Hinata huffed, the terrain was rugged. She cradled the object tenderly; while it was not extremely breakable due to being made of unusual minerals, it would not do to scuff it. She had not personally seen it, but knew what it was. She herself had contacted the Sand after a mission had sent them near that area.

Kiba was no better off. The bugs were biting, and Akamaru was getting worn out. These woods were thin, but thickets littered the forest floor, brambles and thorns threatening them. They had to stay in the trees. And the trees didn't have many branches in this area. So, they had to jump off the sides of each tree without stopping. It was tedious. Akamaru was having difficulties accomplishing the task.

Shino himself brought up the rear, keeping an eye on his team. Akamaru was worrying him; although the dog was a nin-dog, he didn't possess the same kind of chakra control that humans did. Coupled with his huge bulk, the dog would have extreme difficulty should they have to stop. He kept his insects at bay, should somebody fall. They could fly out at quick speeds and capture the fallen ninja before they fall into the thorns below. Hopefully, they would get out of this area soon so they had solid footing.

Hinata was the first to break free of the trees…and right into a swamp. The only thing that kept her from becoming a drowned rat was her Byakugan, letting her know the water was there. She landed daintily, and called out to her teammates.

"Shino! Kiba! There's water here! No solid ground."

She was met with two different responses. She heard Shino's calm voice first.

"Got it."

Then, Kiba's distressed wail.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

Akamaru couldn't walk on water. He had to be carried across. Hinata turned forward again, just to have a giant dragonfly miss her face by inches. The sudden "attack" caused her to flinch, but she didn't yelp. Kiba landed heavily, causing the water to ripple out. Akamaru dived for Kiba, and Kiba's jaw clenched, eyes screwed shut and arms out behind him, waiting for the 450-pound dog to impact him. Hinata jumped away and the impact caused Kiba to drop to his knees, making the water splash outward. Shino came out last, flipping in the air and landing lightly on his toes, rocking back to his heels. They all took a moment to catch their breath, Kiba distributing the massive weight on his back.

Bugs darted around everywhere. Shino gazed in wonder at the miniature fauna all around them. Glistening sapphire-colored dragonflies, water beetles, chirping crickets, and also the musical croaks of the frogs and toads in and around the water. They ran across the surface; crossing the muggy area quickly. Shino made a mental note to come back out to this area to study the insects here. Hinata smiled from ahead, she had deliberately taken them out to this swamp because she knew Shino had never been out here, and she had seen some unusual insect life.

After 250 or so yards, their feet hit dry land. Akamaru jumped down and Kiba flopped on the ground, already exhausted. Shino looked up at the sun. Judging by the position, it was only about ten in the morning.

"Alright team. We can rest here. Meet back in this spot in fifteen minutes. With that, he walked away, going to look at some of the interesting insects he had seen on the way through. Kiba laid in the grass with the dog, breathing heavily. Hinata took it upon herself to follow Shino.

Shino noticed her presence behind him. The aphid he had been looking at flew off.

"Hinata."

It wasn't a question, he was just acknowledging her presence.

"Oh.." She said, stepping out from behind a clump of cattails. A shiny dragonfly flitted by, catching both of their attentions.

"Beautiful creatures, dragonflies."

"Yes," she agreed.

Silence for a moment.

"You wanted something, correct?"

She almost hesitated, trying to hold back her enthusiasm. It worked. "I wanted to tell you… Happy birthday, Shino."

Shino tore his eyes away from the weird greenish-purple beetle. "Thank you, Hinata."

He smiled on the outside, and he tried to shove it off, but it did sadden him that only his father and Hinata had remembered his birthday. Not like he was going to celebrate it, anyway, but it's still nice to hear.

"W-we better get going."

"Yes."

After collecting Kiba, they were off again, running through a meadow of tall grass. After spending a good ten minutes in the tall grass, some fronds reaching over their heads, they broke through.

Shino stopped, but Kiba and Hinata pushed forward.

"Hold up."

They both stopped and looked at him. Shino started to walk towards Kiba.

"You guys should know…" he reached a hand up to Kiba's face, and Kiba's eyes widened. Hinata saw what he was doing, and let Kiba's misunderstanding cause him slight anguish.

"Dude, I don't swing th--"

Shino's hand touched Kiba's temple, and he cut Kiba off. Kiba felt a small pinch.

"…that there are many deer ticks in that particular area. They are known to carry lime disease." He pulled the tick off Kiba's head, and his insects destroyed it.

"Hold still for a moment, this will take a second." He let loose some insects, and they crawled all over the four of them, an extra amount to search through Akamaru's fur. Kiba's jaw dropped when he saw all the ticks that the kikaichu pulled off, from their hair, Akamaru's fur, and their clothes.

Shino recalled his insects. "We should take a different path back." I see why the Hokage said my skills would be so useful on this mission.

Hinata wasn't even phased. So many years of working with the Aburame shook off any ill-feelings towards insects and other crawlies. They just didn't bother her. Her hand went to the package in her pocket. It was still there, still safe.

They finally reached the nature reserve. The three entered the building. A teenage boy came to meet them, not looking at all like he liked his job.

"You guys the team who has the package?"

Hinata protruded the object from her coat. He nodded.

"Right through that door. Hey Fluffy, with the glasses, hold up."

Shino scowled, stopping.

Kiba and Hinata quickly darted through the door. That guy would fill Shino in on some bogus story. Hinata had to stifle a giggle when he called Shino "Fluffy."

The rest of the ninja were in the room already. Kakashi was the last to arrive, coming in through a window. Naruto and Sakura got up, with equal expressions of horror on their faces as their sensei appeared, on time.

Kiba spoke up. "Alright, everyone. Get to your places. He'll be in here any minute now. Sukio can only invent so much without sounding totally fake."

Everyone except Kiba, Akamaru, and Hinata hid. Hinata put the parcel over on the table which held the cake that Chouji had baked. The trio made their way to the middle of the room, crossing their arms. They stood back-to-back, and Akamaru sat in front of them. In all appearances, they looked like a couple Mafia members.

The door handle turned.