Shino, as much of a rational and logical being as he was, had one emotional weakness.

He hated being invisible.

Yes, being a shinobi meant blending in, staying in the background, but...sometimes he doubted his own existence. He never really had any friends growing up, and the only friend he had had disappeared and Shino had to pretend he didn't exist.

He was always the last choice, the person everyone forgot about. Naruto had been on missions with him, seen him laugh for kami's sake, and still forgotten him.

Torune had wanted him to have friends. Sure, there were those he valued for sentimental reasons. Hinata, Naruto...Kiba. But he knew that they didn't give a flying fuck about him. He was doomed to be the wallflower.

Shino was walking back from the training grounds where he had been practicing taijutsu. By himself. What a surprise.

"You made me look like a fucking idiot back there!" He heard Kiba's voice, and he would have walked in on the discussion had he not stopped and hid in the shadows.

Good job, Shino, he thought to himself. Stalking is a great hobby to pick up. Surefire way to make friends with that.

Kankuro shrugged. "I didn't do anything."

Kiba growled. "Yes you did! You're always having to show off, be the best!"

"So do you."

Kiba stopped. He seemed to be thinking. Shino was witnessing a true miracle right now. Praise kami.

Kiba looked back up at Kankuro. "Maybe that's the problem."

Kankuro frowned. "Kiba, what are you talking about?"

Kiba sighed. "I know I can be a total pain in the ass-" (Shino employed all self control to not snort at this) "-and I know that...I can be...I can come off as...nnngggh...forceful."

Close. So close, Kiba. Baby steps until you can admit that you're an arrogant moron.

Kankuro shrugged. "Yeah. So can I. I'm just smarter about it."

Uh oh. There were two buttons you did not push with Kiba.

One was keeping secrets. The other was trying to look better than Kiba.

Kiba roared and tackled Kankuro. Shino couldn't help but raise his brows.

"You're not listening to me! That's not the point! The point is, we're too similar. I feel like you're a more responsible, smarter version of me and it makes me feel like shit and I really really don't think this can work anymore." Kiba got off of him, looking down. Looking submissive.

What. The hell.

Kiba was not submissive. He always made sure he was the top, always assured he was the best. He was arrogant sometimes, but a lot of times he had confidence and that made things work in his favor. Kiba did not submit to anyone. The Kiba Shino had always known would have died before admitting someone was better at him in literally anything.

What had that puppet bastard done to him?

Kankuro got up, looking upset. "I...I didn't know you felt that way. What're you saying? That you wanna..." He held Kiba's face in his hands.

Kiba pushed his hands away, looking up. "Yeah, I am." Shino could see a glimmer of the way Kiba was before, arrogant and brash. But...confident and spontaneous. He was the old Kiba, his Kiba-

What? Why had he thought that? Shino shook his head, then looked up.

Kiba was standing in front of him. Apparently he was planning on dramatically storming away from Kankuro while Shino had been lost in thought. Whoops.

Akamaru went to Shino's legs and sniffed at him. Kiba growled and began walking past. "C'mon, Akamaru." He mumbled, and Akamaru pulled himself away to follow.

Shino followed after him. "Kiba..."

"Shut up Shino."

"I would just like to say that I walked in on that by accident. And I'm...I'm..." Shino couldn't say it. He felt incapable of saying that word.

Kiba glared at him. "You're what?"

"Sor...sorrr...sorry.qaa" he mumbled. Kiba smirked a bit.

"I'm sorry? I didn't quite catch that." He tilted his head.

Shino growled. "I am sorry."

Kiba laughed. "Well, shit. Wish I had a video camera."

"I hate you."

Kiba smiled. "I know." He looked down. "You must think I'm a real piece of work now...after seeing that..."

Shino shrugged. "I thought that before. I saw it coming for a while. The reason is because I could tell that both you and Kankuro have a tendency towards arrogance and that would clash."

Kiba shrugged. "Like you're any better. You act like you're the smartest person ever, explaining everything to people like we're children and always saying how you're a better shinobi than me."

Shino scowled. "I'm confident in my abilities."

Kiba shrugged. "Me too. And maybe that's the problem. I always think I know what I'm doing, and I'm always making snap judgements. And you do it too, I've seen it, but I guess you're better at it than I am or something." His head fell in his hands. "I don't know...I felt so stupid with Kankuro..." Kiba looked at him. "Am I just a bumbling fool?" He looked like he was on the verge of tears.

Shino sighed. "Kiba, when I was younger I would have answered yes. The reason is because you're right. I am like you. I have a tendency to think I know everything, and that causes complacency. I almost died because I underestimated Kankuro's abilities. And I always say never to underestimate your opponent." He looked down. "The point is that there are different types of intelligence. You're intelligent Kiba, but not in the conventional way like I am. You can read people, you have this...bold charisma that makes people listen to you."

Kiba gave him an odd look. "Shino...did you just give me a compliment?" He smiled a bit.

Shino shrugged. "I suppose I am. You're a leader, and you have the emotional intelligence of a good leader. I, on the other hand, am about as much of a conversationalist as a tree. And I always get forgotten, left behind..." Shino stopped before he could get too emotional.

Kiba shook his head. "Y'know, after all these years...I won't forget you, Shino. You're The guy I always look to for advice, you ground me. I..." He looked down and shrugged.

Shino nodded, feeling a little too emotional to speak. Sure, in the beginning it had been mainly negative attention, but...as time passed, Kiba had always given him some form of attention. He didn't forget him, even if it was only because he found Shino so annoying...

Shino gave another curt nod. "I'm going to go home now."

Kiba blinked a lot, eyes looking a little hurt, and Shino felt confused. "Okay...see you later."

Shino left him.