Chapter 21: The Inuzuka Clan

Chapter 21: The Inuzuka Clan

One-Eye had originally been Kazama's target for developing into a ninja beast like the ones used by the Inuzuka Clan. Unfortunately, One-Eye had neither awakened chakra nor had the temperament for long-term companionship with Kazama. As a lone wolf with a king's pride, One-Eye preferred their relationship to remain that of friends rather than partners. Any wild animal that spent too much time with humans would struggle to return to life in the wilderness.

Still, One-Eye was loyal enough to understand Kazama's intentions. The moment new members joined the pack, he immediately summoned Kazama to "meet the wolves."

Luck was on Kazama's side—there were three wolf pups, and they had a significantly higher chance of awakening chakra compared to One-Eye.

"I want to take them with me. Can I?"

"Awwooo, awooo!"

"You're really willing to let them go that easily?"

"Awoo."

"Ha, so they're not your kids, huh? That makes sense. Otherwise, you'd probably bite them to death yourself."

As it turned out, the pups weren't One-Eye's offspring but belonged to the former alpha. Since the old alpha had been defeated, the natural order dictated that his pups would either be killed or exiled from the pack. This situation worked out perfectly—it removed a potential problem for One-Eye while also providing Kazama with promising ninja beasts.

Bidding farewell to a rather satisfied One-Eye, Kazama returned to his treehouse, watching as the three wolf pups devoured their food. The next challenge was figuring out how to awaken their chakra.

After much deliberation, Kazama realized that the traditional methods for humans might not work for wolves. Their instincts and thought processes were entirely different from humans, and even basic communication posed a challenge.

Rather than stumbling in the dark, he decided to ask for guidance.

"If I want to train these wolf pups into ninja beasts, what should I do?" Kazama asked bluntly. There was no need for formality with the old man.

"Aren't Yataro and Kutarou enough?"

"The more help, the better."

The old man went silent. The treehouse was starting to feel more like a mini-zoo with every passing day. But since Kazama had his own ambitions, there was no point in stopping him. Pushing aside his concerns, the old man offered a solution.

"In Konoha, the only ones who specialize in ninja beasts are the Inuzuka Clan. You should ask them. This time, I won't help—you'll have to handle it yourself."

Was he really going to step back entirely?

"That won't work, Grandpa! I don't know the Inuzuka Clan at all. I'd probably get kicked out before I even meet the head of the family. I need you to come with me!" Kazama pleaded, putting on his best pitiful expression.

There was no way a mere academy student like him could just waltz up to the Inuzuka Clan and ask for their secret techniques. If he even hinted at such a thing, he might not leave in one piece.

Even the old man's stubbornness couldn't withstand Kazama's relentless whining. In the end, he relented.

As the two approached the Inuzuka Clan compound, Kazama quickly realized just how fitting the place was for a clan of dog handlers. Before they could even enter, they were surrounded by several massive dogs, with others keeping watch from a distance.

"Please inform the clan head that Maruboshi Kokei, former Genin, seeks an audience," the old man politely addressed the lead dog.

The large dog barked once, turned, and trotted away. The others, however, remained in place, ensuring neither Kazama nor his grandfather moved.

"These are the Inuzuka Clan's ninja beasts. Some are descendants of active ninja hounds, while others are retired veterans. Don't underestimate them," the old man explained.

Kazama's eyes sparkled with excitement. He had always loved animals, and in his past life, he had always kept cats and dogs in his cramped rental apartments. They had been his companions through long, lonely nights.

"Can I pet you?" he asked one of the dogs, holding out a small piece of roasted meat as a peace offering.

The dog, a golden-furred beast, was massive—even while sitting, it was only slightly shorter than Kazama.

The dog scoffed, looking at him with disdain before turning away.

"Don't be so stingy," Kazama teased, pulling out a larger chunk of meat, this one with the bone still attached. He carefully observed the golden dog's eyes, looking for a reaction.

As expected, no dog could resist a juicy bone. If one did, it just meant the bone wasn't big enough.

"You let me pet you, and it's yours," Kazama said, waving the bone near the dog's nose.

The golden dog's nostrils flared as it took in the scent, clearly tempted.

Then, with a loud bark, it rejected the offer. It only ate food given by its master—that was the message.

Kazama smirked. Time for a bigger bait.

He pulled out the three wolf pups, carefully wrapped in a cloth bundle, and began feeding them tiny strips of meat. While they were still a bit young for solid food, they could at least chew on soft meat strands.

The moment he revealed the wolf pups, every dog in the vicinity locked onto them.

From the moment Kazama had arrived, their sensitive noses had already picked up on the presence of wild kin. To them, any unfamiliar canines in their territory were either intruders or enemies.

In their eyes, the wolf pups were nothing more than stray, ownerless dogs, unworthy of belonging in their pack. Normally, they would have attacked or driven them away.

"Maruboshi Kokei? Please, come in. The rest of you, get back to your duties. What's with this sudden enthusiasm?"

A girl, around eleven or twelve years old, walked over with an energetic voice and a straightforward demeanor.

"Oh, it's Hana. Not on duty today?" The old man greeted her.

"Just returned from a mission yesterday, so today's a rest day. And this little guy is…?"

"This is my grandson, Maruboshi Kazama. Greet her."

"Hello, Hana-nee! I'm Maruboshi Kazama," Kazama said with a polite smile. Wait… Hana? Inuzuka Hana? Wasn't she the older sister of Inuzuka Kiba?

"Aww, what a cute little brother!" Hana beamed.

Kazama resisted the urge to retort. Little brother? That wasn't exactly a title he was fond of.

"Mother is already waiting in the reception hall. Please, follow me." Hana didn't waste time and led them to their destination.

"Long time no see, Kogarashi."

"Long time no see, Kokei."

Inuzuka Tsume, the clan leader, greeted them formally. She wasn't just an old acquaintance now—she was here as the head of the Inuzuka Clan, and their meeting had to be treated accordingly.

"So, what brings you here in such an official capacity?"

The old man immediately passed the responsibility to Kazama.

Kazama almost wanted to punch him. Really? Dropping this on him at the last second?

Realizing there was no escape, Kazama took a deep breath, straightened his thoughts, and began his persuasion.

"It's like this—I want to train ninja beasts. But none of them have awakened chakra. I was hoping to ask for guidance on how to achieve this."

The room fell into silence. All eyes shifted from Kazama to the old man.

After receiving a confirming nod from Kokei, the atmosphere grew heavy.

After a long pause, Inuzuka Tsume finally spoke.

"The Inuzuka Clan does have methods to awaken chakra in ninja beasts. However…"

Her sharp gaze landed on Kazama.

"What will you offer in exchange?"