4: Rivalry
"I hate painting!" Kiba moaned, as he slowly rolled the paint onto a wall of the house.
"I think we figured that out the first time you told us," Shino said to him as he painted the wall adjacent to Kiba. "There's no need to repeat it."
"But I just despise it!" Kiba exclaimed. Akamaru barked in agreement. "The smell of paint is the worst!"
"M-Maybe you should take a b-break?" Hinata suggested. She looked down at the both of them from her position at the side of the second story of the house, standing precariously on a wooden rung of a ladder. "Breathing p-paint fumes isn't very p-pleasant, is it?"
"He's taken five breaks already," Shino said. "I've already finished my half of this wall while he has yet to move a step from his spot thirty minutes ago."
"A-ah, I s-suppose," she said, not looking for a conflict.
Kiba snarled at his teammate. "What's it to you, Shino?! I could paint faster than you, just watch! Akamaru!"
Akamaru scampered towards Kiba, barking. Kiba smirked. "Beast Effect Ninpou!"
Akamaru barked in response.
"Beast Human Bushin!"
In a great puff of smoke, Akamaru transformed into another Kiba. Both Kibas gave identical smirks and stuck their tongue out at Shino. Shino merely stared.
"Okay Akamaru! Let's go!"
Hinata smiled slightly as she watched the Kibas paint furiously on their wall, albeit messily. Though she had to admit, it was a rather clever idea. But then she noted that Shino didn't look too pleased. But then again, he always looked like that.
"Ganbatte, Kiba-kun," Hinata said meekly.
"If that's the case," Shino said suddenly, putting down his roller and walking back. "You shouldn't mind if I do this."
An ominous buzzing was heard throughout the entire yard. Both Kibas turned to detect where that noise was coming from. It grew louder, and Hinata trembled slightly as she wondered what could make that kind of sound.
Finally, after a few excruciating seconds, the source of the buzzing revealed itself. Hinata nearly dropped her roller.
An immense horde of gigantic dragonflies flapped lazily over to Shino's side. He seemed unaffected by their terrifying numbers and size and gave a terse nod of his head. They buzzed towards the paint and, to both Hinata and Kiba's amazement, flew into the paint and obediently began to press themselves onto the house, leaving great flowery patterns on the wall with their bodies.
"It may take awhile for one to paint a side," Shino said, "but with a pack this size, I'm sure we can finish painting long before you and your dog can." As he said this, his expression didn't change, despite having revealed his impressive trump card and wiping Kiba's confident grin from his face.
Even from Hinata's point of view, she could see Kiba's form trembling with anger. "A-ano," she called hesitantly, desperate for some reconciliation. "Maybe you g-guys should just c-c-cool down for a few minutes…"
"Stay out of this, Hinata," Shino said coldly.
"A-ah…"
"Hey!" Kiba exclaimed. "Don't talk to her like that!"
"What's it to you?" Shino replied loftily. Kiba flushed.
"Y-You shouldn't talk to girls like that, bug freak!" Kiba exclaimed. "Hinata never did anything!"
Shino was silent for a moment. Kiba continued to glare fiercely at his teammate, much to Hinata's distress.
"Please s-stop, you two—"
"If that's the case," Shino said suddenly, "The first one to finish painting two walls will get a date with Hinata."
"WHAT?!" Kiba cried, even more flushed. "YOU CAN'T JUST SUDDENLY DECIDE THAT!"
"E-eh?" Hinata stammered, blushing so hard that her cheeks stung. "S-Shino-kun, w-what—"
"If you don't agree, you lose," Shino said. He looked up to Hinata. "I hope you don't mind."
"A-ah…"
"NO WAY!" Kiba shouted, trying to restrain himself from slugging Shino good and hard for fear of getting attacked by the gigantic dragonfly. "I'M NOT FORFEITING!"
"Then you should get to painting, shouldn't you?"
Kiba tackled his wall with his roller with much alacrity as he harshly ordered Akamaru to paint the other wall. Hinata let out an exasperated sigh as she noted the small upturned ends of Shino's lips. Their first mission wasn't getting off to a very good start…
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Coming up...
5: Super-weeds
"No, they're weeds alright," Ino said. "They just seem to be a hybrid breed of a billion different weeds to make it some sort of super-weed."
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