"Touga?" she echoed, flashing a grin at the young man. "You know him? He's a pus-infected mite bite, isn't he?" But the words were spoken with fondness, and her ice-blue gaze softened. "He's one of my many cousins. You're not holding a grudge, are you?" Her eyes twinkled. "I'd hate to have to go to war right inside the ANBU HQ. I doubt Arakaki would appreciate it."

"Here you are, Inuzuka-san," the vendor said, shoving a pile of okonomiyaki over the counter.

Tsume turned and counted out money, paying for everything with the last of her cash. Okonomiyaki got expensive in the amounts Kuromaru ate, but it was worth it.

She turned and handed the pup--Hayate--his food, steering them all away from the stand and carrying Kuromaru's meals. The man behind the counter had given her a box, so at least she wasn't trying to balance everything with chakra. Which, given her current state, would have been impossible.

"Head that way," she suggested with a nod. "You can tell me how you know Touga."