Her gaze snipped to him when, for just a moment, his voice seemed to strain. She sniffed again but didn't catch any sign of illness, and relaxed. "Inuzuka Tsume," she hitched a thumb toward the canine ignoring them completely, "and Kuromaru. Say hello, pup."

He just whined and strained to see farther over the counter. One back foot lifted, pawing at the sheer side as if looking for purchase, and shoulder muscles strained as his powerful body slunk higher up on the surface.

"Oi! Stay down!" Tsume yelled, nudging his standing leg with her toe.

He whined, let it grow into a howl, and backed off. Spit dripped off his tongue as he panted heavily.

"You'll have to excuse him," she said with a wry smile at the other ANBU. "He gets a little obsessive over this."

"Okonomiyakiiiii!" Kuromaru howled. He rose higher on his back legs, rocking away from the stand, hopping twice before making a bounding spin down to all fours and leaping up against the counter again. The whole place rocked.

"Okay, enough," Tsume snapped, turning around and glaring at him. "Or I'll tell Waki-sensei you were curious about prostate exams."

Kuromaru's ear flicked back against his skull, and he dropped down to all four feet. She tried not to notice the soft whine when skin pulled where his other ear should have been, and healing scabs--uncovered because the bandages didn't stick easily on fur--almost broke. Instead, Tsume turned back to the other ANBU and gave him a tired smile. "Sorry about that. Did you want something?" She tipped her head toward the stand in invitation.