Chapter Twenty-seven
Disclaimer
I don't own Naruto nor any character connected. Someone else does.
A/N
Since my last chapter I have been steadily wrestling with the ideas for this chapter. Due to the fact that Naruko is not in this chapter but rather being discussed I have to work at it to find inspiration. It's not like the beginning where ideas freely flowed from my head.
P/S – anyone of my faithful followers who does not know, I have revamped the previous chapter into an actual chapter instead of pure authors notes so you might want to checkk it out if you have not already done so.
Kurenai was not traveling back to Konoha with her team. Her condition forbade it. Normally ninja works in the shadows and rarely seen by the outside world. However, Kurenai was out in the open traveling most of the way back by train. The ninja world hardly ever uses trains to travel for it is too open and confining.
Kurenai is forced to for she is seven months pregnant with Asuma's child. She was going to tell Asuma the next day after the disastrous meeting that occurred in the Hokage's office months ago. Needless to say she never got to tell him because her team had to leave Konoha that night.
Also normally pregnant kunoichi never ever leave the confines of the hidden villages. This is in part for their protection as well as the protection of the villages' different special secrets. Kunoichi's chakra reserves and control go haywire during pregnancy. This makes them slightly easy prey for those who may want to kill them to get their hands on certain secrets their bodies may contain about a particular hidden village jitsu.
Kurenai's team left so quickly no one thought about the possibility of Kurenai being pregnant. However during the lengthy mission her condition became apparent to everyone's shock. Tsunade needed a new desk after she heard the news. Tsunade nearly demanded her return.
The client however stepped in and guaranteed Kurenai's safety. That was very surprising to say the least. What was more surprising is Tsunade agreed to let Kurenai stay on mission however on the condition that a team of anbu black opts from Konoha be allowed to guard her at all times. The client agreed. After all it was an escort mission and the more guards the better.
Now after a few months in another country she is on her way back to Konohagakure. Meanwhile her team is making the trip by foot under the temporary command of Shikamaru. He drew the short end of the stick and ended up babysitting the team back. He much rather be guarding Kurenai during her trip back on the train than babysitting her team back.
One member of team Kurenai have been rather quite during the whole mission. This is very unusual considering the person happened to be Kiba Inuzuka. Shikamaru could not understand why Kiba was being so quite but did not look a gift horse in the mouth. Both Shino and Hinata knew what was going on or rather who was on Kiba's mind, Naruko Uzumaki now Naruko Namekaze.
They made camp for the night. Around midday the next day they should be back in Konoha. In fact they were on the Inuzuka lands already but too far away to make it to the main compound to stay as quest there so the only option was to make camp at one of the outer Inuzuka camp grounds. Kiba knew this campsite well so after dinner he excused himself to a nearby cliff that overlooked the valley Konoha was in.
The stars was out and shining brilliantly. When Shino and Hinata came to check on their teammate, Kiba, they were blown away by the overall beauty before them. However they also were deeply troubled over the emotional wellbeing of their teammate so they were not able to properly enjoy it.
Hinata wanted to console Kiba but could not. She could not for the life of her figure out a good opening sentence that could lend itself to Kiba opening up to her. Also she was simply too shy to do it anyways. Hinata turned around and looked Shino in the eyes who nodded his head as she passed by him on her way back to the campsite, leaving them in peace.
"Hi Kiba."
"Shino," answered Kiba barely recognizing his own teammate.
"What is on your mind Kiba or is it more precise to say who is on your mind? A certain hyperactive Blonde perhaps that found herself in the opposite gender recently?"
Kiba looked back at Shino with the post painful expression Shino ever saw on the dog boy. His heart sunk for the boy and wanted to take away his pain. Kiba wanted to open up to Shino but is almost as painful as remembering what was troubling him to begin with.
Instead of opening up he said, "Go away Shino. I DON'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" as he turned back to the view of valley thus turning his back to Shino.
Shino did not like being snubbed. "How would you like it if all the Inuzuka dog's suddenly became infested with fleas and ticks?"
Kiba turned around, "You would't DARE!" The look on Shino's face said he would. "All right Shino you win. Yes I have been troubled by that very blonde you mentioned or rather how I reacted to her that night in the Hokage's office just before this sudden Mission of ours."
"The Night you wanted to RAPE Naruko?" inquired.
"WHAT? I would never force myself on …" Kiba then thought about it. "Okay the night I acted as a Jackass. But to be fair if it were not for the pheromones Naruko was giving off then I would not have acted as…" Shino glared at him as he does when calls him out on lies. Kiba notices. "Ok Ok that is only an excuse. I should have been in more control."
"Well you can always apologize to her," injected Shino in a tone meaning that it was more than just a suggestion.
Kiba looked like he was about to strangle Shino but quickly calmed down and stared up into the night sky. "I plan to do that Shino," whispered Kiba rather meekly.
Kiba surprised Shino by his reply. Something about this situation is truly bothering Kiba. It seemed like the thought of seeing Naruko truly scared him. "May I ask what is truly bothering you Kiba. And none of this BS about regretting your actions before this mission. There is something else bothering you. I know and you know it."
Kiba thought for a few second before speaking again. "Ever since we left Hana had been sending me reports about Naruko progress at my request. I simply wanted to keep tabs on her training at the Inuzuka lands since I am the current heir. When I got over my episode some weeks into our Mission, I ignored the updates out of guilt."
"Well one day while I was on the phone with Hana she asked me why I did not reply to the last update about Naruko. I then had to tell her about ignoring them. You should have heard her scream over the phone at me because she had sent me a document I needed to sign along with the progress report. It demanded I sign it and send it back so the next phase of Naruko's training can begin – The Tracking Phase. Needless to say I got the document and sent it back signed very quickly."
"That one act led me to read all the other reports and those that came since then. Hana felt it necessary to write about Naruko's feelings she witnessed as well. Slowly I got a very complete picture of Naruko. I even received letters from Sakura about Naruko antics. While reading the reports and letters somehow I started to feel differently about Naruko. It was not lust anymore and it certainly was not responsibility. When I discovered what that feeling was it floored and scared me and continues to scare me. I love her, Shino. I hope she can one day forgive my past behavior and love me back."
Shino was very taken back at this admission from his comrade who was still staring into the night sky solemnly. Kiba was brash and obnoxious and that was some of his good qualities. The person in with him now is so much not like that Kiba it was scary. Something had to happen to make him like this and the only thing he can think of is that Kiba was telling the truth – that he is in love with Naruko. But then something told Shino that his friend was in for a world of hurt.
"You do realize that there is a very strong possibility Naruko may never be able to return your love even if she forgives you?" inquired Shino.
Kiba glared at his teammate for the first time. "Huh, why not?"
Shino stepped up to Kiba. "Close your eyes for a minute." Kiba looked suspiciously at Shino. "Trust me and close them." Kiba did as Shino asked and closed his eyes. "Good. Now think back to the Chunin exams. We were in the tower battling preliminary fights to see who will fight in the finals. Your name came up and you found yourself facing against a certain hyperactive squirt no one thought would win against you. He won after you nearly beat the crap out of him. While remembering that fight can you honestly tell me that person can ever fall in love with you?"
Shino eyed his teammate carefully and saw his answer. Kiba had tears coming down his cheek from his eyes. He left Kiba up on the cliff to compose himself.
About Twenty Kilometers away, Naruko was perched on the Namekaze roof looking in particular directly. She was looking in the very direction Kiba was sitting in on the Cliff. Unbeknown to others she can plainly smell Kiba on the evening wind. It might surprise Shino if he knew she was scared as well about seeing Kiba again for different reasons than Shino was thinking. She was scared for about the same reasons Kiba was.
When she was about to inside the wind shifted and she smelled two figures that was approaching Konoha from the opposite direction. These two figures smelled extremely powerful and deadly. One had a familiar smell however and she realized he smelled similarly to Sasuke. Then she realized they were coming for her or more precisely they were coming for the demon inside of her. One of them had to be Itachi Uchiha and the other must be a fellow Akatsuki Member. For the first time in a very long time fear crept into her heart.
A/N
Sorry for the long time in updating but I had a lot of upheavals in my personal and professional life. I know the characters here are a little OOC and I am sorry for that but I hope it's not too bad. I wanted to show Kiba was reflecting on hi behavior and show his feelings as well. He tends to hide them in his tough guy act.
I hope I did not go overboard with the whole Kurenai thing. It is really supposed to be a very minor thing.
Well that's is until next time.
