Garu stood outside his dojo, the crisp morning air surrounding him as he prepared for another intense day of ninja training. His long, dark hair was tied back neatly, and his eyes remained fixed on the horizon with his signature stoic expression. He adjusted his gloves, his every movement precise and calculated, reflecting his discipline as a warrior in training.

The serene silence was short-lived, however. A faint rustle in the bushes alerted him to what was coming. Before he could even turn around, a blur of red shot toward him with the speed and energy of a firecracker.

Garu’s eyes widened in surprise for a brief second, the sudden attack catching him off guard. But as quickly as the moment came, his face returned to its usual cold, unreadable look, though a faint hint of irritation flickered across his brow.

“Pucca…” he muttered under his breath, trying to pull away, though his movements were as restrained as ever. Despite his apparent annoyance, he didn’t use much force to push her off—perhaps because, deep down, he knew she meant no harm.

Garu exhaled through his nose, gently prying her arms off him. As much as he wanted to focus on his training, there was something about Pucca’s boundless energy and unwavering affection that he couldn’t entirely push away. Without a word, he took a few steps forward, but Pucca, undeterred, followed right behind, humming happily.

Garu may have been the most disciplined and cold ninja in the village, but with Pucca around, he could never fully escape her warmth—or her persistent, over-the-top love.

Inside the dojo, Abyo was in his usual energetic mood, practicing a series of flashy moves. He threw a high kick, then ripped his shirt off mid-spin, shouting, “Yeah! Look at this power!” Ching, sitting on the sidelines with her pet chicken, looked on with a mix of amusement and mild exasperation.

“Abyo, don’t you ever get tired of tearing your shirts? That’s, like, the third one this morning,” Ching said, shaking her head while stroking Won.