Discharge

Leaving Laiyun in the room for the moment, Ye Fan pulled open the door, walked out, and found Hana Inuzuka, who was working.

"Are you heading back?" Hana looked at Ye Fan.

"Hua, there's something I'd like to discuss with you." Ye Fan carefully chose his words.

"Oh?" Hana smiled faintly, set down her work, and asked, "Go ahead. What is it?"

"I want to take Laiyun home to recuperate."

"Take Laiyun home?" Hana looked somewhat surprised. "Why? Laiyun has only just started to improve."

"I intend to adopt Laiyun."

"What?" Hana was startled. Seeing the seriousness on Ye Fan's face, she realized he was not joking.

"Hua, you've seen my treatment methods. Honestly, there's little point in keeping Laiyun here. I can completely heal Laiyun."

As if noticing Hana's hesitation, Ye Fan quickly added, "Laiyun's biggest problem isn't physical injury, but emotional trauma. Hua, you know how deeply Aoi's death affected Laiyun. If Laiyun stays here, it might become depressed again like last time."

Hearing Ye Fan say that, Hana could not help recalling Laiyun's half-dead state from several days ago. If that condition relapsed, it truly would be serious.

"Fine. Taking Laiyun home to recuperate may have better results." After thinking it over, Hana agreed.

After all, even if Laiyun left the animal hospital, Laiyun would still be living in her home. Once she finished work, she could still look after Laiyun.

More importantly, with Ye Fan, that idler, keeping Laiyun company, Laiyun might be able to emerge from the grief sooner.

It was already dusk, and Konoha's streets were at their liveliest.

Ye Fan walked down the street beside Laiyun, drawing quite a few looks. Many people even began shifting their conversations toward him.

"Is that Inuzuka Ye Fan? He still hasn't graduated from the Ninja Academy. His talent is far too poor."

"Many students from his class have even become Chunin. He wanders around all day like that—what on earth is he thinking?"

"The Inuzuka Clan must have quite a headache over someone like him. The other clans will definitely use him as a laughingstock."

Those harsh voices did not slow Ye Fan's steps in the slightest. Facing the last glimmer of the setting sun, he walked thoughtfully toward home.

Laiyun, following at Ye Fan's side, was deeply confused. Laiyun knew full well that Ye Fan was no useless trash, so why did he allow those people to mock him?

That question was finally asked after they returned home.

"Why waste words on people who can't see beyond their noses? Their prejudice often saves me a great deal of trouble instead." Ye Fan smiled.

The reason he could skip class every day and do whatever he wanted was precisely because, in everyone else's eyes, he was a bottom-ranker who could not even graduate from the Ninja Academy.

Arguing with them would not only waste energy, but might also make him the focus of certain people's attention. Ye Fan did not want to be watched; that would severely hinder his plans.

Woof! Woof!

At that moment, the young Ninja Hound Dark Shadow ran out of the room, wagging its tail as it darted around Ye Fan's feet.

Because both had formed Soul Contracts with Ye Fan, Dark Shadow and Laiyun quickly established a special connection. The two Ninja Hounds could communicate through thought alone.

After entering the room, Ye Fan took out several bottles and jars containing various medicines he had concocted over the past few days. They would be of great help in treating Laiyun.

"In a few days, you'll be able to begin training." Knowing Laiyun's desire for strength, Ye Fan told Laiyun the results of his examination.

Laiyun said nothing, but anticipation gleamed in Laiyun's eyes.

Before returning, Ye Fan had already spoken to Laiyun about training. Though the exact steps had not yet been fully decided, one thing was certain: after the training, Laiyun's strength would soar.

The sun had completely disappeared, and streetlights lit up across Konoha. Many ninjas who had finished their day's missions could be seen on the streets.

After completing a day of training, Kiba Inuzuka returned home looking rather dejected.

For the past few days, he had focused on training himself to hold his breath. He had thought hard work would yield results, but the outcome had dealt him a blow.

He was still far from the twenty minutes Ye Fan had mentioned. Kiba could not help wondering whether he could truly master this technique.

Why could he not see even a shred of hope?

Or had he been training in the wrong direction these past few days?

Carrying disappointment and unwillingness, Kiba listlessly opened the door and weakly called out, "I'm home!"

The instant he entered, Kiba was startled by the enormous white figure in the room. Looking closely, he saw a huge white Ninja Hound staring at him with scrutinizing eyes.

"You are..." Kiba froze for a moment, then suddenly realized. "Laiyun!"

Ever since Laiyun had returned to Konoha injured, this was the first time Kiba had seen Laiyun. Compared to how Laiyun had looked in his memories, Laiyun's body had grown much larger.

Ninja Hounds grew quickly. After all, their average lifespan was only a little over thirty years. By age, Laiyun was currently in a Ninja Hound's prime. Laiyun's body was nearly as tall as a person, large enough to carry several people with ease.

Laiyun nodded in response to Kiba.

After observing him just now, Laiyun found that Kiba was still the familiar little brat, unlike Ye Fan, who had suddenly become such a monster.

"Laiyun, I heard you were injured." Kiba seemed to forget the unpleasantness of his training. Spreading his arms, he hugged Laiyun's snowy white, fluffy body.

He still remembered riding on Laiyun's back many times and showing off before the other students at the Ninja Academy. He had always hoped Akamaru would grow up quickly and become like Laiyun, carrying him around so he could show off everywhere.

"Kiba, did you gain anything from your training today?" Ye Fan walked out of the room.

Kiba's face immediately fell. Back then, he had confidently declared that he would reach the first stage's training goal before long. Now, that goal still seemed impossibly distant.

Seeing that Kiba said nothing, Ye Fan could guess the result. "Kiba, keep working hard. Think about the benefits of possessing a Bloodline Limit. Nothing worthwhile can be gained without effort."

Ye Fan would offer encouragement at the right time. From the very beginning, he had never expected Kiba to break through quickly.

He only needed to temper Kiba's temperament a little longer. Then, Ye Fan naturally had ways to help Kiba master the technique.

Keep it up, my little brother!