"A-Bai, after all these years, you've gone from an ordinary White Feather Chicken to the Luan Bird you are now. Don't you have any offensive abilities at all?"
A-Bai shook her head. "No. What would I need offensive abilities for? Aren't you enough? Who could possibly fight their way into the Cloud Clan Grounds?"
Torikaze smiled. A-Bai was family too. She had helped Torikaze hatch Seiryu and Ryuufuu, which was a tremendous contribution.
Seiryu and Ryuufuu, those two little ones, had both grown extremely powerful, and the family had prospered as well.
Yet they had never forgotten A-Bai, their old mother.
Whenever they found anything good in the Shinobi World, they always gave it to A-Bai first.
But even so, over these past decades, A-Bai had not learned any ninjutsu.
Other than becoming more beautiful and mystical, she had not changed much.
Still, Torikaze did not expect much from her. Standing on a branch behind the Pavilion, her slender tail feathers shimmered with rosy light as they draped downward.
Anyone who did not know better might have thought Torikaze was some immortal, and A-Bai was the spirit beast he kept.
In reality, she was merely a White Feather Chicken that had lived a few more years than usual.
Before long, Torikaze heard a commotion outside as several people entered the Cloud Clan Grounds.
They were Nawaki, Kagami, Dan, and Sakumo.
"Shishou! Did you know from the beginning that we'd lose? And lose that badly?"
The moment the four arrived before Torikaze, Nawaki immediately began lamenting.
Torikaze took a sip of tea without confirming or denying it.
"Sit."
Once everyone had taken a seat, Torikaze looked toward Nawaki. "You remember our bet, right? Get married within a year. Within three years, I want to see your children."
Nawaki nodded helplessly. "All