"I saw you in my dreams again."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The war was going smoother now that a new-found camaraderie had begun between the Inuzukas and Nekoyamas. It was nowhere near perfect and there was a sense of uncertainty in the air. The clans wouldn't be going on picnics or holding hands anytime soon, but it was a start.

As Naruto and Sasuke fought against Madara, a lingering sense of doom hung over the battlefield. Nanami watched in awe as Naruto demonstrated perfect control over the Kyuubiw, even lending his chakra to everyone, and Sasuke who fought using the Susanoo.

They're next level, she thought to herself. No matter the power that everyone else has, it's going to take them to stop Madara.

Kiba kept Nanami close and she wondered if he too worried that this may be their last moments together.

Then, the moon went blindingly white. It was as if the sun had suddenly switched places with the moon. Kiba held onto Nanami's hand as tightly as possible, but as they both stared up at the moon along with the rest of the world, they felt their consciousness fading.

The last thing Kiba remembered before slipping under was Nanami's fingers brushing against his palm, hand falling from his as the lyrical tune of his name left her lips.

"Kiba..."

"Kiba!"

Kiba groggily opened his eyes and saw nothing but black. He felt the familiar sensation of his eyes pressed into the crook of his arm as he laid his head down, blocking out the light.

"BAKA!" The high-pitched voice rang again, louder this time.

Kiba lifted his head, blinking his eyes as they adjusted to the light. It took him a moment to process the small girl standing in front of him. Her hair was silver like moonlight with equally piercing silver eyes. Blue fang markings were splashed sideways across her cheeks, signaling to him that she was part of the Nekoyama clan. But the girl before him couldn't be older than five.

"N-Nanami?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Class hasn't even started yet and you're already sleeping? Isn't that some kind of record?"

"Class?"

Kiba looked around the room and saw all of his classmates standing around talking, waiting for the day to begin. Choji was scarfing down a bag of chips early in the morning, all the girls were fawning over Sasuke as he ignored them, and Naruto was no doubt in the process of pulling a prank.

Kiba looked back at the girl and registered that something seemed...off. Her silver hair was shoulder length and hung freely, not pulled back by any kind of clip or barrette. Without quite knowing why he reached his hand out to the smooth skin around her eye.

Shouldn't there be a scar there...?

Nanami slapped his hand away before he could touch her.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" She yelled, angrily. "Look, just get your mutt out of my seat, k?"

A small white feline with black paws climbed up the side of Nanami's body and rested on her shoulder. Then, the cat let out a hiss.

Aozora?

Kiba looked next to him and saw his buddy Akamaru resting comfortably on the desk. Small, nearly pocket-sized Akamaru. Kiba lifted his hands to his face and saw his small fingers, free of permanent cuts and callouses.

"What's your deal? Do you need a medic?"

Kiba looked back at small little Nanami who, only for a moment, looked concerned. She noted that he sensed her worry and covered It by huffing and crossing her arms.

Kiba blinked, and said a little hesitantly, "Up, buddy."

An annoyed growl came from Akamaru's stomach, but he reluctantly rose and climbed to rest on Kiba's head anyway. Nanami shuffled past him and sat down in her seat next to his.

"What are you looking at?" Nanami said, frowning at him.

Kiba started, not realizing he'd been staring at her.

"N-nothing." Kiba looked down, a blush forming on his cheeks. He put his head back down to hide his face. "Just leave me alone, baka."

It was a normal day at the Academy. But Kiba couldn't seem to shake this weird feeling that something was different about today.

When class ended, Kiba walked outside with Akamaru tucked into the top of his shirt. He saw his mom waiting for him and made his way toward her. Nanami rushed past him, bumping his shoulder and nearly knocking him to the ground. Kiba watched as she ran towards a silver-haired man and woman. The woman was beautiful, with long hair that flowed down her back like a waterfall and the strands on the side of her face clipped back with a blue barrette. The woman scooped Nanami in her arms and gave her a big bear hug while the man next to her smiled at the sight.

Tsume placed a hand on her son's shoulder and led them towards the family.

"Tsume, how are you?" Nanami's mom asked.

"I'm great, thanks. I didn't know little Nanami was also at the academy."

"She is!" Nanami's father beamed proudly.

Tsume looked down at her son and asked him, "Do you know Nanami?"

"Yes," Kiba replied.

"We sit next to each other," Nanami said at the same time.

"Oh!" Nanami's mother said, surprised. "I'm so glad you two are already friends!"

"We're not," Kiba and Nanami grumbled together.

Kiba hissed in pain as his mother pulled at the hair on the back of his neck as a silent scolding.

Nanami's mother laughed in embarrassment and her father replied quickly, "Well maybe they'll grow up to be great rivals instead. They can make each other stronger!"

The ninja hound user looked at the cat user and watched as she stuck her tongue out at him, pulling down the skin under her eye. Kiba frowned in response and stuck his tongue back out at her. Catching him in the childish act, his mother tugged at his hair once again.

"Ow!" he rubbed at the back of his head.

The girl in front of him giggled, eyes squinting shut. Kiba found himself smiling at the sound, sure that she wouldn't notice his reaction.

Cute, he thought.

Kiba blinked and found himself facing a twelve-year-old Nanami, fresh out of the academy and sporting her shiny leaf headband on her forehead. He adjusted his own and pointed his finger at her as they faced each other on the training grounds.

"Now that we're real ninja, I'm calling for a rematch!" he shouted to her.

Nanami adjusted the glove on her hand and smirked in response. "Don't you ever tire of me kicking your ass, baka?"

Kiba gritted his teeth and charged towards her, Akamaru in tow. In a flash of blue flame, Aozora transformed into a larger cat. Nanami and Aozora responded to his advance, defending stealthily against every kick and punch they threw. Akamaru transformed into a Kiba look alike and the two launched into a Fang Over Fang. Nanami jumped onto Aozora's back as she formed signs with her hands. The cat dashed away, avoiding their attack and a gush of water left Nanami's lips, hitting their opponent.

After landing back on the ground, Kiba and Akamaru shook the water from their bodies.

Nanami giggled. "Just like a mutt."

The ninja hound user sprinted towards the cat user and tackled her to the ground.

Kiba blinked and a sixteen-year-old Nanami lay pinned beneath him against the grass of the training grounds. He kept a firm grip on her wrists and drank in the sight. Her long silver hair was sprawled behind her and Kiba fleetingly wondered if it ever got in the way without having anything to pin it back.

Nanami huffed, trying to catch her breath and met his eyes. Her chest heaved up and down, brushing against his own with every inhalation. Her cheeks were flushed prettily from the physical exertion. Kiba found himself out of breath for another reason and his stomach flipped in response.

"Fine, you won the bet this time, baka. What do you want?"

Kiba paused, staring at her silently. He lowered his head slightly towards her. A dawning recognition crossed those silver eyes that kept an intense gaze upon his own.

Nanami visibly swallowed and questioned again. "Kiba?"

Without his permission, Kiba's hand lifted and brushed the silver locks away from Nanami's face. Giving in to an urge Kiba had been ignoring for years, he lowered his head and kissed her. It began soft and sweet. Nanami melted in to the sensation, lifting her arms and placing her hands on either side of his face to hungrily pulled him closer. Kiba obliged, lips moving together with hers in perfect sync. Slender fingers ran through his short hair.

When Kiba finally pulled back from her, he saw that Nanami visibly pouted and he smirked at her.

"I want you to be my kitten," he finally replied.

Kiba blinked and saw the village gathered in front of him, awaiting his words. Kiba sat in a chair, dressed in his Hokage robes and a large Akamaru sitting beside him.

"I think I'll start by establishing a new holiday called Dog Day!" Kiba declared to the adoring villagers and ninja. "Everyone will own a dog!" Kiba stood to the sound of cheers. "Go get a dog! It's the Hokage's decree!"

Kiba walked into the Hokage's office later feeling tired and ready for a good nap. When he looked up, Nanami was leaning back against his desk, looking elegant yet casual.

"Kiba!" she ran towards him, grabbing his hand and leading him to a couch in his office. After he sat down, Nanami climbed on top of him. "I never got to properly congratulate you." Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

The newly appointed Hokage smirked and reach his hand up, tucking the stray silver locks behind his girlfriend's ear. No, his soon-to-be wife once he asked her.

"Hokage and a beautiful woman by my side? How'd I ever get so lucky?"

Nanami winked at him. "You're about to get a whole lot luckier." She leaned toward him and trailed kisses around his neck. Kiba sighed in content as her lips grazed his ear. "Beast," she said, teasingly, knowing the nickname turned him on.

Kiba frowned momentarily, wondering why the sound of the nickname made him feel off instead. He shook off the feeling quickly as her fingertips glided down his chest, across his stomach, and to the waistband of his pants.

A smile formed on Kiba's lips from where he was wrapped in his cocoon of dreams.