Chapter 18

Shino and his teammates had stopped beside a small pond. Another simple mission, completed, and they were on their way home, though Shino, in his growing list of horrors, could barely remember the particulars.

More bandits, thieves? Tracking. Wasn't sure, didn't matter, just that his teammates were alright, and they were. The weather had been miserable: hot, rainy, muddy. They were a mess, and since they were in no rush, there was nowhere they needed to get to, they made camp here, went about the business of cleaning themselves up.

Normally, if conditions allowed, they gave each other privacy, particularly he and Kiba towards Hinata when she was bathing, or changing clothing, yet this pond was no larger than a swimming hole, morale was low, easy mission, yet they'd had to go a long way to complete it, and had to travel an equally long way back home, all in this unceasingly terrible weather, that had made tracking painstaking, a menial chore, and with all that none of them seemed to care, just started peeling off their clothes, minus Akamaru who leapt right in.

They were all fairly comfortable with each other at this point, having shared tents, caves, even blankets, huddled for warmth when desperate. Hinata had tended to their injuries, and they had tended to hers when she needed assistance. Had bandaged arms, legs, chests, torsos.

They had seen each other, basically, in various stages of undress, so after they had gotten into the water, done their initial washing, and now were just enjoying the cool, the feel of the water, and Shino realized his teammates – even Akamaru – were looking at him, he wondered why, until he realized, in his dreary weariness, his current absent-mindedness, he couldn't even blame this on Lady Natsuki, this was just him – he realized he had removed his goggles to wash his face, then left them off, was currently holding them in his hands.

It was a somewhat novel experience for him too, to see them in the natural light: Kiba's face markings a brighter red, his hair a warmer chestnut, though his eyes were just as dark, seemed even darker actually, in comparison; the luster of Hinata's dark hair richer, the paleness of her eyes and skin lighter; the pink of Akamaru's tongue and the white of his fangs brighter, and for a moment they just stared at each other.

"Damn." Kiba spoke slowly, breaking the silence, wonder and confusion in his voice. "I take it back, you ain't out of Lady Natsuki's league."

"Thanks." Shino said simply, too fatigued and not sure what else to say.

"You're um… very handsome, Shino." added Hinata.

"Thank you, Hinata."

"So," Kiba said bravely, setting out into this new territory. "Why do you wear the shades, anyway?"

"Helps keep the hive calm."

Kiba actually looked disappointed. "That's it?"

"That's it."

"Well, this settles it. We are officially the best goddamn looking team in the Leaf. We've got braggin' rights, folks, and I know I'll be sleeping well tonight because of it."

"Kiba!"

"What, even Akamaru agrees with me, don't you, boy?"

Akamaru let out a bark.

"Kiba, we don't know what Akamaru's saying, he could be saying anything!"

"You think I'd lie? When we get back, I'll get Hana to confirm it for you. You know she won't lie. But uh, Shino, you okay, man? You uh… how should I put this…"

"You look tired." Hinata said, gently, but firmly.

"Yeah," Kiba seconded, scratched the back of his head, Akamaru yipped, and Kiba turned to him.

"Yeah boy, I'm getting to it, just give me a second, I mean, this was unexpected! But what Akamaru's trying to say is… well, we've been kind of worried about you lately."

"Who?"

"Me and Hinata."

"Torune too." Hinata added, then paused, "And Torune said your father was worried as well."

"We ain't trying to gang up on you! This ain't an intervention or anything it's just…"

This news, that his teammates, his family had been talking about him when he wasn't there, he thought in the past it would have disturbed him, but it didn't now. Just felt like another burden to bear because of the Lady Natsuki. That she had caused these people distress as well.

"Are you not satisfied with my performance on missions?" he asked.

"No, it's not that, you've been fine on missions, it's… as your friends. We're worried about you as your friends." Kiba explained.

Lady Natsuki drew his attention to this, friends. Without it, he would not have noticed, for he was not their friend. He'd put them in danger, violated their privacy because he hadn't been able to get out of this ludicrous situation he was in. That was not something friends did to each other.

"Shino, what happened to your neck?" Hinata asked calmly, interrupting.

"Yeah man, it looks bad." Kiba added.

… What? Wasn't Lady Natsuki's magic supposed to cover this? Why were his teammates seeing this? Was Lady Natsuki letting them see this? Or wasn't she? She had told him there were limitations. He knew his neck was bruised, she knew it was bruised, and they both knew it was getting worse and worse as this went on, but neither Hinata or Kiba mentioned puncture wounds, which Shino also knew to be there.

Nevertheless, after all this time, someone was finally seeing it, seeing something. He'd imagined this moment so many times, yet this did not feel like a chance for freedom. This felt like he was only sinker deeper and deeper into the hole, because knowing Lady Natuski, she had allowed this, this was no accident, she was planning something, but what? To sustain his hope? Keep things interesting for herself? He doubted she would allow him to say the truth, and sure enough, she supplied an answer.

"Sparring with Torune."

Hinata nodded, Kiba looked satisfied as well, then Hinata continued. "You… know you could tell us. If something was wrong." she said, as calmly as she'd asked about his neck.

"I know."

"Good," Kiba declared, "Because we don't need you and Torune acting weird."

"Why, what's Torune been doing?" Shino asked.

"It's what he's not been doing. He stopped flirting with my sister! I mean, she is dating someone else, but still."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"I mean, yeah, but… I don't know, I guess I got used to it, you know? 'Cause now it seems weird. He even stopped flirting with Hinata. Oh my God… are you seeing somebody, Hinata?! That guy's got a sixth sense for this stuff. That explains it! He stops if somebody's not available anymore!"

"No, I don't think it's like that, Kiba!" Hinata said, her calm vanished, replaced by a blush.

"It's alright, Hinata! You didn't have to hold on to Naruto forever, unless… oh my God, is Naruto two timing Sakura!? Is that why you can't say anything?!"

"Kiba, it's really not like that, and swear to me you will not start this rumor!"

"I'm just kidding, Hinata… I… well, since we're all sharing, right? I know about Neji."

Hinata went still. "… What?"

Kiba scratched the top of his head, slightly abashed. "Yeah, I was waiting for you, but… well me and Akamaru can smell it, you know? It's been kind of pain, not saying anything."

Hinata was silent a moment, processing this. "Does… it bother you? That we… we're…"

"No! No, I… I forgave Neji, and, well, I'm happy for you, Hinata. That guy, I know he's devoted to you, and you deserve it, you really do. So, who confessed?"

"Well, actually…" Hinata turned to Shino, questioningly, and Shino nodded.

"Shino's the one who… told me he thought Brother Neji had feelings for me, and that gave me the courage to tell him, um, sorry Shino, I never did tell you I confessed to him."

"It's alright, Hinata. You didn't owe me anything."

Hinata perked up for a moment, "Shino is the reason… are you still upset about what we talked about that night?"

Kiba's eyes, already wide, went a little wider. "Okay, apparently we've all been keeping a few secrets, but it's time to spill. What are you two talking about? And when did this happen? … Oh! I thought that was just a rumor!"

"Thought what was a rumor!" Hinata asked warily.

"Word around the Hyuuga compound was that you and Shino hooked up one night. I thought it was ridiculous. Clearly didn't know you two very well, but looks like there was maybe something to it? You two were at the Hyuuga compound one night?"

"I knew it, I knew people would talk. I'm sorry, Shino, um… is it alright if I tell Kiba what we talked about?"

Shino nodded, glad she was willing to say for him, he did not have the heart to say it again, didn't have the energy, barely had the energy to listen to her retell the tale, of Torune agreeing to take his place, the Hyuuga Affair, what he had said to her before departing.

"That's heavy, man." Kiba responded after all of it, folding his arms over his head, looking up to the tree tops, the sky.

"Let's see… I thought Neji liked you too Hinata, I mean, I didn't pick up on it immediately, I probably could have, but… sometimes if you're not looking for something you don't find it, you know? I had it in my mind so strong you liked Naruto that I didn't see anything else, wasn't expecting there to be anything else, but… gotta trust my nose. And Akamaru's."

Akamaru gave a bark in agreement. "Kept smelling Neji on you, smelled you on Neji when I saw him, and, yeah, I put two and two together. Can't believe Shino beat me to it though, and Shino, I agree with Hinata. Torune… he made his choice, man. Don't beat yourself up anymore. And you know... life works in mysterious ways, sometimes, you just gotta go with the flow… sometimes, that's all you can do. Better to get pushed by the current somewhere you didn't want to go than drown fighting it. Live to fight another day."

"That's very wise, Kiba." Hinata replied.

Kiba smiled, a sad smile. "I've got my moments."

"… I did ask Torune about it."

Shino wasn't really sure why he was saying this. Surprisingly, Lady Natsuki had not made him, he was volunteering this on his own, and it got his teammates immediate attention.

"What'd he say?" Kiba asked curious, but a little wary.

"He said… he did what he wanted to do."

There was a silence.

"You don't believe it?" Kiba asked.

"No, I do... I'm the one having a problem with it now, not Torune, and my problem is this: yes, he made a choice, but he didn't have unlimited choices. None of us do. I… I mean no disrespect to Neji and his father, Hinata, but that idea, that one can always be free because of their choice, even the idea that one can always impose their will, I don't believe it. Call it destiny or the grand scheme of things, those things that are out of our control, combined with our choices, our free-will, both exist simultaneously. Maybe it is that bigger picture, in this case the village, I cannot come to peace with. I suppose that's somewhat traitorous, isn't it."

Kiba shook his head. "They're just feelings, Shino. It's okay. We don't think you're about to go destroy the village or anything. It's alright to get mad. But… ever think of becoming a philosopher?"

"Torune said something similar. He didn't think I was well-suited to being a ninja. He thought I would make a better scholar."

Kiba looked somewhat outraged. "I wouldn't go that far! But… well, like my ma said, right? Your ma was a teacher, maybe it's just in your blood, but your dad's blood's in you too, and he's one hell of a shinobi. No reason you can't use what both of them gave you."

"That's also very wise, Kiba!" Hinata said.

"Guess I'm on a roll, huh. We'll both just be philosopher-ninja's. How about that?"

"Warrior-monks!" Hinata added happily.

"Yeah, look at that! It already exists! And you know, I'm hungry as all get out but I'm getting eaten alive over here. Say we set up camp, get something cooking, and Shino, could you get these bugs away from us?"

"Yes, we'd very much appreciate that!" Hinata joined in.

"I'll see what I can do." Shino said.

"Alright, good talk, team!" Kiba concluded.