This is an AU, and more friendship based, there might be some hints but nothing over dramatic, you have been warned.

Chapter 1: Obtuse

Earlier

There was no alcohol involved.

He was really wishing that there was, because right now he was trying to understand how he even had thought he could beat Shino at Scrabble. But that wager, had made it so damn tempting, he couldn't turn it down.

10 dares that couldn't be turned down, and once that wager was mentioned, well Kiba had already thought of 20. So he had accepted and both had settled into a friendly game of scrabble.

After some time in and Shino's ability to spell words like tyrannical, fanaticism, discontinuous, conspicuous, and intransigent, Kiba realized he had made a mistake. Only he could never run from a challenge, especially one against Shino. He glared at the glasses wearing afro ninja, who simply gave him a half smile and triumphant eyebrows.

"I have won, Kiba." He voiced slowly, savoring the words as they left his lips.

Kiba could only glower in defeat and wonder if maybe he should read more, or at least opened a dictionary. He leaned back in his seat.

"So, let's just get this over with." He snapped, his good mood leaving, he was a poor loser, but who could blame him, losing to Shino made nearly everyone lose any form of sportsmanship. Shino gave a brief nod, and reached into his pocket, a perfectly fold piece of paper was retrieved. Shino handed him the paper, the same way others hand off their first born to family, with care and pride at what they had created. That was why Kiba snatched the paper away, and nearly ripped it in his anger. He read the dares, all 10 of them, each something he had sworn he would do.

"You got to be shitting me!" Kiba screeched. "Some of these will defiantly fucking kill me!"

"I suppose." Shino stated calmly. "Though, just this once, I will allow you to refuse, but in doing so…" Shino paused on purpose ensuring he had Kiba's attention. "You will have to admit I am always…triumphant."

After a few minutes of silence and the two of them staring at each other, Kiba grumbled under his breath and stood. "I'll do 'em, cause I got honor." He snapped, cursing under his breath.

…

Present

Dare 1: Cut a lock of Neji's Hair

Kiba was a ninja.

He kept on repeating that to himself as he approached the Hyuga compound; he felt that little sense of common sense return, trying very hard to tell him not to do this, listing all the reasons why he shouldn't. But another part of him just demanded loudly that he had to, or he'd be considered a coward and knowing Shino he'd never let this go, it would be something he'd bring up over and over, ultimate proof that Kiba was not and never would be at the same level as the oh so great Shino. Of course his inner struggle was quickly ended when a hand on his shoulder and a soft voice snapped him out of it.

He'd go to his grave swearing that he didn't jump and let out a manly gasp of surprise, anyone who said otherwise would be silenced. His other, more likeable teammate was staring at him with amusement, surprise and concern. He stared back knowing that part of him wanted to blurt out everything that Shino did so she'd go and save him, not that he needed it.

"Kiba-kun, are you alright?" she asked softly, he mentally marked it down that today must be a very good stress free day for her, she wasn't stuttering. He nodded, knowing as she stared at him, she was reading every little expression on his face, and he didn't realize he was holding his breath, praying that she didn't realize he was here because he had done something stupid. "Did you stop by to visit?" she asked that calm voice again, he didn't know if he was being paranoid but he swore that she knew.

"Yes." He answered quickly, relaxing when she smiled, probably chalking up his behavior to being a male teenager. "I wanted to talk to you…about making me a cream…cause I don't want...pimples.." he concluded sounding so unsure, her eyes narrowed slightly, years of being on the same team and spending so much time relying on the other in strange lands, made her very perceptive.

"Okay." She answered making a motion to continue walking, he did. She knew to be patient, but today had been a long day, she had covered another shift, and just wanted to sleep, but from the look on Kiba's face he was in trouble and his pride wasn't allowing himself to blurt it out.

"So, how you liking being a doctor…can I call you house?" he joked.

"No." she replied with a smile, "It was a long day." She answered.

"Oh, so is Neji in?" he asked, at her side glance he continued. "I have a question for him."

She seemed to be thinking this over before answering. "He is…but from what Lee told me as I removed the kunai from the bottom of his foot, very upset." She noticed his eyes widen and his fingers slightly twitch. "I can go with you…..for moral support" she replied, her voice so soft and calm.

He nodded and found himself jabbing his hands in his jacket. Repeating that he was a ninja over and over until that small voice of common sense decided it was better to just shut up and wait for the I told you so while Hinata patched him up.

()()()()()()()()()()()

Neji was not having a good day, he had walked his cousin to work, since her father had watched the news and was again on his, she was almost kidnapped as a child and she might be again crusade. His cousin hadn't been pleased, and then when going to retrieve her, he was informed not by her but a very angry looking nurse that his cousin was taking a double shift. He had then left deciding he wasn't waiting and had sought out his teammates. It was always nice to have some type of stress reliever. So he had trained, and was greeted by Tenten and Lee who seemed amazed that he had sought them out and not the other way around.

He was fully prepared to sleep, it was a long day and tomorrow seemed to be longer, it was his cousin's day off and thanks to the news, he would be accompanying her if she left the compound. She usually did, he rolled his eyes. At least his cousin had been nice enough in apology to prepare him a tea. He had graciously taken it and was out in a few minutes.

10 minutes after Neji had drifted in to a deep sleep, a shadowy figure emerged from the shadows, crouched against the wall, simply waiting. If Neji even twitched, the shadowy figure was fully prepared to bolt and return another day. As the figure moved closer towards the sleeping Neji, there was a very subtle change in the demeanor, as the figure seemed to relax.

Kiba had smirked, the "tea" would keep Neji out like an light, he looked at the pair of scissors in his hand, it would be cleaner, now to decide how much to take without making it appear to obvious. As he neared he couldn't keep the smirk off his lips, this was too much fun. He was surprised at how soft Neji's hair was, he cut just 3 inches off, nothing anyone would notice, and stuffing the hair into his pouch he moved silently to safety.

…

Shino put on his glasses mentally cursing when he was awakened by someone knocking on his door. There was just something so annoying about being woken by a knock. "Kiba." He stated sitting up, determined not to kill his teammate, "enter."

Kiba did, and smiled a wide smile, the kind of smile that happened when he accomplished something. He placed the lock of hair on the floor. Shino adjusted his glasses and his mouth opened slightly in shock, while his eyebrows rose in uncertainty.

"You…is that?" he whispered, now moving to Kiba, unbelieving that Kiba had completed his dare.

"Yep, 3 inches of Neji's glossy soft hair." Kiba answered pride showing in his smile now.

"I will frame this." Shino whispered in awe

Kiba just looked at him, and let out a low laugh, "dude, I should get Sanin status for that." Shino smiled at that and for a moment there was peace. Just for a moment.

…

Hinata shook her head.

She shouldn't have helped but there was something about knowing that her cousin's hair was going to be cut. That just forced her into helping; it was only the right thing to do.

Kiba had stared at her with adoration when she pulled out her box of the good meds and other things she made, that he wasn't ever allowed to touch.

"You can not, can not, can not, mention my involvement." She stated as she mixed some powder with some tea.

He swore she never looked so attractive in his life, but in this one moment he just thought she was so hot.

"I won't." He replied in awe, this was Hinata, sweet, proper and boring Hinata doing something bad. "Besides I don't think anyone would believe me anyway."

She smiled at that. "Wait 10 minutes after he has finished his tea."

He nodded and wondered if she would allow him to hug her. But decided against it, she smelt sterile like the hospital. It would probably be rude if he asked her to not shower there.

"You're so fucking awesome." He stated proudly. Watching her finish, she smiled at him and walked off, leaving him alone in her room. His teammate was awesome.

Sighing to herself she drifted off, glad that tomorrow was her day off. She didn't want to miss the event that would be tomorrow. Though she would have to visit Shino and at least get some idea of what dares were being prepared.

…..

The Next Day Hyuga Compound

Neji awoke quite rested.

Only he had this strange suspicion that something was quite, no, that something was horribly wrong. He sat up and stretched, no one had come to wake him. His cousin was most likely still in the compound.

…

One of the lower house members was slightly shocked when Neji walked by, not knowing if he should speak or simply walk a little bit faster. It was no secret that Neji was a little vain about his appearance, so perhaps keeping silent was the best. After all ignorance was bliss, Neji didn't need to know that it was quite obvious one side of his hair was missing three inches of length. The lower house member decided to pass this little piece of information around, as he practically ran when Neji was no longer in his general area.

….

Neji was correct his cousin was in compound; in fact she was sitting in the main houses kitchen area, simply sipping her tea. She was a very patient person, and waiting was something she had excelled in. She knew others had noticed when her little sister entered the kitchen area, it was obvious to Hinata she was the reason Hanabi had entered when the younger girl pulled up a chair right beside her and seemed so very anxious to blurt something out. Putting her tea down the older Hyuga waited patiently for her sister to speak, and once her tea cup was firmly and safely on the table she did.

"Someone cut only one side of Neji's hair." She whispered with obvious glee. Hinata's eyes widened as her mouth opened in shock. Hanabi only smiled wider, "he hasn't realized it yet, and everyone is either stopping him from entering a bathroom or covering mirrors." She continued, nearly bouncing in her seat. "They are basically begging dad to be the one to tell him, you have to see it."

Hinata frowned and stared at her sister, her eyes watching with the experience only an older sibling or parent could master. Hanabi frowned, "it wasn't me." The younger Hyuga answered. Hinata nodded believing her younger sibling, Hanabi smiled. "Who do you think could have done that…wasn't Kiba here?" she asked lowering her voice as she leaned in closer, knowing her sister never lied.

"He was here, but it was for a personal matter and as a resident doctor in training, I cannot speak of the matter." She answered looking slightly scandalized that one of her own teammates could do this. "It might have happened during training, no one can sneak into Nejis room." Hinata added, knowing her sister was very aware of that fact, and had learned her lesson the hard way when attempting to play a harmless prank on her older cousin.

Hanabi was ready to say something when the sound of Neji screaming stopped her; she turned and ran into the hallway wondering if she had accidentally removed the blanket covering the long mirror in the hallway. It was a good thing she was nowhere near Hinata who calmly and very slowly stood, while trying to keep composed as she made her way to the hallway as well.

Neji stared horrified, his glorious hair, was uneven.

"Neji-Nissan!" Hinata gasped in horror, her hands covering her mouth while Hanabi burst into laughter. "What did you do to your hair?!" she asked.

Neji stared at them, his attention going to Hanabi as she doubled over in laughter. "You..." Neji hissed now pointing at his younger and devious cousin, "did this to me."

Hanabi stopped laughing and stared at Neji before moving to hide behind the safety of her elder sibling.

"Did not." She answered.

"You…" he repeated advancing.