Dreams of the Past

Puppy Dogs and Declarations

Chapter 21

Puppy Dogs and Declarations

Kakashi stood beside his younger self, puppies and older ninken absolutely everywhere. Both Bull and Shiba's litters sniffed around their feet, the garden, Sakura's flowers... Their parents, as well as a few older pack mates lounged around, watching the chaos with barks of mirth and comments of mild interest.

Sakumo had announced the morning after their birthday that one of his ninken, and another female, both had pups that were old enough to begin training. The kid had been excited to add to his pack, but as Kakashi had guessed, he did not feel the urgency that he had. Training one pup at a time, devoting at least a full six months to each one seemed like a good plan to the six-year-old, and honestly, the better way to go about it.

While he had only had Senbei for two months, Kakashi had more experience. Besides, he was counting on being dragged into the fighting inside a year. Sakura wanted him to be as prepared as possible, so he had agreed to train another ninken.

He was actually a little nervous.

Would the kid go with Bull or Shiba? Would they both choose him like before and he'd just have to train them both? Would any of them feel right to Kakashi? Would they be confused by their shared scent? The kid did not know the truth, and they had all agreed to keep it that way.

This was a bad idea. He didn't need another ninken. One was plenty.

The kid finally sat beside him, letting an eager looking pup lick his face. Gray with a shock of long black fur on his head. Shiba. He was a good boy with a keen nose and a vicious bite. He liked peanut butter and going on runs in the rain.

Deciding he better get on with it too, Kakashi crouched. Wet noses, warm tongues and excitedly wagging tails greeted him. A few of the pups did indeed seem confused, looking between them with furry little frowns. Kakashi knew Taga had explained to all the other dog clans about his and Sakura's time travel, so any old enough to speak wouldn't accidentally say something. The pups were probably not let in on the secret.

A familiar bulldog pup watched some of the others yipping amongst themselves, before snuffling, shaking his head, and trotting right up to him. He bodily shoved at least three others out of his way, planted his large paws on Kakashi's knees, and barked. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, drool dampening Kakashi's pants.

His eyes burned for a second. Nope. Blinking hard, he pet the wrinkly pup. "Hey, boy." With a cocked head, he looked up at him like he was trying to read his mind. "You want to work with me again, boy?" In answer, he licked his squashed face and yipped, panting happily. Tugging down his mask, Kakashi leaned in and buried his nose in familiar wrinkles and fur. Bull. His good boy, one of his best friends.

Bull's sire, a massive white and brown beast, ambled over. "Make us proud, Bull." He glanced over at the kid, who was busy introducing Shiba to Pakkun, before lowering his voice. "He was with you before, wasn't he?"

"Yeah. Yeah, he was."

He made a rumbling sound. "Then I guess you already know him. May you work well together a second time."

Scooping the bulldog into his arms, he let him lick his face, getting slobber all over his shirt, until a high-pitched shrieking erupted. Panic seized Kakashi by the throat. Tenzō. Spinning on the spot, his eyes sought his son, not able to breathe until he saw what was happening. Sakura was crouched on the edge of the engawa beside Senbei, hands covering her mouth, as she watched. A half grown bulldog, probably two years old if Kakashi were to guess, was lying on his stomach between Tenzō's legs, snuffling his belly and licking his face. It wasn't terrified shrieking, he realized, but joyful giggles. He was laughing. Tenzō hadn't laughed, hadn't even smiled yet. Not for him, not for Sakura or the kid. He was so serious, so timid. Interested, content, identifiably happy even, but never this.