All the other dogs ran honestly on four paws. Only he stubbornly ran upright, on two legs, ninja-style. And he ran incredibly fast, leading the pack. Soon, he had lapped everyone, leaving the other dogs far behind. Watching this scene, Inuzuka Rin tilted her head in bewilderment.
Just as every person has their strengths and weaknesses, so too were all dogs different. Inuzuka Rin had seen her share of strange ninja hounds, but she had never encountered such an oddity before. This was an American Bully she herself had delivered at the ninja hound shelter. Since no one had claimed him, he had lived there for many years. During her regular inspections, Inuzuka Rin had often seen him. Until today, he had always seemed quite ordinary and unremarkable.
A year ago, he had resembled a gas canister, fat as a pig, but then he had suddenly and drastically slimmed down. Inuzuka Rin had examined him at the time but found no health issues. Now, standing on his hind legs, he was about two meters tall, covered in bulging muscles. He had a face as ferocious as a hooligan's, smooth blue-gray fur, an enormous build, and powerful, butterfly-wing-like muscles across his shoulders and back. He wore shorts, a bandana was tied around his head, and a massive chain hung from his neck. Inuzuka Rin didn't quite understand this style, but she was certain Ryoto had dressed him this way. With his flashy appearance, he looked more like a street thug than a ninja.
Although Inuzuka Rin sensed that something was amiss, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She shifted her gaze to the other ninja hounds. Those skillfully running on water and wearing ninja protectors were dogs who had lost their masters. They had once undergone rigorous training. After ending up in the sanatorium for retired ninja hounds, each had developed their own issues. Most were extremely withdrawn, lost in grief, and ignored all members of the Inuzuka Clan except for their former masters.
They acknowledged only one master in their lifetime and, logically, should not have obeyed Ryoto's commands. But there were exceptions. A strict hierarchy existed in the canine world, and as members of the clan, these ninja hounds unconditionally followed the orders of their pack leader—that is, her, the head of the clan. The other exception was that ninja hounds would obey the directives of the "King of Beasts."
It seemed this boy had assumed the position of the leader of all leaders in the pack. Inuzuka Rin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The King of Beasts usually emerged from among the ninja hounds themselves, and the Inuzuka Clan hadn't had one for many years. And you, a human, what are you doing in that position?
Becoming the King of Beasts was simple. Conflicts constantly arose between pack leaders, with none willing to yield. The sanatorium housed many such leaders, a number of whom were battle-hardened veterans who had killed men and seen blood. They formed large and small factions, and all disputes were settled through duels between their leaders. So, all one had to do was defeat everyone.
That boy… what a dog he is. He must have beaten them all by using the Beast Mimicry technique and taking the form of a dog. This must have confused the ninja hounds, making them believe he was truly one of them.
"He certainly knows how to choose…" Inuzuka Rin murmured.
There wasn't a single weakling in Inuzuka Ryoto's pack—all were adult dogs in their prime, not a single old one among them. The ninja hounds of the Inuzuka Clan differed from domestic dogs in their longevity. Their average lifespan ranged from 30 to 50 years, with some breeds living up to 70. The clan record was 103 years, comparable to a human. There were still dogs in the clan from the era of the Warring Clans whose masters had long since been laid to rest.
In ninja clans, it was common for children as young as five or six to be sent to the battlefield. For ninja hounds, this age was four months. The prime of a typical ninja hound's life lasted from 3 to 30 years; they began to age at 35 and lost their reproductive ability by 40. They could produce litters three times a year, with 4-6 puppies each time. This was a prolific rate, and since feeding them all was impossible, their fertility was usually suppressed with secret medicines. The number of newborn puppies each year was strictly controlled by Inuzuka Rin to keep their population at a sustainable level. If an Inuzuka family wished to raise new ninja hounds, they needed her permission. Furthermore, both humans and dogs in the Inuzuka Clan possessed a wolf-like nature, acknowledging only one partner for life.
After fifty laps, the first to emerge onto the bank was that same bully. Stepping out of the water, he looked at Ryoto, who was grilling fish over a fire, and sat down on his knees in a human-like manner. He then picked up a nearby bottle of sake, filled a cup to the brim, and respectfully offered it to Inuzuka Ryoto.
"Woof-woof-woof! General! Have a drink!"
Ryoto glanced at him and said, "Set it down for now, Masao."
This dog had a fierce, thuggish face, but he was actually a good dog. It was just… he wasn't quite right in the head. He couldn't even transform properly and suffered from prosopagnosia. Moreover, to put it politely, he was very affectionate. To put it bluntly—a sycophant. But he was devoted to Inuzuka Ryoto with all his heart.
Masao smiled fawningly, his tongue lolling out as he wagged his tail, and barked, "General, I was first!"
"I saw," Inuzuka Ryoto nodded and extended his hand.
Seeing this, Masao lay on the ground, his tail whipping back and forth at a frantic pace. Inuzuka Ryoto patted him on the head. Watching this scene, Inuzuka Rin straightened up, her expression serious. That dog… had hands! It could grasp objects!
No!
"Human Beast Mimicry! When?!"
While maintaining a beastly form, he possessed human-like mannerisms, walked upright, and his freed hands could use tools. What was this dog-headed man! And what's more—a Seal-less Technique!
Inuzuka Rin looked down at Smarty, whom she held in her arms. It was the same Human Beast Mimicry technique that she used. One genius is a coincidence, but two identical geniuses could no longer be a coincidence.
"Now I know what secret you've been hiding, you scoundrel," Inuzuka Rin's pupils trembled. She silently processed this information, watching the scene unfold. She involuntarily clenched her fists so tightly that the veins on her hands bulged, and her heart began to pound furiously. Could it be what she was thinking? She needed to see more…
Gradually, all the ninja hounds came ashore, the last one clambering onto dry land, soaking wet. Inuzuka Ryoto distributed the grilled fish and sake. Noon had arrived. After a simple but hearty lunch filled with songs and drink, he ordered the pack to dig a hole and bury the leftovers. Then, he stretched out on a smooth rock on the bank to bask in the sun. The dogs followed his lead, and soon the sound of snoring filled the air.
"Such composure!" A vein throbbed on Inuzuka Rin's forehead. "Where does he get this inexplicable nonchalance, this ability to sleep anywhere?!"
Smarty looked up at Inuzuka Rin with a pitiful expression. She was hungry. Inuzuka Rin took out a treat and placed it in her mouth, while her own stomach was empty. It was a little frustrating. This boy knew how to cook. He had scaled his own fish, gutted it, removed the innards, seasoned it with spices, and grilled it until the skin was crispy and the flesh tender. For the dogs, he had simply skewered the fish on branches.
And here she was, rushing home after work every day to cook dinner, waking up early every morning to make breakfast and lunch… And every day, he would whine, "Mom, I'm hungry…" But the boy knew how to cook!
Burning with resentment, Inuzuka Rin took out a soldier pill and swallowed it. It was so dry…
About an hour later, Inuzuka Ryoto woke up. He let out a long howl, and the dogs in the pack immediately pricked up their ears and rose to their paws.
"Hey, you runts! Time to play!"
Excited barks echoed in response. The pack split into two groups. Masao stood alone, while the other dogs, huddled in a tight group, surrounded him like a wolf pack on a hunt. Inuzuka Ryoto howled, giving commands in a secret language, and the dogs, hearing him, changed their positions in perfect coordination.
Masao, remaining in his human-beast form, warily watched the ring of dogs slowly closing in on him. The ninja hounds growled softly, their foul-smelling saliva dripping onto the shore. A chilling, ferocious sense of anticipation hung in the air.
"Combat training?"
Inuzuka Rin watched the scene with interest. This was already the third stage, which meant the second stage—mastering and reinforcing skills, forming complex conditioned reflexes—was complete. Usually, members of the Inuzuka Clan would themselves become the target for their ninja hounds' attacks, fighting them in real combat. Inuzuka Ryoto, however, seemed to be training the entire pack, but in reality, he was training the big fellow in the center. One could say he was killing two birds with one stone.
Sitting on the rock without moving, Inuzuka Ryoto yawned and howled again. As soon as the sound faded, the ninja hounds roared, their eyes turning bloodshot, and baring their fangs, they charged at Masao. Showing not the slightest fear, Masao roared and rushed to meet them, spittle flying from his ferocious jaws.
The game had begun.
Inuzuka Ryoto leisurely poured himself another cup. This sake was too weak, like water, but it would do. And he couldn't drink much, just a little, so his mother wouldn't notice.