CHAPTER 1: TENGAI, THE DYING POP
"Hmm...Rank type: B, mission type : Tracking and Interception..."
"Yes"
"Report?"
"Here"
Arashi retrieves a small scroll from one of the pockets on his flak jacket. Placing it on the table of the desk officer, an old Chūnin veteran. Checking out the details
"This your first mission.... Inuzuka Arashi?"
"Yes. My first."
With a nod, the officer continues his work without speaking before he says, "Alright, everything seems be in place, however, further analysis is to be made. The board will access them and process your payment if everything checks out. The procedure will take up to but no more than twenty-four hours. Is that clear?"
"Clear?"
"Good. We will notify you once you're needed. Have a good day"
Arashi gives a nod before exiting the building.
Coming out, he walks down the streets of vendors, taking a look around for what could satiate his hunger after a long week mission.
"I'll have two large bags of BBQ-flavoured potatoe chips with two bags of boar roasted meat jerky"
"840 ryo"
Handing over, he moves along, opening the bag of jerky ignoring the side eyes given to him. He couldn't help himself with such orders. Ever since he could remember he always had large appetite and a very expensive sweet tooth. Although it was not some inherited trait from his bloodline and it got him worried as a kid, his mother, noticing it didn't put much worry to it, easing his mind that it was all to make him strong—even though it meant extra servings most times.
So to always have enough cash to satisfy his appetite, it was one of the reasons he didn't mind taking solo missions that were within his capacity as a Chūnin. Group missions were always based on performances for unrecognized teams consisting of shinobis who did not meet the requirements of a Jōnin Sensei with a registered team under their names and most times the leader gets a larger share, leaving only peanuts for the rest.
Due to his mother sickness, he had left the academy early without meeting up with the criteria to be assigned a team from start. His father had to go out for missions regularly—risky ones most times. While he had to take up the responsibility to be with his mother all day long.
If you asked him, he would say he never regretted the decision even if both parents were adamant to let him continue his studies.
Fortunately, Renga was an elite Jōnin and an elder of the Inuzuka clan, so it was easy to get a permit to take the exams separately to get his shinobi certificate—courtesy of the clan's arrangement. So, he trained at home under the supervision of his mother—also teaching him everything she knew in fuinjutsu. He was like a sponge absorbing all his mother threw at him during this period.
When the time came, he was exceptional, earning his certificate as a registered shinobi. Afterwards, he delayed his family rites to gain his ninken just to stay with the mother.
After she passed away, he decided to take his chance to choose his partner. Unfortunately, he felt like he had not met his fated partner and with many tries, he gave up.
Reaching his home, he finds it empty. Obviously Renga hasn't come home yet. Into his room, he undresses, wearing a regular shirt and pants for comfort. His snacks, long gone into his stomach.
Hours later, he sets up the table with the dishes he made himself, waiting patiently for the time his father would enter.
Without waiting long, Renga and Kurogane came in. Both looking exhausted from whatever they were involved in.
"Welcome home Otōsan."
"Arashi... you're back"
"Hmm. Done with my mission. Submitted the report before coming home."
Renga nods with Kurogane striding forward towards the table filled with plenty delicacies. Renga couldn't almost drooling had to resist to get himself change before digging in. When he came back, they began eating.
"Have you thought of when you make your choice?"
"Yes, Otōsan. Thought it would be better before my next mission."
"Good...you have waited too long for it."
The both of them continued with small talks, Kurogane busy with his meet fillings.
_____________________
The next day, after his regular activities, Arashi went straight towards the kennel. Walking along the road, he met with fellow clansmen—some giving him nods as he greeted, others too busy with their duties that they ignored his presence.
Arriving, he sees Inuzuka Tsubaki, the chief breeder, Yari, his loyal partner, walking towards the healing center of ninken. Arashi sees Tsubaki holding a wolf slightly smaller than an adult hound, curious, he walks towards them.
"Tsubaki-san"
"Oh..Arashi-kun... you're here"
"Hmm...I came to see if I can finally get to pick a partner"
"Oh.. that's good. You can go over to the main center, we recently got new breeds of fresh pups. I'll be heading to old lady Kiri's for this little wolf. Since we had him for over two years now, he's been very sickly. No one had bothered to look at him either...sigh... I'm afraid he may not make it pass this year'
Arashi couldn't let go of the feeling he got from the wolf
"Can I come along?", eyebrows raised, Tsubaki looks towards Arashi for a while before nodding.
Soon after they got to the medical center for ninken, they met up with the Ninken healer, Old lady kiri. A petite frame, with the regular tribal mark of the Inuzuka, her head filled with white hair, some say she is over 70 years, yet shows no sign of decay.
When old lady kiri examined the wolf, she gave a sigh, confirming Tsubaki's guess of the wolf no lasting the end of winter.
Arashi still having the strong feeling decided to adopt the wolf at the refusal of both Tsubaki and old lady Kiri.
"He's gonna die anyway, why not let him live a little before then. Besides I have been without a ninken for long, extra few months won't change anything..." He gives a pause "... besides I see myself in him. Struggling to prove a point...as an outcast" with the last sentence a whisper, still Tsubaki and old lady kiri heard him clearly. Both looking at each other with understanding and pity.
Everyone was well aware of the criticism around Arashi, within and outside the clan. Fortunately, everyone associated to the kennel cared less of that, the only response they had to it was "even ninkens crossbreed what's so different from us doing the same"
Sighing, Tsubaki replied "fine, you can have him. Do the needful. But if you feel like you can't take care of him anymore, then you can come back."
With gratitude, Arashi left with the wolf after some instructions laid out by old lady kiri.
On getting home, settling himself and the wolf, he gets a bowl of water for the little guy who drinks it. Feeling his warmth, the wolf draws neered to Arashi, resting on him.
"Seems like you accept me too. Don't worry I'll be here with you till the end...and I believe you will be with me too... seeing how you are, how about I call you Tengai." The wolf, now known as Tengai accepted the name heartily with a bark although not loud but still carried his intent in loving the name.
_______
Days passed Iike that, with Arashi putting all his focus on taking care of Tengai. Renga had been surprised when he heard about the sickly wolf even advising Arashi to give up and not make a bond with the wolf and as usual Arashi refused. Kurogane most times when free would help him take care of the wolf.
On a fateful day, Tengai fell critically ill and old lady kiri was not available. Arashi decided to use the medic technique his mother had taught him. His hands began to glow while he transferred his chakra into Tengai. The result was pleasant as Tengai began to relax feeling much better and comfortable.
Seeing there was no need to reach out to the healer, Arashi took it upon himself to treat Tengai.
Months passed, with Arashi continuing his care for Tengai. It reminded him of the period he spent with his mother. Abandoning everything to take care of her, now he sees himself doing it again for Tengai. Then he was weak, didn't know what he could do to help his mother, this time he would do his possible best to help the wolf.
Renga knew what was going through Arashi's mind, and why he didn't abandon the wolf. He felt a strong guilt for ever raising the idea of abandoning the wolf. For someone who had bonded twice—his partner and lover, he knew he had messed up. After that event, with the help of Kurogane, he found the strength to confront Arashi and apologize, luckily for him Arashi was open to him. From then own, he decided to help raise the little wolf. Most times he would stay home with the rest all day. When Arashi had to take up some clan task, he would babysit Tengai.
All these made Arashi's heart warm and grateful. Tengai showcasing a lot of intelligence appreciated the effort also, drawing closer to his partner's father.
That wasn't all that happened too as they began noticing the crisis reducing. Arashi could feel Tengai getting stronger and better. He had taught it normal until his visit to old lady Kiri's medic bay. When asked, he simply told her about his treatment of transferring chakra to Tengai. With little more scrutiny, Old lady kiri supported his method and even asked for him to come for regular check up to examine the little wolf now growing big.
It was the beginning of winter, the family of four decided to take the day to rest. Renga and Arashi playing Go, Kurogane in his usual laid back posture beside Renga and surprisingly Tengai, mimicking Kurogane, to the pleasure of the large hound—he finally had a follower. Upon closer look, Tengai had become much bigger, his midnight black fur from before now glossier, his dark eyes now showing hints of blood red just like Arashi. Typical size of an adult wolf, even though it hadn't crossed adulthood. Wondering, Arashi later found out he was a direwolf breed, larger than the normal wolf. It made him happy to know.
Even though Tengai had recovered, Arashi still felt it right to always transfer his chakra as usual.
As both Father and Son continued to play, Renga broke the silence
"...will you resume missions? Little wolf has recovered, although you may not take him yet but he can survive on his own now."
"Yea. I planned to at the beginning of the new year. I understand he'll need help getting trained." Arashi looks towards his father "I know there's no better teacher than you and uncle Kurogane. So how about it? Will you help out in training him?"
Renga stares at Arashi for a while before showing a beastly grin "I'm not only going to him. You also need it. You may have the skills of a regular shinobi and that of an Uzumaki. You're skills as an Inuzuka, is still lacking especially because you had no partner. Now you do."
"Sigh...fine. you have always wanted this"
"Yes"
"... okay when do we start?"
"Let's wait till the new year. When you're on missions, We'll keep little wolf on his toes and when you're not on missions... you'll join him " Renga concludes, his voice deep yet carrying promises of pain and joy. Pain for both Tengai, Joy for himself.
Just hearing his statement, sent shivers to both Arashi and Tengai.
It seemed like the new year was going to be much of a pain in the ass for him.