Morning.
Still groggy, Kin yawned as he crawled out of bed. Wearing black pajamas and a chibi crow-themed nightcap, he shuffled to the bathroom.
He picked up his toothbrush and began brushing. Midway through, he suddenly stepped back, narrowly dodging a massive "projectile."
Little Miao landed gracefully and stood up, rolling up the fur on her arms—though there wasn't much to roll, the gesture was clear.
"I'll teach you a lesson today!!"
With a roar, she charged at Little White, who was lounging in the bathtub. Ever since Little White grew larger, Little Miao had been locked in a cycle of defeat and renewed challenges.
The oddest part? Despite being outmatched, Little Miao somehow held her own against Little White. Was Little White just that weak, or was Little Miao that fierce?
Ducking another flying "projectile" (Little Miao herself), Kin sidestepped the ensuing splash and finished washing his face before leaving the bathroom.
He paused at the doorway, glancing back at the cat-and-snake duo.
"Clean this up, or you're both done for."
The two immediately froze in their tussle, nodding rapidly like garlic being pounded. Satisfied, Kin walked away.
The moment he left, their battlefield expanded to engulf the entire bathroom.
Downstairs, Kin fried twenty eggs, prepared twenty steaks, forty slices of bread, and poured a glass of milk—his breakfast for the day.
He grabbed the morning paper from the mailbox and sprawled on the tatami, eating while reading.
Without looking up, he caught a flying pillow and used it to prop his head. His hands then snatched the incoming utensils midair and flung them back.
Little Miao, now pinned to the wall by various forks and knives, looked horrified. She wriggled carefully free and spotted Little White similarly skewered nearby.
"Heh heh." Her grin stretched unnervingly wide as her claws unsheathed.
Frenzied Scratch!
Meanwhile, Kin continued his meal, scanning the news. The articles had little to do with ninja, focusing instead on events within the Land of Fire—bandit attacks, merchant caravans suffering heavy losses.
No good news.
Though ninja weren't mentioned, their shadow loomed over every tragedy.
"How awful."
Kin shook his head. War took its toll on nobles and merchants alike.
Despite his focus on the paper, his eating pace never slowed. Soon, the food was gone.
He ambled back to inspect the bathroom. Finding it miraculously restored, he nodded in approval before heading to his study.
Pushing the door open, he saw five shadow clones scratching their heads in deep thought—all absorbed in jutsu research.
Kin dispelled them, and a flood of memories rushed in. Rubbing his temples to ease the strain, he absorbed the techniques and training they'd compiled.
"Shadow Clones really are the ultimate cheat."
He clasped his hands.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Five new clones popped into existence.
"Take it from here."
"Yeah, yeah."
The clones shooed him away with identical looks of disdain. Kin didn't mind—getting mad at himself would be silly.
After strapping on his tools, he stepped outside.
"Lord Kin."
Hyuga Kiyoshi stood at attention, his demeanor excessively formal.
"Don't be so obvious."
Kin grimaced.
"Why are you free today?"
At this hour, Kiyoshi should've been guarding Hyuga Hiashi.
"I... showed killing intent during a spar with Hiashi-sama."
Kiyoshi's voice was heavy.
"Ah. How delicate the Hyuga main family is."
A branch member displaying hostility toward the main house was no small matter. Kiyoshi had clearly been reassigned.
"This way, I can serve you better, Lord Kin."
The killing intent had been deliberate. Guarding Hiashi restricted his movements—and now, he'd truly tasted the agony of the Caged Bird Seal.
"You've suffered."
Kin patted his shoulder with a smile.
"But rein it in around others."
"If you cause trouble for me, I'll have to cut you loose."
He had no use for a subordinate who couldn't conceal themselves.
Kiyoshi's pupils contracted.
"Understood... Kin."
"Let's go."
At the training ground, Kushina and Minato were already drilling techniques.
"Kiyoshi! Long time no see!" Minato greeted warmly.
Kiyoshi responded with a curt nod.
"Hey! We were worried sick about you!"
Kushina smacked the back of his head, sending him stumbling.
"My apologies." Kiyoshi's tone was sincere.
But some things, once lost, couldn't be reclaimed.
Minato and Kushina exchanged uneasy glances.
The group trained together—discussing jutsu, sparring, refining taijutsu—but the mood remained subdued.
As they wrapped up, Kiyoshi bowed deeply to Minato and Kushina.
"I'm sorry for dampening the mood."
"It's... not that bad," Kushina lied awkwardly. Kiyoshi's demeanor pained her.
"Kiyoshi, you don't need to shoulder everything alone," Minato offered gently.
"Thank you for your guidance, Minato."
Kiyoshi's earnest reply only made Minato force a smile. The friend they'd known seemed worlds away now.
The weight of it settled heavily as Minato and Kushina left in haste.
"Have I changed so much?" Kiyoshi touched his face absently.
"People change. They can't reconcile the you they remember with the you now."
Some friendships faded because the people in them became unrecognizable.
For Kiyoshi, bearing the Caged Bird's torment, the gulf was even wider.
"Here. Practice this."
Kin tossed him a scroll labeled:
Six Meridian Divine Sword.
The next morning, Kin woke at his usual time.
But today, his room held an uninvited guest.
Dead-eyed, Kin stared at the White Fang sitting casually in his bedroom chair, chin propped on one hand.
"Couldn't you use the door?"
The man's presence was unnerving.
"I knocked. You didn't answer."
Kin sighed. He did sometimes sleep through noise.
Letting it go, he cut to the chase.
"Why are you here?"
Nothing good, surely.
"New orders. I'm to depart immediately for the Kumogakure front."
"As my subordinate, you're coming with me."
"...Heh."
Kin's glare could've melted steel.
Damn you, White Fang!!!
...
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(End of Chapter)