After the two of them finished roughhousing,
Hideki Senju looked at the many bite marks all over his body and said speechlessly,
"Your dog biting people is one thing, but why are you biting people too? Aren't you embarrassed?"
Ryoha Inuzuka grinned, faint traces of blood still on his teeth.
"That's just how the Inuzuka clan's secret technique works. A human becomes the dog, and the dog becomes the human. We share everything—life and fate, no separation between us. You can think of me as a person, or as a dog. Honestly, it's pretty much the same."
After saying that, his eyes dimmed a little.
The four of them fell silent for a moment.
Ryoha must have gone through a lot. Throwing away the pride, dignity, and identity he once had… becoming a dog while still being human. It sounded easy, but in truth, it wasn't easy at all.
"Tch. Just wait until I train my body . I'll make you regret this."
"Then next time, don't let me bite you so easily. Next time, I'll be tearing off chunks of flesh."
"Just wait and see."
Hideki Senju was perceptive enough to notice the mood shift, so he quickly changed the subject.
"Shiken, you didn't call us out today just so we could meet each other, right? That insect carrying sealing techniques must be pretty valuable too."
Hiyasu Hyūga asked. He had already noticed that the insects around the room felt strange. When he saw the dense black tadpole-like patterns covering the house, he realized what it was.
A sealing technique.
More precisely, the kind used to form a barrier.
"Barrier insects. My grandfather left them behind. There were three jars in total—this is the last one. What did you think?"
"Then where are the other two jars?"
"Of course I kept them for research. Don't tell me you've never heard of 'living off your savings until they're gone.'"
"Haha, of course not."
"Sustainable development is the healthiest way."
"Better to teach someone to fish than just give them fish."
Everyone started joking around.
Shiken Aburame said, "The main reason I called everyone today is to warn you about a danger, share some intelligence, and talk about our general direction for the future."
Kamito Uchiha said, "Danger? What danger? Is it Shimura Danzō?"
Hideki Senju said, "Or Hiruzen Sarutobi?"
Ryoha Inuzuka said, "Madara Uchiha."
Hiyasu Hyūga said, "Black Zetsu."
Shiken Aburame said, "It's Danzō. Yesterday my cousin, Aburame Tatsuma, was taken away. If nothing unexpected happens, it's probably the Root."
Kamito Uchiha said, "I knew it. The evil Shimura Danzō."
Hideki Senju said, "Kamito, when you say something like that, it sounds so out of place."
"Exactly."
"Way too dramatic."
At that moment, Shiken Aburame sensed a disturbance from one of the insects outside the Forest of Death.
"The situation's changed. Let's speed this up. I'll make a template—just follow it."
"Aburame clan: Shiken Aburame. Cousins: Aburame Shibi, Aburame Shihei, Aburame Tatsuma. Danger: being watched by Danzō, may be forced into the Root at any moment, unable to refuse. Future dream: I don't want to become Hokage. I just want to stay alive."
"Uchiha clan: Kamito Uchiha. Older sister: Mikoto Uchiha. Future brother-in-law: Fugaku Uchiha. Nephews: Itachi and Sasuke. Danger: hostility from Konoha's higher-ups. In the future… a great filial son. Dream: I don't want to become Hokage. I want the Uchiha clan to never be destroyed."
"Senju clan: Hideki Senju. Cousin: Nawaki Senju. Cousin: Tsunade Senju. Danger: none. Dream: I don't want to become Hokage. I want the Senju clan to become great again."
"Hyūga clan: Hiyasu Hyūga. Cousins: Hiashi Hyūga and Hizashi Hyūga. Danger: the Caged Bird Seal. I'm from the Hyūga branch family. Dream: I don't want to become Hokage. I want to fly freely."
"Inuzuka clan: Ryoha Inuzuka. Girlfriend: Rinko Inuzuka. Danger: none. Dream: I don't want to become Hokage. I just want to grow old together with Rinko."
They simply introduced the dangers they were about to face, the people they cherished or were bonded to, and what they wanted to do in the future.
"Since none of us want to become Hokage, we should get along well with Minato Namikaze. He's a great guy, and he's in the same class as us. If we need to gather again later, I'll notify you."
Just as Shiken Aburame finished speaking, voices suddenly rang out from outside.
"Hideki, you brat! Where are you hiding?!"
That was Hideki Senju's father, Senju Araki.
"Kamito, come home for dinner!"
That was Mikoto Uchiha.
"Hiyasu Hyūga! Come out! At this hour you should already be sleeping at home!"
That was Hiyasu Hyūga's father, Hyūga Wataru—the head of the branch family.
"Ryoha! It's this late and you're still not home? Are you asking for a beating?!"
That was Ryoha Inuzuka's mother, Inuzuka Reika.
"Buzz, buzz."
That was the insects of the Aburame clan.
After that, the group of five-year-old troublemakers who had snuck into the Forest of Death were, unsurprisingly, all given a harsh beating.
And then they went home.
...
Mikoto Uchiha's House
"Do you even realize what kind of place the Forest of Death is? It's extremely dangerous! Your father and mother passed away early. If something happens to you too, how am I supposed to face them?"
Mikoto Uchiha scolded while setting the table.
Today had truly terrified her.
Bang.
Kamito Uchiha suddenly hugged Mikoto Uchiha tightly and stared at her.
"Big sister, do you like Fugaku Uchiha?"
"W-What are you saying? You're just a kid—why are you asking things like that?"
Mikoto Uchiha said, her face flushed red.
"This is very important to me."
Seeing how serious he looked for the first time,
Mikoto Uchiha hesitated.
"Fugaku… he's actually a very good person. Even though he seems cold on the outside, but…"
Well, that settles it. No escaping it now.
Still… sister, you're only six and you're already halfway to marrying yourself off? Then again, there's someone else who already started flirting with people at five.
"I will definitely make sure you're happy."
"Mhm. I believe in you, Kamito."
The two siblings hugged tightly.
But Kamito Uchiha's eyes slowly turned red, and within them, a single black tomoe gradually appeared.
...
Hideki Senju's House
Hideki Senju kept flipping through the clan's books.
The Uchiha have cheats; Aburame's insects are definitely unusual; the Hyūga have the Byakugan—and now there's also this Taijiquan thing.
And that bastard from the Inuzuka clan—his secret technique is definitely not normal. His teeth are way too sharp.
Damn it… how could this be?
I've already been reborn into the Senju clan. How could I possibly lose to the others?
If Wood Release won't work, then Water Release.
If Water Release won't work, then Earth Release.
So what if I only have water and earth chakra natures?
So what if I can't use Wood Release?
In my previous life I achieved nothing.
But in this life, I will definitely rise above everyone.
He thought of the gentle members of the Senju clan, the injured and disabled elders within the clan, the children in the household.
I will lead the Senju clan to become famous across the ninja world again.
The Senju clan must never disappear.
If Tsunade Senju can't do it, and Nawaki Senju can't do it—then I will.
If I live, I will be a hero among men.
If I die, I will remain a hero among ghosts.
...
Hyūga Clan
A young boy practiced a strange style of martial arts.
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
His face was solemn, as if deep in thought.
...
Aburame Clan
Inside a dark room, a faint light flickered constantly.
...
Inuzuka Clan
Inside a small room, sounds continued to echo.
Half human.
Half dog.