm.
Despite the defiance, the head of the clan felt a flicker of admiration for Kiba's courage.
'Tsume really raised her son well as an Inuzuka… but this boy is too sharp for his own good.'
Reluctantly, the head of the clan announced his decision, knowing that if he didn't, the clan's fury would be uncontrollable.
"From now on," the head of the clan declared, his voice carrying finality, "Inuzuka Kiba is exiled from the clan. He will be stripped of the Inuzuka name and is now simply Kiba. He is forbidden from living in the Inuzuka quarters."
To seal the decision beyond any doubt, he added, "Inuzuka Tsume and Inuzuka Hana, from this moment forward, you are forbidden from seeing Kiba again."
Tsume's jaw clenched in silent fury, but the seasoned Jonin maintained her composure. Hana's shoulders slumped slightly, her heart heavy at the thought of never seeing her little brother again.
Kiba, however, felt nothing but relief. 'Thank goodness,' he thought, shaking his head slightly. 'I really need to watch my mouth next time. That could've gotten me killed.'
The head of the clan relented just slightly. "Tsume, Hana," he said, "I'll permit you to speak with Kiba one last time, outside."
Tsume, Hana, and Kiba walked out of the Clan Hall. They stood together in silence until Tsume finally spoke up.
With disappointment written across her face, Tsume asked, "Why did you do this? You could have stopped it from happening."
"Kaa-san," Kiba replied with a smile, "you're the one who taught me never to go back on my word."
"You dumbass," Tsume muttered as she raised her hand to knock his head. Kiba instinctively raised his arms to block, but she only tapped her fist lightly against his forehead before looking away.
Kiba grinned at his mother's tsundere behavior. Turning to his sister, he found himself suddenly wrapped in Hana's warm embrace.
"Take care, Kiba," Hana whispered.
"I will," Kiba assured her, gently patting her back.
Still holding his sister, Kiba called out, "Kaa-san, join us."
Tsume turned back and after a moment's hesitation, joined the embrace.
"Be careful, my dumb son," Tsume said, her voice softer now. "And eat properly, you hear?"
"I will," Kiba promised.
Their arms tightened around each other in one final, heartfelt hug, the last they would share for some time, until Kiba could make things right. But that change would have to wait for the future.
The three of them returned home where Kiba began gathering his belongings. Tsume felt tears welling up as she watched her son pack his clothes and possessions. To distract herself from crying, she joined Hana in helping him prepare for his departure.
They stood together outside their home, Tsume and Hana watching as Kiba prepared to leave.
Before departing, Kiba embraced them one final time. Tsume pressed a kiss to his forehead, followed by Hana doing the same.
As they separated, Kiba began walking away, then turned to wave at them. Tsume and Hana returned the gesture.
"Goodbye, Kaa-san! Goodbye, Nee-san!" he called out to them.
They smiled as he disappeared from view, though Tsume quickly looked away when tears began streaming down her face. Beside her, Hana fought back her own tears at seeing her little brother walk away.
"This is my fault, Hana," Tsume murmured, her voice heavy with regret. "If I'd raised him properly, he never would have done something so reckless."
Hana reached for her mother's hand. "It's not your fault, Okaa-san."
Tsume clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. "No, the blame falls on me." Her voice hardened with determination. "Which is why I'm going to become the next Clan Head."
Hana's eyes widened at her mother's unexpected declaration. Without hesitation, she squeezed Tsume's hand tighter. "Then I'll stand with you."