Author's Note: Hello Readers, I just realized today that I haven't been writing any notes concerning the story! Firstly, thank you so much for the reviews, they really make the writing process rewarding and interesting! Secondly, it's my goal to put up at least one new chapter every week but if I don't do that, I hope you'll forgive me. Thirdly, ENJOY!

Chapter 7 (Shino and Hiro)

Shino had never experienced an uncomfortable silence. Not until he began his walk with a little girl named Hiro, whose safety and well-being was his responsibility. Silent was what the introverted Aburame was accustomed to be; the only exceptions to this rule lied in those select few moments when he would try to voice his thoughts or opinions on a matter while in the company of his comrades. But those would very rarely end as successful endeavors anyways. No, it seemed quite apparent that his comrades were more accustomed to his silence than even he was. From his lineage of being born an Aburame, to his thorough quiet mannerisms of thought and communication, it could be concluded that Shino was not a people person. Now Shino was pondering the strange mannerisms of this silver-haired child, mannerisms that, perhaps, reflected his own. The way her eyes were always covered with a sheet of bangs, the constant silence until given reason to speak, the way her eyes would dart around, always following her surroundings and then analyzing them in her mind, Shino wondered if traveling with this girl was the same to his comrades as traveling in his own company.

Today, this mission prompted Shino to be the extrovert, as far as his mannerisms could allow him to be. Why? Simply because Shino could never understand why everyone else could be so at ease in a crowd, yet he himself remains on edge, and why whenever he made his own attempts to be social with his comrades, he would either be ignored, or would cause discomfort among his peers. Today, it was he who would be making the attempts of small-talk and conversation with this girl, so then he perhaps could make more conclusions about himself and learn from them. He would begin now.

"You are six years old, correct?" He asked her for confirmation.

Hiro looked up at him with startled eyes, but then quickly resumed avoiding eye contact. "Y-yes." She answered in her whisper-like voice.

Shino processed this. "You act very unusually for a child your age." He remarked. Her expression was blank. "Why? Because most children your age even shy ones, carry positive mannerisms and energy in response to different aspects of their surroundings. You carry a reserved mannerism of discomfort despite your surroundings, and react very little to them." He noted.

"Um….I'm sorry." She told him, looking further down.

Shino made a note of this reaction in his mind and concluded that the reason for the girl's behavior was insecurity issues. A logical conclusion, as she was raised in a hostile environment along with six other girls, creating a feeling a sibling rivalry and a feeling of unequal comparison to them. "I know this only because I too, display such mannerisms, even and perhaps especially, with my companions." He informed her.

She was silent once more.

"I am not uncomfortable with silence. I find several of my companions to be too talkative and hyper in their behaviors, but they still receive more positive results from these mannerisms than I do by being quiet."

Hiro was still silent.

"Therefore I do not fault you, and in turn, I can successfully empathize with your behavior." He concluded.

"Um….thank you..." The statement came out more as a question by her quiet tone.

From there Shino went back to silence as they walked along the peaceful trail in the woods. They were coming up to the end of the trail which would put them at a little field with a stream and many wildflowers growing along it. This was an area he knew very well, as he often came here with his teammates, Kiba and Hinata, to train. He hoped that it would prove to be a good environment for Hiro; he was interested in seeing her other tendencies in relation to her location. Shino wondered for a moment if perhaps Hiro was merely unsettled because he himself was not a socially competent person. It was possible that had she been partnered with Naruto or Lee, that she would be more at ease and open, in which case, his own mannerisms were to blame for her silence and discomfort, and his attempts to put her at ease may very well be the cause of her uneasiness. At this, Shino frowned to himself.

As Shino pondered, the two came out from the path and were then surrounded by lush green grass, a small babbling brook of crystal blue water, and a plethora of wildflowers advertising every shade of the rainbow. Hiro's hazel eyes widened under her bangs at the pleasant scenery; Shino was careful to note this. She took a few hesitant steps forward, before walking amidst the body of flowers, her eyes taking in their colors and smells. Did she almost smile? Shino wasn't sure. It made him encouraged though to continue encouraging positive emotions from the girl.

"Do you like flowers?" He inquired.

Again, the girl seemed startled by his speaking, but she answered. "I d-do." She began. Her eyes lifted to scan the area. "It's s-strange….that there are no butterflies." She finished, looking down in disappointment.

Shino nodded. "I agree. At this time of day, it is most unusual for insects to not be actively moving about this area." He paused. "Do you like butterflies very much?" He asked.

She nodded. "Y-yes….and other bugs….bugs are…" She thought about it. "Fascinating…and easy to relate to." She added.

Shino nodded slowly and then raised his arms up out of his pockets, as he simultaneously knelt to the ground. He understood what means he required to connect with the girl on a social level. Placing his palms flat on the ground, Shino executed his Bug Summoning Jutsu, and a pale web of chakra extended from his hands all across the ground. Hiro watched him curiously and silently, when she noticed movement from the corner of her eyes. A large black beetle had crawled out from under a fallen log, followed by worms, grubs, roly-poly bugs, ants, several spiders, and other various insects of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Stray dragonflies flew forward from the stream, while some water-striders accompanied them. Lastly several bright butterflies and earthy colored moths lightly flitted their way down Shino's line of chakra web; all while Hiro stared in amazement.

"How-how did you do that?" She asked him in wonderment.

Shino stood as the bugs now were circled around him and Hiro. "I am naturally in tuned physically with insects, because I am of the Aburame clan, and I myself serve as a physical host for the unique Kikaichu beetles. Because of this, I am capable of summoning insects at will." He explained matter-of-factly.

Hiro's eyes widened. "R-really? You're a host to bugs?" She inquired.

This was it- the moment that would determine if Shino's efforts would prove successful, or in vain. He would now demonstrate his inherited family ability that caused so many to be disgusted or alarmed by his presence and he would demonstrate it in front of a timid little girl. Shino stretched out his arms once again, and let loose a small stream of Kikaichu beetles, their small wings humming in unison as they flew in their light swarm.

Hiro nearly gaped at Shino in response. Nearly. "D-d-does that hurt?" She finally asked quietly.

"No, not in the slightest. My body is perfectly synchronized with the Kikaichu; I serve as their host and nest while in turn, they serve me for various tasks of battle, reconnaissance, and tracking when I am on missions." He told her.

She cocked her head slightly as she stared. She seemed to be thinking carefully over his words and processing them. Finally, she spoke again. "That must be nice…..you're never alone." She stated thoughtfully.

Shino was almost startled by this observation. Almost. He had never anticipated such a reply and was now in wonderment of the small girl. Indeed, that had always been a fact of comfort to him, the constant companionship of his beetles wherever he went. Never alone. However, upon realizing this, it had made him more determined to become closer with his other companions, however incompetent he might still prove to be at this objective. And this girl had made the same conclusion in seconds. Shino hesitated before speaking. "I name them, though most people find this to be a strange behavior, as they do not understand insects the way that I do." He told her.

Hiro nodded understandingly. "I did that too back at the camp. There were always plenty of bugs and I'd name the ones that I found. My sisters thought it was strange." She said, with a frown.

Shino nodded once, before noticing something. "You are speaking more than you did before." He told her bluntly.

Hiro's eyes widened a little. "I am…"she said thoughtfully, her silvery eyebrows furrowed as she contemplated this. Then suddenly and to both their surprise, she smiled just a little. "I think it's easy to talk to you because we're a lot alike. Aren't we?" She asked for confirmation.

Shino nodded again. "Yes, as it turns out, we are." He replied, to her relief. "Shikamaru did well to partner us together." He stated, noting that for a moment, his regular vocal inflection had changed. It had gone softer….lighter…. not as flat as the tone he normally carried. He would have to investigate this occurrence later on to learn what it meant. Meanwhile, Hiro nodded in agreement before settling down on the soft grass in the midst of several pretty butterflies.

"So do bugs understand you when you talk to them?" She asked him, while glancing at the butterflies.

"They understand me, but not by interpreting spoken words. Communication with insects varies depending on species; each has its own specific form of communication, usually by actions or scents. The Kikaichu understand me by following my movements and chakra flow as signals for various commands." He explained.

"And do they like you?" She asked him while watching the small beetles on his arms march together along his body.

"Bugs do not have emotional responses like humans; therefore they do not 'like' things as a person would 'like' things. However, the Kikaichu and I live in perfect symbiosis with one another; therefore they do feel a certain connection with me that would be the closest thing to 'like'." He told her.

Hiro allowed another small smile to form. "I've never really talked to anybody so much before, Shino. Not including my sister Michiko, of everyone I talk with her the most." She told him. "It's nice, because even Michiko isn't like me; she's really smart and can talk anytime she wants to." She finished.

"That was the first time you addressed me by name. We have reached a first-name basis for affiliation with one another. Such association can lead to a closer bond of companionship…Hiro." He added, as his voice once again was less flat than usual. Then, Shino understood the cause for this phenomenon as he watched Hiro's face brighten at his remark. It was happiness. With that, Shino slipped his hands back into his pockets, and stood pondering quietly while Hiro, in twin silence, gazed happily at the butterflies and the flowers. It was happiness indeed. Why? Because Shino had successfully made a new friend.