The camp had settled in for the night and while most of the unit was asleep inside of tents Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, and captain Suro sat around a fire. The Inuzuka duo was on look out duty while Shino communicated with several of his beetles that crawled around aimlessly in his palm.

"The hideout has been located," Shino said plainly. Both Suro and Kiba's faces lit up at the news.

"It is over 60 kilometers from our current location...according to my beetles both Anko and Yamato are present. Their chakra's are both low activity, how do I know? My bugs can sense chakra levels in an individual." Shino explained.

"This is good news!" Suro gleamed.

"Furthermore." Shino began as a new bug, the size of grape flew into their vicinity. Kiba eyed the bug and smiled. "Kiba you are familiar with my friend here correct."

Akamaru released a low bark and Kiba smirked. "Captain Suro this is probably my favorite bug of Shino's... the farting bug."

Shino jerked visibly. "Scent mimicking kikaichu." he groaned in annoyance.

"Yeah whatever you call it." Kiba waved. "Anyways this bug copies the scent of the target after making contact.

"I commanded her to leave the scent at multiple points that will map our way directly to the hideout, all Kiba and Akamaru have to do is follow the scent there," Shino explained.

Captain Suro balled his fist passionately. "I must say while your tracking abilities are impressive you all work extremely well together."

"Kurenai wouldn't have it any other way" Kiba bragged. Shino nodded in agreement.

"However..." Kiba started with a sly smile. "Do you remember when you didn't talk to me for a month?" Shino stared at Kiba with what seemed to be an expressionless face.

Suro laughed "Really I couldn't imagine two as close as you not talking for so long."

It had been about a month since the Sasuke retrieval mission failure and it had also been a month since Shino said a word to Kiba. In the heat of the morning sun team, 8 just finished one of their tracking drills with Kurenai and were all sitting in their respective spaces in the field. Kiba and Akamaru dropped in front of Shino and sat in silence, staring at the insect user. Moments passed and there was no exchange of words.

"You can't be serious!" Kiba finally said. Shino looked at the Inuzuka, Kiba's reflection manifesting in his shades and then wordlessly looked away.

"Ugh!" Kiba groaned. "I'll tell you what," Kiba said standing to his feet in front of his teammate.

"I challenge you to a sparring match. If I win you have to forgive me for something I had no control over. If I lose you don't have to talk to me until we become chunin." Kiba held his had out and waited for confirmation. Akamaru whined.

Moments passed but finally, Shino shook Kiba's hand.

"This should be interesting don't you think," Kurenai said to Hinata who held Akamaru in her lap.

"I-I just hope they don't hurt each other," Hinata responded meekly.

Kiba and Shino stood several paces away from each other when Kurenai's voice signaled for them to begin. With a burst of chakra, Kiba filled the gap between them using his shoulder to ram into Shino who could not react fast enough. After tumbling, Shino rolled to his feet then charged at Kiba.

"It seems that Shino isn't using his insects," Kurenai said with her hand under her chin as she watched her genin spar.

"Isn't Shino weak in taijutsu... do you think he intends to lose," Hinata asked looking up towards her sensei.

Shino launched a series of punches, all of which Kiba blocked with ease. After a block, he jumped upward and kicked both of his feet into Shino's chest which sent the Aburame rolling into a tree.

"I doubt that very seriously," Kurenai answered. "I wager that he wants to prove himself capable as a warrior," Kurenai said watching Shino stand to his feet and charge Kiba once again.

"Save for Shikamaru, everyone who went on the Sasuke retrieval mission specialized in close quarters combat...Shino wants to show Kiba he is capable." Kurenai theorized.

"Shino..."Hinata said under her breath. Impressed with her teammates resolve.

Kiba ducked under a punch from Shino then aimed his own punch at Shino's midsection. To his surprise, Shino blocked the hit by bringing up his knee, grabbed Kiba's collar with his left hand and with his right landed a well-placed punch to the side of Kiba's face. Both boys then jumped away from each other.

"Damn that was a good punch," Kiba said with a smile as he rubbed his jaw. "That guard wasn't half bad either." Kiba lowered himself to all fours.

"Good, then we can call this match over," Shino responded. Kiba mouth hung open.

"What no one has won yet!" He exclaimed looking at the direction of Kurenai who shrugged her shoulders.

"Does it matter, we are talking now," Shino replied.

"So...I won?" Kiba asked genuinely, tilting his head.

"No." Shino answered.

"Dude!" Kiba complained. Hinata chuckled and Akamaru barked cheerfully.

"So you are just going to quit like that," Kiba cried.

"I got what I wanted," Shino stated as he walked past Kiba.

Kiba stared into the flame amused. "To this day I don't know if Shino wanted to prove himself to me in taijutsu or if he just wanted to get a good hit in on me for going on that mission without him."

Shino looked at him and a small smirk grew on his face. "Maybe you will find out one day," Shino answered.

"What does that even mean!" Kiba snapped.

Captain Suro laughed at the two. They were truly brothers.