On the outskirts of the village, within the territory of the Inuzuka Clan.
Due to the fact that the dogs disturbed the neighbors, carried a strong odor, and were numerous, the Inuzuka Clan had always lived in seclusion. This ensured tranquility and prevented complaints from the villagers, who might be frightened by packs of dogs. The proximity to the forest was also convenient for walking them. No matter how much the hounds frolicked in the woods, none of the villagers complained about the noise.
In the living room of a private home, a five-year-old boy lay on a sofa. He lazily scratched his rear, adjusted the trajectory of imaginary projectiles, and, bored, flicked through the television channels. He had short, silver hair and golden eyes that, when he squinted, narrowed and lent him a foxy charm. Dressed in a simple, classic black kimono, he contentedly sipped juice from a bottle. There was none of the coarseness and swagger characteristic of the Inuzuka Clan about him; his delicate and beautiful face was somewhat girlish. If he remained silent, one might mistake him for a quiet and cold noble youth. A hint of allure permeated his refined and austere appearance. In terms of beauty within the dog clan, perhaps only the magnificent Sesshōmaru could compare. In short, he was exceedingly handsome.
"I'm simply a genius," the boy mused, glancing at the wall clock. Seeing that school was over, he stood up and began to tidy the living room, which was littered with watermelon rinds.
"Alright, move it."
Hearing this, a large dog lying on the floor, as if understanding human speech, cleared a path. Several other handsome hounds resting nearby lifted their heads, glanced at their little master, and then lowered them again, resuming their repose.
After fussing about for a bit and clearing the scene of the crime, the boy calmly sat down, crossed his legs, and continued to watch television.
"Tired as a dog. Watching TV is so much more pleasant."
Soon, the sound of footsteps reached his ears. The boy twitched his nose, sniffed the air intently, and then relaxed. It was not his tigress of a mother who had returned.
A moment later, a small boy with the same silver hair and a similar appearance bounded into the living room, jumping with joy. Seeing the boy on the sofa, he barked happily.
"You're back, Smarty," said the boy on the sofa without lifting his head. "Now that you're back, resume your true form."
A bark echoed, and with a puff of smoke, the technique dissipated. A small, silver-furred dog, resembling a Samoyed, ran to the boy's feet, wagging its tail and barking. Judging by his knowledge from a past life, she was good-natured and friendly, naturally intelligent, never caused trouble, was utterly loyal to her master, strong, vigilant, a swift runner, highly adaptable, loved to serve, and was not aggressive—an excellent working dog. She was called "the smiling angel." But this was a ninja hound. Ryoto did not know her breed; she was the result of many years of selective breeding within the clan. Her abilities in all aspects were significantly stronger. Most importantly, she could use ninja techniques and was skilled in combat. And her name was Smarty.
Ryoto patted the sofa beside him. Smarty leaped up and settled next to him. As Ryoto stroked her fur, the dog squinted in pleasure. The technique Smarty had just used was a secret art of the Inuzuka Clan—the Human Beast Mimicry.
"I truly am a genius,"—to send Smarty to school in his guise to skive off lessons—"only a genius could have devised such a plan. But..."
"So, did you slip up at school? Did everything go smoothly?"
Hearing this, one of the large dogs snorted, as if condemning its young master's actions.
"What are you huffing at?!" Ryoto turned sharply to the dog. "I didn't hurt your daughter; she agreed to it herself. We had an arrangement."
The dog turned its head away, unwilling to engage with him.
"Look, your mother is displeased again. Maybe I should just call her that—Displeased."
Smarty barked, recounting the day's events at school to Ryoto. Typically, members of the Inuzuka Clan, being human, did not understand canine language, but by living together for years, they learned to understand each other through expressions and developed intuition. However, complex matters remained beyond their grasp. The issue was that Ryoto genuinely understood the language of dogs. Smarty reported that everything had gone off without a hitch.
"Excellent, I'm glad it went smoothly." Ryoto scratched Smarty behind the ear with satisfaction.
She lifted her head proudly and smugly. "Well? Aren't I cool?" She was slightly older than Ryoto, born less than five days apart. In an unconventional family like the Inuzuka, she could be considered Ryoto's older sister.
"Cool, so cool! Big sister Smarty is the coolest! I'm counting on you tomorrow too, big sister Smarty."
"Woof-woof-woof!"
"Hmm, what's that smell? A peculiar scent... Chicken legs?"
The Inuzuka Clan possessed a sense of smell superior to that of ordinary people, but Ryoto's was exceptionally keen. "The scent of a girl! That little rascal! What has she done? Attacked a girl? Could she be in heat? Impossible, she's a female herself, who would she attack?"
Ryoto stared intently at Smarty.
"You're hiding something from me!"
Hearing this, Smarty guiltily averted her gaze. "On the way home, I taught a girl a lesson... can I tell him about that? No! There'll be a scandal!"
"Woof-woof-woof!"
"You just ate a chicken leg?" Ryoto looked at her with suspicion. "And nothing else? I haven't read many books, so don't you try to fool me. Why do you smell like a girl?"
"Woof-woof-woof! Woof-woof-woof!!!" Smarty barked, her eyes darting around.
"Oh? A lot of girls were shamelessly clinging to you? You growled at them, but it didn't help?"
Smarty was very beautiful and popular. When she walked down the street, various older girls would constantly call her cute and try to pet her. She disliked those "greasy hands." There was nothing strange about that. The problem was that she was in his form. Although he himself was very handsome, so that too was not surprising. Ryoto pondered. Could all the girls in the class be so fierce? Of course, ninja matured early; that didn't surprise him. Those who didn't mature early didn't even manage to leave offspring—they would die at eleven or twelve. Indeed, the scents of several girls lingered on her, and one was particularly strong. "How shameless must one be." It seemed that not going to school had been a wise decision, or else he would have been tormented. "What's the interest in watching a bunch of girls, who haven't even grown hair everywhere yet, fight for my attention? None at all!" Ryoto smirked smugly. "And yet, I am quite popular."
Having sorted that out, Ryoto looked at Smarty. Though she was five, an adult age for a dog, she was still a child. "And with that intellect, she tries to compete with me? She has another hundred centuries to go."
"And where did the chicken leg come from? Do you have money in your pocket?" Ryoto patted Smarty on the stomach and snorted. "Not a single coin. And another thing, you ate a chicken leg and didn't leave any for me. Have you no conscience?!"
"Woof-woof-woof..." Smarty barked plaintively. "I found it on the road. Do you want me to go back and get it?"
"Never mind, I don't want it," Ryoto waved his hand in disgust. "You eat it. And another thing, picking up chicken legs is one thing, but don't you dare pick up dung, especially when you're in my form."
"Woof-woof-woof..." Smarty barked. "I held back, I didn't pick any up, not once."
"You what!!!" Ryoto smacked Smarty on the head. "What a good girl you are, trying so hard! That means you've definitely picked it up before!!!"
"Aaaah!!!"
"Go wash your mouth out this instant!!!"
"Woof-woof-woof!!!" (I didn't pick any up!!!)
Smarty barked and stuck out her tongue to lick Ryoto's face. "See, if you don't believe me, smell it!"
"Aaaah!!! I'm dying! What torment! The stench is unbearable!!!"
Ryoto's senses were exceptionally sharp, but the problem was that he did not eat dung. Therefore, the experience was utterly agonizing for him.
"Let go! Don't lick me! Ugh!!!"
Man and dog tumbled on the sofa, inseparable and full of life. The other hounds, observing the scene, watched with smiling eyes.