It works like clockwork every time.
- Ryo-nya, you tricked me! - She turned menacingly toward me, arching her back.
I put my hand on her withers and lifted the instantly quiet kitty to eye level by the scruff of her neck.
- You know, it looks like it's time to put someone on a diet, or a little more and your belly will reach the floor, even when you stand on your feet, - I poked at the chubby tummy of this barrel on legs.
- I am a young growing organism! I can not be starved! - indignant pantheress. - And this is not fat, and ... and ... a ... reserve of strength for the last resort! Here!
- Katsumi-chan is a bad influence on you," I sighed, shaking my head, but got to the point, dropping the pussycat to the floor, "I need to give this letter to Aosho, so she can give it to her partner.
- I know her," Nyarla snorted, looking away, "but I don't want to go home, the food is better here.
- Don't worry, I'll call you again tomorrow," he stroked her head and scratched her behind the ear.
- All right, if you promise, - the panther sighed heavily, gladly accepting the caress, - give me your scroll.
I put the cylinder on her chest and at the same moment, Nyarla disappeared in a puff of smoke, going to the world of summoning. Now Mito wouldn't miss the third Hokage's removal, having the opportunity to participate in the process personally, not just as a kage bunshin.
By my estimates, it will be initiated in a month or two, when all the members of the clan coalition have finally sorted out among themselves who gets what after the election of the new, Fourth Hokage.
But that was a Shenesu matter, and I was only marginally concerned about it, but what was really worrying was Keiko's deadline. I knew in my mind that Keiko would be fine, and I'd helped make sure of that by checking on her every couple of days and keeping a kage bunshin in her house just in case, though the jonin was far from helpless even with her huge belly.
Unlike the problems of ordinary women, the kunoichi's trained body and chakra make everything so much easier, including the process - I'd been through enough births at the hospital for both to know how to handle it - but it didn't make me feel any less nervous. Still, this was the first baby I'd ever delivered in person, and it was a girl, too.
With Katsumi it was quite different - I was still fighting at the front and was not even present around as a support, having learned about the fait accompli after the birth and met in person much later.
Of course, at first there is nothing to look at - a loudly screaming creature, swollen, shriveled and ugly, in the next year and a half recognizing only mom, and for you is on a level slightly higher than a pet, but then, when it begins to crawl and recognize you....
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