The Dog-Cat Dispute (Little Orange Was a Bit Like Shin-chan)

"It's definitely there." The little orange cat's eyes lit up. "White dogs are royalty in the Dog Clan, and royalty must be in the tribe's territory."

How did you know?

"My mom told me," the little orange cat puffed out its chest, "She talked a lot about the Dog Clan."

"But we don't know where our tribe's territory is."

"I know." The little orange cat said this with its tail held high, as if it were a little proud, but that pride quickly disappeared.

Uchiha Toru's voice broke in. "You want to come with us?"

"Um."

"Why?" Uchiha Toru's gaze fell on the little orange cat, scrutinizing it.

The little orange cat took a half step back, feeling his gaze. "Because—because I have to go save my people."

Uchiha Toru's brow twitched slightly.

"But my mom won't allow it." The little orange cat's ears drooped. "She says fighting is the big cats' business, and the kittens should stay in their dens."

"Where's your mom?" Shin-chan looked around. "Does she know you ran away?"

The little orange cat's eyes darted to the left, then to the right, but it didn't answer.

Uchiha Toru sighed, "Go back."

The little orange cat's ears drooped completely. It turned around, took two steps into the bushes, then stopped and looked back at them.

That look in his eyes was exactly the same as when Shin -Shin-chan Miya.

Uchiha Toru didn't look at it again and turned to continue walking forward.

Shin-chan followed, took a few steps, and then looked back.

The little orange kitten was still crouching in the same spot, a tiny orange ball.

"Xiao Che."

"Um.

"It's still watching us."

"I know."

It looks so pitiful.

Uchiha Toru didn't reply, nor did he stop walking.

Shin-chan glanced back again, then turned back, walked a dozen steps with his head down, and suddenly stopped.

"Xiao Che."

Uchiha Toru also stopped, but did not turn around.

Let's take it with us.

"No."

"Why?"

"We can't even guarantee our own safety," Uchiha Toru's voice was calm. "Bringing a kitten along will only complicate matters further."

Shin-chan -chan opened his mouth, but no words came out.

After walking about fifty meters, Uchiha Toru stopped.

Shin-chan almost bumped into his back.

"What's wrong?"

Uchiha Toru did not answer.

Shin-chan followed his gaze and looked back.

The little orange cat peeked half its head out from behind a rock, noticed them watching it, and quickly scurried back inside.

Uchiha Toru stared at the stone, remaining silent for several seconds.

"Come out."

There was no movement behind the rock.

We've already seen you.

A few seconds later, the tips of orange ears first peeked out from the edge of the stone, then the head, and then the whole cat.

The little orange cat came out, head down. "I was just... going that way."

Uchiha Toru looked at it and sighed.

"May I have your name?"

The little orange cat raised its head, its eyes lighting up. "Little Orange."

Shin-chan leaned closer to look at it. "It really looks like an orange."

Little Orange's ears twitched; feeling embarrassed by being stared at, she instinctively turned her head to the side.

"You can follow along," Uchiha Toru said, "But there are two things."

Little Orange's ears immediately perked up.

"First, if you encounter danger, hide behind me."

Little Orange nodded vigorously.

"Secondly, don't run around, and don't leave my sight."

Little Orange nodded vigorously again.

The two people and the cat continued walking.

As they passed a meadow, Little Orange slowed down, her nostrils flaring.

"What's wrong?" Uchiha Toru stopped.

"The scent of the Dog Clan." Little Orange tilted its head back and sniffed. "Very strong."

Uchiha Toru placed his hand on the Kunai.

How much further?

"It's not far," Little Orange said. "It's just over there in the valley."

Can you smell how many there are?

The Little Orange sniffed again, its ears tucked back uneasily. "Lots."

How much is "a lot"?

"It's—" Little Orange thought for a moment, "... more than I've ever counted."

Uchiha Toru was silent for a few seconds, then squatted down and stretched his hand out to Little Orange.

Little Orange instinctively shrank back a little.

"Come up."

The Little Orange blinked at him.

"You're walking too slowly, I'll carry you and we'll walk faster," Uchiha Toru said. "Get on my shoulder."

The Little Orange carefully stretched out its paw and placed it on Uchiha Toru's arm, then climbed up the arm and squatted down on his shoulder.

The trees along the road are becoming increasingly sparse.

"It's just ahead," Little Orange said in a low voice, "You'll see it once you cross that slope."

95

Uchiha Toru slowed his pace, moving forward while keeping close to a protruding rock.

Shin-chan followed behind, his head still unable to resist peeking out from the edge of the rock.

Below the slope was a wide, open valley, teeming with dogs.

Several dogs on the edge of the valley sniffed intently toward the hillside and began to look around.

Uchiha Toru pressed Shin-chan's head down and squatted down. "Be careful they don't smell us."

"Wait a minute." Little Orange rummaged through the small cloth bag she always carried with her.

What are you looking for?

"My mom gave it to me." Little Orange buried almost her entire head in the bag. "She said to take it with her when she goes out, so she can use it if she encounters Dog Clan —I found it."

It took a small ball of cloth out of its bag and placed it on the ground; it was full of leaves it didn't recognize.

"What is this?" Shin-chan leaned closer to take a look.

"My mom said that if you chew this up and apply it to your body, the Dog Clan won't be able to smell it."

95

Uchiha Toru picked up a leaf, held it to his nose, and smelled it; he couldn't smell anything.

Are you sure it will work?

My mom said it worked.

Uchiha Toru was silent for a moment, then looked at Little Orange: "Why didn't you take it out just now?"

Little Orange tucked her ears back, her eyes darting to the left and then to the right.

"I forgot."

"Forgot?"

"Well—I didn't think of it at first, and I didn't think of it later either." Little Orange's voice trailed off. "I only suddenly remembered it when I saw those dogs stand up."

Uchiha Toru suddenly felt a sense of familiarity; he had heard similar words before.

And I've heard it many times.

Uchiha Toru turned to look at Shin-chan and sighed silently.

The Little Orange chewed the leaf, then spat out a little, dipped it in its front paws, and smeared it on its face and ears.

Uchiha Toru and Shin-chan did as instructed, applying the chewed leaves to their arms and necks.

In the ravine, the dogs' noses twitched again, and finally they wagged their tails and lay down again.

"It works," Uchiha Toru said in a low voice.

Little Orange's chest has become noticeably fuller.

"My mom said..."

Little Orange's words were cut short.

The bushes ahead rustled, the branches parted, and a dark gray shadow emerged from within.

Gray Ridge glanced at them. "Looks like you're alright."

The Little Orange arched its body, as if it might pounce at any moment.

Uchiha Toru's hand hung at his side, less than an inch from the Kunai.

Gray Ridge saw the movement but made no reaction.