Walking the Hounds [D-Rank]

Walking the Hounds:

It was another day and as such, another day where Shin would return to the kennels he had frequented over the past few days. Much like the past few visits to the kennels, today’s visitation to the kennel was for the same purpose as the previous ones; the completion of a mission. It was a simple task this time around, likely much easier than the time he was here to clean the dogs, though much more difficult than it was feeding them. Today’s mission tasked him and Katsumi with walking the dogs – something a dog walker could do, yet it seemed to fall to them to do such a thing today; not that Shin minded too much. Like usual, as he ventured closer to the kennels to find the dogs, the louder that barking got with each step. The rambunctious noise that emitted from them was a sound he had gotten used to over time.

As Shin walked into the familiar building, letting the door shut behind him, his eyes sought out any other human being in the vicinity. The kennel master was clearly away, for the middle-aged man that he often saw here was not present. The real notable presence were the dogs, all of whom had turned their attention turned towards him; the noise of the door opening and slamming shut enough to get their attention. With numerous tails wagging, wads of fur running around, Shin couldn’t figure out where one dog ended and another began. It would take some time for them to be leashed, and likely a long walk for them to burn off their energy. Grabbing one of the many leashes that were located near the front desk, Shin let out a sigh and hoped the dogs would calm down for a moment so he could get the leashes attached to their collars.

Assuming Katsumi had corralled half the canines in the kennel had left Shin to handle the other half of the dogs that were present and clearly much in need for a walk to exert their ample energy. After a bit of coaxing that was required for each dog to be properly leashed and with Shin ensuring he did not release the leash before they would begin their trek on the roads just outside of this building, all of the dogs had their leashes securely attached with Shin ready to go. It seemed like Katsumi had shown up a bit late, though was in the current; process of corralling the other half of the dogs that they would be taking out. Doing these little things as Shin readjusted to living back in Iwagakure no Sato and reincorporating himself into the Muramatsu clan district took a mental toll on the shinobi, but these low class missions were able to alleviate some of that tension he carried, which was a welcome reprieve.

“Ready to leave?” Shin asked Katsumi, awaiting a response for when the other shinobi was ready to depart for the mission; walking the dogs. Once an affirmative was given, Shin would head out first, expecting that Katsumi would follow, since there was no point in them taking two different paths. The walk, for Shin at least, consisted of staying silent and simply observing the village and the dogs that were being walked. There was ample opportunity to talk to Katsumi or delve in to deep thought during the mission, but today was a day when Shin simply wished to turn his brain off temporarily and just let his body take control. Once the walk was over and they returned to the kennel, Shin would take a moment to pet each dog individually before parting ways with Katsumi for now. “I’ll catch you later.” Shin said as he would make his way back to the clan compound.

[exit thread]