up at the sky. Gin had been out in a forest in the Ohu Mountains, where he felt he would be secure. However, he was not alone, as then suddenly, 2 dogs appeared. One looked exactly like Riki with all of the scars, brown eyes, and proud look, and beside him, was a silver-and-white dog like Gin. Gin instantly recognized the dogs as Riki and Gin's grandfather Shiro. What were they doing here? Weren't they dead? "Aren't you guys dead?" Gin asked in disbelief. "We have noticed your grief, my son." Riki said, calmness in his tone. "Shiro and I want to show how proud we are of you, and that everything is alright, and that nothing is wrong." Gin looked down. "But how am I supposed to lead hundreds of dogs when I have no experience, and have an evil dog among us?" He asked. "I don't want to banish Sniper, it seems cruel." Shiro let out a sigh. "Sometimes, Gin, you have to do what's best for the pack, or group, for their safety. Based on what we have seen, Sniper can be an unsafe dog, and he is. You have to banish him, whether you like it or not, for the army's own good." He explained truthfully. "It's the only way for everyone to be safe." Riki nodded in agreement with his father. "You cannot let Sniper do any harm." He said. "You've been doing a great job as a leader, but you cannot let cruel dogs stay." Before Gin could say anything, Riki and Shiro vanished, leaving Gin with nothing. Maybe I should listen to them. He thought, and he began to head back to the base, feeling like he needed Sniper to be chased out, and not have a "trial".

However, as Gin started to head back to the base in Futago Pass, he came across something, surprising. Everyone was looking at him, and there was Chūtora, and he had puppies in his mouth. Kurotora was standing next to him. The puppies in the brown brindle Kai Ken's mouth all looked unique. 2 of them also had floppy ears, the rest had odd patterns, like speckles. "Gin." Kisaragi said, looking at Gin, and then the puppies. "These are Chūtora's offspring. He has brought them here so they can have a home. Their mother was not a soldier of Ohu, and died recently." Gin nodded and looked at the puppies, who were placed on the ground by their father. "Do they have names?" Gin then asked. Chūtora nodded. "Yes, they do. Buru and Dodo are the ones with floppy ears." He replied. "Shigure and Shōji are the ones who are speckled." Gin nodded and looked at the puppies. "They may stay, Chūtora." He decided, nodding. Chūtora smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Leader." He said gratefully before picking up his puppies and heading off. "Kurotora has a surprise as well." Cross then said, smiling. "He has his own children, named Kagetora, Harutora, and Nobutora." Kurotora smiled and stepped to the side, different-colored Kai Ken puppies dashing around, playing at their father's paws. Kagetora looked the most like his father, while Harutora had a patch on his face, and Nobutora looked slightly like Kagetora. "Where's the mother?" Hakurō then asked, tilting his head. "She's not an Ohu Soldier either." Kurotora explained. "She doesn't wish to join, either." Hakurō rolled his eyes. "Stubborn bitch." He murmured under his breath. "Hakurō!" Cross then snapped. "Don't say such things, especially in front of my children!" Ken, George, and Minnie were hiding behind their mother, afraid of the husky who had cursed under his breath. "Whatever." Hakurō said, looking back at Gin. "Well, if you accepted Chūtora's little brats, will you accept Kuro's?" Gin nodded, and smiled. "Everyone deserves a place here." He said, and Kurotora gladly guided his offspring off. Gin had completely forgotten about what Riki and Shiro had suggested he do to Sniper, and he remembered. "Is anyone in favor of Sniper?" He then asked, looking at everyone. No one nodded, but everyone shook their heads. "We are not." Akame then said, breaking the silence. "I need some dogs to help me chase him out." Gin then said, looking around. "Would anyone want to help me?" After a bit of discussion, some dogs began to seem eager to do so. "I will!" Wilson, the collie who had tried to kill Tesshin, Kurojaki's son, a while ago, offered. "So will I." Akame said, narrowing his eyes. "As will I!" Moss said in a brave way. "You're far too dangerous." Gin murmured, before waiting for everyone else's answers. "I'll help." Bill said, with a grim smile. "Me too." John said, and Hakurō offered as well despite having 3 legs after getting his one leg torn off by the Ten Fighters of the Underworld. "Alright." Gin said. "All of you may come with me." The dogs who had volunteered to help Gin chase out Sniper gladly followed him to where Sniper's den was.

As they reached Sniper's den, Gin's companions began growling, wanting to ambush the den. "Get out, asshole!" Hakurō snapped. "Yea! Stop being a coward!" Kisaragi had taunted. The husky had decided to join them after a moment's hesitation. Gin silenced his companions and then backed away so Sniper could emerge, and when he did, his eyes were full of questioning. "What is this?" He demanded, narrowing his eyes. "You're being chased out for the crimes you committed." Gin explained coldly. "Everyone, get moving!" Almost instantly, the dogs began nipping and biting at Sniper, pushing him forward, forcing him to run. Sniper began to run, and he looked back at Gin. "You'll regret this, Riki's son!" He snapped, and then he was never seen again as he dashed off into the distance. Gin watched, and then looked at his comrades. "That was easy." Wilson murmured. "Sniper's weak, apparently." Hakurō said, Kisaragi nodding in agreement. Gin felt some regret, but Riki and Shiro had wanted this, therefore, so be it.

---

Gin yawned as he began to wake up. When he woke up, all he heard were puppies squeaking, and he had known those squeaking puppies were Chūtora's and Kurotora's. Kagetora was playing with Ben and Cross's puppies, mainly Ken and George. "I'm still young, but too old to play games like that." Gin murmured. He felt as though being a leader had made him more mature and shaped him into nearly a Riki behavioral clone, and Gin felt bad about it. He didn't want to play with puppies really, and he was more strict, and more focused on patrols and the Ōu Army being safe. "Are you alright Gin?" Cross had asked, noticing the young akita's seemingly melancholic behavior. Gin then looked up and faced Cross. "Yea, I'm fine." He replied. "It's just...I've changed, ever since chasing out Sniper, becoming supreme commander, I've been...different." Cross then cracked a smile. "Gin, that's a very good thing." She said. "All leaders are supposed to be like that." She then perked up as she heard squeals coming from nearby and headed over, noticing Ken and Kagetora playing. "They've been getting along lately." Cross said with somewhat pride. Gin smiled as he looked at them, but he had never played with his siblings before. Hiyan and Giyan always wanted to, but after Gin left, and during Gin's training with Gohē, Gin never got the chance to play with them. "Do you miss your family?" Cross then asked. "Of course I do!" Gin snapped. "I never even got to do anything with my brothers, all because of me leaving early, exploring, going on adventures with Daisuke, and Gohē training me!" Cross was stunned by the young akita's behavior. "I understand." She said sweetly, calming down. "No need to be upset or angry." Gin began breathing roughly, looking around. "Do you know where the platoon leaders are?" He then asked, calming down. "Indeed I do." Cross replied with a smile. "Great, where?" Gin asked, getting to his paws. "Over there." Cross replied, pointing with her tail to a cave. Gin recognized it as where most of the platoon leaders lived, and discussed things, or held meetings with their platoons. Terry had recently died, killed by bears while fighting Kisaragi, and therefore Gin was still planning on who to replace him.

As Gin got closer to it, he looked around and thought he saw no one until the familiar brown-and-black head of Ben peeked out. Ben, the 1st platoon leader, had been poisoned by makibishi spikes when they had went to Mie Prefecture and encountered Akame and the Iga Clan, and the after effects had not been good. It had included Ben going blind, and Cross had to help "be his eyes". "Oh, hello Ben." Gin warmly greeted. Ben had trouble finding Gin for a few moments before finally looking at the akita. "Hello Gin, what is it you need?" He then asked. "Do you know where the other platoon leaders are?" Gin asked. Ben nodded and "looked" behind him, and nodded. "They're over there." He replied. Gin nodded and headed deep inside the cave. Inside, he found Great, Smith, Karasu, and Luke. Gin couldn't help but miss Terry being in here, and he disliked the emptiness the cave had, being Riki had not added more platoon leaders. "Are any of you accepting new dogs into the ranks as platoon leaders?" Gin queried, looking around. "I am!" Smith replied