Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A/N: Ok, so here it is. I ran into my first case of writer's block (eek!) but now I am ready to start spinning this story again. I will fully admit to getting bummed because I wasn't getting reviews and I thought only two or three people were reading my story, but really, I am proud of this story whether people read it or not, and I really want to finish it. Thanks to everyone for being so patient.
000
"And so now he has run away, and it is all my fault, so we have to find him." Kiba finished his story to his teammates as they walked, searching for clues about Sasuke. The years had made the team close. Although Kiba never fully connected to Shino and Hinata the way he had with Sasuke, he trusted them and knew he could share with them. And so he had, spilling out everything from the fight in Konoha, to the Hokage demoting them, to the mission and the way he and Sasuke had bonded, to the Itachi's attack and finally to Sasuke's harsh words and behavior.
His two teammates were wise beyond their years, and listened to their friend as he filled them in about this new and abrupt mission. Shino was shocked, though no one knew it because his sunglasses and high coat collar hid his emotions well. The last time Kiba had spoken about Sasuke, he had been filled (and rightfully so) with anger. But now…the Inuzuka was different. And not just in his changed attitude towards the Uchiha. It was everything about him.
Shino's expert eyes noted everything, like the way Kiba was standing up straighter. His teammate used to always slouch around, making jokes and not taking things seriously. But now he was walking tall and straight, focused. His attitude had changed and now Kiba was so much more mature, as if he had grown up ten years in the little time since the whole ordeal had begun. Most importantly, and perhaps most confusingly, was Kiba's body language when he spoke to them about Sasuke. While he had been reminiscing about the close friendship that formed during the mission, Shino had listened to him and saw how Kiba's voice became softer, filled with caring and…how he blushed. Kiba had blushed deeply, though he seemed unaware of it, when describing all the wonderful traits of Sasuke to his teammates. Shino wasn't sure what to make of the blush or the dropped voice. Had Kiba been describing a girl, Shino would have automatically assumed the Inuzuka was in love. But this was Sasuke he was talking about, a moody and cold boy and…well, Sasuke was a boy! Shino shook his head slightly. He would need to think more about it before he jumped to any conclusions.
While Shino pondered, Hinata knew already. She could see it in everything Kiba did. When he had come to them in a panic, talking wildly about how they had to get on the road fast, they had to find Sasuke, she had known. Kiba cared a lot about the few people in his life. Like his dog Akamaru, Kiba was passionately loyal to his friends. But she knew that if she or Shino were missing, they would never have elicited this rabid response from him. He would have been worried, yes, and eager to get out, but he would have done so in a sane and collected way. But with Sasuke, Kiba had been out of his mind and it wasn't until Shino had punched Kiba that the boy had come to his senses and begun to pull himself together. Hinata knew what it was like to be in love, and she could see the signs all over Kiba. It was a little strange to her that it was Sasuke. After all, she didn't think anyone would have seen either boy, so masculine and dominating in their personalities, falling in love with a boy, and certainly not with each other. But there it was, she supposed, and really, people thought she was crazy for loving Naruto, so who was she to judge? Now, more than anything, she just wanted to help her teammate and friend find his love. She wouldn't mention it, though…Kiba seemed to not even know he was in love himself.
"Kiba, I agree that we need to find Sasuke and find him fast. But in order to do so, you need to realize that you are not to blame for his running away. I am saying this as your teammate and not just as your friend. If your mind is clouded with guilt, we will never be able to find him. And if we did find him, you would hurt, not help our mission. So I repeat: Sasuke's running away was not your fault." Shino was concerned his teammate was out of his mind with guilt, and he needed Kiba to concentrate. Akamaru barked in agreement at his master.
"But it is my fault! If I hadn't been so pushing, if I hadn't tried to force him to talk to me, he probably would have come to it on his own—"
"Kiba-kun. It is not your fault. It was Itachi's." Hinata rarely spoke, so Kiba looked at her in surprise. But he also listened to her, and her words helped him to re-focus.
"Ok, I know splitting up is a bad idea, but I think we need to if we are going to find him before he gets too far. Hinata can use her Byuukagen, Shino, use your kikai, and Aka and I will smell him out. We can keep in constant touch over headset so we never get too far from each other. What do you guys think?"
Although he did not like, Shino couldn't help but to agree. It would go faster if they split up. He handed out the headsets he had in his bag, and each team member put one on.
"Ok. Remember, constant radio contact. If we don't find him tonight, we regroup and make new plans." Shino wanted to make sure nothing bad could happen. He was still thinking about Sasuke's emotional and mental state…and how Kiba might not be ready for it.
He had barely got the words off when Kiba and Akamaru jumped into the trees and began to speed off.
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Hearing another twig snap, Sasuke whirled around, but there was nothing there. For hours he had been tracking Itachi, but there was no sign of him. A few days before, he had left Konoha, planning on camping and wandering outside of the village to get some air and clear his mind of the pain of losing Kiba. But on the second day, he had seen Itachi in the trees to the side of him. Filled with rage, he had begun to track his brother. It didn't matter to Sasuke whether or not he was ready to fight his sibling—what mattered was he couldn't let Itachi haunt his life anymore. Breaking off his relationship with Kiba had proven that. Until Itachi and he fought and one of them died, he would never be able to live a normal life. And so now he was in pursuit. But it was difficult. There were no signs of his brother anywhere—no campfire ashes, no footprints, no broken twigs or branches. Nothing. And yet Sasuke could swear he heard Itachi sometimes, or would catch a glimpse of the blue-black hair that ran in his family's genes. He would run over and stand confused when there was nothing there.
The only answer was that Itachi was playing with him. His brother was trying to mess with his mind, to wear him down and then attack him. Or maybe Itachi thought Naruto was with Sasuke. If that was a case, his brother was in for a big surprise when Sasuke finally caught up with him, because he planned on fighting to the death—Itachi's or his own.
Seeing a movement in the side of his vision, Sasuke burst off in pursuit.
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Akamaru was barking, but Kiba didn't need to talk to Aka to know the dog had picked up Sasuke's scent, for his own sensitive nose had picked it up as well. Running, they both chased the faint smell of the Uchiha. It was a couple of days old, so occasionally the boy or dog would need to stop to get their bearings, but they were sure of it. Kiba was surprised—he thought that Sasuke would have gone further from Konoha, particularly if he had been gone for four days. Still, his heart beat faster—he could find Sasuke, and work it all out! Even though their last encounter still caused his insides to ache, Kiba just wasn't ready to give up. He kept hearing Sakura's voice in his head, telling him to fight for the Uchiha.
Kiba was ready for that fight. He wasn't willing to lose Sasuke.
They had been running for miles when the wind picked up and suddenly Sasuke's scent became much clearer.
"Shino, Hinata, I think I've found him. He has to be a few miles away at the most."
"Good, Kiba, wait where you are, we are on our way."
"I'm going after him."
"Kiba, don't go after him. I repeat, wait for us. As your team leader, I am ordering you to wait."
Shino didn't often use his authority as team leader with Kiba and Hinata, but he knew he needed to now.
"I'm sorry, Shino. I have to go and talk to him alone."
"Kiba, no, just hang on, we will be there in an hour, just wai—"
But Kiba had shut off his headset and was already running with Aka after his friend.
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A/N: Suspense. You gotta love it.