A/N: For those who don't read my main Naruto AU, Surface Breaker (s/13570086/1/Surface-Breaker), and thus don't know why this chapter is so damn late, long story short, along with writer's block, I had surgery recently and am still recovering (on top of still working my 2.5 jobs), so my writing is (hopefully understandably) taking longer! Thanks so much for being patient with me!

Hope you enjoy!

Curled up against Kiba's chest, Akamaru whines.

Kiba reaches down to scratch behind his ears to comfort him. "I know, boy. Don't worry. Hopefully they'll find somebody else to piss off and won't bother with us. It'll be fine."

Akamaru whines a little more, ears folding back, and ducks down lower in Kiba's jacket. Kiba's shoulders slump with a weary sigh. Yeah, he wouldn't believe him either. He can practically smell the malicious intent on the little bastards now, just a few yards behind them. They're really getting on his last nerve…

"Hey, dog-boy!"

Kiba keeps his eyes straight ahead and takes slow, deep breaths to try to keep calm. If he gets in another fight on Academy grounds, whether classes are over and he started it or not, it won't look good to the teachers…and with the way his mom's been lecturing him lately on being more responsible and keeping his head…

"Hey, we're talkin' to you, dog breath!"

Kiba squeezes his eyes shut. Those stupid nicknames… Are they supposed to intimidate him or something? Seriously, it's like they're not even trying.

"You're a total freak, you know that?"

Yeah, yeah. Kiba knows, all right. He's heard and read basically everything. Dog-shit, loud, stupid, pissy, obnoxious, arrogant and so many more cruel words dot his skin like paw prints. Hell, after this, there'll probably be even more. Not that it really matters, he does his best to tell himself. Sure, they suck, but he has Akamaru, his mom and sister, the rest of his clan, and his friends. He's fine... He'll be fine.

His eyes snap open and down when he feels Akamaru start trembling, and a frown pulls tight at his lips. Rubbing Akamaru's favorite spot between his eyes, he wraps his other arm around to cradle him, mostly to keep himself from giving in and reacting. That'll just give them what they want. Keep it together, Kiba…

"It's okay, boy. Just ignore them. They'll—"

"It must suck to be you!" the perceived leader calls. "Your future teammates are a bug-shit mute and a weakling heiress with no soul! You losers are gonna die in the field before you even get close to thirteen!" He laughs as his friends back him up, laughing while flinging similar insults Kiba's way.

Kiba, for his part, has stopped walking while Akamaru's shaking's increased. The look he cuts the group over his shoulder would send anyone else running. Well, anyone smart. "What'd you just say?"

"You heard me!" The older boy's smirking, hands on his hips, and the kids behind him laugh harder, booming and obnoxious.

Kiba growls, clenching his fists. He probably looks like a hypocrite right now, but he knows Akamaru will understand. This is their pack they're trashing! Nobody does that and gets away with it! "You don't know a damn thing about my friends if you think they're that pathetic!" He smirks. "Shino's a cutthroat fighter with one hell of a mouth on him, and you'd know that if you numbskulls used your brains for anything useful! And Hinata…" He huffs a laugh, sharp teeth on full display in warning, pride and adoration warming his chest. "Hinata's anything but weak! Wait till we graduate, then you'll be sorry! Once you see how hard she's been training, how strong a fighter she is when it counts, I guarantee she'll kick your sorry asses and more!" He narrows his eyes. "And if you think for even a second that someone as kind as her could be soulless, what's that say about you little bastards, huh?"

The kids merely scoff in answer, laugh and roll their eyes as if what he said didn't just eviscerate their arguments entirely. To Kiba, that just means they're not smart enough to know when they've been beaten. Shikamaru was right. Can't argue with guys with fluff between their ears. They don't have a single inkling of the kind of strength it takes to be a ninja. They're the weak ones, in his mind.

Meanwhile, several yards behind them, Naruto hides behind a tree. Damn it! He thought going out the window would give him an advantage over the bullies, but looks like he was wrong… That means he's stuck here till they leave…

More importantly, though, he can't understand why those jerks would say that about Kiba. He's not a freak at all, no more than Naruto himself is (and he's not, thank you very much, no matter what those stupid villagers might think, all their hurtful words be damned)! He's loud and acts kinda dog-like sometimes, but Naruto feels a camaraderie in the first and finds the second cool and interesting! Plus, a little puppy as cute as Akamaru can also kick ass? That's the coolest thing ever! How these guys can't see that is beyond him!

And what they said about Shino and Hinata, too…they've got it all wrong! Everything Kiba said was true, and Naruto's seen and heard it with his very own eyes and ears! He can't wait for these guys to get their asses handed to them down the line! Of course, then he remembers what Neji said in cooking class a month or so back about them flunking out of the Academy, and he can't help but smirk at the very idea. He really hopes he's right, and he knows Neji's almost never wrong.

Still, he wishes there was something he could do to help Kiba right now. He doesn't want him getting into a fight. Even thinking about the potential bruises and scrapes makes Naruto wince in empathy.

Kiba, thinking along the same lines, decides he's wasted enough time on these idiots. He turns to leave.

The lead bully steps forward. "Hey, we're not done!"

"Yeah, well, I am!" Kiba shoots back.

Tch. "You can't even stay when you're told! That just proves it!"

Despite himself, Kiba snorts. "What, another rumor you're stupid enough to believe?"

"No!" He points at Kiba. "That your family's a pack of pea-brained mutts and even dumber mutt-lovers!"

Naruto gasps while Kiba bristles and about-faces, claws poking into his palms. "Hey, you don't know anything about my family, so don't spout off like you do!" Akamaru pokes his head out of Kiba's jacket to bark indignantly.

"Yeah, yeah, Sparky, keep barkin'!" The bully makes out as if Kiba didn't say a word, like he doesn't matter in the slightest. Naruto grimaces. He knows exactly what that's like… "You wanna know the most pathetic thing about you?" A cruel smirk curls his lips as his friends snicker. "Your mom's a literal bitch!"

Kiba goes shock-still, and Akamaru stops shaking.

His mom leads the Inuzuka clan, yes, and Hana's most likely to lead after her, but they're a matriarchal clan. There's nothing wrong with that. Hell, in the wild, hyenas are matriarchal, and they're some of the smartest, fiercest animals out there. He's proud to have such strong females in his family who're also his role models. They're the most amazing girls he knows besides Hinata. So…what gives? Why call his mom that, like his clan's way is something bad, even shameful?

Of course, in the end, he supposes the why doesn't matter. He just has to make them understand that that's not something they can just say. Not while he's still breathing, anyway.

Naruto presses his hands tighter to his mouth. He'd gasped so loudly at the slight that he'd had to shut himself up to keep from saying something and making things worse. Those rotten jerks…!

Kiba snaps out of his shock when the snickering starts. He doesn't care what they're so happy about (probably the rise they're getting out of him), he's just trying to breathe past the red spotting his vision. Obviously, that's easier said than done. His breathing is harsh through clenched teeth, and he can feel his claws slicing into his palms, warm blood dripping from them. Oh, well. He'll deal with that later. He's the last thing on his mind right now. "The hell did you just say about my mom, asshole?" he snarls.

Akamaru's ears fold back some at his ferocity, but he's following his master in glaring at the boys, snarling a final warning.

"Exactly what I said! And you know what?" The leader marches right into Kiba's space, and Naruto gulps. This isn't going to end well…! "They should put you and your clan down like the dogs you are!" Kiba gasps as Akamaru yelps, Naruto flinching behind his tree. Oh, shit…! Smirk taking an ugly, vicious turn Kiba's way, the bully reaches down for Akamaru. "Starting with your useless mutt here!"

—!

A vice grip on the boy's wrist a split second later, and if looks could kill— Kiba's out for blood now.

"Don't you fucking touch Akamaru, you bastard!"

After that, the yard erupts into chaos. Kiba fights tooth and nail, wilder and more fired up than Naruto's ever seen. That kid must really have a death wish, reaching for Akamaru like that! Did he really think Kiba would just take that lying down? It's like they don't know him at all! Kiba's protective as all hell, and Naruto's not sure if that's enhanced by the dog-like characteristics of his clan or not, but either way, he's definitely not someone whose loved ones you want to mess with, especially not like that! That's just…suicide!

Still, no matter how pissed off Kiba is, seven against one, technically two counting Akamaru, aren't great odds. Naruto can't stand people who don't fight fair! (The villagers and bullies never fight fair with him either…) He crosses all his fingers and prays as hard as he can that Kiba will come out on top. He wishes he could do more…!

Suddenly, the lead bully cries out, and when Naruto finds him in the scuffle, Akamaru's death-shaking his pant leg. Seeing the opening for what it is, Kiba tackles him to the ground and shakes him roughly by the collar.

"Apologize, damn it! Say you're sorry or so help me!"

Seeing their leader at Kiba's mercy, the other kids hightail it out of there. The boy's eyes widen in betrayal and fear, and Kiba can't help but smirk. "Not so big 'n' bad now without numbers on your side, are ya?"

The kid spits in Kiba's face and punches him in the jaw to get him off, then scrambles to his feet. "You're a freak, Inuzuka! A freak!"

With that, he runs off, calling after the so-called friends that left him. Yep… They're gonna fail out of this Academy, all right. Rule one of being a ninja: you're only as strong as your weakest link, and that chain was one of the weakest Kiba's ever seen.

Wiping at the spit with his sleeve, Kiba shifts to his knees with a heavy sigh. Hurrying over, Akamaru whines and braces his front paws on Kiba's chest to lick his bruised cheeks and split lip. Kiba laughs, petting him gently. "Aw, thanks, boy. They didn't hurt you, did they? Lemme see."

After making sure Akamaru's okay, Kiba sighs again, in relief this time, and Naruto does the same. Thank goodness… He was really afraid things were gonna go south for a minute! That said, wow! Kiba's so sweet and cool! He took on all of them at once and still came out on top! Akamaru was really awesome, too! They're such a good team, so lucky to have each other! (Naruto can't help but wonder what it's like to be able to trust someone, anyone, like that (at all).)

Once he makes absolutely sure they'll be all right getting home, he hurries to head out himself. It'll be hard to miss his bullies at this rate, but this was more important!

Shink! Shink! Shinkkk…!

Kiba's ears perk at the peculiar noise, and he looks up just in time to see Naruto Uzumaki jump off the Academy's chain-link fence and take off running. He raises an eyebrow. What would Naruto be doing here at this hour? He usually leaves way before now, normally out the front or back, at least according to Shikamaru and Neji. Was he just waiting for the bullies to clear out or…was it something else…—?

Akamaru bark-whines, and Kiba backs out of wandering thoughts. Smiling down at him, he scoops up his beloved partner and settles him safely inside his jacket again. "Sorry, boy. I know, we're way late getting home." Cradling Akamaru close, he stands and restarts their walk toward the Inuzuka compound. "Once we get there, I'll have Hana check on you, just to make extra sure you're okay." Akamaru barks insistently, and Kiba laughs. "Okay, okay! I'll have mom look me over, too! You know, for a dog, you're a pretty convincing Mother Hen!"

"If you keep this up, I'm gonna start charging you every time I have to look over Akamaru."

"Hey, it's not like we're asking for it! We're just defending ourselves and what's important to us!" Kiba retorts, and Akamaru backs him up. Feeling a little guilty, though, he sighs. "But I hear ya, sis. I'm sorry, okay? But you should have heard what those jerks said about Hinata and Shino and our clan, let alone mom!" He looks away, clenching bandaged fists. "They called her a…a…" He squeezes his eyes shut. It's so horrible, he can't bear to say it…

He's saved when his mom stops patching him up long enough to ruffle his hair roughly. "I can guess what they called me, pup! I've heard and read it all before and worse! No need to wet yourself over it!"

Kiba flushes at the embarrassing insinuation. "I-I'm not! Besides, that's not even the worst of it! Then they said we should all be put down like the dogs we are, and—" he bites his lip, wincing when the pain reminds him it's already split, "—and the biggest of 'em tried to grab Akamaru, saying he'd be first!"

Tsume doesn't say anything for a long moment as she cleans more dirt from his face, piercing gaze not leaving him. "Then you protected him and your friends and all of us by showin' 'em who's boss, is that right?"

Kiba cocks an eyebrow and crosses his arms with a huff. "Well, yeah, of course! What else?"

She laughs out loud and pulls him in for a good old-fashioned noogie. "That's my boy!"

Kiba squawks and half-laughs. "Ah—mom, let go! That hurts!"

She stops, but doesn't let him go. She keeps him there against her chest instead, arms wrapped around his shoulders in a backward hug. Her familiar scent surrounds him, her comforting warmth seeps through his clothes, and Kiba closes his eyes and relaxes into her. This is exactly what he needs after all that…

He feels her start cleaning him again several seconds later, and Kiba's eyes fly open when she gasps, Hana, too. He's surprised to find her expression's gone soft, even proud. It's not too often that his mom looks at him like this… "Apparently, we're not the only ones you impressed, pup."

Kiba doesn't get what she means, but Akamaru barks excitedly and his tail's wagging like crazy, so they must know something he doesn't. His mom turns his face toward the mirror, and Kiba follows his girls.

The word Loyal hugs an ugly bruise on his cheek.

Kiba's slack-jawed, thrilled and confused and awed all at once. Who the heck could have, would have, thought this about him? The only ones around as far as he knows were the bullies, and they certainly wouldn't have—!

Their wind chimes tinkle outside, and Kiba's reminded of the trilling chain-link fence around the Academy. Oh, yeah! Naruto was there, too! But…would he really have…and if so, why…?

He reaches up to touch his new word, trace it, with shaky, almost reverent fingers. He remembers what the others have been saying lately, about getting good words seemingly out of nowhere, and one of the most confusing common denominators is that Naruto always seems to be around when they happen…

And now, he's gotten one, too. Huh… Shikamaru and Neji are definitely gonna wanna know about this. Looks like Shino and Shikamaru are the only ones of the Konoha 10 left untouched.

He grins at Akamaru in the mirror. "Looks like we've got ourselves a fan, huh, boy?"

Bark! Bark!

A/N: This was actually meant to be Shino's chapter at first, but an idea I came up with for his chapter (after finally getting over my writer's bock for it, too, lol) worked way better with Kiba's chapter first! Hopefully his chapter will be out soon, but ch 16 of Surface Breaker is priority after this, so we'll see!

I honestly don't know if the Inuzuka clan is actually matriarchal or not, but since Tsume is current head and I don't recall any talk of Kiba taking over (and in Boruto, he's definitely not clan head), I figured it could be cool to headcanon it as such! (Plus, random-yet-appropriate hyena reference, woo! Hyenas are badass!)

Also, I know the Academy actually has a tall wall around it, but that didn't work for my fic (mostly 'cause Naruto wouldn't be able to climb it yet), so...I bent things a little! It is an AU, after all! ;)

I admit to throwing in some Kiba/Hinata hints because they've been (and remain) my Naruto OTP since I was 12 and I can, lol, so hope any fellow fans enjoyed those! If not, please feel free to ignore! ;)

Thanks so much for reading!