43 Blood Ties Shattered

A folder was dropped to the ground. "I...I'm sorry, Hana-san, but...the results don't lie. Inuzuka Tsume-sama...isn't your mother. In fact, you have no blood relation to any of the Inuzuka clan. We have found traces of Inuzuka blood that aren't matched with your own original cells, which might explain why you were able to perform…"

"Get out," Inuzuka Hana, daughter of Inuzuka Tsume and sister of Inuzuka Kiba, claimed. The doctor in question took a small step back before Hana growled at him.

"GET THE FUCK OUT!" She screamed. The doctor bowed but quickly left and closed the door. This left Hana alone on the hospital bed.

A nightmare.

This...this had to be a nightmare. That video, it wasn't true! It couldn't be true! Her mother...her mother wouldn't do that to her! It had to be a lie! Yet, Hana kept looking at the folder, and the words were not changing. That voice from the video...was taunting her, laughing at her, crushing her until she could no longer stand it. His story wasn't going away! None of it was going away!

"That's right, Inuzuka-san. Do you feel it? The dread creeping inside you? You feel it in your blood. You know I'm right. You, Inuzuka Hana, are nothing more than the byproduct of shinobi science and medicine. In the Inuzuka clan's attempts to become closer to their canine companions, you were an egg crafted from both human and canine DNA."

"You were deemed a failure along with the other two hundred subjects, but...you survived. Canine DNA and Human DNA perfectly melded within you! You...were the first of a leading breed. You were the first of what the Inuzuka clan dubbed...Dog Soldiers," The distorted voice said.

Hana stared at the television screen. No. This had to be some kind of sick joke! She was not some freak experiment! "And before you begin attempting to rationalize this statement. I have a question for you. Do you...a sixteen-year-old chunin...have a curfew on nights with a full moon?" it asked.

Hana's mind was racing faster than she could ever remember. Yes, she remembered just recently, during a full moon, that Tsume had told her to be back before the sunset. Hana didn't think anything of it at the time. Why would she? Her family always had a special dinner prepared for them on those nights. Plus, they were few and far between, so why should they matter? But...nevertheless, they did happen.

"You don't need to answer; I already know you do because it's part...of their attempt to chain you down, dog soldier-chan!" The distorted tape spoke. Hana was not sure, but she felt there was a malicious grin behind that statement.

W-What?

This was all Hana Inuzuka could think. She heard a piece of paper and a flipping sound. "Hmm, every full moon, the dinner is ribs, potpie, steamed rice, corn, lettuce, biscuits, and a nice serving of oh-so-delicious ice cream. Did I get all of that?" he asked. No. No, he didn't get all of that. He was close, but it was apparent he was missing the…

"Oh, hahaha, silly me. How could I forget your absolute favorite...lamb kabobs," the voice finished. Hana's blood ran cold. She wanted to stop the video, but her hands wouldn't move. That...was all true. Every single night, that was what her mother made. She never explained why; she only claimed it was Inuzuka tradition for her family. Hana never questioned it. Good food was good food. WHAT WAS SO UNORDINARY ABOUT THAT?! It was as if this voice was mocking her.

"My my, you certainly eat well. They must be more scared of your canine half than even I suspected. Now then, did you ever feel...sleepy after this meal?" It asked.

What? Of course, she didn't. The Inuzuka body was made to handle large quantities of meat. She was able to eat so much because of that. Sure, she didn't seem to get as tired as her mother and brother, but...that...didn't...mean…

"Ah, yes. I assume you didn't, and why wouldn't you...until you finish it with a glass of mother's homemade apple cider," it replied. Hana snarled and jumped to her feet. She was too angry. She could feel her consciousness slipping! She seemed to forget that she was talking to a TV, but she shouted.

"GET TO THE POINT DAMMIT!" She told it. She was utterly trembling. Please, get to the point. What...what did this all mean? Why was he telling her this? Thankfully, the world seemed to hear her as the voice spoke.

"You were the first successful dog soldier, Hana Inuzuka, but...you were too successful. You were too strong. You were too developed when you were born. Those who authorized the project feared that you wouldn't be able to control your canine half. So...they tempered it. What's the best way to keep a dog satisfied? Lots of meat and calcium. On nights of the full moon, your blood would awaken. You would feel more energetic than you ever felt in your life."

"That was your body readying for release, but you never received it. Your beast half was sedated, and your human half was regulated. A nice "mixture" of apple cider does the trick. You go to bed none the wiser. Perhaps in as few as five years, you would be back in an underground facility...and bred to make more dog soldiers even stronger than you once you were under control."

"Haven't you ever wondered...why you were more even-tempered than most Inuzuka? And no, Hana-chan, it's not because you were more in tune with your human side. It's because your beast half is too dangerous to let out. You are a literal bitch on a leash wagging her tail for the Inuzuka clan. There have even been some speculations by your own family members on why you need...three dogs as your partners,"

....

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