"Where's the Kiko?"
After lunch, Naori turned to Maki with the question.
"She went to chase the dog away," Maki answered offhandedly.
That girl's learning fast—and the way she learns is through play.
There are plenty of dangerous beasts around Konoha, but none quite as fearsome as the dogs from the Inuzuka clan.
Each one is massive, wolf-like in size and strength. Even trained ninja hesitate when a whole pack shows up.
Those jaws? A blur of snapping teeth. Just remembering them gave Maki a headache.
She'd seen it before. She knew how brutal those dogs could be.
The Inuzuka clan was never known for the strength of a single member. What made them terrifying was their unity—the sheer numbers of shinobi and dogs working together like a single beast.
Thankfully, inside the village, the dogs behaved. Calm. Docile. Well-trained.
But in the forest?
Wild. Unhinged. Unapologetically feral.
And Kiko? She was even wilder.
She'd been letting loose more and more lately, unleashing her instincts with no restraint.
The feud started the first time a dog tried to snatch food from her mouth.
Back then, the Inuzuka dogs thought she was just another Konoha kid, so they went easy on her.
But when things started escalating, Maki realized something important:
There was no need to use force.
Because Kiko?
She can fly.
And those dogs?
Dumb.
So why not just play?
Kiko loved it.
If the dogs didn't show up for a few days, she'd go find them herself.
Picking fights, dodging bites, fleeing just before they arrived—it was thrilling.
The forest wasn't that big, and with their combined sense of smell, hiding was impossible.
But the village?
Safe zone. Once you crossed that line, game over.
Lately, the Inuzuka clan was looking a little tense.
Their dogs hadn't gone on missions.
Everyone had bruised noses and swollen cheeks.
No one knew why.
The dogs? Silent. Stubborn. Refused to talk about it.
They just went off to sulk.
That was good enough for Maki.
She'd been feeling a little guilty.
At least it hadn't been traced back to them.
If it had, they'd have to pay compensation.
But now? Maki was confident.
Medical bills were just a few bucks. She could cover that.
"Chase the dogs out? Aren't the Inuzuka dogs dangerous?" Naori asked, clearly concerned.
She'd seen them before, too.
"She's having the time of her life," Maki said with a smirk.
"That's good," Naori replied. "We should all be friends with those big dogs someday."
"Definitely," Maki nodded, the meaning hidden behind her calm smile. The battles were fierce.
Hitomi stared at them, completely lost.
She didn't get it.
Weren't they supposed to be studying chakra control?
Weren't they supposed to be memorizing medical techniques?
"Got nothing else to do," Maki shrugged, then paused.
"My clan has something going on this afternoon. You two go have fun without me."
"Oh…" Naori looked disappointed.
"Alright. We'll see you at school tomorrow."
"Mhm." Maki nodded, got up, and went to fetch something from her room.
---
Maki had already sensed them—three old men approaching.
Three she hadn't seen in a long time.
Zetsugan. Kurozane. Kaigan.
By the time Maki came back down, Naori and the others were gone.
The three elders looked the same as ever.
"Still not dead, huh, old man Zetsugan?" Maki said as she opened the door.
"Alive and kicking," he said with a laugh behind his mask.
"When's it happening? I'll be ready."
"Don't worry, everything's arranged. We'll give the flame-bearing insect a good feast after it's over," he said, rubbing his hands nervously.
Then added:
"No need for a coffin—it won't take up much space."
"Perfect," Maki said coldly.
"Not going to invite us in, Maki?" Kurozane asked.
Maki stepped aside.
"I've got nothing to serve you. Don't expect hospitality."
"As it should be. No need to waste money," he replied cheerfully.
Maki narrowed her eyes.
This wasn't a small matter.
This was that plan.
It had to be.
The four of them sat around the table.
Kurozane and Kaigan stayed quiet, glancing around the room, pretending they weren't involved.
Maki stared directly at Zetsugan.
Finally, the old man spoke.
"Maki"
His tone was soft. Humble.
So different from his usual self.
"What is it?" Maki asked.
"About that... bio-steel…" he hesitated.
Then, with no shame at all:
"It's hard for the clan right now. We've got no businesses, no income. Things are rough."
"The Uchiha have their ninja tool shop. The Nara run a deer farm and herbal medicine business. The Kurama are in publishing. The Senju collect rent from tenants—they own most of the shopping district. The Akimichi have catering. But us?" One of the elders scoffed. "All we've got are bugs. Bugs that can't be sold and aren't easy to sell."
He pointed to the mission commission posted nearby.
"That mission only pays a few coins."
"Don't we still have land within the clan?" Maki asked. "We collect some rent, don't we?"
Konoha had always been the Konoha of the great clans. If Hashirama hadn't offered them benefits back then, the village might never have been founded.
All the major clans made a living by leasing land to civilians. Rent was the lifeline of their wealth.
"We do…" Zetsugan said with a sigh. "But just a small amount. I didn't have the guts to ask for more when we had the chance."
Coward, Maki thought.
Zetsugan rubbed his hands nervously. "Maki, you're the clan head now. The others are looking to you. You have to think about them."
Before coming here, the elders had agreed: don't pressure Maki. Just play the sympathy card.
Maki narrowed her eyes at Zetsugan.
"You're not getting biological steel," she said bluntly.
"Why not?" Zetsugan asked, clearly desperate not to leave empty-handed.
"I could keep it myself, but the clan can't handle it. Besides, it's only valuable in limited circulation. It's not sustainable for a large-scale clan business. The moment it's everywhere, the price will tank."
Zetsugan looked disappointed.
"I see... I was too eager," he muttered.
"But—" Maki continued, pulling out a box of insect eggs. "I can offer you these."
Zetsugan peered inside. "Are these… trichromatic worm eggs?"
"Yes. A domesticated species, ideal for mass cultivation. All you need is a closed-off forest enclosure, though Konoha doesn't have such a space right now."
The three elders exchanged looks.
"Trichromatic dye?" Zetsugan asked skeptically. "What's the use of it?"
"The Inuzuka clan loves smearing it on their faces. If they find a nest, they'll be laughing in their sleep."
"So... it's valuable?"
"Not exactly," Maki replied. "The insect is weak and hard to raise. But the Inuzuka clan's sense of smell is tens of thousands of times stronger than normal. Paints and dyes are toxic to them—but this one isn't. It smells clean to them, which makes it stand out even more."
"So it's non-toxic and still vibrant?"
"Exactly. That's why they love it."
Zetsugan frowned. "The Inuzuka clan isn't exactly wealthy. How much profit could we really make from them?"
"You're missing the point," Maki said coldly. "Dyes are used everywhere—medicine, food, clothing, makeup, even drinks. But most of them are poisonous. This one isn't. The moment you introduce this into any mainstream industry—" she snapped her fingers, "—everyone else dies."
The three elders hissed, realizing the implications.
"Ahh, now I get it!" Zetsugan exclaimed, slapping his thigh.
"They'll all die!" he added, eyes alight with ambition.
_____________________
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