Author's Note: Yes, perspective change! It may happen from time to time, but we will get back inside Kiba and Kankuro's heads again, I promise. But as for this (somewhat short) chapter, we require a little bit of narration. So, enjoy!

Nine. The Greatest Known Secret

Shino Aubrame knew something was different about Kiba. The way the boy talked and moved, so fluidly—it was as though he had lost all of his hatred for the world. Or, if not the world, he had at least lost his hatred for a certain Suna shinobi.

Shino noticed them on the trip back to Konaha. The signs were subtle, but they were there. Kankuro kept nudging Kiba's hand with his own, and Kiba would laugh every time he did it. Insects buzzed now and then in Shino's ear, filling his head with rumors. There was something going on.

On the second day, when the party stopped for lunch, Kankuro and Kiba made the decision to go off exploring on their own. Shino sat with Hinata, eating in silence.

Finally, Hinata got up the courage to speak to him. She'd noticed, too, the change in Kiba, and it worried her. Kiba normally wasn't one to become attached so easily. And to Kankuro? He and Kiba had mouthed off to each other since she could remember. Something was different.

"Shino," Hinata said, not taking her eyes off the ground, "is something happening to Kiba?"

Shino sighed. He knew that Hinata would ask him this question—and he wasn't sure how to respond. Hinata had always been close to Kiba, and the idea of him in a relationship with someone of Kankuro's…magnitude…might scare her. Shino wanted to keep her as calm as possible.

"He's certainly…happier than he has been recently."

Hinata nodded, biting into her rice ball. "I know that. It's just…I can see something…more. I don't know how to describe it, Shino, and I don't want to ask him about it. I don't want to make him tell me things I don't need to know."

"Maybe you're thinking too much, Hinata."

"Maybe," she sighed. "Still, I can't help but think that Kiba and Kankuro are…together. It's like it's there, blatantly obvious. I knew it when they came back to the house." She blushed. "You can just tell how happy they are with each other. And I can't help but think how…wonderful…it must be for them."

Shino leaned back against the rough bark of a tree, letting the cool shade settle over his body like water. "I know what you mean. I almost wish they'd tell us, just so we could talk about it in the open. It's hard to ignore, but like you said…I don't want to push Kiba into telling us. Maybe we should just wait until he tells us."

"We probably should," Hinata agreed.

Shino smiled and leaned closer to the tree. "What's this?" he murmured as a passing wasp buzzed in his ear. It had something quite interesting to tell him.