The subordinate hound blurted out everything that had happened without reservation. Ryoto wasn't worried that the hound would embellish the tale. While dogs were intelligent, their minds were not as devious as those of humans. If he said he was beaten, then that was exactly what had transpired.
"So, it's your fault then!" Ryoto declared. "They were peacefully warming themselves in the sun. Why did you have to provoke them?"
The hound ducked its head and whimpered resentfully.
"But there was a whole pack of them, and I was all alone! I will not stand for this!"
The story was simple. The Uchiha Clan's ninja cats lived in the village. Dogs and cats had long disliked one another, and minor disputes over territory would occasionally arise, but under the watchful eyes of their masters, both sides behaved with restraint.
"And besides, that was my territory!" the hound barked indignantly.
"What do you mean, your territory? This is the village's territory," Ryoto scoffed. "Ninja cats from the Uchiha Clan, you say…"
"No, General!" the hound objected. "These weren't cats from the village; I've never seen them before, and they didn't have any forehead protectors."
So that's why you got into a fight. But if they weren't the Uchiha Clan's cats, then who were they—stray ninja cats?
"I get it, I get it…" Ryoto waved his hand and rose to his feet.
"General!!!" the hound howled, aggrieved.
"Deal with such a trivial matter yourself. Take your brothers with you tomorrow and settle the score," Ryoto said. "If you lose, you don't have to come back."
I've given you a pack, so solve the problem on your own.
"Yes, General!" The subordinate hound wagged its tail so furiously that it blurred into a phantom streak.
"Alright, everyone, let's head home!"
To a chorus of barks, Ryoto and his pack dashed forward. They moved at a moderate pace, ensuring the injured dogs, who couldn't run at full speed, were not left behind.
Observing this scene, Inuzuka Rin stood up. You wretched boy, I'll deal with you at home. Just as she was about to leave, her ears twitched, and she froze. That was… the sound of a shinobi landing after a movement technique. She spun around sharply, her gaze fixed on a patch of forest behind her in the distance.
Perched upon a massive tree, a fair-haired ninja in a standard-issue vest sat concealed. Possessing heightened perception, he immediately noticed Rin's gaze and straightened up warily. Who is that? Was I spotted? he wondered in confusion, scratching the back of his head. The village truly has many powerful shinobi, he concluded and crouched down again. We are all ninja of the same village; we are comrades.
Who is that? A secret lookout? Rin was also puzzled. There shouldn't have been anyone at that location. Besides, hiding in the Uchiha Clan's territory—did he have a death wish? If he were to be quietly eliminated there, the Third Hokage wouldn't say a word. So perhaps she should eliminate him? Rin narrowed her eyes slightly, and the air filled with bloodlust. Smarty, whom she held in her arms, trembled from head to toe.
In that same instant, the fair-haired ninja felt the hair on his neck stand on end, and he leaped to his feet. Bloodlust! And it was directed at him? But why?! What had he done wrong? However, the murderous aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the fair-haired ninja utterly bewildered. He scratched the back of his head once more.
Rin stared at the fair-haired ninja, who was shrouded in the shadow of a tree a couple of kilometers away.
"What astonishing sensitivity…"
The more the fair-haired ninja thought about it, the more it seemed that something was amiss. Had an enemy infiltrated the village? That couldn't be. He wanted to find the source of the threat but couldn't pinpoint its location. For a moment, though he was in a hurry, he paused, hesitating.
Rin, however, turned away and looked toward her foolish son. It was better to keep an eye on him; she couldn't leave him to play alone without worry. Ryoto was racing through the forest, heading back to the village. A pack of ninja hounds followed him, and far ahead, leaping from branch to branch while maintaining a safe distance, Rin sped along, guarding his path.
Soon, five kilometers were behind them. The fair-haired ninja, approaching from the direction of the village, heard a commotion in the woods and warily reached for a kunai in his pouch. The next moment, a figure leaped out from behind the trees. While airborne, the fair-haired ninja saw the shinobi who had suddenly appeared. His gaze met a pair of cold, sharp eyes set in a beautiful, mature face, framed by a high black ponytail that fluttered in the wind.
He immediately withdrew his hand from his weapon, and a bright, sunny smile blossomed on his face.
"Rin-senpai!" he greeted.
Landing on a branch, Rin looked down at the fourteen-year-old youth. This boy… Inuzuka Agito's partner, what's-his-name?
"Namikaze Minato?" she asked. The student of the great Jiraiya.
With a sunny smile on his face, Minato spoke sheepishly, "Rin-senpai, I would like to get a ninja hound. Agito-niisan said I need your permission for that."
"I do not permit it," Rin stated coldly, giving a slight nod. Asking the Inuzuka Clan for a ninja hound was akin to asking the Uchiha Clan for a Sharingan.
The smile froze on Minato's face. Rin-senpai is really hard to get along with. No wonder Agito-niisan had that look on his face.
"What are you doing? On a mission?" Rin asked, though she had no right to interfere.
Minato didn't know how to respond and simply smiled. She was his senpai, after all.
"Don't wander around the Uchiha Clan's territory. If you get killed, don't say I didn't warn you. Especially you," Rin said, and with that parting shot, she vanished in the blink of an eye. Jiraiya's student, the Hokage's protégé.
But in the next second, Rin stopped and turned back. Minato, who was still pondering her words, flinched upon seeing her return. Rin frowned… Why did that rascal suddenly change direction?
"It's them! General!" the subordinate hound's excited bark echoed through the forest. "I can smell them, they're somewhere nearby!"
He was talking about the very same gang of cats that had beaten him up. Ryoto sniffed the air carefully. One, two, ten… one hundred and thirteen. So many… he thought. An unfamiliar scent. No, this wasn't a Konoha scent; it was the scent of outsiders. But he didn't detect any human scent. They're relieving themselves, what a stench.
"Forward! Prepare for a surprise attack! They're relieving themselves!"
What a stroke of luck! Without a second thought, Ryoto devised a tactic. For any living creature, the moment of defecation was the moment of greatest vulnerability.
"Keep your eyes peeled, stay alert! Don't kill anyone, we'll just rough them up and run!"
"Woof!" came a unified bark.
The entire pack of ninja hounds followed Ryoto, veering off and picking up speed. As they drew closer, Ryoto commanded:
"Everyone, silence! Crawl, move forward quickly!"
Following their leader, the entire pack dropped to the ground and, hiding in the grass, began to crawl forward.
Rin silently turned and started back the way she came. Seeing this, Minato instinctively followed her.
"Why are you following me?" Rin asked, turning around.
A chill ran down Minato's spine.
"We're heading the same way, senpai," he replied.
"Is that so?" Rin didn't add anything further.
Bloodlust! Exactly the same as before! Minato's heart skipped a beat.
"Senpai?"
Rin remained silent. Steeling himself, Minato followed her. It seemed his senpai was displeased about something.
In a clearing within the forest, a little girl with long, white hair was squatting in the grass. Surrounding her—in the grass, on tree branches, on the ground—stood and sat all manner of ninja cats. They stood upright like humans, dressed in traditional shinobi night suits, with masks on their faces and swords strapped to their backs. All of them were vigilantly scanning their surroundings. It was an entire army of bodyguards and their young mistress.
The girl looked to be about five years old. She was unnaturally pale, like an albino, and appeared unwell. At that moment, her crimson eyes were anxiously surveying the area. They had all sensed a strange tension in the air.
One of the ninja cats landed in front of the girl and, half-drawing its sword, said gravely, "Mai-sama! Something is wrong!"
She had scented it… an entire pack of dogs had surrounded them. There was no human scent. Is this a pre-planned ambush? How strange.
The next second… a white-haired boy leaped out of the grass right in front of her.
"So you're their leader!!!"
Their gazes met. In that same instant, a furious, synchronized bark erupted, followed by a piercing, cacophonous meow of cats. Time seemed to freeze. Ryoto stared at Mai, and Mai stared at Ryoto. A long silence ensued. The minds of both had gone completely blank.
Finally, Mai pressed her lips together, and tears welled up in her eyes. Sweat beaded on Ryoto's forehead. Someone, please teach me what to do in this situation?! Help me!!!
"Um, are you here… to do your business?" the corners of Ryoto's lips twitched as he muttered unconsciously. "I was just passing by…"
"General! General! When do we attack?!"
"Mistress! Do not be afraid! We will protect you!"
The cats and dogs stood facing each other, barking and meowing incessantly. Mai lowered her head, and a tear rolled down her cheek, falling to the ground. With astonishing fortitude, she did not make a sound. Silently reaching out, she plucked a leaf, wiped herself, and then, adjusting her skirt, stood up and looked at Ryoto. Her face, as beautiful as a porcelain doll's, twitched uncontrollably, contorted with rage.
This is bad! She's furious!