word count: 165

Having gathered a couple of the akitas that served the wolves of Tojo, Hattori tilted his head back and called for Keisuke. Most of his children were doing well attending to their studies, sparing and developing interests in the skills they wished to pursue. Knowing that another one of his sons wished to be a fighter, or at least capable of defending himself, Hattori thought it would be prudent to make use of the hounds. They were talented warriors in and of themselves, had grown up fighting alongside their masters- perhaps he could learn a thing or two from them.

That and Hattori wanted his children to be accustomed to fighting against multiple enemies at once, lest another siege rattle the long stalks of the Bamboo Maze.

And thus he waited in the training area, sitting atop the tatami mats as the dogs prepared the area, pushing the training dummies aside and making sure all of the equipment was slotted away in its proper place.

The boy had been learning the bamboo, walking among their home with confidence. He would wait, listening for the sound of mice and such skittering among it, and enjoy the feel and sound of the wind blowing through the stalks. This, Keisuke reminded himself, was his home. A home that one day he would come to protect and honor, just as his father and mother did. As all of his family, by blood or bond. Keisuke found himself at peace within the bamboo, taking comfort in its presence. But before long, much like his sister Kina, he would need to buckle down on his training to sharpen his skills as a member of Tojo-Kai.

…and it seemed there was no time like the present.

A summoning call from his father had the boy pause, ears pricked up. There would be no denying that call, body turning away from his task of hunting down a mouse to move in the direction of the training field. He was curious what his father had in mind, his pale gaze shining with the light of an eager learner. Keisuke enjoyed lessons, and worked hard to make sure he did them well. There was nothing quite like the satisfaction of giving your all in a task.

As he arrived, the boy would find his father standing with some of the Akita’s that served their family. A respectful dip of his head was given to his sire as he stopped, his voice calm. “Father,” He lifted his head. “Training today?” He asked, seeking confirmation for what he hoped would be the case.

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Word Count: 266 Words
Total: 431 Words

The boy arrived in a timely manner, not leaving the Kaicho waiting for too long. He turned to regard his son, nodding in response to his fair assumption. What else would they do but train, in the very space designated for that? Still, he had already discussed with the hounds what would be going on today, so it seemed only fair to bring Keisuke into the loop as well.

"I thought you would benefit from training with the hounds. Before you were born, we were attacked by outsiders. It is important you learn how to fight several adversaries at once. We will teach you. " He did not intend to frighten the boy of course, but Hattori was always aware of the possibility of history repeating itself once more. Nothing in this life was certain, he knew that better than most.

With a flick of his tail, he motioned for the hounds to gather, encircling the pup but remaining at a distance.

"An important place to start, is to ensure they cannot get behind you. Watch their movements carefully." He instructed.