Kuromaru's grin broadened. "I know. She always worries about me." He shuffled the cards into some semblance of order, head swiveling to see if he missed any.

Tsume's smile remained chilly. "I'm pretty sure that, in a spar, crotch-shots are totally acceptable." She felt Kuromaru glance at her and then Genma. Then he sighed heavily and peered up.

"He could wear a cup, if you're worried about someone getting his balls." Kuromaru hesitated, eye sliding toward the wall they shared with Ginta's apartment. "Actually, around here that's not a bad idea..." He leaned close to Tsume and whispered, "You wouldn't believe what that guy told me." Warily, he crossed his legs.

It was hard to keep trading half suspicous looks with Genma when Kuromaru was making bizarre statements. Tsume glanced at him. "What?"

The stage whisper filled the room. "He wants balls!"

"...I'm pretty sure you misunderstood something." That, or Ginta had odder habits than anyone Tsume had ever met.

Shaking his head firmly, Kuromaru set the cards aside. "Nope. I didn't misunderstand. He really does want balls. I told him he couldn't have mine."

There was no correct response to that. Tsume linked her arms around her knees, debating the wisdom of standing. Haruichi had told them, just two days before, not to do any Inuzuka jutsu but that genin jutsu were all right. Changing Kuromaru human was arguably a genin jutsu, though she was wondering at the wisdom of trying it, now. It had taken twenty minutes, and left her feeling worn and exhausted--and queasy--after carefully threading that much chakra through a precious few linked pathways. And now Genma was attempting to look friendly and smelling ugly, standing in her doorway. And it wasn't because she'd taken a nutshot at his buddy.

"Raidou and I sorted everything out. Do I really have to sort it all out with you, too?"

"First he put furniture in our apartment. Then he offered me waffles but was upset when I ate them. Then he wanted my balls. He's a weird man," Kuromaru mumbled, deft hands shuffling cards.