Fatimals

Fat animals, generally pets.

"Pakkun, this isn't a really easy thing to say, but I think someone needs to point it out." Kakashi scratched the back of his head, something that his ninja dog had taken to mean he was embarrassed or nervous, and didn't want to be standing in front of the small pug having this conversation. Pakkun tilted his head to the side, but didn't interrupt. "I'm putting you on an extra exercise routine."

"I...don't understand, boss." Pakkun tilted his head a little more, studying Kakashi with a keen eye. Another scratch to the head – still nervous.

"I'm putting you on an extra exercise routine. Walking or jogging three times around the village."

"Oh, okay." After a long, awkward silence where both Kakashi and Pakkun found interest in anything but each other, Pakkun coughed to clear his throat and break the fog-like silence around them. "Um...can I ask why?"

Kakashi sighed and glanced up at the sky. He wasn't scratching his head, but by the tilt of his eyebrow, Pakkun concluded that he was no less embarrassed than before.

"Pakkun..." The name was said with such hesitancy that the pug wasn't sure he wanted to hear what came next. "You're becoming a fatimal."

Pakkun's rather expressionless-face didn't give away his surprise. "A what?"

"A fatimal."

"And a fatimal is..."

"A fat animal."

There was another, much longer and much more awkward pause where Pakkun stared down at his paws. Sure, he had put on a bit of weight, but was it really that noticeable? His short legs were looking a little chubby, and the blue material tied around his stomach was feeling a little tight lately. And maybe that food remark made by the snooty Pomeranian down the street was aimed at him instead of the scrawny bloodhound, as the rest of the ninken convinced him.

Kakashi looked down at his surprisingly chubby pug with a bit of pity. The dog obviously hadn't known about this before – although how he didn't know about it was beyond him – and there was a look of confusion in the way his eyebrows drew together on his chubby, chubby face.

"Do I have to give up that food you get from the pet store by the Academy?" Pakkun suddenly asked, worried about giving up his favorite treat.

Kakashi suddenly smiled at the little dog, relieved that he wasn't going to have to force the pup into an exercise routine against his will.

"If you exercise, you can keep the food."