Note: Some media has Shino's father's name as Gen, instead of Shibi. Gen is the name that will be used in this story.

Chapter Five

Kurenai was surprised to be called in by Lady Tsunade, with the only note being 'urgent.' She left Mirai with her family, whom she had moved back in with after Asuma's death. It was late, and the hospital halls were quiet, visiting hours were over.

"Please take a seat, Kurenai, and thank you for coming in on such short notice."

Kurenai had taken a leave of absence from all assignments to mother Mirai, and it felt strange to be back here again, on what seemed to be official business.

"What is this about, Milady?"

"I'll get right to the point. It's about Shino. Gai and his team found him this afternoon, alive, on the outskirts of the village."

Kurenai was glad Tsunade had asked her to sit because in many ways this was a similar feeling to when Shikamaru told her Asuma died, a complete body shock, but opposite. There was profound relief, but also a trepidation, because where had her student been all this time?

"Is he conscious? May I speak with him?"

"He goes in and out, but yes, of course you may see him. In fact, that is precisely why I called you in here. Some elders from the Aburame have been here, but of all the times, Shino's father is currently away from the village."

"What is his status? Injuries? Did he say anything?"

"He doesn't have any physical injuries. From what I can gather, I believe he was being experimented on. The insects in his body currently are not parasitic beetles, and the Aburame did not recognize them. Shino mentioned being in a laboratory, underground, but these insects seem to be effecting his mental capacity. He's confused. Neji said he didn't know where he was when they found him.

"Shino said he left the lab, but when I asked him why they let him go, he couldn't say. Whatever this experiment was, it seems only half complete, and I don't know what these insects are capable of – and Shino does not seem to have the same control over them. The Aburame told me their relationships with their insects are always symbiotic, balanced, but in this case, the bugs are taking more from Shino than they are giving back."

"What is it you want me to do?"

At this, Tsunade's expression softened. "Mostly I just want you to be here with him. Any information would of course be helpful, but really he just needs someone he trusts."

Tsunade lead Kurenai to the room Shino was resting in. He was unconscious, and Kurenai took a seat next to him. It was strange. She knew Shino would be tall, and already he was taller than her, but to see him lying down reminded her of when she first met her team as genin. She had only recently became a jounin when the Third assigned her this team. She was not one of the genius shinobi, but when she found she had an affinity for genjutsu she specialized in that, much as Gai had done with his taijutsu.

She saw their potential right away, if only they could work together. Hinata being looked down upon by her family, who misinterpreted her gentleness as a lack of will, was a major block, and she could see Hinata felt less than her teammates. It was wonderful, watching her blossom, and she would always have a soft spot for Naruto for his full hearted encouragement of her at the Chunin exam, during Hinata's match with Neji.

Her attention next went to Kiba. His pride had been hurt, in his match with Naruto, but it humbled him as well. He wasn't so cocky, so brash after that. He didn't take every critique as an insult, he stopped needing to prove himself to everyone else. She could see the power struggles at first, between him and Shino, and that Kiba would have enjoyed the fight of it, just as she saw Naruto and Sasuke, or Neji and Lee, even Sakura and Ino, but Shino just wouldn't give it to him. It was amusing, Kiba's initial attempts to rile Shino failing repeatedly, but they got used to each other, and she sensed that Kiba, with some intuition of his – to her relief – recognized Shino would be best suited to lead their team, but that didn't mean Kiba couldn't continue to improve.

Shino had not needed as much coaching or guidance from her as Kiba and Hinata had. She attributed that largely to their family situations. Hinata had been all but abandoned in terms of her ninja training, and her home life when they first met was almost unbearable: the neglect, guilt, and shame that Hiashi so casually heaped on his eldest daughter.

Her visit to the Inuzuka clan had been, by comparison, raucously fun. Kiba's mother and sister welcomed her with open arms, and she was glad to see Kiba was probably better suited than most to have a kunoichi lead him, that it would in fact be familiar to him. Kiba's home was casual, but she found Kiba actually did better with some structure, which he didn't get at his joyfully chaotic home.

Her visit to the Aburame compound had been somewhat intimidating. She was so put off by Hiashi's demeanor and callousness, that she lost her respect for that Noble House of the Leaf. The Akimichi while absolutely formidable in battle, had a cheerful, inviting, demeanor, and she could not compare with the Uchiha who had been decimated.

That left the Aburame – and entering their compound felt like entering an entirely different village. With their attire – the heavy coats, sunglasses, gourds – she had never felt so much like an outsider, but she was immediately impressed with Gen. His presence was calm, powerful, but not overbearing or demanding in the way Hiashi had been.

What she saw between Shino and his father was their respect for each other, that went beyond Hiashi's domineering forced obedience, or Tsume yelling at Kiba to feed the dogs – and the sense that Gen completely supported his son. Because of that she had not felt Shino needed her the same way Hinata and Kiba had, though of course she taught him just the same. But now, seeing her most stoic student so vulnerable, without his father, she knew he needed her now.

She sat with him for half an hour or so before he came to. "Kurenai-sensai?"

"Yes?"

"Are you really here?" This question scared her more than she wanted to admit. "Yes, I am here. We're at the hospital in the Leaf Village."

"I am confused, because I often imagined you were there."

Kurenai desperately wanted to know where "there" was, but felt this was not the time to ask, so she only repeated, "I am here."