That was ... probably a good sign that he wasn't in trouble, at least, Sasuke decided cautiously. Not that he'd gotten in much trouble even as a child, but he could probably assume that having allowed his summons to be so badly trained that they would eat the neighbourhood cats was an embarrassment. Then again, Hoderi's behaviour just now had hardly been indicative of good training either, Sasuke thought sourly.

He'd have to handle the bird later -- for now, he cast about for some topic of conversation that wouldn't lead down the road of his unhappy mission record of late and mostly wished that Itachi were here to take up their father's attention.

"So -- those are for Mother?" He asked finally, gesturing in the general direction of the kittens. It was the only explanation he could think of for why his father would be out and about with baby animals.