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"Sensei, you know?" Hinata turned pale, her whole body shaking. If her sensei knew her darkest secrets, why is she telling them now? Why didn't she say something earlier?
Kurenai nodded, "I'm sorry to have to tell you all this way, but I think it's important for you to all know what exactly you're all going through. You have so much more in common than you think, and with the support you can all offer each other, you will grow closer as comrades and eventually, a family.
"However, I won't force you to speak about it, and I won't pressure you either. I am giving you the opportunity to talk about it yourself and give us an inside look as to what's going on, to let us in so that we can help you. It is your choice, and if you decide that maybe you don't want to talk about it today, that's okay; I will listen when you want me to, but I want to let you know that I've seen and investigated you all.
I do not judge you, and I accept you all no matter what. I will always be here to help, whatever you need, whenever you need it. I also think you can find solace in each other as well."
For a moment no one said anything. They looked to their teacher with distrust but found that she was just as warm and open as before. They sensed no expectation, no pity and definitely, no judgement.
If what she said was true, then everyone in this room had something they were dealing with as well.
Shino was hesitant. He knew that what he experienced at home was much more different than what Hinata and Kiba were suffering, and he couldn't help make it a competition that he placed himself last place in.
Hinata was always covered in bruises, and Shino assumed Kiba was, too. He couldn't possibly understand what the other two faced.
To his surprise, Kiba took a deep breath and spoke first, "Everything started when my father was chased away."
He looked around to see everyone listening with rapt attention and continued, "As far as I know, my pops came from a similar, but outside clan. They handled wolves, while my mom's clan handled dogs.
The Inuzuka have a sort of power struggle with ranking. In my clan, the women outrank the men, and it's not something that's really well known. A lot of the men who are born into the clan usually accept it, but my father was from a clan where everyone was equal and didn't really like the power structure; he only put up with it because he loved my mom so much.
"When I was born, everything changed I guess, at least, that what some of the men told me. My father loved me and my sister equally, but my mom usually held me at arms length and my dad didn't like that. When he brought it up to her, she got really mad and they would fight a lot. I remember them going at it for hours and just screaming at each other.
"Finally one day my mom just got tired of it all and she kicked him out. She sent Kuromaru after him until he left the village for good. The only reason he isn't considered missing is because everyone assumes he bled to death.
"After that, everything in the house started to fall apart. Everyone called me a bastard child and said that I didn't deserve to be in the Inuzuka clan. Mom was angry all the time and she was always drinking and yelling. Hana, my sister, was starting to get more and more aggressive by the day.
"She would get so angry for no reason and her belittling and teasing would turn violent and vicious. I could be sitting on my bed, not making a sound, and she would walk in and throw a kunai to scare me. Sometimes, I knew she was really aiming to hurt me.
"I would ask mom for help, but she always blamed it on me and said it was all my fault. She never once listened to me or helped me. Even now, she let's Hana hurt me however she wants." He was quiet for a moment, holding back tears and taking deep breaths.
Kurenai reached over and held his hand, squeezing them in reassurance. Kiba squeezed back and continued, "This morning, she tried to hide my headband from me, and when I turned my back on her to leave, she left a bruise.
"I'm so sick of it, honestly. I have no one left to turn to and I don't know what to do. It sucks being in a clan because no one can save you and get involved. You just… Suffer."
"I understand." Hinata replied. She blushed when all of the attention was on her, but it quickly faded as she faced the reality of her situation.
"My father can't stand the sight of me. He's always telling me I'm going to fail and so many more things that kills me every day. He says I'm worthless to the clan, and that I'm much better at earning honor for our family name by being married off far away and never returning. He thinks I'm weak and reminds me of it every day.
"My cousin, Neji, used to be my best friend. We would laugh and play in my garden and make flower crowns together. After his father died, he became bitter and hateful towards me. His father died because at the age of three I was kidnapped by Cloud ambassadors and so, they were killed by my father. They wanted my father's head, but my uncle stepped in instead and sacrificed himself for his brother.
"They haven't told Neji the real reason yet, so he just believes that the main branch just sold his father off and killed him because of his status as a branch member. Now he hates me and occasionally he will strike me.
"Hanabi, my sister, hardly remembers that I exist. She follows my father and her tutors around all day and barely spares me a glance. Nevermind that I took care of her when she was an infant. The counsel is trying to separate us, lest I spread my weakness over to her.
"For one day, I just want to be able to believe in myself and my future. I want to be seen as more than the Failed Hyuga Heiress, and be remembered as my mother was: strong, yet kind."
"There's something else, isn't there?" Shino was almost afraid to ask.
Hinata smiled in shame and rolled up her sleeves, "I don't like feeling this way very often." She sighed softly, "I don't know what to do to make the pain go away. It just sits in my chest, burning and aching. It's poison and evil and it hurts so much every day. Some days, I wish I were dead, and other times, I'm scared I'll have died a coward.
"I hurt myself to make it go away. I cut open my skin so that I don't have to focus on the pain inside, or the hurt in my heart. I can focus on the blood instead, on the knife instead."
Kiba covered his mouth in shock and turned away. Shino turned a very pale green.
Kurenai knew that the boys were shocked and sickened by the thought of their teammate hurting herself. They both cared about her so much, the thought of her being in pain and causing herself pain would probably be unbearable.
"Hinata," Kurenai said, "I want you to know that we do not think any less of you. You're in a great deal of pain and there is no shame in that."
Hinata burst into tears and nodded. She was so relieved to know that her team still accepted her, even though she was doing something no one would be proud of.
Shino was conflicted. Though he knew that it wasn't a competition on whose life was worse, he couldn't help but compare himself with his teammates. They were suffering much more than he was.
His parents were still around. They didn't beat or berate him and he had no siblings to do so either. His pain was not as severe as his team.
"Shino," Kiba called, "What about you? Did you want to share too?"
The bug boy shrugged, "What's to tell? I have no siblings and both of my parents are still at home together. I'm not hit or yelled at, in fact I'm hardly even spoken to. The only time my parents speak with me is when they want to tell me that I'm not good enough, or when they want to remind me that I'm not allowed to feel anything.
"Can you imagine that? Every day I have to listen to my father tell me that I'm not good enough because I smiled or even laughed. Aburame have to be soulless and emotionless or they're not good enough to be shinobi.
"My brother was sent away because of it. A man came by and told me he wanted to take me away and train me, but my brother stepped in and sacrificed himself so that I could do the very thing my father called useless. He wanted me to feel and be human instead of an emotionless robot like the rest of the Aburame.
"Now, I'm stuck there all by myself. I have to suffer their stares and casual threats to send me away just because I'm not like them, because I want to be more than what they say.
"And when they're not studying me, they're not around. They ignore me and leave me to fend for myself in most instances. I've never been hugged, or touched. They refuse to show me anything. they don't..." Shino faltered, "They dont love me. I feel so pathetic whining and crying about this when you two suffer so much more than I do."
Hinata and Kiba looked at each other for a moment before scooting close to hug Shino. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he clung to their arms around his body.
"Your pain is still pain, Shino." Kiba sighed, "Just because it's not the same as ours, doesn't mean it's any less hurtful or important. It's not a competition."
"Kiba is right." Hinata offered, "You're pain isn't less worthy than ours."
Kurenai followed soon after, hugging her students tightly and whispering comforting words to each of them.
She was happy that her students managed to come together on their own and share what was hurting them. Now, they could finally build together and be a team and eventually a family.
"Thank you for everything Asuka," Kurenai bowed lowly, "We are grateful for your help and teachings."
Asuka smiled fondly at Team Eight who were all beaming brightly back at him. They looked better for the most part, obviously there were issues to be worked on, but he knew deep in his heart that they would come out stronger.
"We are fortunate to have such wonderful shinobi grace us with their eager minds and burning wills of fire." He complimented, "One day, you should come back to visit us. There is much to learn here if you ever have the opportunity, and we would all love to see you again. Until then, there are some items in your traveling packs that may be of use to you. Think of them as a goodbye gift from a friend." He bowed his head, a warm look in his eyes.
With one more bow, Team Eight was off. They waved their goodbyes and continued out of the compound, back into the forest of the Land of Fire.
The walk was seemingly shorter this time around, something that bothered the three students immensely; they weren't quite ready to go back home yet, and so clung tighter together as they walked, whispering and holding hands.
Kurenai worried that they would break down when they would arrive at the gates, or possibly even before that. She often looked back at her students with worry and made sure to talk with them during each break and before bed.
They seemed lighter now, however, as if some great weight had lifted from their shoulders. They were definitely more open with their sensei as well, chatting and laughing with her the entire trip around.
She wondered briefly if they held any resentment towards her.
She often pushed her limits with their boundaries, but only because she wanted them to become stronger and face their fears with the support of the other two behind them. She wanted them to realize how much they needed each other now that they were a team.
Their ninja career, their personal matters, their whole lives would entwine one way or another, and if they hadn't known about the struggles that the others were growing up with, how would they be able to fix what has been broken for many more years than they were already?
She needed to be sure.
Before the last day of their trip, Kurenai decided to stop torturing herself and ask them what was going on in their heads.
She set up camp earlier that night and waited until everyone was seated at the fire before she spoke, "I want you all to know that once we get home, things are going to be a lot different." Her voice was shaking as she went on, "There definitely is a lot more understanding and acceptance between us all, and I wanted to give you three, an explanation about why
"Before any of this, I was ANBU. I didn't have experience in teaching children and I probably shouldn't be teaching you, considering all I've done. I've terrified you, forced you to fight, forced you to face your demons so early, I've invaded your privacy, and I've broken you all many times in an effort to have you 'grow' into stronger shinobi. What I did was wrong and I didn't know what I was doing.
"However, that is not an excuse. I know my apologies don't fix what I've done and I'm prepared to make any sacrifice to right the wrongs I've committed against you."
Kurenai wiped the stray tears from her face, ashamed at everything she hadn't done for them. She could have gotten help from licenced therapists or gotten in contact with child services, but she didn't. She couldn't bear the thought of hurting them any longer this way. She wanted them to be happy and grow without having to be broken like everyone else. She wished they didn't have a 'tragic backstory' and had loving families but there was nothing to do about that now. She had already hurt them.
Kurenai bowed lowly before her students, crying and shaking from self hatred and regret, "Please forgive me." She begged, "Though I have not even begun to deserve such a thing, please, forgive me. I am so sorry."
Team Eight looked at each other with worry, unsure of what to do.
It was Hinata who spoke next, "Sensei, we're not sure what it is you're talking about. You haven't wronged us, nor have you forsaken us. You did the best you could do."
"Hinata is right," Shino offered, "While we're a little disturbed about you having known what you have, we realize that the reason you haven't said anything is because such information would cause us more pain."
Kiba grinned, "You brought us together though. You gave us the option to talk about it and we did because we wanted to. So it's okay. We're okay."
Kurenai sobbed in relief and began laughing, happy that she hadn't ruined her relationship with her students, happy that she finally got it off her chest and was giving them a new chance at hope.
Hinata was the first to approach her, giving her a hug, which she returned with a tight squeeze. Kiba approached her as well, placing Akamaru in her lap and hugging her. Shino took his time gathering his resolve, but eventually came over for a hug, trying to relax from this new form of affection.
They all sat there under the stars, hugging, laughing, apologising, and forgiving.
The gates stood proudly in the afternoon sun. Team Eight didn't feel the initial dread they were this point, they all just wanted to get on with their lives and prepare for training the next day.
They greeted the guards and headed for the Hokage's office. Nothing about the village really seemed to change physically; everything looked the same but felt strange and almost unreal. Team Eight looked at each other and knew that everything was going to be as Kurenai had predicted.
Sarutobi was excited to see his young ninja walk into his office, leaning forward in his seat as they entered. He looked over each student and noticed a more mature look on their faces. Kurenai looked pleased, meaning everything was alright.
"Hello Team Eight," He greeted, "I hope everything went well during your mission?"
Kurenai nodded, "Everything that needed to be done has been accomplished, Lord Hokage." She stepped forward with her report and nodded to him, a silent, 'I'll tell you later,' in her eyes.
Sarutobi nodded and smiled once more, "I'm happy to see you all back safe and sound." He said to the genin, "I know that right now may not be a favorable time, but I hope one day you'll understand and forgive your sensei, as well as myself. You three are free to go wherever you would like. You shall be paid for your mission by tomorrow morning."
All three students smiled and waved their goodbyes, carefully shutting the door behind them.
"I take it everything went well?" Sarutobi asked as he opened a hidden bottle of sake.
Kurenai flopped in a chair and sighed, "Just about as well as I had hoped. They seemed to have understood why nothing was done to help them and now understand that we'll be watching over them and planning to help. She grabbed the small cup from the old man and toasted before gulping everything down in a swift motion.
"We need to start looking into ways to help them out of those clans. I've got a bad feeling in my bones, Kurenai." The Hokage's face was twisted with apprehension, "If we do not save them in time, I fear the worst for them all."
"I can look into some old laws, Lord Hokage. Surely something must be in there we can use to our advantage?"
"Yes, perhaps. I'll look into it myself as well. We'll need all the help we can get." He took a long drag of his pipe, "Keep in mind, Kurenai, that there are eyes everywhere. We can't be too careful with these children. Soon, they will have to fight for their very lives. I want you to make sure they are prepared."
Shino was extremely reluctant to leave his teammates, shifting on his feet anxiously. He didn't want to go home, but neither did he want Hinata and Kiba to go. He was at a loss of what to do.
Hinata seemed to have noticed this and smiled, gently laying her hand on his shoulder, "It's alright Shino," She quietly comforted, "I'll be ok, and we'll see each other tomorrow right?"
Kiba looked over and grinned, "Yeah!" He cut in, "Maybe after training we could go get something to eat."
Shino relaxed a bit, seeing the reassuring smiles on his friend's faces, "How about we go out to eat right now?" He asked carefully, gauging their reactions, "My treat."
Hinata smiled widely and looked to Kiba who was already walking towards the center of the village, "Come on slow pokes," He called, "Let's go find something to chow on before it gets too late!"
Shino sighed, "Remember to be kind to my wallet, Kiba," He called as he and Hinata followed him into a barbecue joint, "I cannot afford to spend money on your ravenous appetite."
Kiba waved him off and sat in a booth, "Maybe we could sell that stick up your ass for a good price, then you might have enough."
He grinned at the hidden smile he managed to catch from Shino. He didn't realize how much he needed this type of friendship. It was so comfortable and open and sarcastic, unlike all the other flimsy, more polite friendships he had in the academy.
"If we're to sell anything, it would be you." Shino teasingly bit back, "I'm sure the market is open for some sort of annoying dog-child who could eat his weight in kibbles and treats."
Hinata giggled at the pout Kiba gave and said, "Perhaps we could sell the both of you. I'm sure you both would make an excellent comedy bit for a circus of some sort." Her giggles grew to laughter at the sour looks they both gave her.
After their lunch they all walked each other home, Hinata being the first since her home was closer. Kiba hugged her as tight as he could and whispered encouragement into her ears, which she blushed at. Shino held her hands tightly, not needing to speak as she already knew his intentions. She nodded in return and waved them goodbye before turning the corner and walking into the compound, glancing back at her team who watched her go.
Hinata took a deep breath and entered, ignoring the bitter glares the guards gave her. She took off her shoes and walked further in, heading straight for her father's office. Her fear began to overwhelm her as she continued, crawling from the corners of her mind. She wasn't sure she could do this yet. No, not yet.
A sudden chill ran down her arm. No, it wasn't a chill. It's running around her palm.
Hinata opened her hand to see a black bug running around, creating a heart pattern. She smiled and immediately knew it was one of Shino's, giving her signals that he was supporting her.
She watched as the bug traveled her arm and into her pocket, popping in and out. She reached inside and pulled out a leather bracelet with a wooden dog carving hanging from it. It seems that Kiba was with her too. She hurriedly tied the bracelet around her wrist and continued on, newfound confidence in her step.
Hinata knocked on her father's door, waiting for his command to enter. "Come in." He called. Hinata entered and bowed, holding her hands behind her back to fidget with the bracelet in secret.
Hiashi glanced up at his daughter briefly, continuing his writing, "I see you've made it back." He commented, almost as if he were disappointed.
Hinata bit the inside of her cheek at the tone, but forced herself to answer, "Yes, father. My mission was a success."
Hiashi rolled his eyes, "Let's hope this is something you can maintain, Hinata." He drawled, "I know it's something meaningful to you now, considering it's your first actual accomplishment in anything other than being a disappointment."
Hinata bit her cheek again, closing her eyes and taking a breath. "Yes father," She replied, "I'm going to my room now, if there's nothing further. Good evening."
Hiashi looked up in surprise, but she was already gone. It was the first time she had dismissed herself without waiting for him to say anything more. He was almost impressed, but decided to ignore it. He had no time to focus on her at the moment.
Hinata smiled and patted herself on the back at her braveness. She managed to get through the meeting without stuttering or crying and she didn't look down once! A big milestone so far.
A shadow followed her in the hallways, stalking her from a distance and seemingly making its way closer behind her. Hinata knew he was there. He must be excited to see her since she had been gone for weeks. Her eyes twitched.
Neji had been growing anxious since Hinata had been gone, unable to lash out his hatred and anger properly during training or at home. He counted the days Hinata had been gone and was beginning to go mad with his repressed frustration.
When he saw her exit her father's study, he knew he only had a matter of time to get her before she went to her room or before a witness would appear. He had to make this count.
He swung his fist, aiming for Hinata's head. It was aimed perfectly and since she wasn't reacting, that meant she was either accepting or unaware of the assault. It didn't matter to him, he just wanted to see her cry.
He gasped in surprise when his fist never landed, only meeting air. Hinata had ducked? She never made an attempt to avoid his attacks before.
He saw her leap from her crouch and run, turning the hallway as fast as she could. Neji growled before running after her, insistent on beating her.
Hinata knew that Neji was faster than she was, but if she could just avoid him for long enough, maybe she could make it to her room safely.
She looked over her shoulder briefly to catch sight of Neji, unfortunately running into another branch member who was walking around the corner. She looked up and glared at the Hyuga Heiress, biting her tongue from saying anything rude or hateful.
Hinata looked over her shoulder again and noticed Neji walking towards her with a purpose, eyes blazing.
The branch member noticed too and immediately got up, walking away as quickly as possible with a scowl thrown over her shoulder at Hinata. Hinata stared after her, disbelieving that she would really allow her to be beaten.
She then turned to Neji, who roughly pulled her up to stand. She met his smirk with a determined frown. She was not going to cry.
Hinata nursed her bruises after her hot bath, willing her muscles and aching limbs to relax as she rubbed her new medical ointments all over. She was covered in bruises, but she had refused to unleash tears.
Neji eventually left her alone when he had gotten his fill, somewhat disappointed but still feeling lighter. She managed to stand and drag herself into her room.
She checked her packs for the gifts Asuka mentioned and was delighted to find medical herbs, medical guides and a large set of fighting scrolls, ten in total. She looked them over and noticed that they were nothing like the Hyuga's Gentle Fist. This would allow her flexibility to be of actual use and incorporate many stances instead of one, making it perfect for facing different opponents.
She opened her window and placed two small, wrapped gifts on the sill. She whispered to her little bug and watched as it flew away, carrying one gift with it. Hinata smiled and sat on her bed, continuing to heal and read.
Kiba smiled as he waved goodbye to Shino, sighing to himself as he approached the steps of his home. He knew he would have to face this eventually.
He opened the door and was greeted with howls from throughout the house, Akamaru even howled back at them, something he hadn't done for a long time.
Kiba scratched him behind his ear and smiled, "Good boy." He praised, earning a happy wiggle and a yip. After kicking off his shoes, Kiba walked further into the house and headed for the kitchen to greet his mother.
Tsume turned in surprise when Kiba entered. Usually he would try to sneak past her and up the stairs; this was the first time he ever approached her willingly. He smelled different too…
"Hey mom," He greeted, "Thought I would let you know that my mission went well. What's for dinner?"
Tsume stared at him for a moment at the question before answering, "Beef stew. Your sister is taking a nap in her room, so I want you to wake her for dinner when it's ready."
Kiba nodded and handed her a carrot she was struggling to reach without moving away from the pot.
He wasn't really in the mood to argue, considering that he had just gotten home. In some ways he missed his mother. When Hana wasn't around, she was nicer, more gentle with him. He supposed that was because of how similar he looked to his father, who he guessed she still missed despite his running away. Part of him liked the attention but he knew that it wasn't completely real or meaningful.
As he trotted upstairs, Kiba noticed a tickle behind his ear and went to scratch it. The itch ran down his neck and shoulder to his arm. He looked and saw a familiar-looking beetle running around his hand, flapping its wings every so often. It was Shino's bug.
Kiba felt touched that Shino would bug him to make sure he was ok. It almost bothered him that it would be crawling around him for, probably, the rest of his life, but he knew it was Shino's way of showing concern and care for his team, so he pushed away his disgust and continued up the stairs.
He opened the door to his room, seeing Hana lounging on his bed and balancing a kunai knife on her palm. Damn it. She looked up and smirked, "Haven't you heard of knocking?" She taunted, sitting up as he entered.
Kiba brushed past her and began to unpack, "Should I start knocking on my own door now?" He retorted, throwing his dirty clothes in the laundry basket.
Hana pretended to think a moment, "Now that you mention it," She went on, "It might be for the best. You never know when I'm going to be in here and it's only right seeing as how this will eventually be my house."
Kiba secretly rolled his eyes, "When that happens I'll be old enough to move out, so you won't have to worry about that."
The silence was suddenly thick. Hana stared at him from her spot as the realization hit. Kiba would grow up and move out soon. He would become an adult and live his own life somewhere else outside of the house. "Well," She tried to recover, "You probably can't stay in the compound if you leave the house."
Kiba simply nodded, saying nothing.
Hana always hated when he didn't answer her. She couldn't hurt him if he ignored her, and it would get worse if he left. She felt her teeth clench as he continued on with his unpacking, pretending nothing was wrong.
Inside Kiba's head, he was hoping she would leave, hoping that she would get up and walk away out of frustration. He knew that she hated being ignored, but so far it was his best defence, and half the time it made her leave.
A kick to his back sent him into the closet door, hitting his head on the corner. He grunted in pain and attempted to stand before another kick landed and sent him to the floor.
Immediately, Kiba grabbed Akamaru and shielded him with his body as multiple blows landed on his person. Hana realized what he was doing and attempted to flip him over to grab Akamaru from his arms.
Akamaru began crying and yelping, sending Kiba into a panic. He didn't dare fight back, knowing that it only angered Hana further, but if she managed to get her hands on Akamaru, there was no telling how far she would go in order to hurt Kiba. He had to do something before it was too late.
An idea popped into his head and he nearly sighed in regret. He would have to do something he hadn't done in years.
Kiba drew a deep breath and bellowed, "Mom!"
Hana, not expecting the yelling, jumped back in surprise. The house was silent for that one moment. Everything was completely still.
Kiba began to call out before Hana had a chance to recover, "Mom! Mom I need you, please!"
A creak on the stairs indicated that Tsume was coming up.
Hana looked to the door and then to Kiba in a slight panic.
Tsume walked in, sharp eyes scanning the room. Kiba was curled on the floor with Hana just behind him, hands behind her back innocently.
Tsume's nose caught the scent of blood before her eyes could see it, and she noticed that Kiba was bleeding from his head and had scratches all over his arms.
She looked to Hana who stared back boldly, as if daring her to say anything.
Tsume sighed and rubbed her eyes. She was getting too old for this shit.
"Hana," She snapped, "Go downstairs and help me with dinner since you're awake." Her daughter looked like she was about to protest, when a sharp look shut her up. The young girl scowled and walked to the door, "accidently" tripping over Kiba on the way out.
After her daughter was out of sight, Tsume looked to Kiba on the floor, his tears and blood mixing together on his face. He looked at Tsume pleadingly, but she hardened her heart and turned away from him, "First Aid is in the bathroom. Stop pissing off Hana." And then she left.
Kiba struggled to lift himself off the floor. The room spun and blurred into shapes and colors. He felt sick from his stomach, concluding his guess of having a concussion from the first hit.
Akamaru whimpered and licked his face, drawing a smile from the boy. "It's alright Akamaru," He soothed, "I just need some healing stuff and then we can get ready for bed. I don't think dinner is a good idea right now."
After denying dinner and wrapping his wounds, Kiba looked through his pack for the gifts he was told about. He pulled out a seal, looking it over and reading the note attached, "For protection" it read.
He looked at the door of his bedroom and gently placed it, feeling a shift in chakra. He smiled at the barrier seal and continued on with the second gift.
The next gift was a set of rather large scrolls, six in total; two of them were maps and constellations, two were diagrams of his beast form and the last two were advanced Inuzuka moves that have been long forgotten. Kiba felt his heart swell with delight as he looked them over. He figured Hinata would have to help him read the astronomical maps, but that was about it.
A chirp by his window caught his attention. He heard the bug fly away before he noticed the small box sitting on his window, connected to a little string. He opened it and marveled at the two black opals sitting inside.
He had never seen anything like these before, at least, not up close. The Inuzuka were not a gaudy, lavish clan who were interested in baubles or jewels, but this was something different. This was a gift from his friend; one for him and the other for Akamaru.
Kiba held the box close to his chest, jumping on his bed as he grabbed two of his best leather strings from his nightstand to tie around the pretty stones.
And later when he was sleeping, he would hear his sister curse as she tried to get into his room, and smile.
Shino felt empty once more when he approached the steps to his home. He worried over Hinata and Kiba and dreaded his own return to his home. If anything, he just hoped that everything would go smoothly. No questions, no poking and prodding and definitely no emotion.
With a deep breath, he entered the compound, listening to the bugs chatter his arrival in one great sweep.
His mother was coming down the stairs and his father down the hall, neither in a rush to greet him or welcome him home. Shino should have expected it by now but found that it still hurt.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and was surprised to find a leather string of some sort inside. Following the string, he found a carved trinket tied onto it. Shino quickened the investigation of his fingers, finding the carving to be of a small dog of some sort.
He forced away the urge to smile. Leave it to Kiba to sneak something so sentimental into his coat.
He was glad that his parents could not read his face at the moment, and bowed to them as they approached, "Hello mother, father." He greeted, "My mission was a success and I have returned with no injuries." 'Physical, that is.' He finished in his head.
Both parents were pleased, or at least as close as an Aburame could get to seeming pleased, but something else was off. Shibi was studying him too long, and Sana stared as if she saw something different about him.
Shino resisted the urge to shift nervously on his feet, his hidden eyes shifting back and forth between his parents as he wondered what they were looking at that was making him stand out to them more than usual.
"Wash up for dinner, Shino." His father said, turning on his heel and walking off. Sana followed behind him, not sparing her son a second glance.
Shino sighed in relief at the dismissal, and walked up the stairs to his room to unpack.
He glanced at the gifts that he had received, both wrapped and tied with paper and ribbons. They were colorful, maybe a bit too colorful for his liking, and larger than he had expected. He wondered what they contained, what wonderful secrets they held. He felt himself get giddy at the thought and allowed himself a smile.
"Shino, come eat dinner." His mother's knocking startled him out of his excitement.
Shino sighed, experiencing impatience for the first time. He wanted to open his gifts now, but relented to eating dinner; the mystery could wait.
Shino approached the table and sat across his parents, who were still staring at him, shaded eyes watching his every move. Shino tried to go about as naturally as possible, forcing his nervousness to the back of his head. Under the table, he fiddled with the bracelet in his pocket to calm his nerves.
"Shino," Shibi called, "What happened during your mission?"
Shino forced himself to finish chewing his food before answering. He knew this was coming. It was always the same questions after his missions. He assumed it was because he was becoming closer to his team, finding joy and happiness with his newfound friends. It was beginning to show, it seemed.
"Although some of the events are labeled as classified, I can relay that we were invited to clean and maintain the Fire Temples south of the village." He didn't say anything more, and it seemed that Shibi was fine with the answer.
"What of your teammates?" He suddenly asked, "How are you getting along with them?"
Shino had to think more carefully about the answer. If he said something too out of the ordinary, he could be in trouble. "My team and I are compatible. We have formed an understanding, as it were."
He watched as his father's face changed, only very slightly. He didn't seem pleased. "Is that so?" Shibi almost challenged.
Shino didn't trust himself to answer, so he nodded as he took a bite.
Sana was up next for the line of questioning, "Do you feel anything towards them, Shino?" She decided to take the more direct approach.
While it was more obvious what they were doing, the way she asked her question made it more difficult to find an answer that was appropriate by their standards. Shino hoped they wouldn't see him sweat.
"I feel responsible for my own actions, as well as leading the team in an effort to accomplish as many successes as possible within our early careers." He hoped he hadn't answered incorrectly.
Sana seemed taken aback at the response, turning to Shibi who was nearly frowning as he thought. Shino knew that look; it was his, 'reading between the lines' look. He decided to ignore it and continued eating, waiting for Shibi to say anything.
"We wish that you hold yourself with more discipline, Shino." His father said, "Creating bonds with them can only lead to trouble and distraction. As an Aburame, you have a reputation to uphold as being the most dedicated shinobi to the Leaf and only the Leaf.
"We do not waste out time with petty relationships or petty feelings such as anger, sadness, jealousy, or even love. We are not like these other people here, animals in their own right. We are insects. We do what is best for our colony, our hive and only that. Why, I would say we are hardly human, if at all."
Shino felt his breath stop for a moment at the sentence.
He wanted to scream suddenly. He wanted to declare his independence from this clan and proclaim his feelings, his rights as a human, but he knew better than that. Any sign of 'failure' and he would be shipped off to ROOT just like Torune, who sacrificed his life for Shino to live free.
As much as Shino missed his big brother, he would not let his sacrifice be in vain. So he sucked it up and bit back a scream with a polite, "Yes father. As you wish."
Shibi, finally satisfied, nodded and continued his meal, unaware of the inner turmoil Shino faced within. This was torture.
Finally, after one of the longest meals Shino has ever had, he cleaned up and excused himself to his room, shutting the door as politely as possible. He leaned against the wood and sighed, fingering the bracelet in his pocket. Here, in this small space, he was free. Here, with no eyes watching him, he was allowed to breathe and feel.
He had never felt so lonely then, without the comfort of his friends or even his sensei. He felt isolated, trapped and empty within his own body.
He looked at the gifts still perfectly wrapped on his bed and temporarily forgot the pain, opting to focus on the bright colors and good memories.
Sitting on his bed, he carefully unwrapped the paper so as to not rip it. Every layer peeled back was enticing him more and more but he controlled himself this one time so as to not ruin the excitement building in his stomach.
The first gift was a box of new larva he had never seen before. Shino's eyes widened as he watched each little creature crawl around in its own container, wriggling and squirming under his gaze. With it, one large scroll giving an avid description and explanation of the insects.
He felt his chest ache from the harsh pounding of his heart and breathed a little heavier at the thought of the different species he could breed and create.
He looked at the other seven scrolls he received and saw they were seals for his new ability. He was sure that Hinata could aid him with this new set and grinned at the idea of furthering himself along with his team.
Putting the first gift aside for now, he began to unwrap the second gift, trying equally hard to be careful to not rip the paper. He was a bit disappointed to see it was a blanket. He opened it completely, shaking it out and inspecting it carefully. He noticed the wonderful threadwork and sewing put into it, as if it took decades of learning to reach such perfection.
He noticed a pattern secretly stitched on the inside and held it closer to see what it was: a large spider with a rabbit and a wolf underneath it. Shino was suddenly breathless as he looked over the design once more.
His Kikaichu crawled all over the fabric, inspecting and feeling the gift. Shino called them back, as they were all beginning to immerse it in their numbers. He held it close and rubbed his face against the softness, nearly purring in delight.
He noticed something then; a familiar sense of home and love. It was covered in their chakra- Kiba and Hinata's, that is. A tear slipped down his face and suddenly he felt a little less lonely.
A chirp at his window pulled his attention to the beetle he had assigned to Hinata. It circled a small box with a string tying it closed before opening its wings and flying away, back to the Hyuga compound.
Shino nearly tripped over himself to open the box, marveling at the beautiful black opal inside. He knew this was from Hinata, as no one else would be so kind and wealthy to give such a beautiful stone away so freely.
He pulled the bracelet from his pocket and smiled, getting to work on combining the gifts as he wrapped himself in the blanket.