“Jitsu didn’t think you could eat it all, did she?” Kiba asked atop Okuri’s shoulders.
“Nope.” His brother answered. “She didn’t even have the money to pay for it. Now she’s stuck doing dishes for Teuchi.”
Kiba giggled cheerfully. “So, that’s what they mean when they say that gambling can ruin a nin?”
“Guess so.” Okuri lowered himself to let Kiba off and run over to the playground. Seeing his little brother was safe under the watch of other adults, Okuri sat down and leaned his head on a tree trunk.
And then the voice came back, chuckling this time.
“Having fun, pup?”
Okuri’s jaws clamped shut, fearing that someone would hear him if he talked.
“What’s the matter? They all think you’re insane anyways, so there’s no harm in talking back.”
“No, go away.” Okuri whispered.
“Naïve boy, can’t you see I’m here to help you? I just fixed your muscles for you this morning, didn’t I?”
“It is because of you that I spent every moment of my life in this hunger.”
“Oh, please. That’s just to make sure you’re eating well. It’s for your own good. Your hunger doesn’t impair your concentration, so really, why complain.”
“My hunger has tormented me every day of my life.”
“But you got hardened to it. You used it as a way to block out your lesser pains. Did you know that most men have their fighting ability impaired after only a day without eating? You can go a week, and it won’t make a difference.”
“If hunger makes you so bad at fighting, why did you give it to me?”
“Depriving your body of substance is what impairs fighting ability. Hunger is a powerful motivation force, and it has increased your willpower drastically. Separate the deprivation from hunger, and you’ve got an unstoppable fighter. And besides, I don’t think it should distract you any more.”
“Why are you bugging me now?”
“No reason really, I just haven’t you so relaxed in a long while. You really need to spend more time doing stuff like this. Might be good for your family relations. Maybe this is why your father seems so distant. You never seem to…..chill out.”
And with that, the voice disappeared.
