Disclaimer: PandoraBoxx777 Does NOT in anyway own the series Naruto or any of its other name rights. Happy Reading!
Shikamaru was the smartest genin in the class. Well, actually, he was the smartest person in the entire academy; even though he slept in class and only barely finished his assigned work, he still had good grades (He would have it higher if he put in more effort, but it simply was too troublesome. He would rather let others have the glory).
Even at his age, his skills of observation were at its peak, if not better, and he started his mornings with a mental tally of his classmates. Seeing as he was a boy of routine, today would be no different.
The morning of the academy was as busy as ever. Everyone talked excitedly to one another about their graduation celebrations and how thrilled they were to finally be placed on a team.
Shikamaru's eyes swept over the heads in the first row of the section adjacent to his own, starting from the left and working his way down and up. Some of them being civilian families and others from small ninja clans like himself, although the Nara were more well known.
His eyes traveled up the row until he finally reached the back across from him.
Shino sat in his usual corner seat, closed off and indifferent as usual, but Shikamaru found himself searching for the short cropped navy blue hair that usually sat by him. His eyes scanned over the section again and then turned to his own. Kiba sat in his usual group of 'friends' with Akamaru napping on his head, Sasuke was sitting in his window seat, brooding, but where was she? She wasn't anywhere within his sight, as he sat in the back, so he can only deduce that she was absent today or maybe…
There she was; at the far corner on the other side of the room, on the same row as him, in her own little world. Shikamaru wondered what must have happened for Hinata to switch seats so suddenly, away from the other loner she would usually sit with.
Shikamaru found himself studying her closely, following the delicate curve of her nose and the pout of her lips, which she then began to chew. A dark bruise adorned her neck under her headband and her hands began to fidget with her coat sleeves in some sort of nervous tick.
He wasn't sure why, but somewhere in his subconscious, he knew he needed to watch out for her. She was a ticking time bomb, he could tell. It would take one thing to set her off and he was sure that it was going to be something that changed her for good.
He felt a twisted sense of guilt and anticipation when he found himself wanting to see her explosion but for now he shook it off and continued studying the rest of the children in the room.
A flash of yellow caught his eye and he stopped to chase it. There was only one person in the entirety of the class with hair as bright and wild as the mop he was currently staring at. Not even Ino's platinum blond locks held any comparison to the sunny yellow tangles, seemingly pale and faded in comparison.
"Hey Naruto," Shikamaru called with a smirk, "This class is for graduated shinobi only." He did enjoy teasing his dense blonde friend.
Naruto, having caught onto Shikamaru's joke, grinned back and thumbed the headband, reflecting the light off of it and into the lazy boy's eyes, "Can't you see what's on my head, Shikamaru? I thought you were supposed to be the smart guy." Shikamaru chuckled to himself and turned to talk with Choji, continuing his usual morning routine.
Hinata felt her heart beating twice as fast as she spotted the proud blonde swagger over to his seat. If Naruto could pass, even against all odds, then surely there was hope for her too, right?
She found herself looking over to Kiba and immediately turned away. She relived the shame and guilt and fear from that day and hid her head in her arms.
Little did she know that Kiba could smell it on her and resisted the urge to turn and look at her, glancing over to the bug boy instead.
Shino felt eyes on his person and stiffened up, glancing at Hinata; she was hiding in her arms, so it wasn't her. He looked to Kiba who was turning his head away from his direction to laugh at a joke one of his friends told.
All three of them then intentionally avoided eye contact, or any contact for that matter, with each other, choosing to ignore the pull of gravity that fate seemed to place upon them. Instead, they decided it was for the best that they all avoided each other for the rest of their lives or at least, until they were forced to speak to one another.
In deciding this, they all happened to miss the hilarious event of Naruto and Sasuke kissing each other after Naruto was accidentally pushed into Sasuke's face. Eventually everyone would fondly remember that moment as a joke, bringing it up here and there at get-togethers and laugh, except for Team Eight who would smile nervously and look at each other in confusion. They would be the only team of the entire Rookie Nine who would never really know what happened that day, but that part of the story comes later.
Iruka felt that familiar sting of proud sorrow as he entered the classroom of chattering students. his eyes glanced over the classroom of children sitting in their seats.
After years of hard work and dedication, here was his class, ready to move on to another stage of their lives as real shinobi. He never got rid of the emotions over this portion of the school year when it all ended for some and then started again for others. However, he was very happy with this year's class, and felt in his gut that they were going to be the very best of any class he had taught before and after.
"Good morning, my dear students." Iruka's voice silenced the room almost immediately, "As of today you are all ninjas. To get here you faced difficult trials and hardships, but that's nothing; what comes next will be far more difficult.
"Now, you are only genin, first level ninjas. All the genin will be grouped into three men squads. Each squad will be led by a jonin, an elite ninja. We want each squad to have a balance of strengths and abilities, so that's how we set them up. I will now announce the squads!"
"Team Seven will be: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Sasuke Uchiha." Both Naruto and Sakura had their moments of sadness and victory separately after hearing their team placement.
Shino rolled his eyes at the wail of despair of all of the fangirls who failed to have a placement on the Uchiha's team as well as Sakura turning to gloat over all of them.
Despite her intelligence, she really was an immature little girl. She had loving parents who supported her choice in being a ninja, despite her being from a civilian line, and gave her anything that she wanted.
She did have great chakra control, but that was simply because she didn't have very much of it to control. She was weak in combat too, being too distracted or not taking the fight itself seriously. Shino often wondered what drove her to be a ninja in the first place, though he had the feeling it had something to do with the Uchiha.
"Team Eight," His attention was drawn back to Iruka's voice, "Hyuga Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka, and Aburame Shino." Shino sighed angrily to himself. After all, he did plan on never speaking to those two again, namely Hinata. He supposed he had no choice, as this was Kami's way of punishing him.
Kiba groaned to himself after he heard his name. Great, now he was stuck with the two people he was trying to avoid for the rest of his life.
Hinata didn't bother to pick her head up from her arms. She knew this was going to happen. She saw it as soon as Iruka walked in the classroom.
"And finally, Team Ten will consist of Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji." Iruka rolled up his scroll and grinned at his class, "You may take an extra hour in lunch to get to know your teammates better. Afterwards you are to report back to the classroom to meet your new jonin leaders. Dismissed."
Almost everyone ran outside, save the few who were either too cool to run or who just wanted to take their time.
Hinata didn't bother to move, deciding it was better to stay inside and mope instead of having to face the loneliness outside while the other teams were likely to talk and get to know each other.
Once the room was empty, she sat up and slowly unwrapped the crumpled cinnamon bun she saved in her pocket. She didn't bring lunch today, her depression taking away her hunger, but she was suddenly curious on how the gift from the Inuzuka tasted. Besides, if he wanted to poison her in some way, she might as well help him out.
She hesitantly took a bite and found that, even if it was a bit stale, it was delicious. She should have thanked Kiba when he gave it to her.
The thought brought back an intense shame and her guilt returned with even more aggression. Suddenly she couldn't eat anymore and wrapped the sweet treat back in it's napkin. She hid her face once more and began to silently cry.
Kiba ignored the smell of tears in the classroom and instead focused on eating his lunch. Akamaru whimpered beside him, pawing at his leg. "I know boy," He sighed, "But she doesn't like us. She wouldn't want us up there to watch her cry."
He glanced over to Shino who was sitting completely opposite of him, studying a butterfly on his finger. He felt a bitterness towards him for some reason. Maybe it was because he knew that, to some extent, Hinata trusted him and he broke that, maybe it was because he didn't seem to care about anyone but himself.
To Kiba, the Aburame was cold and heartless. He didn't want to be on a team with him, but decided that if he was going to be a ninja, he was going to work with people he didn't like on missions. This was no different; just a really long mission.
Somehow, Shino knew that Hinata was crying. It was something he could feel in his heart. He partially blamed himself but forcefully abstained responsibility. It was not his fault that she cried, nor that their bond was not strong enough for him to have real reason to care.
He ignored the nasty stare Kiba was sending his way and decided to focus on what was important, which was meeting their sensei under a good first impression and preparing for the next steps in his career.
Everyone was back in the classroom on time, even Naruto. Almost all of them talked about their sensei and how amazing of a ninja they'll be. Some even started to make bets of whether they'll have a male or female.
Suddenly the doors opened and a small group of Jonin entered the room, one by one, each of them staring the class down. Everyone became quiet, filled with anticipation. No one said anything, as if they were all waiting for something to happen.
A tall burly man with an unlit cigarette in his mouth stepped forward. A smirk played on his lips as he casually pulled a crumpled up paper from his pocket and glanced over the names. "I am Sarutobi Asuma," He announced. Some of the girls in the room swooned over the deep baritone of his voice. It was slightly rough from smoking, but none less attractive. "I am here for Team Ten."
Ino shot up and nearly ran to join him up front, sticking her tongue out at Sakura as she passed. Shikamaru and Choji lazily followed after her.
Kurenai stepped forward, a hand on her hip. "I am Yuhi Kurenai," She announced proudly, ignoring the side looks from her colleagues behind her, "I am here for Team Eight."
She watched as the two wallflowers and loudmouth stood up and walked to the front, avoiding all eye contact with the class but mostly each other. She resisted the urge to sigh and lead them out, heading straight for the training grounds.
The walk was silent, almost sad. Kurenai understood the conditions in which these children lived in, but that did not make it any easier to understand. She was going to have to work extra hard for them to accept not only her, but each other. She silently cursed as she realized what she had gotten herself into, but was also excited at this new challenge.
They walked into what would be their team training site, heading for a clearing by a small river. "This will do." She simply said, turning to face her students. She sat in lotus position, gesturing for her students to do the same, which they did.
"Once again my name is Yuhi Kurenai, it is a pleasure to be your sensei." She never really liked small talk, but continued, "It is my duty to actively train and guide you through the beginnings of your shinobi careers until you are of chunin or even jonin rank. I am here for advice, information, support, and a shoulder to simply lean on. I expect you all to listen to instruction, but do not be afraid to question my authority and tell me of your concerns. It is good for you to have a mind of your own and I will not shame you for speaking out or having an opinion. I promise to listen to whatever it is you have to say.
"A little bit about me: I have served as a ninja for the Hidden Leaf since I was nine; I am now twenty-three. I specialize primarily in genjutsu, but am always willing to learn something new.
"I like sushi and strawberries, and dislike laziness. My hobbies include reading, training and poetry. A dream I have for the future is to retire in an era of peace.
"I would like for all of you to introduce yourselves to me and your teammates. We will be working together for a long time, and it's best that you have some information on each other so as to build a connection."
Kurenai turned her eyes to the shaded bug user, Aburame Shino. He was a tough one to read, that's for sure. She read all of his practice reports as well as his hypothetical class assignments. He was careful and none too risky when it came to tough situations, deciding to go more passive routes so as to not leave any real room for the situation given.
While it may seem like a good idea to plan and neutralize the situation, it was feeding into the threat and giving the enemies more leverage. He thought too much with his head and never allowed his gut feelings to surfice.
Kurenai was sure that if he were to let go of the 'teachings' his parents seemed to have engraved, he would plan as well as predict outcomes with better ease, thus retaining better results.
She remembered seeing his day to say life in the crystal ball, watching as he was met with cold indifference. He would stay in his room all day, preferring to isolate himself instead of being rejected outright by his parents.
She was sure that one day he did try to build something warm with them, but seeing as how he was strictly stuck in the routine of walking into his home, having to explain his day, receive a lecture before and after school, and then retreat to stare at the walls of his room, the attempt hadn't gone very well.
She even thought back to the very first meeting with his parents before he got home.
A similar high-scollar, glasses-wearing face, that obviously was related to Shino, opened the door as Kurenai finished knocking, but instead of the short brown afro Shino had, the hair was black, straight and long. The Aburame Matriarch stared blankly past her, or at least, that's what it felt like. An unnatural chill seemed to pour out of the house behind her and Kurenai couldn't imagine coming home to this everyday.
"Good afternoon," Kurenai greeted, bowing to show her respect. "My name is Yuhi Kurenai, and I will be the jonin instructor for your son, Aburame Shino."
The woman said nothing and so she continued undeterred, "I have come to meet you in hopes of getting a better understanding of your son, as well as affirming any questions or concerns you may have."
Kurenai looked over the woman's shoulder to see a seemingly older version of Shino walking briskly down the hallway. "Hello," He greeted, "My name is Shibi Aburame, and this is my wife Sana. It is nice to meet you. Please come in and join us for tea." Sana moved out of the way, heading for the kitchen to prepare the tea as her husband led Kurenai to the receiving area.
"Thank you," Kurenai remembered her manners, "That is very generous of you."
Shibi said nothing, only taking his seat as Kurenai kneeled in hers. She waited for Shibi to say something, anything, but was only met with silence.
She figured that he was either waiting for his wife, or waiting for Kurenai to say something. She decided to wait for the wife, seeing as how they both may have different questions as well as opinions for their child.
"The selection this afternoon is a simple matcha green tea." Sana had a very quiet, almost a whisper of a voice, but Kurenai didn't mind. It was better than what she heard from a majority of the village.
"What would you like to know about Shino?" Shibi asked, waiting for Kurenai to take a sip of her tea.
Kurenai thought for a second, "What are your son's work habits like here at home?"
Both of them took a second to answer, seemingly thinking, "He is very dedicated," Shibi spoke before his wife could get a word in, "He is completely committed to his learning, and refrains from slacking off. We don't have to remind him to focus or continue his work. We like to have a talk with him every night, and almost every morning, to strive to be his best, but that's the closest we'll get to reminding him."
There seemed to be some sort of power difference between the two. Sana looked more than capable of being able to voice her opinion and speak, but Shibi always cut her off or answered before her. Kurenai took note of it.
"What about hobbies?" The red-eyed beauty asked, "Or maybe some of his personal interests? What are some of the activities he likes to do here at home or maybe out with friends."
Shibi seemed almost confused at the question, "Hobbies?" He asked, "No, we do not encourage that here.
"Shino mustn't be distracted, you see, he must always be thinking, always focused. He doesn't have friends either, as emotional bonds are somewhat useless. I suppose one could care for another or maybe have a strong fellowship, maybe even a partnership, as me and my husband do, but that is for after he is trained in his shinobi arts, or perhaps, not at all if that's what must be."
Kurenai could not believe her ears. Were they serious? Even she, a strong kunoichi, an ANBU member for crying out loud, knew the importance of emotional bonds in friends and family. Was she saying that the reason they hardly ever bothered with their son emotionally was because they believed that it was a weakness to their son's growth? Unbelievable.
Kurenai nodded, pretending not to be bothered, "Is there anything you may be concerned about while he is under my care?"
Shibi's answer was serious, "Make sure he is not distracted and is keeping a clear head."
He suddenly seemed colder then, much more distant than before if that was possible, and Kurenai was reminded suddenly of what she would see in the crystal ball.
"Shino doesn't need to be hindered with needless things. He should only live, breathe and think for the mission. We are shinobi, soldiers and warriors. We no need for useless distractions."
It was then that Kurenai truly realized what kind of environment that Shino was raised in, what he was living through. His parents were thinkers, not feelers. They saw no need for love and affection, no need for warmth or kindness towards their child, for he was to be what they were, and that was a 'soldier', though Kurenai saw it more as being a robot.
His parents kept him under a strict house but otherwise neglected their son emotionally. They saw no need for him to do anything outside of what they did and even if they were not there, they had him under their thumbs.
"Thank you very much for the tea, and more so for your hospitality." Kurenai couldn't stay here another second, "Unfortunately I have two other families to meet with, that being Hyuga and Inuzuka." She gave the parents time to process this, but like everything else they just accepted the terms and outcomes of their son's graduation.
Kurenai bowed, "If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to seek me out. Have a lovely afternoon, Lord and Lady Aburame.
"My name is Shino Aburame," A quiet, raspy voice broke through her train of thought, "I am from a clan that specializes in the use of Kikaichu beetles and as part of my clan's technique we allow the insects to live inside our bodies to create a bond." He paused for a bit, preparing himself for the usual disgust and rejection, but was pleasantly surprised when he only saw curiosity and wonder.
He continued, "I like winter melons and the season spring; I dislike pesticides and salted tongue. I do not have any hobbies, unless you count collecting specimens for my clan's inventory. My goal for the future is to discover an entire new species of bug." Everything was short and to the point, just as she expected.
She couldn't help but wonder how he was able to project his internal state as if everything was perfectly fine. She knew in his own way he was suffering, but he handled his despair by ignoring it, pushing it away and pretending that he was okay with everything going on. There was no reason to cause a fuss.
She looked to Kiba and nodded encouragingly, waiting for him to start.
He was the son of Inuzuka Tsume, the woman who chased off her husband so long ago, not long after giving birth to a son. Some said that she caught him with another woman, others say that he was threatening to hurt their family.
Kurenai knew the basics of all clans, including the Inuzuka's; and after observing them through the crystal ball for a short time, she gathered enough information to figure out the power imbalance, and just how deeply it ran.
Kurenai knew Tsume's husband, Yoshiro Yuuto, and his companion, Yori, through the occasional mission. He was kind, although he had a strange fiery temper when someone he cared about was involved (Kurenai figured it ran in the family). He never raised his voice at a superior nor questioned any orders given to him. He was easygoing and relaxed most of the time, friends with everyone.
She knew Tsume well enough, as well, as she was one of the Kunoichi's who didn't mind Kurenai's presence. On missions together she would offer to take first watch and allow Kurenai the courtesy of eating first or picking chores.
On occasion, Yuuto would invite her to lunch along with Tsume and their friends. When she did accept, she made a point to sit by Tsume who would briefly engage in small talk and then leave her be, which she was thankful for, as she often struggled to converse so casually with anyone other than Anko. They weren't friends but they did have a mutual understanding of each other that she appreciated.
After Kiba was born, he couldn't shut up; he was so excited to have a son, as it was nearly a rarity in the clan. Tsume didn't seem as excited, leaning towards her daughter more, but she did love her son in her own way, just not as much as Yuuto.
Eventually, he started to act differently. He was snapping at everyone and then apologizing for his attitude. And Ookami was always on edge, shaking and his tail between his legs. Many asked Yuuto if they were ok, if he needed to talk or any help, but he would brush it off and say that they weren't sleeping well and that they both needed more rest.
One day, everyone was whispering to each other about strange noises and shouting coming from the Inuzuka compound. There were a lot of cries and shouting and howling until it suddenly went silent. The next morning, Yuuto was nowhere to be found. Tsume said nothing and Kurenai could only assume that she swore the rest of the clan to silence as well, as no one would say a word of Yuuto or Ookami, not even their names.
Kurenai could remember the look in Tsume's eye the entire visit...
Kurenai took a deep breath and prepared herself for the next house to visit. She pulled a neatly folded paper from her pocket, reading the instructions on how to reach the Inuzuka compound as she walked. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she knew it wasn't going to be any better than the Aburame visit.
She rang the bell and was greeted with howling and barking. Tsume shouted for silence in the background and Kurenai couldn't help but smile at her flustered tone, reminding her of better days.
Tsume opened the door, hushing any whimpering dogs behind her as they tried to greet Kurenai, and grinned. "Hey Kurenai," She welcomed, "It's been a while! How have you been?"
The red-eyed kunoichi nodded politely, "It's nice to see you again, Tsume. I've been well. I'm here to talk to you about your son, Kiba."She didn't miss the narrowing of Tsume's eyes or the way her lips curled into a disapproving frown.
"What did he do now?" Tsume asked calmly, "Is he getting in trouble?"
Kurenai forced a smile at the sudden malice towards Kiba, "Nothing like that." She assured peacefully, "May I come in to discuss it further?"
Tsume hesitated for a second, pressing her lips together before relenting. "Yeah sure." She opened the door further to let Kurenai in, "I was going to make tea anyways. The receiving room is to your left; I'll be there in a second."
Kurenai followed the directions and sat down, looking around the room before Tsume came back. She noticed that most of the pictures were of her daughter, Hana; almost every one of them were of some accomplishment she achieved, from a diploma of completion in the academy, to pictures of her as a newly ranked Chunin.
She counted exactly five pictures with Kiba in them, but they still contained Hana in some way. The first picture was Kiba as a newborn with Hana holding him and grinning at the camera. The second and third were Christmas photos at young ages. The fourth was Kiba accepting Akamaru as his companion, Hana handing him over, and the fifth, Kurenai could only assume, happened after Yuuto left, as Kiba looked solemn in a family portrait.
She almost threw up at the obvious display of favoritism. Did Kiba really have to look at this every time he came home? Every time he ate dinner or left his room he would be greeted with the evident message that Tsume definitely loved her daughter more than her son. It was disgusting.
"I hope you like black tea," Kurenai turned her head to look as Tsume walked in with a tray of tea in her hands, Hana following close behind, "That's all we had. I also brought cookies, in case you were hungry."
Kurenai smiled, "That's very thoughtful. Thank you very much." She waited until they sat down before taking her cup and sipping it very lightly.
"Now then," Tsume was always one who went straight to the point, "What's this meeting about Kiba for? Is he fucking up in class or something?"
To assume so readily that he was failing in some way was honestly deplorable on the mother's part, but Kurenai forced another smile and a short laugh to ease the tension.
"Actually, Kiba is doing remarkably well in school." She felt the need to play it up a bit, but her information was the whole truth, "I am to be the Jonin instructor for Kiba. I have taken the time and liberty to learn about your son academically, and just by looking at his grades, his written reports, as well as his hypothetical class assignments, I can tell you they are quite remarkable for someone his age. While he may not be a genius prodigy, he definitely does have a raw potential, mentally, that I find very exciting to work with.
"But seeing as how I'm not meeting Kiba until tomorrow, I came to you to gain a better understanding as well as maybe answer questions you have about his team or what he'll be doing. Seeing as your daughter is a ninja herself, I'm sure this isn't your first rodeo, so you know what to mostly expect, but I wanted to be sure. Can I ask what kind of work ethic Kiba has here at home?"
Tsume was silent, almost scrambling for an answer. It would seem as if she didn't know, though that was not surprising. She basically ignored her son, choosing instead to focus on her daughter, and so she didn't know anything about him. Kurenai didn't know whether to be disgusted or morbidly amused.
"Kiba likes to spend time in his room. He's a complete shut in." Red eyes slid over to Hana who was looking rather annoyed. She didn't seem to like that Kiba was the positive center of attention in this conversation and she was ready to humiliate him. Kurenai allowed it, if only to gain a better understanding of his life here at home.
"Is he now?" She feigned surprise.
Seeing as how she had the attention on her, Hana smirked and continued, "Unlike me, he doesn't go out of his way to do his job, you have to tell him what to do to get him to even consider moving."
Kurenai noticed that Tsume didn't bother to correct her daughter, nor add any input on her son's behalf. She also noticed that Hana boasted about herself as she insulted Kiba, something she was quickly finding annoying. She didn't know whether to be pissed or appalled. "Does your brother have any hobbies?" She asked. She could bear with this for only a few more minutes. She only had to ask one more question and make a hasty retreat.
"Kiba isn't as bright as he seems." Hana sighed, "Like I said, he's a shut in. He doesn't have friends like I do, and he doesn't get along with people all too well either since he can be a real hot head. I like to train and work really hard towards my goals; as far as I know he doesn't have any hobbies."
She just kept nodding, trying her best not to correct the girl as she dragged her brother's name in the mud so brazenly, and even in front of their mother who said nothing to defend her son. She was almost done.
"Are there any questions you have for me, now that Kiba will be under my care?" She held her breath as she waited. Hana shrugged and leaned back, looking at Tsume who was taking a rather long drink of her tea. She sighed as she finished and shrugged her shoulders, "If he's not up to par, just let me know and I'll deal with him. That's about it for now."
Kurenai stood, "Thank you for having me here and offering me your hospitality. I greatly appreciate it. I have one more family to meet and so I apologize for the abrupt leave on my part. If you have any more questions for me, do not hesitate to ask." Tsume stood and stretched, "Don't mention it. Let's go out for lunch sometime, just like in the old days, huh?"
Kurenai really had to force a smile now, but inside she was ready to scream, "Of course, Tsume. Just like the old days. Have a wonderful rest of your day, ladies." She showed herself out.
It wasn't until she made it out of the compound gates that she sighed and let loose the frustration and anger inside her. She couldn't believe that someone would favor one child over another and for a moment she wondered if this was the real reason why Yuuto was chased off. Did he, too, feel the rage of injustice for Kiba?
The genjutsu mistress pulled out her paper once more and started to make her way to the Hyuga compound. Last stop…
"My name is Inuzuka Kiba, and this is my partner Akamaru." The dog barked once on top of Kiba's head and for a moment Kurenai saw his father in him as he grinned. "Our clan is made up of Ninja dog partnerships. Akamaru chose me as his partner, and we train in a lot of man-beast arts.
"I like beef jerky, and training with Akamaru. I don't like celery or cats. My hobbies are painting and running with Akamaru. My dream is to become a strong shinobi, just like…" He trained off for a second, pain flashing in his gaze. He tried for a smile and shrugged one shoulder, "I want to be strong like my pops."
A brief flash of pain struck Kurenai's chest and she couldn't help but wonder what Kiba would be like if Yuuto was still around. Perhaps he would be in a better situation but seeing the ferocity of Tsume on missions, she didn't doubt that his leaving really was his fault.
Kiba clung desperately to Akamaru, it seemed, seeing as how they apparently do everything together. Of course since they were companions, it was only natural that they spend all their time together, but they seemed to heavily depend on each other, more than she saw in any other Inuzuka and their ninja dog. They only had each other in that house and their bond was going to be their strength and their weakness.
Her last student to prod was the painfully shy heiress of the infamous Hyuga clan. Kurenai would admit that she couldn't watch the crystal ball showcasing Hinata's home life for very long, always finding herself feeling sick or angry.
The Hyuga treated her with no respect; not her father and definitely not her cousin. While the Branch members of the family had some small reason to dislike her, seeing as their hierarchy was much worse and much more controlling than the Inuzuka's, Hinata always did her best to be polite and gracious to her family.
She would watch with a green face as her cousin would brutally abuse her, her father break her, her sister ignore her, and her family reject her. She was always unwanted and unloved and beaten simply for being different, for being 'weaker' than the rest of them.
What was worse, Kurenai knew her awful secret: her self harming and suicidal tendencies. If she wasn't trained better, wasn't a Kunoichi hardened by years of experience, she wouldn't have been able to stomach it all, and would have surely gone crazy to some point knowing that a child was going through such horrible torment that she would start harming herself and wishing for death as early as age seven.
She tried to meet Hinata's lavender gaze, but she wouldn't even lift her head. She was so broken and tormented that she couldn't find the courage or the strength to meet anyone's eyes or show her face.
Kurenai had been waiting quite a while to get into the compound to meet with Hiashi, almost an hour to be precise. She rolled her eyes in secret when the guards stiffly told her that she must wait to meet with Lord Hiashi. She was on a time limit, damn it, and she wanted to get this meeting over with as soon as possible.
She should have started with the Hyuga's first, seeing as how they were rigid traditionalists who made time for only themselves. Everyone else had to build their schedules around them, since the royal, conceited Hyugas relented to no one, save the Hokage.
But even after knowing all of this, she knew that if she met with the Hyuga clan first, she wouldn't have enough energy for the other two.
Kurenai sighed and tapped her foot impatiently, getting ready to cast a genjutsu over the guards when a tall, thin man in white approached her. The bright green seal was glaring against the grey, white and beige that was the compound, as well as this man's attire. She almost felt bad for him, but refrained from such thoughts as she was only here to speak with Hiashi.
"Apologies for the wait ma'am," His voice was toneless and detached, "Lord Hiashi is training his daughter at the moment and is unavailable for a formal meeting." Kurenai brushed him off, "I just need to inform him of my involvement with Lady Hinata; that's all. I don't care to have a formal meeting, I'll take what I can get."
The man nodded and sighed, "Very well." He drawled, "This way." He turned on his heel and slowly walked through the compound.
Kurenai took the opportunity to have a look around, as this would be her first, and hopefully, last time visiting. She took note of the displays of fortune and rolled her eyes at their vanity. The Hyuga were so proud of their fortune and clan secrets and riches, as they should be in their own rights, but not to the extent where they have to remind themselves all the time
After the Uchiha Massacre, their ego had reached new heights and Kurenai couldn't help be disgusted every time she saw one of them pass by adorned with gold and jewels.
If she could recall correctly, they were the most snobbish and selfish when it came to donating money for the village, complaining that they put the most in but then bragging about it shortly after or throwing that fact in everyone's face at meetings when they wanted things to go their way. It was pathetic, honestly.
The sound of yells and battle grew near. Kurenai braced herself to see Hinata and was almost surprised to see that it was the youngest daughter, Hanabi, instead. She knew that Hiashi favored her more, so it would make more sense to train the 'stronger' child and focus on building her up instead of the 'weakling' child.
"Lord Hiashi," Kurenai bowed before the guide could say anything, "It's a pleasure to meet with you. My name is Yuhi Kurenai and I will be taking your daughter, Hinata, under my wing as her new Jounin instructor. I came to ask questions about you daughter, in hopes to gain a better understanding of her, as well as answer questions you may have concerning her training."
He didn't say anything, keeping his eyes trained on Hinabi who was struggling to stand.
Kurenai waited, her eyes boring into the man's skull. She was not going to be discouraged or ignored by this pompous asshole.
Finally he spoke, "Whatever questions you have, ask them; I do not have much time to idly chat.
Kurenai smiled deceptively sweet, a training defence she had built when dealing with agonizingly irritating people. "Of course," She only needed to ask three questions. That's it.
"What can you tell me about Hinata's work habits here at home?"
Hiashi scoffed, almost offended that she asked anything at all. "She does what needs to be done." Was all that he said.
Kurenai ground her teeth but pressed on. "What about her hobbies? Things she enjoys?" She nearly flinched when she saw him effortlessly strike Hanabi as she came after him with a kunai. She knew he withheld chakra from the attack, but that didn't mean he withheld his strength, as seen from the way his daughter flew back.
"Your form is weak." He commented strictly, "Try again.
"As for Hinata's 'hobbies', she should focus on becoming stronger; instead all she does is play in the dirt of the gardens and seclude herself to her room, reading scrolls that have no benefits as a shinobi. She'll even cook food in the kitchen by herself as if she were a commoner! It's appalling."
Hanabi ran at him again, shouting a battle cry as she thrust the kunai with all of her might. He sent her flying back once more, "Improve your stance, Hanabi; I will not repeat myself."
His angry eyes turned to Kurenai, who met them bravely, "You are asking me useless questions that have no value to Hinata's growth in whatever 'career' she has left. It was a miracle she managed to pass at all. She was not the top of her class and she has no prowess as a kunoichi whatsoever. She wishes to be a medical ninja instead. It's disgraceful! The Hyuga are a proud clan of warriors, not passive healers."
He paused for a second, watching Hanabi stand and breathe heavily as she adjusted her stance.
She wondered for a second why he stopped before she felt a shy, almost unnoticeable chakra signature sneak it's way down the hallway. It was Hinata. Kurenai could only imagine she was here to see who was invading the compound, as they didn't allow many people in. apparently the servant didn't notice but she definitely knew that Hiashi did, as it was his own daughter.
"The Hyuga have no use for a weakling like Hinata." Hiashi said, fully aware that his daughter could hear him. Kurenai almost couldn't believe he would say such a thing with her listening, let alone in front of her sister, but he didn't stop there, "I don't care what you do with her or how you train her. She is nothing to us and she will fail either way, and when she does, we'll have her married and sent away to salvage whatever honor she'll have left. If there is nothing more, you may show yourself out. I have a more deserving daughter to train."
Kurenai almost reached for her kunai pouch but swallowed most of her killing intent. "As you wish, Hyuga." She spat the name like a curse, earning a Byakugan enhanced glare in her direction from the servant, to which she ignored.
She walked away towards the front, leaving the servant behind. She looked for Hinata, who was already walking away, turning the corner of the hallway, back the way she came. Kurenai knew what she was going to do once she reached her room.
She hurried down the hall and turned the corner just as Hinata was going up the stairs. "It's going to be alright." She called out. Hinata stopped in her tracks and stood there a moment. She didn't make a move to turn around or acknowledge her. "It's going to be alright," Kurenai repeated, "I promise you that." Receiving no other response, she took that as her cue to leave.
"Um… My name is Hyuga Hinata," The poor girl was trying to raise her voice to be heard. "I come from a long line of dojutsu users that allow us to see almost 360 degrees around us, as well as your chakra pathways, allowing our Gentle Fist to close them."
She seemed to hesitate, thinking about what to say next. Kurenai nodded her along, mentally giving her encouragement as she continued, "I like butterflies and cinnamon buns. I dislike crab and shrimp. My hobbies are gardening, making medical salves and cooking. My dream is to become a capable shinobi and bring honor to my family name."
Shino and Kiba stared at her, surprised, and Kurenai couldn't help but feel that she made a sort of impact with her words.
"Now that we all know each other better," She announced, "I must tell you that this is only the first part of your test. The second part will be tomorrow. If you do not pass this second part, you will fail altogether and be sent back or sent away from the academy."
She expected the silence but didn't expect Kiba to jump up, "That's totally bogus!" He growled, "We didn't come all this way just to fail and be sent back! We'll pass your test no problem!"
Kurenai couldn't help but smile at his resolve and even more so when he saw Shino nod and Hinata lift her head to finally meet their eyes.
"Well then I suggest you all get plenty of rest for tomorrow," She stood up and began to walk away, calling out to them, "I can't wait to see what you have in store." She left them there, walking back to her own home to prepare.
As she laid in bed that night she couldn't help wonder how well they were going to do for her teamwork test. She also hoped that by bringing them together, three neglected and abused children, they would find connections and comfort within each other.
Shino was emotionally neglected, Kiba was a victim of sibling abuse and favoritism, and Hinata was a combination of both and more.
Shino repressed his pain, Kiba was nearly a nervous wreck and Hinata was suicidal.
Maybe if they somehow realized this, and overcame their differences, they would have an unbreakable bond, something much stronger than any of the other teams would have.
She had faith in her new students and a sudden new hope for the future; something she hadn't had in a very long time. She wouldn't say she had a bond with them yet, or had any real caring feelings, let alone love, for them, but she did want to keep them safe and make them stronger. Until something was built between all of them, she would have to do her best to train then and remain emotionally uninvolved. Their friendship has to grow naturally.
She nestled further under the covers and sighed. Tomorrow was the big day to see them make it or break it; and if they proved themselves, she promised herself that she would do her best to protect them, build them up and turn them into the most badass team of killers.
She smiled at the thought and closed her eyes.