Time passed, as it always does. Shino took an internship at the academy, then soon took Iruka's job when Iruka got his promotion. Kiba eventually got an apartment with him.

One would have assumed that their bickering would have receded in the development of an intimate romantic relationship.

It didn't.

Hinata would always look at them a tad confused.

"You guys are still...together, right?"

Kiba would smile. "Yeah!"

Shino would nod. "For now."

"But you just told Kiba that an ape has better hygiene than him."

"I tell him that every morning."

Kiba would smile warmly while Hinata would shake her head.

When Kiba became top dog breeder, he had come home, sat on the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table with a self satisfied smirk at Shino.

Shino had responded by moving the coffee table out from under his feet.

Kiba only smirked more, if that was even physically possible. "I would be salty too if I was stuck underpaid teaching brats geometry." He sat back. "What did you say about me having the employment prospects of a dog walker? Hm?" He grinned.

Shino smiled a bit. "Is that couch comfortable, Kiba?"

Kiba tilted his head. He was convinced of his victory. "Hell yes."

Shino nodded with his warm smile. "I hope so, because you're sleeping on it for a long time. I hope you and your economic success will be very happy and abstinent together there." He went to get ready for bed while Kiba sulked.

He didn't last a week.

He had gotten his revenge via a visit to the academy on career day, of course. Shino had to teach the students for a half day, then there would be a career fair outside.

Shino was writing on the whiteboard when he had felt something small hit the back of his head. He turned around.

"It won't stick, ya know?"

"You gotta get it at the right consistency, kid. Too much spit and it's worthless, too little and it won't stick. Keep practicing." Kiba said quietly to Boruto in back.

Shino was okay with the bickering at home. It came natural to the both of them, to the point where it was almost comforting. But his classroom was a different story. It was hard enough reaching his students, and it was harder to keep their attention.

He hadn't realized he was getting angry until he felt a few kikaichu crawling on his face. He heard some of the girls squeal at how gross it was and it was only fuel for the fire.

"Kiba...get out." His voice was too even, too quiet. Kiba stood, looking a little worried.

"Hey, I'm sorry Shino, I was just joking, I didn't mean-"

"You are disrupting my class and distracting my students. GET OUT." He pointed at the door, his hand shaking. Kiba left quickly.

Kiba had only managed to find Shino at the end of the day, when he was at his desk grading papers. And he knew he his ass was grass because Shino just ignored him. The bug nin never just exploded when he was angry the way Kiba did. When he was really pissed he was a master of the silent treatment.

"C'mon, Shino, I said I was sorry." He stood in front of the desk.

Nothing.

"Look, I just...you know I do impulsive shit sometimes." Kiba sighed.

"Sometimes?" Shino finally deadpanned. Kiba smirked a bit and rolled his eyes.

"Okay, okay, I'm a huge douchebag and you're the best teacher ever, okay? Will you stop shutting me out?"

Shino finally looked up. "How many times have I come home venting about how hard it is for me to keep my students attention, Kiba? The answer is a lot. So excuse me if I am a bit upset, because I feel like you ignored how I felt just because you wanted to be funny."

Kiba looked down. "I guess sorry isn't gonna cut it, huh?"

Shino just stared at him through his visor. "I just..." He slumped. "I feel like I don't fit this job at all...and you've done so well as both a dog breeder and in the police force..."

Kiba got around the desk and put an arm around him. "Shino, you're great as a teacher. You always explain everything in detail and you're good with kids, and you wanna do it for the right reasons." He kissed his cheek.

Shino sighed. "Then what's the problem?"

Kiba smiled a bit. "You don't remember how we were as kids? I was devil spawn. Kids are a lot to handle, and having a whole room of kids who don't wanna be there is even worse. It blows my mind how you manage to keep your sanity. You just gotta be patient."

Shino leaned on him and Kiba smiled. "So...am I out of the doghouse?"

Shino snorted. "Take me to Ichiraku's and I might not send you to the couch tonight."