Warrior: Hey, guys, finally I updated after a week without being here! Sorry for the late update... I hope you guys didn't wait too long.

Kiba: Yes, finally! It's about me!

Shino: And me.

Akamaru: Whoof!

Warrior: I do make mention of God, but it has no religious meanings whatsoever. It's only meant to emphasize that certain part of the story. Okay, I don't own Naruto or else… I wouldn't be here on this site writing about them and I would... okay let's stop there, . I do own Kinto, though. Hehe…

Chapter 8: Poems of a Shinobi

Kiba gazed out at the sky sitting on a lonely field. Akamaru was sleeping in his lap. The dog didn't even do anything and it was tired. If Akamaru tried to live Kiba's life, he would be constantly snoozing. Kiba silently scowled at Akamaru. "I should make you run 500 laps around Konoha. Then you'll know what it's like being really tired!"

Akamaru responded with a snore.

He thought Hinata and her actions at the meeting. She concealed her Secret Santa. Yes, it was supposed to be a secret, but who ever held to their promise? Okay, lots of people did, but so what? He wondered if she even peeked at the paper when she received it.

Speaking of which, he couldn't believe today at the meeting what had happened. Ino teased him for being a pedophile. He… gaaah! He wanted to squeeze the living guts from Shino when he spotted him again. Shino, purposely, set up the situation just to embarrass him. Why was he…? It wasn't like he liked Hinata! Humph!

"Dumbass, what does he know?"

Kiba sighed as he petted Akamaru. He eventually lost himself in his thoughts.

His father... such a long time since he thought about him. His father passed away when Kiba was barely able to speak. He recollected it all so clearly. He wouldn't forget that night. Kiba wanted to know why, but his mother forbade him to speak of the incident. He couldn't understand why she couldn't just explain to him. What was so forbidden about it?

Akamaru cried out when Kiba accidentally squeezed him too hard. Kiba let go realizing. Akamaru hoped out and stretched. Kiba clenched his fists staring at them. He... what was he doing sitting here? These helpless hands couldn't accomplish anything. His mother would never come home before twelve in the morning. He tried to ask her why, but she refused to answer him. Kiba let his family down. He couldn't help his father and he couldn't his mother. What use was he? He was a shinobi! He should've been better than this! He wished he could go back in time and change the past... he wished...

Kiba got up and began to head into the city. Akamaru lethargically followed after him.

XOXOXOXO

Kiba entered the quiet, tranquil bookstore. Akamaru hopped into Kiba's jacket and slept in there. No one said anything with Akamaru inside. He wondered if the employees were paying any attention. Kiba noticed Akamaru fell asleep. He shook his head.

He browsed through the many books on the shelves. He then spotted the book. He picked slid it out of its spot and plopped onto a chair. The smell of a brand new book and the fine paper all made the book seem special somehow. The golden title brightly gleamed in the light. He slowly opened the book. For some reason, just touching made him seem like. It wasn't going to be for anyone. As he contemplated, he flipped a random page in the book and began to read it.

For what seemed like years, passed by into seconds

A hello, a kiss, and a tear

Memories are sustained

That's all life seemed, at first...

Love was scattered like the wind, like the people on this Earth

It was hard to find, hard to have, and hard to earn.

Love was like the rain.

It showered down upon us every lucky month. And if it did, we hope it could drown us in a flood full of love.

As the end of the test draws closer and closer,

I succeed.

The closer I put this headband on,

I feel I have finally done something for someone out there.

Maybe someday, I can become a spectacular shinobi.

Not just to prove "them" wrong, but to show the world who I really am.

My heart beats as this sadness continues to grow

My eyes sink into tears as the shinobi headband appears

Maybe life is changing for once. Maybe God has finally heard my prayers.

This will of fire is stronger than ever and I will not let it die. Never until I'm gone.

Kiba remembered hearing this when he was little. Their sensei told them that this poem was used in the Third Hokage's Ceremony, in order, to honor a new leader. But more importantly, the Third Hokage felt as if this poem represented the village and he wanted to speak about the great shinobi who wrote it, which everyone knew who wrote it. It was written by a shinobi who suffered so much. He suffered so much that not even words could describe his pain, at least that's what many people said.

Kiba also heard this in school. Their teachers told them that it was important every shinobi knew about it because this explained the hardships and the challenges a shinobi and everyday people might have to face. Kiba enjoyed hearing it so much that he came to memorize most of it. Shino thought he was crazy, but when did his opinion ever matter?

His mother told him that he was lucky becoming a shinobi. Kiba never understood the analogy his mother made with this poem. She compared shinobis today with this lullaby. For some obscure reason, Kiba favored this lullaby.

Kiba flips to another page and he spots a word that intrigues him. Destiny...

...Destiny of today... Sorrow of tomorrow... Light of the future...

The cherry, soft, angel lips kissed the salty, crystal tear

That was the first time I witnessed the bearing of mourns

How could this happen? What did I do wrong this time?

The sweet beauty of nature brings us great horror

A scent of sweet love could bring us to God's doorstep

Closer to them for years that I can't even count

Curses burden us all with nothing to give back

How many wishes have I made while staring at the starry sky?

How many times have I counted wishing I could've done something?

Why do I keep asking myself… how come I let this happen? Why did I become a failure?

Why did I become a failure? Why do I expect?

If I can't save the ones I love, where does my stance on becoming Hokage mean?

The only thought coursing through my veins is… the very long road I will have to carry this lonesome burden.

I guess… is that only I can hear the shouts and cries, which blame me for the death of angels…

A tear slid down Kiba's cheek. He hastily wiped it off as Akamaru was still snoozing. He shut the book close and went in line to pay for the book. Kiba handed the cashier the book as he got his money out.

The night was silent as the plastic bag swayed the book back and forth. Kiba didn't even... he didn't know exactly what to feel. After reading the shinobi's writing, he remembered why he loved it so much. The series of lullabies… Kiba felt like they were reaching out to him, like they were calling for him.

Kiba passed by a small restaurant and spotted Shino with his family eating dinner together. Kiba paused in his footsteps. Kiba could tell Shino was laughing even with his jacket covering him. His older sat next to him, teasing Shino about something. His parents joked along with Shino's older brother. Kiba solemn luminous eyes closed his eyes for a moment and imagined his little self-standing in a huge crowd of people passing by him without a single care.

Reality slapped him in the face quickly when a stranger bumped into him. The stranger rudely glared at him and pretended to have not seen him, striding away. Kiba grimaced at the sight. For once, Kiba felt like the world was shoving him out of the place.

Shino, what did it feel like? What does it feel like have a father to look after you? What does it feel like to have a father to look up to? How does it feel like to have someone be by your side when you have no one else to turn to? What does your family do that my mom can't? What does it feel like to have a mother there to guide you; to at least help? What does it feel like to have a light that shines in you? Around you? Inside of you?

"Kiba?" a familiar voice called him. He violently turned around and spotted a blond-haired kid. Kiba slightly smile. He acted as if nothing was wrong with him. He certainly didn't want to give Naruto the wrong idea. Besides, he didn't want Naruto finding out that he was... "What it is, punk?"

Naruto pouted, hiding his mysterious pain, unknown to Kiba and turned his head away with an arrogant look. Kiba scoffed. Why did Naruto call out to him? Dumbass. Then why did he even call out to him? There was an odd tension between the two. Neither one of them wanted to speak, but both wanted to ease the silence.

"I called-"

"What are-"

The two spoke up at the same time. Then they retreated with a speechless look. Naruto cleared his throat. "I called you because I wanted to know why you were staring at the weirdo, Shino."

A sharp, quick pain jolted through Kiba's heart. He loudly chuckled. "Haha, why? Because the ass... I don't ever see him go out. I just thought it was kinda weird he was out since he usually never is."

Naruto had the expression of "oh". He couldn't help, but let the thought slip through his mind about Kinto. After Naruto burst out into tears, Kinto hugged him like he was an older sibling or a guardian. For once in many years, someone finally cared about him. Iruka was too busy training little kids so he barely had time for him anymore. It was just himself and no one else. In ways, Naruto envied Shino's life. He never thought much about Shino, but when he really looked at it... Shino was very lucky, unlike him.

Kiba strangely stared at Naruto while he was in thinking very hard. He could tell, for once, Naruto was seriously thinking and not being a dumbhead. Kiba coughed. "So... something happen?"

Naruto, with a straight face, shook his head while swallowing his throat. He held back the tears as he could taste the saltiness in his throat. He desperately wanted to get rid of it. Naruto breathed in deeply trying to not let his eyes water. Kiba could sense something personal was going on with him. "Sorry I asked."

Naruto widely grinned. "What are you talking about? I was just pretending to see if you would actually become a softie!"

Kiba's eyebrows went inward with a fierce expression. He really believed in Naruto's fake words. Before Kiba said anything else, voice came in behind them. "Guys?"

Naruto and Kiba looked over to see Shino with his family behind. Naruto quietly began to heavily breathe. Kiba tried to speak, but he was too hurt to say anything. Why wasn't Naruto saying anything? Maybe he was just waiting for Kiba to speak up. "What is it, Shino?"

"You not fired up like usually, Kiba."

Kiba wryly smiled, but then Shino's mother interrupted him before he got a chance to respond. She coldly glared at Kiba and especially at Naruto. The two of them could feel it, but it seemed like Shino didn't even realize it. The rest of the family stood there with mysterious expressions. "Shino, hurry up. We need to go home."

Shino nodded as his family waited for him. "Well, see you tomorrow, hopefully."

He and his family began to go home, while leaving lonely Kiba and Naruto behind. It was an odd tension between Kiba and Naruto. They both were feeling the same, but neither wanted to admit. Naruto turned around and headed in the other direction. Kiba didn't stop him and only his eyes watched him go home. As soon as Naruto disappeared out of sight, Kiba realized again... he was all alone again with Akamaru.

He observed other people and couples having a merry time. You could hear them laugh for miles away and they wouldn't care. Families were eating out and taking walks with their children. Kiba watched them all.

When the streets became emptier and the people grew less, Kiba could feel his heart want to break into pieces. He paused in his walk and gripped onto his chest with the empty hand. Kiba remembered he had the bought the book. He stared at it for a moment let the world pass by.

He continued to walk after his legs began to hurt. He began to mutter some words to himself.

Is there another day?

Maybe the heart tells us so…

Is there another goodbye today?

When will there be another hello?

And this never-ending struggle…

Will it hear my lament?

What words can a crow hear?

Are there voices waiting beyond the wing?

I want to say something, but there are no words to fill up my tears

The ocean is empty and as dried up as a desert

Is it by your actions or is it because too many tears have been wept that it can no longer wash away the mourning held by these hands?

Is there something that I'm missing?

Is there a sign where I can reach out to you?

What is this unsettling feeling? Why can't my hand reach out to someone?

Why isn't someone there waiting for me? Where have you gone? Especially you…

Where are you headed to, you lonely soul?

Where has your lovely, sweet smile disappeared to?

Wasn't there a painting of a fellow young man and woman together under a cherry blossom tree?

Whatever happened to it? Where did the passion fly? Where did the wind carry all of these words?

Is this what was meant to be?

Has the darkness won over the laughter that once filled the halls?

Where have the feathers from an angel gone?

Has the sorrow dispersed the wind?

Silent tears rolled down his eyes as he was smiling to himself. How could he explain this pounding emotion in his heart? His mother wouldn't understand, but then... who would understand him? No one?

As he uttered these words, the sound of a faint piano was playing a melancholy tune in the starry sky.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Kinto strolled down the street still thinking about Naruto. The Kyuubi... it still amazed him Naruto survived these twelve years without even having one thought of revenge. It was amazing Naruto still wanted to become Hokage to prove to the world he didn't just have the Kyuubi inside of him. Kinto clenched his fists thinking about himself. Only if he had stayed the same as Naruto, things for him wouldn't be so bad. The Hokage... it was time to meet her.

"As I watch the rain turn to snow, I sit here wondering why you had to go. I watch the snowfall on the windowsill. I listen but my heart is so still. I still don't see why you can't be with me, but I guess that's the way it has to be. I told myself, too many times to count, that I would not cry, but I am still asking God why...Yes, it hurts though it goes to show, that God only takes the best and this I know..."

Warrior: I know I haven't touched on Tsunade too much, but I will write the next chapter I certainly will and don't worry I haven't forgotten about Shikamaru and Ino. I'll be writing more about them in the chapter, as well. There is yet more to come! Also, I hope this chapter isn't boring. I had a hard time writing it so... very sorry if it is! .

Tsunade: I need more sake! Uh...

Shizune: Tsunade-sama! Tsunade-sama! Are you okay?

Warrior: Um... o.o Anyways, so the next chapter will be up by next week! I hope...