Hi minna! So I have just finished watching the latest episode of Boruto and came up with this story because I noticed that there's not a lot of love for Shino-kun. I guess this is my way to honor my favorite character and at the same time, show my appreciation to the writers for trying to incorporate the struggles of a young teacher in a seemingly difficult environment. I do admire Shino's motivation to rise up to the challenge and I do wish him luck in the future. I just hope that he believes in himself more.
So this is my first fanfiction ever. I love writing, and I'm glad that there are people who decided that this is worth a read. I appreciate feedback so that I could also improve.
Special thanks to Terracea for pointing out that I have to proofread. She even offered to help me out in my story and I really appreciate her supervision. LuciLove and Noface: thanks for leaving a message! I am motivated! Let's do this!
The sun thought that today is the best day to punish the Academy students with its rays. Despite the sweltering heat, "hot weather" unfortunately is not an acceptable excuse to cancel classes. The more the sun increased its heat, the more the children tried to find ways to sweat less. One of the tactics the children thought that they could employ is to annoy the hell out of the poor Chunin assigned to their class, Inuzuka Shouko-sensei.
The woman was a good sport in maintaining her composure, though it was pretty much obvious that she suffered in the heat as well. Imagine that, she was covered in a black long-sleeved body suit and draped with the mandatory flak jacket. She finished her outfit with black pants. The material of her clothes, Shouko realized, was the type that absorbs a lot of heat. Moments like these, Shouko wished that the Administration would allow the academy teachers to remove their flak jackets while they're on duty. But, wearing the thick flak jackets in front of the students is a must because this is proof that they are the authority. This is their uniform whether they like it or not.
Unfortunately, flak jackets do not equate respect. Children nowadays do not understand the plight Shouko had to undergo in order to arrive at the Chunin status. The children didn't seem to appreciate their teachers, but Shouko found a way to establish rapport with these kids - despite how many would think that her method is very much unethical.
See, friendship between student and teacher should remain professional. Nothing more than that should be given. But, the more Shouko delved deeper into books about Child Psychology, the more that she realized that an adult, parental, or authority figure could have a big impact on the children. Some teachers prefer to dominate the class, restricting the children freedom to create, innovate, and understand the world freely. But not Shouko. She preferred a "big sister" approach. An approach that most teachers chastised her for.
"You're being too friendly with the kids!" or "You're being too nice! You need to be harsh!"
Sigh. Well, true enough. Her "big sister" has limitations of its own, but - as evidenced by many, those who spent their Academy years under Shouko's wing performed really well. Not because they're just textbook learners, but because they experienced what they have learned in textbooks and incorporated it in real life.
Teaching geometry? Shouko would have the kids build boxes, drums, and other basic things. Literature? Shouko would have the kids role play the featured text. In short, Shouko never ran out of ideas to share in class.
This year, however, proved to be a very difficult year for the young Inuzuka. The students this year happened to be quite - for the lack of a better term - disrespectful and disobedient. One of her childhood friends, Aburame Shino, happened to moderate the most difficult class Konoha Academy has ever witnessed. Imagine that, in the first week, one of the students in his class crashed a train cabin to the side of his father's head in the Hokage monument. Shouko could remember the look on Shino's face that day. The man totally blanched like a sheet, horrified that a student of his caused trouble on the very first day. Everybody had to reassure the poor professor that it's not his fault but man, Shino was incredibly guilty and vowed to double his efforts when it comes to supervising his students.
Shouko watched the poor Aburame mulling in the corner. It was pretty obvious that he's having trouble right now, and Shouko totally understood. One day, she will totally buy Aburame-sensei a well-deserved beer. And probably treat him a bagful of meat supreme in Yakiniku-Q.
Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted the Inuzuka's thoughts. It was Ittoki, the rowdiest of them all. Shouko was very much well-acquainted with the boy's mother, and she knew very well that his mother was always up to no good. Strange enough, Ittoki's existence was proof enough that the fruit does not fall far from the tree.
"Inuzuka-sensei! Inuzuka-sensei! Is it true that you cannot kiss people because your saliva has rabies?"
Rabies? What the hell?! Shouko thought, instantly grabbing the collar of the kid. "Oi! Bakayaro! Where did you get that nonsense?!"
"M-mother told me last night," Ittoki replied.
"Hora, hora! Did you know that my mother told me the same thing?" Kana said to her friend Saya. "That Inuzuka-sensei bit her ex-boyfriend during a fight! It was so bad that he had to be taken to the hospital,"
"No way! That's not true!" Saya exclaimed, but looked at Shouko apprehensively.
"Oh, but it is! He deserved it though. Mom said that Inuzuka-sensei never really dated nice guys and had a thing for bad boys who are rude to her,"
"What? But Inuzuka-sensei seems to be the type of person who doesn't date at all! She's like... so boring as a woman!" Saya retorted. At that, Shouko's attention was caught, and she whipped her head over to the gossiping young girls.
"Psst! Girls! Inuzuka-sensei is looking at you!" Suichiro warned.
"Eep!" Saya exclaimed, slapping a hand over her mouth.
"Hey Saya! Stop spreading rumors about Inuzuka-sensei. She'll bite you if you keep that up!" Kana yelled.
Saya was outraged. "Bite me?! You're the one who started it! She'll bite you!"
"I'LL BITE THE BOTH OF YOU! SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT!" Shouko roared, baring her fangs at the mischievous girls.
"Aiyyeee!" Both girls yelled, running back to their respective training logs.
"Gosh," Shouko muttered as she put a hand to her face. The day hasn't even started yet and she's already drained. Kami, if you could just make it rain with extra thunderstorms, Shouko will believe in the idea of God once again.
But, Shouko couldn't ignore what the mothers of her students were saying about her. There's a bit of truth in that story but... Mattaku, is that what the village mothers think of me? That I bite people? That I have a habit of dating bad guys? Shouko crossed her arms and frowned. "Now that's just stupid," she said to herself. Remarks like these are very common towards the Inuzuka family. After all, they breed and train nin-dogs for battle. They very much speak the language of dogs, and yet, people think that they themselves behave like dogs.
Prejudice. Discrimination. Things like that are time-wasters. This is why achieving true peace is impossible at the moment. Village mothers who have nothing to do but create stories are so... discouraging.
SPLASH!
Shouko's nin-dog, Kanemaru, had jumped into the lake. Shouko couldn't help but notice that her dog looked like a giant mop in the water from afar. Maybe it's time to give her giant dog a trim. The kunoichi scratched the back of her head as soon as she realized that her nin-dog isn't a puppy anymore, and that trimming him would be such a pain. Then again, because of Kanemaru's devil-may-care attitude, it's easy to forget that he's already an adult. As soon as Kanemaru realized that Shouko was looking at him, he decided to greet her with a loud hello. Translated into dog-speak, a hello means a singular-yet-loud bark that echoed throughout the field.
That made Shouko smile a little. If the good Kami above truly existed and gave her a bit of Kanemaru's personality, then maybe she'll be a happier person. Happy people are such fun people to be with. One of the best people who showed her the definition of fun back when she was a young kid was the fifteen-year-old Uzumaki Naruto - who would later become the Seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Shouko looked up at the Hokage Rock and gazed at the Seventh's face. Iruka-sensei told her once that he's not the most intelligent, nor was he the most brilliant, but he was the most hardworking and resilient of them all. He fondly recalled how Naruto started from the bottom and climbed his way up. Approaching greater heights with no fear. "Okay, maybe with some fear," Iruka-sensei would joke. "But the important thing is that he overcame that fear and turned it into strength,"
Shouko's mother often discouraged her to interact with Naruto, since he was "dangerous" and "unstable". She learned almost all of the synonyms of the word "reject" whenever her mother would talk about the blond orange-clad shinobi. Once, upon seeing Shouko chatting with the boy, her mother threw a violent fit and demanded that Shouko shouldn't go near that boy ever again. This fit extended to her cousin Kiba for being part of Naruto's merry band of delinquents.
"Being friends with that kid won't amount to something good!" her mother would say to Kiba-kun.
Boy, that look on her mother's face during Naruto-kun's initiation as the Seventh Hokage was totally gold. And her cousin Kiba-kun, along with the others who tremendously believed in Naruto-kun, flourished immensely. They became the kindest and strongest people Shouko ever met, and she, just like a lot of people from the younger generation, aspired to become like them. Moreover...
"Don't let them tell you otherwise, Shouko! You're gonna be a legend someday… all you have to do is believe it!" the voice of the younger Naruto-kun encouraged, giving her his most enthusiastic smile.
Ah, yes. If you can do it, then maybe I can do it, too. Shouko responded in thought, looking slightly motivated now. All I have to do is just believe…
She felt a slight tug on the sleeve of her dark shirt, and she looked down to find a curious little girl with a very troubled expression. "So is it true, sensei? Is it true that you almost killed a person with your saliva?"
Cue another sigh, yet again. "Gosh. Ana-chan, you can't just go around believing the things other people say. Besides, whatever happened in my past is of no importance. The important thing that we must do now is to throw shuriken stars at our target so that one day we grow up to be people who don't use our teeth to fight!"
Ittoki raised his hand, but didn't wait for Shouko to acknowledge her. "So, um... you didn't answer her question,"
This finally pissed Shouko off. "Arggggh! Fine! You're asking for it! Aburame-sensei!"
Pulling himself away from a child that needed assistance, the dark-haired Chunin immediately rushed over to her side. "Hai? What is it, Inuzuka-sensei?" he asked, looking very much confused.
"Say, if I bite a student... will I get suspended?" Shouko asked.
Shino looked genuinely surprised hearing this. "Why, I suppose you will-"
Shouko glared at him.
"...not be suspended." Shino finished. Whatever that woman is planning to do, I suppose I'll play along, he thought.
"Hey kid!" Shouko pointed at the troublemaker, issuing a challenge at the poor boy. "Do you want to find out if the rumor is true or not?"
The knees of the kid started to violently wobble. "N-n-n-no! Of course not!" he replied, slowly backing away as Shouko moved closer.
The child turned to leave, but Shouko was faster. She managed to grab the back of the child's collar before he could escape.
"I-I-I'm s-s-sorry!" Ittoki managed to say, teeth violently chattering. Shino feared that if Shouko threatened him any further, he would wet his pants.
"Then stop blabbering that nonsense and get back to work!" Shouko barked and hurled the kid back to his training log. As Ittoki flew, Shouko did a graceful spin, and released shuriken stars to the wind. Before Ittoki could crash to the ground, the stars hit Ittoki's cape, and pinned him to the huge log.
When Shouko turned to her students, all of them looked pretty much amazed. Even Ittoki, despite being suspended, started to whistle with approval. Shouko couldn't help but grace her audience with a bow. Though, deep inside, she vowed never to do that again.
Shino felt his hands join in the applause. This was because he was also impressed, not only because of the younger Inuzuka's shuriken-throwing ability, but because of the way she successfully got the attention of her students.
If there's something that Shino would like to learn, it's how Shouko deals with the rowdy kids. His students housed the most intelligent minds of the Konoha Ninja Academy but still, most of them are still... children. Rowdy, attention-seeking children who use every opportunity to make things difficult for Shino. He missed the kids he used to teach when he was still around Shouko's age. Those kids were very obedient, sweet, kind, and loving towards Shino. Some of them even idolized him like a god (and even regarded insect users as "cool"). But nooo, not every audience is receptive, as evidenced by the current kids he has to handle. These kids were beyond his control. Sadly, no matter how much he tried, in the first month of Shino's governance, catastrophe occurred. He didn't like the fact that after this session of helping Shouko out, he'll have to head back to the courtyard, where he will hold classes for the time being.
"Aburame-sensei,"
Shino was deep in thought. Teaching's pretty much annoying, but he chose to walk this path, and he's not planning to back out anytime soon. One day, he'll triumph over his kids. And as soon as that day will come, Shino will consider it as the greatest accomplishment he has ever made. Hahaha. Hahaha! HAHAHAHA-
"Aburame-sensei? Oi! Aburame-sensei!" Shouko yelled, waving her hand in front of Shino's visor.
Crap, was Shouko talking to him? Shino immediately fixed his posture and instantly looked at her, clearing his throat first before speaking. "H-hai? G-gomen, I was thinking of something," he apologized.
"Yeah, you looked like you were worlds away!" Shouko said, grinning like crazy.
That made Shino's cheeks feel a little bit hot. Nobody smiled at him the way Shouko does. Seeing her smiling at him this close made him realize that she looked very much different now compared to when they were younger. Gone were the days when she wore her messy ash pink hair shaggy. The Shouko of now wore her hair neatly in a combed bob. Her eyes were rounder and brighter now, which revealed hazel orbs that matched her slightly-tanned skin - the only Inuzuka attribute that she had.
Shino remembered Kiba telling him this once: "Whoever Shouko's father was made her pretty!"
Unlike Shino, Shouko never had a chance to meet her father. It wasn't a secret that Shouko's mother was quite insistent in banning the man away from Shouko's life. She refused to reveal Shouko's origins to anyone, and was quite finalistic when she decided to tattoo her baby's cheeks with the Inuzuka clan symbol.
Shino felt his mouth tugging to a frown. He was curious how Shouko managed to become a good egg.
"Shino-kun, daijoubou?" Shouko whispered, careful that her students wouldn't hear her call him that way. "You're spacing out again,"
"Ara…" Shino began to say, putting a hand on his head. "Gomen, I just feel a little bit strange… but I'll be okay, that's because-"
Shouko held Shino's shoulders with urgency. "Shino-kun! Wari, but I really need to excuse myself because Kanemaru is chasing one of the construction workers again. In the meantime, maybe you could help Suzu out for me?"
Shino looked at the girl standing behind Shouko. She looked like she's about to cry. He doesn't like it if kids cry. "Alright..." he agreed.
"Great! Thanks so much for helping me out." Shouko gratefully expressed, releasing the Aburame from her grasp. "Anyway, I really think it's amazing that you're willing to help me out because Konohamaru-sensei can't make it today,"
"Shouko... it's not a problem at all…"
Shouko suddenly looked worried. "Shino-kun, are you crying?" she asked.
"That's absurd! Why would you say that?"
"Your nose is red all of a sudden." she replied, poking his nose.
"Y-you're mistaken!" Shino denied, covering his nose.
Shouko smiled softly. "Well, I'll make it up to you. Wanna go somewhere after class? Maybe a beer? Don't worry, my treat!"
Instead of an affirmative sign, Shino's expression suddenly turned hesitant. "Um…"
Shouko's hands flew to her lips. "Oh my gosh, you totally have other plans, don't you? Sorry for assuming otherwise…"
"No! It's okay! It's just that... Well... Kiba and I are planning to go somewhere-"
"Kiba! Right. Um, some other time then. Just let me know when you are free!"
Shino's expression turned grateful. "That would be great Shouko-sensei…"
WOOF!
A loud bark interrupted the duo, followed by the loud clang of a hammer hitting a metallic surface.
"Shimatta!" Shouko cursed, remembering the reason why she wanted to excuse herself in the first place. "Be right back, Aburame-sensei! Arigatooooooo..."
Shino smiled to himself as he watched Shouko rush over to hold her dog back from attacking the angry construction supervisor.
"Kanemaru says he won't do it again! Ne, Kanemaru?!" Shino could hear her say from a distance.
A little hand tugged on his sleeve. "Aburame-sensei, do you like Inuzuka-sensei?" came a small voice from below.
Shino was immediately flustered. "Suzu! W-w-what are y-you talking about? Of course I don't! Tonikaku, I was looking at you earlier and I noticed that you're holding your shuriken wrong. Here, hold it like this…" he said, showing the girl how to hold the metal star properly.
Suzu imitates Shino's shuriken hold, but it wasn't effective in diverting her attention from the topic. "But she's pretty... I heard she called you Shino-kun and asked you out on a date,"
"We're uh… friends since we're younger and I… I wouldn't call it asking me out on a date. It seemed like she had friendly intentions when she asked if I wanted to do something after class. Besides, I wouldn't do anything stupid…"
"Stupid? It's stupid to date Shouko-sensei?" Suzu asked.
"Iie, it's stupid to date a colleague." Shino rephrased.
"Colleague? My mom said she worked with dad plenty of times before they got married," Suzu said. "Then dad accidentally made mom pregnant with me and he was pretty much forced to marry her or else,"
What sort of a father would tell his child that?! Shino thought, but decided to not press the issue. It seemed like a sensitive thing to talk about.
"So yeah! They married each other!" Suzu finished, bumping the two shuriken she held in her hands.
"Yeah, but they had different circumstances. In this school, teachers also have rules to follow. If we don't follow these rules, then Shouko- no… Erm… Inuzuka-sensei and I will lose our jobs,"
Suzu looked genuinely shocked. "Oh no!"
"Mmm, yeah… that's why we make sure to think carefully before we act," Shino replied, thinking that this is a good opportunity to teach a child a life skill.
"Yes, Aburame-sensei is right, Suzu-chan!" a chipper voice behind Shino said. "We have to think carefully before we act! That stops us from being punished from doing stupid stuff! Look at Kanemaru, I trapped him using an earth jutsu because he tried to attack an innocent man!"
Kanemaru looked sad in his earth cage. :(
"Ah, Inuzuka-sensei, you're back," Shino acknowledged.
"Arigato once again, Aburame-sensei," Shouko said, bowing slightly.
"Um, Inuzuka-sensei, do you want to try dating Aburame-sensei?" Suzu asked, still not dropping the subject.
Shouko looked confused. "Etto... What made you ask that, Suzu-chan?"
"You're single, he's single… you guys should get together," Suzu said.
"Ehh?! But what if I told you that if - and only if - Inuzuka-sensei dates Aburame-sensei… then that would mean that I'll be away forever!"
"F-forever?" the small girl repeated, sounding a little bit distressed.
"Yep, and Aburame-sensei will take me to…" Shouko trailed off, elbowing the shinobi to continue her sentence.
"Disneyland," Shino replied. He didn't know what else to say.
"Disneyland! And we'll stay there… forever!"
"I… I don't want that!" Suzu yelled, immediately rushing over to Shouko, enveloping her favorite teacher with a hug. "Stay here Inuzuka-sensei… we don't want you to leave us,"
A crowd of children started to form around them.
"Ehh, Inuzuka-sensei is leaving?" said a boy from the back.
"What? Why?" another kid asked Suzu.
"Because Aburame-sensei will take her to Disneyland and they'll never ever come back ever again!" Suzu wailed. "WAAAAAA!"
"Oi, oi..." Shino began, trying his best to calm Suzu, but was interrupted by a child who pulled the back of his flak jacket.
"Is this true, Aburame-sensei?" The kid asked.
Shino opened his mouth to answer, but Shouko lifted a hand to stop him. "Relax, you guys. It's not true. We're just joking around. Plus, there's no way I could ever go to Disneyland! A teacher's salary is not enough to cover for our expenses," Shouko reassured the kids. "Ne, Aburame-sensei?"
"H-hai…" Shino agreed.
A sigh of relief escaped from the lips of the students. Shino couldn't help but feel a little wave of jealousy. They all seemed to like Shouko so much. If only Shino could replicate that in his class then it would really mean a lot.
"Now, all of you… time to go back to your stations!" Shouko ordered.
A simultaneous "haaaaaii" echoed throughout the group before resuming their ninja practice.
"Thank you, Shino-kun. You're such a good sport," Shouko told him before leaving to assist other kids.
Suddenly, Shino felt a weird fluttery feeling, and his heart started beating faster and faster. It's loud and unsettling. It's strong enough to drive him crazy.
"What is going on?" He asked himself, putting a trembling hand on his chest. Strange. He never felt that way towards Shouko before. Maybe...
Maybe Kiba would know.