"Dad!"
Tatsuya and Kanna hug Izuna in a warm embrace. Their little hands wrap around his neck and Kanna giggle and plants a kiss on Izuna's cheek.
"Tatsuya, Kanna!" Izuna ruffles their hair and a warm smile appears on his face.
"Dad is back!"
Mm…
Tatsuya and Kanna snuggle in his embrace. A smile appears on Aiko's face as she notices the glee in Izuna's eyes.
"Come eat breakfast with us! I made your favourite food."
"Mm…" Izuna nods at his mother and turns towards the entrance of the house.
"I am not alone. A friend came with me!"
Aiko glances at the entrance and notices Seiryū calmly standing at the gate. Seiryū has a regal look on his face. He faintly smiles at Izuna's meeting with his mother as he recalls his mother.
He didn't have many memories of his mother since she passed shortly after birthing his younger sister. But he still fondly remembers the few days he spent with his mother. Those were the only moments of familial warmth in his memories. His father, being the leader of the clan, didn't show many emotions on his face. There was never any display of joy, affection, or any other such emotion on his father's face.
As the head of the clan, he places the clan before his family or he rarely spent any time with his family. The attendants met almost all of their needs.
"Oh! A friend!"
Aiko smiles at Seiryū and invites him inside the house.
"Please come in!"
Izuna also nods at him.
"Then, thanks for the invite, Aunty. I will trouble you!" Seiryū warmly smiles at Aiko and gently bows to her.
The fragile-looking old woman in front of him isn't worth the attention of a prince of the astral demon clan. Not just her, but every being in this world is as lowly as insects in his eyes. For a divine being like him, the mortal holds nothing but momentary fascination, and the current war in this world is just a source of amusement for him.
However, he has long since discarded his identity as the prince of the Astral Demon clan. Currently, he is nothing more than a friend of Izuna and as a friend; he has to pay proper due respect to the latter's mother.
"Ah!" Aiko is stunned by the majestic vibe of the man in front of her. She glances at Izuna from the corner of his eyes to inquire more about his friend.
Izuna notices the subtle hint in her eyes, thanks to his powerful senses. He chuckles and introduces the latter.
"Mom, this is my friend Seiryū. He holds a noble identity and is a prince of a distant place. During these past three years, when I was missing, he helped me a lot." Izuna gives a superficial introduction to Seiryū's identity.
He didn't want to create a scene by revealing Seiryū's true identity.
"Oh! No wonder he has such a magnificent aura around him." Aiko nods at him and didn't pay much attention to the matter.
Izuna enjoys the homemade food cooked by his mother after such a long time. Even Seiryū enjoys the food prepared by Aiko.
"Mmm… Aunty, I have never eaten anything delicious like this. Not only your beauty but even your cooking is so outstanding." Seiryū drinks a spoonful of miso soup.
To him, the taste of the food doesn't matter; only the intention behind the genuine nature of her hospitality, which is free from any power struggle or political matter.
Seiryū enjoys the simple breakfast of steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish and omelette while Izuna asks a series of questions from Aiko. He didn't mention anything about the war or the whereabouts of the rest of his family.
His senses have already scanned the entire planet, and he is aware of everything that's happening in the war. The struggle of the allied shinobi force, the ambush of the Zetsu army, the counterattack of Raikage's platoon, the grim expression on Onoki's face and the heroic expression of Mei. He even notices his father, Akira, bravely facing a group of Edo Tensei.
'Well, they aren't a match for Dad and from the looks of it, the Allied Shinobi force will definitely win today's battle.'
After breakfast, Izuna plays with his kids for the entire afternoon.
"Tatsuya, Kanna! Dad will take you both to a very amazing place."
"OHH!" Tatsuya and Kanna stare at him with glowing eyes.
"But first…"
Izuna glances at the shadow of the kids.
"It's been a while, Roen." He calls the name of his wolf summon Roen.
Awooh…
A giant white wolf jumps out from the shadows and bows in front of Izuna.
"Master!"
"WOAH! Amazing!"
Tatsuya and Kanna stare at the giant body of Roen in amazement.
"Onii-chan, it jumped out of the ground!"
Kanna points towards the ground beneath their feet.
"Really?!"
Tatsuya taps the ground with feet.
A smile appears on Izuna's face from the innocent antics of his kids. He turns towards Roen and opens his mouth.
"Roen, it has been almost nine years since that fateful day. It's long past the duration of our summoning contract. In these past few years, I am sure you came to see the world around you in a new light. Now, today, I release you from the shackles of our contract and you are free to do whatever or wherever you want to go."
"Ma-master!" Roen's eyes tear up at Izuna's words.
"You were right! All these years, I saw and felt a lot of unfamiliar things in this world. The black-and-white world has become more colourful. It was all thanks to you. So, master, let me continue to serve beside you and protect these little ones."
Izuna notices the love and cares in Roen's eyes for Tatsuya and Kanna.
"Very well! Then allow me to change the old summoning contract."
Izuna bites his thumb and drops a drop of blood.
Fwoosh…
The blood group falls on Roen's forehead and a giant fuinjutsu seal with numerous complicated runes and hieroglyphs appears around Roen.
AWOOO…
Roen howls with joy as his body glows with resplendent white light. Roen's giant body shrinks after the glow diminishes. His white fur gains a majestic glow and his body exudes a kingly aura. After obtaining Izuna's blood, Roen evolves further and comes to share an intricate bond with him.
"With this new contract, I will give you a new fitting name for your current state. From today onwards, you will be FENRIR!"
"FENRIR!"
AWOO…
Roen releases a joyful howl and licks Izuna's face.
"Alright! Alright!" Izuna pushes him away.
"Dad!" Kanna and Tatsuya tip-toes to Izuna.
Izuna lowers his head and allows both of them to hug his neck. Both of them stare at Fenrir with shining bright eyes. Izuna easily understands their intention and turns towards Fenrir.
"I am sure you came to understand that I don't need your help anymore. However…"
"Yes, Master!"
Fenrir turns towards Tatsuya and Kanna.
"Tatsuya, Kanna! Do you want to pet and hug him?" Izuna chuckles and asks the two little critters.
"Can we?" both of them asks him with glowing eyes.
"Of course, you can!" Izuna didn't resist the temptation and hugs them both in his embrace.
"Both of you close your eyes for a second." Izuna gently covers their eyes.
"Like this!" Tatsuya and Kanna place their little hands around their eyes.
"Yes!"
Izuna gently pricks their hand with their knowledge and quickly heals the little wound. He sends two drops of blood towards Fenrir and signs a contract on their behalf.
"Alright! You two can open your eyes."
Both kids open their eyes and glance at Fenrir. They feel a sensation of closeness to Fenrir and quickly jump from Izuna's embrace and hop onto Fenrir's back.
Awoo…
Fenrir howls and ferries the two around the backyard.
"Yay!"
Both of them enjoy the ride on Fenrir's back. Izuna returns to his mother's side who arrived in the backyard a few moments ago.
Both of them smile at the antics of their child. Seiryū had already left for the place Izuna previously mentioned to him.
"It's such a beautiful sight!" Aiko wipes her tears as she stares at the figure of Tatsuya and Kanna.
"Yes, it is!"