Under the leadership of Nagashima, Kakashi and his team arrived at the campsite in front of the dog kennel. Inside, dozens of sled dogs rested in the kennel, which had been reinforced against the cold winds.
Nagashima gestured towards the structure. "This is where we keep our sled dogs."
Standing before the kennel, Kakashi quickly formed hand signs and slapped the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!".
As the smoke from the jutsu cleared, a brown pug wearing a Konoha forehead protector appeared.
"Yo, Kakashi," the pug greeted in human language, turning toward Kakashi with a slightly annoyed expression. "What's the big idea summoning me to this frozen wasteland?"
"Yo, Pakkun," Kakashi replied with a casual wave. "Sorry about the cold, but we need your help."
Nagashima and Sandayū, standing nearby, couldn't hide their shock. They instinctively took a step back. "This dog... it can talk!" Sandayū exclaimed.
The pug glanced at the two startled men, his expression deadpan. "How rude," he drawled. "I'm not just a dog; I'm a ninja hound. There's a big difference, you know."
But... isn't it still a dog?
Meanwhile, Nadare narrowed his eyes as he observed Kakashi, who was noticeably shorter than him.
This guy... Most chunin-level ninjas focusing on self-reliance wouldn't prioritize Summoning jutsu in their training.
He couldn't help but notice how smooth Kakashi had performed the jutsu. And the casual way Kakashi greeted his summoned beast suggested this was a regular occurrence during missions.
Would Konoha really send a support ninja who relies heavily on summoning this far to handle a mission alone?
Oblivious to Nadare's scrutiny, Kakashi turned to make introductions. "This is Pakkun, a ninja hound," he explained to Nagashima and Sandayū. "These two are the clients for our mission."
"Hello," Pakkun raised his left paw in greeting, then quickly lifted his rear from the cold snow. "Now, Kakashi, care to explain why you've brought me to this ice box?"
"We need your help communicating with the sled dogs. There's a team missing in the northern region, and we think the dogs might have some information."
Pakkun sighed, his breath visible in the cold air. "Always work with you, isn't it? Fine, let's get this over with. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can get back to my warm bed."
The pug waddled towards the kennel, eyeing the larger black-and-white dogs with a hint of disdain. "Oh, a bunch of puppies, huh," he muttered. "No problem, watch me."
As Pakkun approached the kennel, Kakashi couldn't help but twitch his brows. Aren't you a dog too? And aren't you much smaller than those sled dogs?
Pakkun stood in front of the kennel and began barking at the sled dogs. "Alright, you overgrown pups, let's have a chat."
Bark, bark bark.
The sled dogs, initially wary, soon gathered around Pakkun. They tilted their heads, responding with curious whines.
Pakkun turned back to Kakashi. "They're listening, but they're not too bright. What do you want to know?"
Kakashi stepped forward. "Ask them why they refuse to head north."
Pakkun turnend back to the sled dogs. Another series of barks ensued, this time met with whines and growls from the larger dogs. Their ears flattened against their heads, and some even retreated further into the kennel.
"They say there's a bad smell coming from that direction, and they don't want to go," Pakkun translated their response.
Kakashi quickly instructed Nagashima to fetch the fossilized meat chunk they had found earlier. Presenting it to the sled dogs, he asked, "Pakkun, ask them if this smell is coming from this."
Pakkun barked the question, and the sled dogs sniffed the air cautiously. After a moment, they responded with a single, definitive bark.
"No," Pakkun translated. "Whatever they're smelling, it's not this."
"Can you convince them to take us to the place where the bad smell is coming from?" Kakashi asked.
Pakkun barked a few more commands, but the reaction was immediate and clear. The sled dogs recoiled, retreating further into their kennel. "They don't want to," Pakkun reported, though the dogs' body language made it obvious even without translation.
Just as Kakashi was about to suggest another approach, a large dog from the back of the kennel came forward. It barked a few times at Pakkun, who suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"What did it say?" Kakashi asked, noticing the change in Pakkun's demeanor.
Pakkun hesitated, looking slightly annoyed. "It said..."
"What did it say?" Kakashi pressed.
Pakkun sighed, clearly embarrassed. "It said I'm cute. If I stay in the kennel for a bit, they'll agree to go."
"Huh?"
No one had expected such a request from the sled dogs. But as the initial surprise wore off, it started to make sense. Sled dogs were large breeds, primarily bred for pulling sleds. They probably rarely saw small dogs like Pakkun.
"This..." Pakkun began, clearly uncomfortable with the idea.
"Pakkun, I'm sorry, but it seems you'll have to do this," Kakashi said, his tone gentle but firm.
"But I..." Pakkun protested weakly.
"This is for the mission, Pakkun," Kakashi reminded him. "Ninja hounds are here to help ninjas complete their missions. You're a good ninja hound, Pakkun."
Pakkun grumbled under his breath but nodded reluctantly. "Fine, but you owe me for this, Kakashi."
As the brown windbreak curtain fell over the kennel's entrance, the sound of barking echoed from within. Kakashi could only imagine what was happening inside, but he trusted Pakkun to handle the situation.
Back at the camp, Kakashi explained his plan to the team. "Although the sled dogs can't track the scent of the exploration team directly, they can locate the origin of the bad smell," he began. "I believe this ice field isn't ordinary. There must be something unusual deep within the northern region, emitting the smell the dogs dislike."
"The fossilized meat chunk wasn't the source, which means the smell likely comes from the cave where the exploration team made their discovery. If we follow this scent, it might lead us to the team."
Sandayū nodded, understanding dawning on his face. "And we need the sled dogs because..."
"Exactly," Kakashi confirmed. "Without them, our pace across the ice would be too slow. Using the dogs is essential for speed and survival in this terrain."
"As expected from a Konoha ninja," Nagashima said, clearly impressed. "You came up with a plan so quickly."
"At this rate, we might find the exploration team today," Sandayū added, hope evident in his voice.
While the group praised Kakashi, Nadare turned his head away, unimpressed. His skepticism was clear, but he remained silent.
After what felt like an eternity, the barking from the kennel finally subsided. The team had finished their lunch and were making final preparations for the journey ahead. They only needed the news from Pakkun.
Finally, the windbreak curtain lifted, and the kennel door opened. Pakkun crawled out, dragging his body with his front paws. He looked utterly exhausted.
"Good work, Pakkun," Kakashi said softly, kneeling beside his ninja hound. He could see that Pakkun had pushed himself to the limit.
"I can't go on, Kakashi," Pakkun panted. "I need some rest."
Kakashi nodded understandingly. "You've done more than enough. For the rest of the mission, I'll call on Urushi and the others. Get some well-deserved rest, Pakkun."
With a puff of smoke, Pakkun disappeared.