Fugaku looked at the deceptively calm kittens. He was sure as soon as he needed to go somewhere, they would be wide awake and eager to explore--thus impossible to hold. He probably should have brought Mikoto with him. It would have been a nice outing for them--and Mikoto was better company than Iruka.

"I only meant to get one cat," Fugaku explained his lack of foresight. "An extra pair of hands wouldn't go amiss, thank you." Fugaku considered ladling the kitten out into Iruka's lap, but it seemed to be sleeping peacefully, so he let it be.

"How are things at the Academy?"