Chapter 8: Meet the gang!
The first thing Kōzaru became aware of the next morning was warmth. Not just the general warmth of being under blankets, but the specific, comforting weight of two small bodies pressed against him. His enhanced senses kicked in before he was fully awake, cataloguing the familiar scents and sounds of his new pack members.
Yuki had somehow migrated from her bed to curl up directly on his chest, her white and tan fur rising and falling with his breathing. She was positioned like a living blanket, her head tucked under his chin and her paws draped over his shoulders. Despite her small size, she radiated contentment and security.
Riku had taken a more strategic position, lying lengthwise along Kōzaru's left side with his head pointing toward the door. Even in sleep, the black and tan puppy maintained an alert posture, his ears twitching at every small sound in the house. His natural protective instincts were clearly already developing.
QUEST COMPLETE: Pack Formation
Reward:50 EXP gained
New Skill Unlocked: Basic Pack Coordination
You have levelled up.
The notification brought a smile to Kōzaru's face. He now had exactly 100 experience points—enough seeing that he had levelled up as his system pinged to life.
Kōzaru.
Inuzuka Clan:
Level 2
Skill points available: 1
Health: 105 + (5×2) = 115.
Chakra: 105 + (2×2) = 109.
Taijutsu: 5,
Ninjutsu: 2,
Genjutsu: 2,
Kenjutsu: 2.
Abilities:
Wind Style: Gale Palm
Body Flicker Technique,
Basic Pack Coordination,
Special:
Heightened senses.
Yuki & Riku Ninja hounds.
Kōzaru could see that he had levelled up, gaining both 5 points in his HP and Chakra, as well as gained an additional skill point.
Wow, this really is just like a game...
Kōzaru couldn't help but be amazed as he studied his interface, wondering what the capabilities of the system truly were. Before he became too imersed in thinking about it, Kōzaru turned his attention toward his new partners, seeing both of them sleeping still.
Guess I should wake them up.
"Morning, you two," he whispered softly, gently stroking Yuki's fur. She stirred immediately, her icy blue eyes opening to meet his with an expression of sleepy contentment. A soft, questioning whine escaped her throat—not distressed, just checking in.
"I'm fine," he assured her, and she seemed to accept this, stretching luxuriously before hopping down to the floor with surprising grace for such a young puppy.
Riku's awakening was more dramatic. The moment he sensed movement, his head snapped up, dark eyes scanning the room for potential threats before focusing on Kōzaru with intense attention. His tail wagged once—a brief acknowledgment—before he leaped down to join his sister.
"Alright, let's get ready for the day," Kōzaru said, swinging his legs out of bed. Both puppies immediately flanked him, Yuki taking his left side while Riku claimed the right. The coordination was so natural it was almost eerie.
I wonder if this is due to the extra points I spent on having a stronger ninja hound too. Maybe if I hadn't used those points, I would have been been stuck with a normal one that was harder to train.
As Kōzaru thought about his choices, getting dressed with two curious puppies "helping" proved to be another adventure. Yuki seemed fascinated by the process, sitting quietly and watching with tilted head as he pulled on his clothes. Riku, on the other hand, apparently decided that shoes were mortal enemies that needed to be attacked with extreme prejudice.
"Riku, no," Kōzaru said firmly as the puppy grabbed the shoe in his teeth. "Those are for keeping my sandals on, not for playing tug-of-war."
The puppy released the shoe immediately but gave him a look that clearly said he disagreed with this policy.
After a quick breakfast—during which both puppies demonstrated good table manners that somehow made them even more endearing—Kōzaru gathered his academy supplies and headed for the door.
"Be careful today," his mother called from the kitchen. "And remember what I said about not showing off too much. You want to stand out for the right reasons."
"I will," he promised, though privately he wondered if traveling with two ninja hounds would make being inconspicuous somewhat difficult.
The walk to the academy was a revelation in pack dynamics. Yuki had somehow managed to scramble up onto his shoulder, where she perched with feline-like balance, her small weight barely noticeable thanks to his enhanced Inuzuka constitution. From her elevated position, she could survey their surroundings with quiet intensity, her sharp eyes noting every detail.
Riku trotted alongside them with a swagger that was impressive for someone who barely reached Kōzaru's knees. His chest was puffed out, his head held high, and his gait carried all the confidence of a full-grown war hound. Several villagers they passed couldn't help but smile at the sight of the tiny puppy trying so hard to look intimidating.
As they approached the academy gates, Kōzaru spotted two familiar figures waiting near the entrance. Tatsuma and Aotaka, who as usual were engaged in animated conversation, but both stopped mid-sentence when they saw him approaching.
"Kōzaru!" Tatsuma called out, his crimson hair catching the morning sunlight. "You're—" He stopped abruptly, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of the two puppies. "Holy shit, you got ninja hounds!"
"Language," Aotaka muttered automatically, but his attention was equally focused on the small forms flanking their friend. "And not just one, but two. How did you manage that?"
"It's a long story," Kōzaru replied, unable to keep the pride out of his voice. "Meet Yuki and Riku. They're my new partners."
Yuki, from her perch on his shoulder, regarded both boys with calm assessment. Her icy blue eyes studied them with the intensity of someone evaluating potential threats or allies. After a moment, she seemed to reach a decision and gave a small, dignified nod of acknowledgment.
Riku's reaction was more dramatic. The moment he saw the two strangers approaching his pack leader, his small form tensed with protective instincts. A tiny growl rumbled in his chest—not aggressive, but definitely a warning that he was watching.
"They're incredible," Aotaka breathed, his mind already working through the implications. "The coordination, the way they position themselves... and they're just puppies. Looks like it was worth the extra skill points you used to get a better ninja hound, or in this case two." Aotaka said, remembering that he had paid the extra price.
"Yeah, I'm almost jealous, can we pet them?" Tatsuma asked, his excitement barely contained. "I mean, I know ninja hounds are supposed to be serious business, but they're so small and fluffy and—"
"You can try," Kōzaru said with amusement. "But they might have different opinions about that."
Tatsuma approached slowly, his hand extended toward Yuki. The white and tan puppy considered the gesture for a moment, then gracefully leaped from Kōzaru's shoulder to land on Tatsuma's outstretched arm. From there, she climbed up to his shoulder, settling in with the same regal composure she'd shown with Kōzaru.
"Oh wow," Tatsuma said, barely daring to breathe. "She's so soft. And she actually likes me!"
"She's evaluating you," Kōzaru corrected, though he was pleased by his partner's acceptance of his friend. "Yuki is the tactical one. She likes to understand situations before committing to them."
Aotaka approached next, moving with the measured control. "May I?" he asked formally, extending his hand toward Yuki.
The puppy leaned forward to sniff his fingers, then allowed him to gently stroke her fur. Her tail wagged slightly—a sign of approval that made Aotaka smile.
"She's remarkably calm," he observed. "Most puppies would be overstimulated by this much attention, no?"
"That's because she's not most puppies," Kōzaru said proudly. "Neither of them are."
Riku, meanwhile, had been watching the interactions with growing interest. When Tatsuma reached down to pet him as well, the black and tan puppy initially allowed the contact. But as Tatsuma's enthusiasm got the better of him and he began to scratch behind Riku's ears, the puppy apparently decided this was too familiar.
With lightning-quick reflexes that would have been impressive in a full-grown hound, Riku snapped forward and caught Tatsuma's finger between his tiny teeth. Not hard enough to break skin, but definitely hard enough to make a point.
"Ow!" Tatsuma yelped, jerking his hand back. "He bit me!"
"Riku, release," Kōzaru said calmly, and the puppy immediately let go, though he maintained a stern expression that suggested he felt his response had been entirely appropriate.
"Sorry about that," Kōzaru apologized, though he was fighting back laughter. "Riku is... protective of his personal space. He needs to know you better before he lets you get that familiar."
"It's fine," Tatsuma said, examining his finger for damage. "Just surprised me. Little guy's got some serious bite pressure for his size."
Aotaka crouched down to Riku's level, studying the puppy with professional interest. "He's got excellent defensive instincts," he observed. "The way he positioned himself, the controlled force of the bite... that's not random puppy behaviour. That's tactical thinking."
Riku preened slightly at the praise, his chest puffing out even more. Kōzaru could feel the puppy's satisfaction through their empathic link—he was proud of being recognized for his skills.
"Alright, everyone!" a familiar voice called from the academy entrance. Instructor Hayashi stood in the doorway, his weathered face showing no particular surprise at seeing Kōzaru accompanied by two ninja hounds. "Group A, form up! Time to head to Training Ground 7. The rest of you report to the classroom!"
As the nine advanced students gathered together, Kōzaru noticed the way his classmates reacted to his new partners. Asuma Sarutobi nodded approvingly—he understood the significance of ninja hounds in combat, looking impressed. Kurenai Yuhi studied them with the awareness of someone already thinking about how such partners might factor into team dynamics. Guy's reaction was characteristically enthusiastic as he got way too excited, walking over to say hello.
"Wow, just look at those, Kōzaru. Looks like you fianlly got your ninja hounds." Guy said giving a thumbs up.
Kōzaru had the memories of growing up and attending the academy will Guy, along with the other students, making things much easier than having to form new bonds or friendships that would have been needed if they were simply just reincarnated.
"Youthful determination extends to your partners as well!" he declared, giving Kōzaru a thumbs up. "Their fighting spirit burns bright!"
Even some of the other students seemed impressed, though a few looked slightly intimidated by the idea of training alongside someone who already had combat partners.
"Move out!" Hayashi commanded, and the group began the walk to Training Ground 7.
As they walked, Yuki remained perched on Kōzaru's shoulder, her elevated position giving her an excellent view of their surroundings. Riku trotted alongside, his protective instincts keeping him alert for any potential threats. The coordination between the three of them was so natural that it looked like they'd been working together for years rather than less than twenty-four hours.
"This is going to be interesting," Tatsuma muttered, walking alongside them. "I wonder what kind of training they have planned for us."
"Advanced techniques, probably," Aotaka replied, his mind already working through possibilities. "If they're fast-tracking us because of the war situation, they'll want to prepare us for real combat scenarios." He said, causing the others to nod in agreement.
"Whatever it is," Kōzaru said, feeling the solid weight of his partners' presence, "we'll face it together."
Training Ground 7 came into view ahead of them—a large, open area with various obstacles, training equipment, and what looked like several different terrain types built into the landscape. Whatever they were about to face, it was clear that their real ninja education was about to begin.