6 Keeping Up with the Inuzuka 1 (1/2)
In a small room at the back of a house, a brown-haired girl stirred awake.
It was dawn.
Normally, she would've welcomed a new day with boundless passion. But now?
To start with, five white-furred tails with splash of tan at their ends were swaying on her back...
”Why are you so gloomy?”
The image of a white, five-horned, horse-like creature with the face of a dolphin appeared in front of her. Five white tails identical to her own jutted out from its back.
The girl let out a sigh.
”Nothing. Just feeling that life is really complicated...”
The revered Five-Tailed Beast, Kokuo, and its Jinchuuriki. That was the duo's identity. Currently, they were taking refugee under the roof of the Inuzuka, a clan living in Konohagakure. Of course, the clan didn't know about Kokuo's existence, at least for now.
It seemed that bad things would happen if it was ever found out, so they had to keep it a secret.
Yesterday, the head of the house, a wild-looking woman named Tsume, had introduced her to her family and a few other influential members of the clan.
In short, only three people lived in this house: Tsume and her children, the older daughter Hana and the younger son, Kiba. Coincidentally, the son was the one who had saved the girl before when she'd fainted at the creek.
When asked why he'd helped her, he just replied nonchalantly:
”Because Akamaru seems to like you.”
Akamaru... was that small pup that followed the boy around. Actually, its fur was completely white. The name didn't reflect reality at all!
”And thus, this kid will stay with me for the time being. Any objection?!”
The last question was asked with such intensity that the rest of the clan couldn't retort. Hmm... it seemed that Tsume held quite a position within the clan... if only because they were afraid of her...
”You can stay in the back room. It's a bit dusty. Clean it yourself! Also, I won't let you stay here as a freeloader!”
Since Tsume and Hana were getting busier with their own work, the house was getting neglected over time. Kiba was of no help, so the burden fell to the new addition to the house.
In short, she was hired as a housemaid...
”By the way, can I ask something?”
Since they had the chance now, she asked for a map of the region. Tsume didn't think much about it and showed her a copy.
What she saw extinguished her spirit.
The continent was different. It wasn't the 'a thousand years had passed and the continent had moved' kind of different. The world was entirely different.
The Land of Earth, which he'd mistaken as U-Tsang before, looked nothing alike to Tibet.
Where's the central plain? Where's the dense forests of the Nanman? Why was Goguryeo shaped like a hammerhead?
The final resistance to that weird idea in her head had finally crumbled.
It seemed that she wasn't thrown into a different era... more like she got transferred to a different world altogether!
Godamnit! What use was her knowledge from the previous life if the underlying principle was not the same?! Could she even cultivate at this rate?
She was so stressed out that she puked blood and then fainted again after reading the map...
”Life never go your way, isn't it?”
Kokuo snorted.
”I'd like to be given more leniency, thank you...”
Anyway, what's done was done. Nothing she could do about it.
A new world, a new identity... although, the old soul inside was still the same.
”It's either adapt or die trying. At the very least, I should see whether cultivation is still possible. Changing course later is doable.”
She got up, and then changed to the clothes that Tsume had given her the day before. Just a simple set of dark-colored robe, not much different from her old life's style of clothing.
”Thankfully some parts are a bit similar.”
Women's clothing though... she had to fumble a few times before she somewhat managed to put it on properly.
”Better go now. That woman must be waiting,” Kokuo remarked.
”Yes, yes...”
Still in low spirit, the girl scurried out to do the day's work.
---
Tsume Inuzuka's house wasn't as big as the courtyard-styled residence in her old life. As such, cleaning didn't take a lot of time.
”You're... rather good at this,” Kokuo commented.
”It's a disciple's duty to take care of everyday chores. Back in my training days, I also did the same.”
It was more spartan in those era. The sect's training ground was huge! Compared to that monstrosity, this house was a walk in the park.
Dusting, moping, taking out laundry... she finished them all in record speed, like a seasoned veteran of housekeeping.
When she went to check on the girl, Tsume didn't know whether she should laugh or cry...
”Good work. You're free to do whatever you want, but don't make any trouble, understand?”
If she said she didn't, would she even live to tell the tale? She could only nod in response...
Thus, free time had finally arrived.
Cultivation time!
”Actually, we should start from the basic.”
The body she was in right now was still young, perhaps around eight years old. It was a good age to cultivate, since the physical body was still highly malleable and sensitive to qi.
Like every other cultivator, she should start from the elementary stage.
”What's that about?” Kokuo asked, its eyes gleaming with curiosity.
”The name is fancy, but it's basically just strengthening the body.”
There were various training method for that, but they required specific tools. With their currently-limited budget, she should go with the free and natural way.
Running.
”...Just that?” Kokuo sighed. It had gotten excited just for the kid to end up running...
”Don't underestimate running! With correct posture and disciplined breathing, you can build your lower body muscles, which will strengthen your martial stance in the future!”
Her master also forced her to run in the old days. She only understood way later that such a lame, boring activity would turned critical in the later stages of cultivation!
Definitely should not underestimate running!
Kokuo, who had 'utter disappointment' painted on its face: ”...Whatever floats your boat.”