Reborn in Another World as a Bird or Beast

Time flew by. It was the end of Konoha Year 41!

Inside the Mitarashi Residence, Duke and Hades sat cross-legged, facing each other. One man and one dog, the atmosphere was grave. The room was a complete mess as far as the eye could see, as though it had just witnessed a brutal showdown.

Two years had passed. Duke had grown into a half-grown boy, while Hades was no longer the palm-sized puppy he had once been. He had become a mature Ninja Dog, sixty centimeters at the shoulder and one and a half meters long.

The only disappointment was Duke's excessively feminine face. Rather than developing into the square-jawed face he had hoped for, it had only grown prettier. His glossy black hair was tied into a ponytail, and his delicate, fair face featured brows like painted strokes and eyes that sparkled like stars. Beneath his elegant nose, his thin lips carried a faint chill, untouched by worldly dust. In short, a slight smile from him could topple a city.

Hades's growth was not much different from that of any other husky. He currently served as Konoha's Top Meme Lord. Anyone who saw that face of his would want to punch it.

"Are you sure it attacked you first?" Duke's face darkened as he questioned Hades. "I find that hard to accept. Tell me honestly, what exactly happened?"

"I already told you, I was forced to fight back. Why don't you believe me?" Hades said with heartfelt grief and indignation. "We've been together for three years. You raised me like a son. Don't I deserve even this much trust?"

"This has nothing to do with trust. Anyone with a brain wouldn't believe your nonsense." Seeing that Hades refused to repent, Duke pointed at the ceiling and exploded in rage. "I only didn't take you to my graduation ceremony, and you turned the house into a disaster zone. Now you're telling me the ceiling attacked first and you were forced to retaliate? You think I'd believe that?"

"It did attack first..." Hades stubbornly held his ground. "You weren't home, and I wanted someone to talk to. You have to understand, I'd just learned how to speak. I'm at a critical stage in developing my linguistic artistry. But that ceiling ignored me completely and acted all deep and mysterious. It was jealous. Jealous of my handsome face!"

"There are no ceilings in this world that can talk, and there is nothing handsome about that dog face of yours!"

"Don't try to fool a dog. I'm the champion of the 'Konoha's Most Handsome Face' beauty contest. Every dog in the village can testify for me." When it came to his looks, Hades had no choice but to rise up and fight back.

"How could such a pointless beauty contest even exist? And you actually won..."

"It's held every August in the Inuzuka Clan Backyard. That day, there are dogs everywhere—what a magnificent sight. You just wouldn't know because you've spent the past three years keeping to yourself and practicing chakra natures at home every day. And let me add, I've won three years in a row. I'm a male who has established a dynasty!" Hades said smugly. "The champion's prize is an exquisite, luxurious, premium deluxe dog food set, along with an Inuzuka Clan VIP Card. At Land of Fire Chain Stores, dog food, shampoo, body wash, and everything else are twenty percent off."

"..." Duke was speechless. There were too many things to criticize. He needed a moment.

"These premium products aren't the cheap trash you usually buy while pinching pennies..." Hades pointed at his glossy fur and said proudly, "Only the Inuzuka Clan's top-tier body wash is worthy of me! And by the way, Aunt Natsuki and Little Anko use the same brand as I do!"

"Don't mention that again, especially not around Aunt Natsuki. Don't let her find out... I don't want to see you on the dinner table." Duke silently mourned for Aunt Natsuki and Little Anko. Then he thought of how he and Zixiao had always used discounted soap, and sorrow welled up in his heart.

I'm living worse than a dog!

"Of course I know that. I'm not stupid!" At the mention of Natsuki, the head of the household, Hades became much more obedient.

"Where did you get the money?" Duke finally realized something and could not help asking. The hair and skincare products Aunt Natsuki used were all high-end goods. In Konoha, only female Jonin had the financial means to afford them. Even with the Inuzuka Clan membership discount, an astronomical price was still astronomical. It was still an astronomical price after the discount. Where did a dog like you get that much money?

"I dug it up beneath the rockery in the courtyard..."

"How can you use someone else's money with such confidence?" Duke was shocked. Who taught you that?

"Why can't I use it? I dug up that money with my own ability. I didn't steal it or rob anyone, so why can't I use it?" Hades said matter-of-factly.

"..." That made so much sense that Duke found himself unable to refute it.

"Judging by the scent, it was probably Uncle Zixiao's secret stash." Hades twitched his nose and grinned. "I've already been merciful enough not to tell Aunt Natsuki. What's wrong with spending some of his money? Does he dare come looking for me?"

Duke recalled the recent past. No wonder Uncle Zixiao had acted so crazed those days, always standing beside the gas stove with a lighter in hand. So this was what had happened. Duke could not help stroking his chin. For a ninja to be so distraught for so long, that sum could not have been small!

"What are you planning?" Seeing Duke's ill-intentioned expression, Hades asked warily. He knew his master too well. Duke was full of bad ideas; even a little spillover was enough for Hades to study for a lifetime.

"Half for me, or I'll tell."

"You think I'll be scared just because you tell?" Hades forced himself to remain calm. "Even if Uncle Zixiao finds out, I... I'm not afraid. At worst, I'll hand all the money over to Aunt Natsuki... Don't even think about getting a single coin from me."

"But then you won't have a cent left, and Uncle Zixiao won't let you off either." Duke bared his teeth and said slyly, "Top-grade dog food, first-rate body wash, the best chew sticks in all of Konoha—those will all leave you. Are you really prepared for that?"

"Damn it, you despicable bastard..."

Duke whispered viciously, like a demon, crushing Hades's mental defenses one step at a time. Hades remembered the miserable days when inferior dog food had ruled his life, as well as his knotted, split fur. His hair stood on end, and he trembled without stopping.

"No one can bear a secret alone. But... you're lucky. You have me to help share the burden!" Duke smiled brightly and patted Hades on the shoulder so hard that he nearly lost his balance. "Tomorrow, I'll become a Genin. This money will be used to buy Blade Tools. Only then can I complete missions better and earn more money. You'll also get better dog food. Think about it—this is merely an advance investment in a better life. There's nothing to be sad about."

The devil had once said: Those with desires have weaknesses! That applied even to people, let alone dogs. Faced with threats and temptation, Hades quickly surrendered and obediently handed over half his savings.

After dividing the spoils, Duke felt refreshed while Hades hung his head in dejection. Then came a few knocks at the door. Mitarashi Shixiao pushed it open and entered. When he saw the ruined room, which resembled a refugee camp, veins bulged on his forehead. He took two deep breaths before calming down.

"The ceiling attacked first," Hades hurriedly explained. Feeling guilty and afraid, he did not dare meet Mitarashi Shixiao's eyes.

"I already taught it a lesson. It won't happen again." Afraid that Hades would let something slip in front of the money's owner, Duke quickly took over.

"I'll find someone to repair it tomorrow. The bill will be charged to you. From now on, Natsuki and I won't give you any more allowance. After all, you'll be a ninja starting tomorrow. You can support yourself."

No, you just gave me a huge allowance!

"Go to bed early and get up early. Tomorrow is important for you... Sleep in the guest room tonight!" Mitarashi Shixiao said helplessly. One troublesome child, and he had raised an even more troublesome Ninja Dog. Was there anything more miserable in this world? There was. The gradually growing Anko had also begun to show signs of becoming a little tyrant. She had now conquered Konoha Main Street and become the leader of the children... the big sister. She had followers everywhere, and whenever she went out, crowds surrounded her. She was more imposing than him, the Anbu Captain.

"Got it, Uncle Zixiao! I'm going to sleep now."

Because they had done something bad, Duke and Hades did not dare say much. One man and one dog hastily said goodnight and ran to the guest room, leaving Mitarashi Shixiao with half his sentence unfinished.

Mitarashi Shixiao had wanted to tell Duke about his Jonin Instructor, but Duke gave him no chance. Zixiao stood alone in the wind for a moment before raising his head toward the round moon in the sky. He sighed with emotion. The eagle had spread its wings. As a guardian, it was time to let go.

Originally, he had asked Orochimaru, one of the Sannin and someone he was on good terms with, to take Duke as a disciple. However, Orochimaru refused, saying that he had no plans to accept disciples in the coming years. At the same time, Orochimaru promised that after Anko graduated, he would consider taking her as his disciple. Fortunately, the Third Hokage was generous and had arranged a Jonin Instructor for Duke. Though the man was still young, he was quite capable, refined and courteous, and the prized disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Sannin.

After bickering with Hades for a while in the guest room, Duke turned over and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be his first day meeting his Jonin Instructor, and he could not be late. With no one paying attention to him, Hades boredly rolled around a few times, made himself a nest in Duke's blanket, yawned repeatedly, and fell asleep.

In the darkness, inside the familiar dream, Duke did not linger. He strode down the gray path and soon met the other two. Since their first meeting, the three of them had often gathered in their dreams, and each of their strengths had steadily increased. But this time, there were two additional figures... More accurately, two birds and beasts. One bird and one beast.

"You're the last one. Come look, the new Dukes are here!" Navy Duke called out, pointing at a large icy-blue bird and a small dinosaur with sharp fangs and claws that stood on its hind legs. The icy-blue bird closely resembled the Azure Luan described in myths, especially its long tail feathers, which fluttered like silk. The little dinosaur had intricate magical tattoos on its belly, and runes were carved into the horn on its head. It looked to possess a noble bloodline and was quite extraordinary.

"Reborn as a Bird in Another World" and "Reborn as a Beast in Another World"? Hokage Duke could not process it for a moment. He had thought crossing into Soul Society and becoming a soul was already absurd enough. He had not expected that someone could transmigrate into birds and beasts too. This was really scraping the bottom of the barrel...

At least none of them had become minotaurs. Thank goodness!