Nihonshu had one interest that trumped his desire to train. He loved animals. Animals had absolutely no predetermined prejudices toward any one person or another. They loved and cared for anyone willing to give them that exactly same ruse to begin with. Nihonshu may have been emotionally wrought when it came to the likes of human beings and people in general but he loved animals and there kindness. Nihonshu had taken a job helping out at one of Sunas many homely little Dog pounds. The job wasn't the highest paying, it didn't really help his progress as a shinobi at all, but Nihon felt that it was a righteous thing to help those who cannot help themselves. Dogs were a good start.

As he passed through the streets on a... Less than appealing path to him, right through the main crowd he felt the sun beating down. It was especially hot today. He was getting a bit sweaty. He pulled out his water to grab a drink but then halted. Over in the distance a little ways a stray German shepherd lay on the street corner, motionless. Nihon's eyes turned wide..

"Not a dead dog, not a dead dog, not a dead dog ...please not a dead dog" he thought in his head frantically.

His worst fear: The dead. Nihonshu had taken up medicine as a direct result to his dislike of the dead and death itself. He had no compassion for human or animal life or anything like that. Just the idea of a rotting, festering corpse really just tore into Nihon's emotions like a stray knife.

He rushed to the animals side to notice it still breathing, he sighed in relief. He wouldn't have been able to handle this otherwise. He poured his water into his hand and offered it to the dog. It lapped it up lazily. It was obviously weak from dehydration. Nihon hoisted it up and carried it in his arms like a baby. It couldn't have been too old, it certainly wasn't full grown.  Nihonshu entered the building and as he did the pound owner burst from the place in a hurried rush to go on about his day.

"Instructions are posted on the wall! Have a nice day, take care!" The owner shouted to him as he arrived, dog in arms.

Nihon set the dog down and scruffier it's head. Then he looked to the list.

1. Play-time, let out the back door.
2.Feed
3. Free to leave

"Well, damn then, I suppose we have a very short appointment together dogs." Nihon said, speaking to them as equals. "I imagine its time you guys to get some exercise, let's go play."

He unlocked each cage as he stared down at all of the different mixed breeds and different colored animals. About 20 of them to be exact and as he opened the door they all took off into a dead sprint. They looked so happy and graceful as they played. Nihon remained seated on the porch as the mutts ran rampant in the fenced in back lot. The newly rescued Shepherd lay beside Nihon, fatigued, unwilling to play with the rest in his tiredness.

Nihon reached down and petted the guy gently.

"You'll get better guy. You'll be having a good time in no time around here!" Nihonshu said this with enthusiasm. The dog responded to the enthusiasm with a wag of his tail.

It wasn't long before Nihonshu got the animals all fed and locked back into the appropriate cages. It was time for closing.

This was a life Nihon could adapt to. He was even considering taking this up as a permanent job.

626/600(Complete)