Extended Author's Note: Current story line incurs that Naruto had become Hokage, Neji is one of his head Anbu, and Kakashi is one of Naruto's assistants. Sasuke had went insane after reaching the full power of his Sharingan, and has been declared as an enemy of the Leaf Village.

Main Pairing in this story is KibaShino, with hintings of KakaNaru and SasuNaru. However, there is an ever growing tension between Hinata and Naruto, but in a mature, bearable way. Also, please note, my writing style reveals things that had happened through flashbacks. What confuses you now, will be revealed later.


It was never really unusual that Shino was quiet... but something was off about him moreso than it usually was, and Kiba didn't need his dog senses to tell that. They were in a meeting, Hokage Naruto was discussing some plan to try and take down Sasuke with the help of the Anbu, and Neji was being his usual commanding self. It must have been apparent that he wasn't paying attention, because he heard the Hyuuga's palm smack rather hard against the wooden table, jolting both him, and whoever else was trying not to snore, back into reality.

"Do you all think this is some sort of joke?" He would hear Neji bark, and both Akamaru and he would wince. God he had a piercing voice when he wanted to.

"No, relax, you act like we committed murder or something..." He'd grumble, scratching the back of his head. Of course, his eyes would shoot to Shino, who had only buried himself deeper into that raised neckline of his. Neji's face grew even more stern at Kiba's remark, and his lips would thin.

"You will be tried for it if someone dies on this mission because you weren't paying attention!" He'd huff, tilting his head back. However, the Hokage stood up, recent injury bandaged tightly against his side, and his hand would raise, silencing Neji in the middle of his scolding. Kiba looked confused, staring at the injury as if he couldn't believe it was there, until he'd close his eyes and look down.

That was right... Kiba forgot that Naruto had lost his arm in the last battle with Sasuke.

"Right... sorry..." He mumbled, cheeks flushing with embarrassment as Chouji and the others would return their attention back onto Neji and their leader.

"No need to be Kiba... I think that's enough for one day anyway... we all need to relax at some point..." Naruto's voice was unsettlingly soft and almost meek, and it was easy to tell that the poor boy was in pain. However, he was taking his injury surprisingly well, and better than any of them were expecting. Even Sakura was shocked that he wasn't whining and rolling around on the floor like a toddler having a tantrum. It was most likely thanks to Kakashi's undivided and unconditional. He always did well to distract the boy from anything painful and unsettling.

When they were dismissed, Kiba stood up almost immediately, nodding gently to Naruto for a moment before setting a hand on Akamaru's head, scritching behind the left ear. He twisted around and moved out the door, his companion clearing the way thanks to his size, a few of the others letting out small exclamations as they were pushed so roughly aside. Shino was out first, and moving rather quickly down the hall, but Kiba wasn't going to let him escape. Finally catching up to him, he let his hand fall on his shoulder before he smiled.

"Hey you... where are you off to so fast?" He asked, hands placing themselves on his hips and confident smile cleaving his face in two. Shino would look back serenely, face calm despite his obvious turmoil, before his head would twist back around and he'd begin walking again.

"I'm going home..." He mumbled gently, and Kiba's smile faltered. There was that tone in his voice again, as if he was about to cry. He'd sigh gently before stepping around so that he was in front of the male, bringing both hands up to brace himself against him.

"Come on, you really shouldn't coop yourself up like that..." He stated, shrugging a shoulder before Akamaru, the good old boy he was, bumped up against Shino from behind, sending the boy stumbling forward and into Kiba's arms. "You're acting like no one cares about you..."

Shino would remain silent, not even pushing away from his partner, before he'd step back, meeting little resistance.

"I'm not in the mood for your antics today, Akamaru..." He would state, before looking down. Ah, there was a smile! Kiba had did it! "Unless you have fleas you want me to take care of." He'd pat the dog on the head once, before looking up.

"You better still not be blaming yourself for what happened on that mission..." Kiba finally stated after the long silence, arms crossing themselves over his chest before he'd cock his head. Shino would visibly fall into himself, before he'd look down. "Oh jeez, Akamaru is still alive and well, isn't he! Sakura healed him up just fine... and besides... Aka's strong! He wouldn't get put down by a few Kunai, even if they were poisoned..." He'd grin, but Shino seemed to fall deeper into that depression.

Kiba would sigh, remaining silent for a good long time, before he'd scratch his head. "But... if you could get rid of his... yanno... he's getting them again, and they're jumping on to me, and it's making me generally uncomfortable." There! Another smile from the bug-man! Success!

"Fine... Fine... I guess I can do that much at least..." He would say, and Kiba would immediately fall into place alongside him, watching as they passed the various shops and goodies Konoha had to offer. He'd look back at Shino, only to smile, before he'd look down. It was so damn quiet... and akward, ever since Shino sacrificed saving Kiba over Akamaru... He had been terribly angry with the bug-boy, and said quite a few things he regretted, but he apologized for them dearly.

When they arrived at the house, he'd follow Shino in, closing the door behind him and swallowing. "I'm... sorry... For whatever I said... I really am... It was inappropriate... and I know full well Neji would have killed you if you let me die just because I was yelling at you to help my dog..." It sounded stupid to him, now that he was repeating the situation in his head. Naruto was laying with his arm ripped off, he himself was impaled, and even Neji was being pinned down, and all Kiba would think about was Akamaru. How selfish could he have been?

Shino however, would remain silent, looking down, either unable, or refusing to give Kiba eye contact. "It gives me no excuse... even Akamaru is considered a valuble member of the team... and I had the audacity to call your childhood friend 'just some animal...'" He'd swallow and look down. "Such things are unforgivable... especially since I knew him all the time we were friends..." Akamaru would let out a soft whine, before he'd cock his head, ears perking up before he would bark once, tail beginning to wag.

"And if you haven't noticed, Fleas for Brains... we forgave you... Now at least let's get them removed please! They're really starting to itch!" Shino would smile, before pulling his hand out from his pocket.

"Fine, fine, don't get your tail glued between your legs... And you know, they really aren't that bad, but maybe if you and Akamaru bathed once in a while..." Akamaru would bark again, and Kiba would let out a rather indignant noise, and Shino, for the first time in weeks, began to laugh...