Chapter 37

Karma arrived quickly at the Inuzuka Clan to meet Tsume and Hana. He wasn't just there to meet them though. The Nekotsume Clan and the Inuzuka Clan were great allies, and that would carry over for his new Otsutsuki Clan. Karma began to approach Tsume and Hana Inuzuka by showing interest in their dogs.

This was something that sometimes happened in the interaction between the Nekotsume and Inuzuka Clans; a member of the Nekotsume would sometimes be allowed to partner up with a ninken of the Inuzuka Clan. The reason for this was that, the Nekotsume Clan's summons didn't really partner up with people. They co-operated and helped the clan, since they were a part of it, but they didn't partner with people.

Originally, the Inuzuka Clan would never allow the ninken to partner with outsiders, even if the outsider was of an allied clan. That changed when a Nekotsume Clan member begged the Inuzuka Clan leader in the past, and they became a famous duo called the Cat-Dog Combo. From then on, as long as a Nekotsume Clan member learned to communicate with the ninken and swore to treat them as family, they would be allowed to partner with one, after a short investigation, of course.

Karma used this as his method of meeting with the Inuzuka Clan Matriarch and her daughter often. He would frequently visit to learn to understand dogs from Tsume, and he'd also help Hana to care for the pups. Aside from that, nothing special happened, other than the occasional fight with Kiba.

Honestly, Karma enjoyed his time at the Inuzuka Clan. He liked taking care of the dogs, and he was actually excited to meet his own ninken. No longer was he just using it as an excuse to meet Hana and Tsume. Though he did wonder if maybe he was collecting too many 'partners.'

He thought it was funny, before he placed himself in this world, he never would have thought about companions, weapons or proving himself. He didn't really enjoy anything as a God, but as a mortal, he felt life was so much better. Even when he was just sleeping most of the time, at least he was sleeping with Ailane. It seemed humans were much better off than he had been.

"Good afternoon, Hana, Tsume." Karma greeted the mother and daughter duo once he was inside the Inuzuka Clan. The duo led him into their house where the three sat down rather than the kennels where he usually went.

"Hi, Karma!" Hana said excitedly. "Have you been doing well in learning to communicate with the pups?"

"Yeah, I've pretty much got it down, I think. I've been having fun with them." Karma smiled.

"That's good." Tsume cut into the conversation. "So, Karma, would you say you're ready and able to have your own ninken?"

"I think I am. Though, I would like to say I'm not since if I get one, I won't have an excuse to come see you two." Karma answered. Hana blushed, suddenly finding the floor interesting, while her mother, Tsume lightly bushed, shrugging it off and laughed loudly.

"Ahahaha!! I've heard of you and your little harem. So many women and your still pining for us? Well, you are flirting with Mikoto Uchiha, so I did expect this. Who's next? Yoshino Nara? Is your little trip really just an excuse to find more women?" Tsume joked.

"Yoshino Nara is indeed going to be my woman later, and it is likely I will have more women after the trip." Karma nodded.

"Well, if you want me, you're going to have to force me to submit. I will only mate with a real alpha. So, what do you say, pup?" Tsume asked.

"I'm not entirely sure I'll win yet. I'd rather do it after my training trip. Anyway, I'm only 12 now, it's too early for mating. Still, it won't be too long." Karma shook his head.

"Then I'll be waiting..." Tsume laughed.

"Anyway, Karma! It's a good thing you said you're ready because today is the day!" Hana exclaimed, breaking the atmosphere.

"Eh?!" Karma exclaimed.

"That's right!!" Kiba yelled as he entered by kicking the door in. Kuromaru and the Heimaru Triplets were right behind him. Korumaru was carrying two Doberman Pinscher puppies on his back, one light grey with a white underside, the other black with a white underside.

"These are the Shiromaru twins!" Kuromaru announced to Karma. "They will be your partners from now until the end of your lives! Their twins just like you!"

"Go ahead and cry tears of joy!" Kiba laughed. "I know it's an awesome moment!"

"Shut up, weakling. I'm not gonna cry." Karma said. The Shiromaru brothers barked in agreement, promptly jumping off of Kuromaru and onto Karma's shoulders. The grey one on his left shoulder and the black one on his right. "Well, to make easier I'll call you Shiro," Karma looked at the grey one, "and you'll be Kuro," Karma looked at the black one.

"Now let's get you your fang markings as an honorary member of our clan. You three will have to come back every once in awhile to learn some techniques." Tsume smiled. "Dismissed."

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After Karma left, he bought a lot of meat he could use to feed his ninken. "Let's go home, I'll teach you two how to walk on trees." Karma told them. 'I might really be collecting too many companions. At least Enza isn't always with me.' He thought.

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Authors note: whoops I uploaded the wrong chapter! Mb! I had them labeled wrong in my drafts!