Author's Note: Sorry for the wait, my life got kind of busy. Not to worry, I haven't discontinued the fiction, it lives. Again, I'm really sorry for the wait. As further apology I have the next chapter in the works and it's nearly finished. Feel free to leave a review or even share a few thoughts. –Kiba Blackfire

Chapter 09:

Stay

*Naruto Centric*

"Naruto, Kiba, you guys need to," This voice, Naruto tried to drown it out. Just a few more minutes, he cuddled up to his Inuzuka as he lied there snoring. Kiba was out like a light totally worn from pulling an all night fuck session. He needed all the rest he could get. - Wait! - All night fuck session which means he was… Naruto jumped up as he comically placed his hands over his exposed appendage.

"Ino, what the hell," Naruto tried not to scream. He didn't want to wake his sleeping Inuzuka. Kiba had been fighting the effects of a sleep herb all night. "I'm naked get out," He threw a pillow at her, she dodged it as if it were nothing. "Ever heard of knocking," Ino ignored him wandering Kiba's tent. She smirked as picked up not one but two empty lubricant bottles.

"So ugh, you guys were ugh," Ino crouched down sniffing the lube to see if it was flavored. Naruto's cheeks reddened talk about invading someone's privacy. "You two had been fucking all night huh?" She set bottles down. "Funny," Ino placed her hand on her agile hips. "Kiba is supposed to be doing this with," Her eyebrow raised as Kiba turned over. Naruto soon felt the warmness of Kiba's hands take a tight hold on him keeping him close. "Are you ready for that talk now?" Ino offered, Naruto replied with a nod. However it wasn't going to be easy, his eye's leered over at Kiba who held him so tight he wasn't going to be able to leave.

Now that Naruto thought about it, Kiba tended to do this to him a lot in his sleep. Maybe subconsciously Kiba was afraid that he was going to leave him behind again. Nah, that's not like him, Kiba wouldn't let himself be that attached to anyone. Still he also held Naruto like this before he left. This all started the day he told Kiba that he was leaving to train with Pervy Sage.

"Sure, ugh, just a sec," Naruto a bit coy, rubbed the back of his neck. He was still trying make Kiba let go but he wouldn't. Ino chuckled lightly to herself. Perhaps even she was impressed by just how attached Kiba was to him. "I'll be right there," The sleeping Inuzuka still wouldn't let go, Naruto was really trying to make him but he wouldn't.

"I'll be waiting in my tent." Ino left giving him some privacy. Naruto struggled to get free but Kiba refused to let go of him. Come on Kiba let go. He has to talk to Ino, it's important. The Inuzuka couldn't be reasoned with, there was no winning Kiba's grip was too tight. He had no choice; he had to wake him up.

"Kiba," Naruto whispered, it had no effect. He groaned as he gave Kiba's sensitive nose a gentle tickle. The Inuzuka's eyes twitched bothered by the touch. "Kiba, wake up." Kiba's drowsed eyes started to flicker open still fading in and out.

"Wha," Kiba's voice sounded faint, he let out a tiny yawn. "Just a little longer okay," He rested his head on Naruto's chest trying to get back to sleep. Naruto tickled his nose again, "Ah come on. Do you really have to go?," He yawned again holding onto the Uzumaki. "Stay here with me just a bit longer." But Kiba, Naruto couldn't stay their mission had time frame which is less than twenty fours to catch some big time drug dealer. He needed to talk to Ino, get the conversation over with and, Kiba snuggled up to him making him blush. "Don't make me bring Akamaru into this." He was willing to resort to Akamaru's puppy face. But Kiba…that's so unfair, you can't drag the ninja hound into this.

"Kiba, you know I can't stay." Naruto replied. Kiba still wouldn't release him. This need for him, it was starting to…Kiba? The Inuzuka started to speak while he was dead asleep, why didn't Naruto notice this before? Kiba talks in his sleep.

"Do you really have to leave the village with the Pervy guy?" Kiba murmured, "I won't see you again until, well," What was Kiba talking about? Wait he was dreaming about Naruto leaving with Pervy sage, did him leaving really bother him that much? "You just gotta stay with me, I'll get Sasuke back for ya, I already promised Ino that I'd…," That explains it, Kiba made the same promise to Ino, that he'd bring Sasuke back for her. That's why this mission didn't bother him when they got it. It was a chance to make Ino happy. "Stay Naruto, just… stay,"

"Kiba, I gotta go." Naruto pried himself from Kiba's grip. At last he was free, Naruto grabbed the nearest clothes he could find slipping them on. As he was leaving, his blue eyes gazed at Kiba. If he had said these words to him before he left with Pervy Sage, if he had known. Naruto would have stayed for him. There was no mistaking it, Kiba got hurt that day. He just wouldn't show it; Kiba didn't want to seem weak.

"Get some rest Kiba, I'll be back to wake you."

He walked over to Ino's tent, Sakura walked out fixing her hair. "Mornin Sakura," Naruto smiled at her. "I guess you spent the night with Ino last night huh?" Sakura blushed, yeah figured as much. Sakura giggled adorably.

"Aw, that's so cute Naruto," What's cute? Sakura pointed towards his clothes. Wait a sec these clothes were…Kiba's. Naruto was wearing Kiba's thin grey muscle shirt and puppy print pajama pants from last night. "You're wearing your boyfriend's clothes," Naruto's cheek reddened it was an accident he was in a hurry and grabbed the nearest thing. Ah, what's the point? He's too tired to explain it anyway.

"Yeah, I guess I am, though, Kiba's not," Naruto admitted, "He's not my boyfriend at least not until he decides. So ugh," He pointed at their tent. "I bet Ino's waiting for me in there." Sakura replied with a nod. Naruto marched towards the tent, best to get this conversation over with.

"Naruto," Sakura spoke, Naruto stopped before entering the tent. "The way I see it, or at least the way it looked last night. I think Kiba is a boyfriend to both you and Ino. He cares for you both, so why can't he just date both of you. Neither of you seem to care," Yeah, right now they didn't care but eventually one of them would. Naruto knew that, Ino wouldn't be satisfied with just sex forever. Soon, she'd want all of Kiba just like Naruto did, that's why Kiba had to decide.

"If it were only that simple Sakura," Naruto let out a sigh. He entered the tent where Ino had begun gathering up her things. "You wanted to talk to me, is it about the mission?" He took a seat on the floor. "Look Ino,"

"Relax, it isn't about the mission." Ino waved off the words playfully, "It's about Kiba, so ugh, did it work?" She took a seat on her sleeping bag. "You had sex with Kiba all last night, what happened did you get to him to cum or not?" Naruto shook his head. "You're serious, he didn't."

"Not once, I tried. Believe it," Naruto answered. "I even let the nine tails have a crack at it," Ino's eyes widened as if that had bothered her. "Oh not to worry Ino, Kiba has had sex with me in Nine Tails state before, our second time having sex. I lost control and, Kiba could handle it though it was only one tail then. He's able to handle two tails now, Kiba's gotten stronger."

"Well yeah, he's a Chunin now," Ino replied, "He was a Genin then, still I can't believe Kiba can handle that, and you're sure he didn't cum after that." Naruto replied with a nod. "I guess I could try maybe if it's me, Kiba just might be drawn to girls now. There's no telling what's blocking him," She crossed her arms thinking. "This would be so much easier if Kiba let me enter his mind to see the mental block for myself at least then. I'd know what we're dealing with here. Naruto do you think that you could convince Kiba to let me?"

"Why me," Naruto pointed at himself. "You're fucking him too you know. Also you saw how Kiba reacted during that game. His eyes were glued to you, just ask him yourself. Besides," He bit his lip, to be honest Ino's plan to enter Kiba's thoughts. It sucks. "Kiba's thoughts are personal you know." He argued. "I understand that," He stared directly at Ino as he said these words. "Your clan has the ability to enter the mind of another person and you want use that to help Kiba. I want to help Kiba too, we both do. It's just," Naruto clinched his hand into a fist. "I'm not sure entering Kiba's mind is the best way to go about it. I mean come on this is Kiba's mind, not some strangers."

"Exactly it's Kiba's mind and its being damaged Naruto," Ino argued bothered by this fact just as much as Naruto was. "Whatever this block is, it isn't going to go away. I can fix it, if sex isn't working then what choice do we have?" Naruto still refused. There's got to be a better way, if Ino did that. Kiba's every emotion would be laid out in front of her, she'd read them like a book. Kiba would have nothing to hide, his every flaw exposed.

Naruto could understand that feeling a little. He couldn't lie to Kiba; he's a lie detector, not like he wanted to lie to the Inuzuka in first place but. It's just, what if Naruto was trying to lie to protect him, Kiba would see through it. He couldn't lie, so Kiba would get hurt anyway, having that taken away. It was like being isolated forced to tell the truth no matter what. If Ino went into Kiba's mind, it would be the same. Worse even, Kiba would no longer be able to hide anything from Ino, she'd see the roses, everything Kiba wasn't ready for her to see forced out of him. That's why there had to be a better way, anything was better than this.

"Not this one, this isn't a choice, this is entering someone's mind and forcing everything out into the open." Naruto argued, "Ino I get it, believe me I get that you want to help but this isn't the way to do it. Kiba's mind isn't a toy, he's important to me." He placed his hand on his heart. "Ino, you don't get it, he's-," She broke his words.

"He's important to me too," Ino countered. "I love Kiba. I would never do anything to hurt him." Naruto froze at the words, she said it. Just now, Ino said that she loves Kiba. If Ino said that to Kiba, she got him, the arrangement over. "Yes that's right, I admitted it, I also know that you love Kiba too. That's why I gave you a chance to admit it last night."

"You wanted me to," Naruto couldn't believe it, Ino was handing Kiba over to him last night. He denied it but, she was okay with Kiba choosing him over her. Just like Naruto didn't mind losing to Ino. Win or lose, they'd both be there for Kiba. "I just wanted Kiba to say it this time, I want him to choose. It's the only way to make sure he's happy. Now let's get back to your plan," To be honest, Naruto didn't want to think about the words Ino said, it was painful to know if Kiba had walked in and heard that. Naruto would lose his beloved Inuzuka just like that, it was just that easy.

"I won't let you enter Kiba's mind," Naruto spat. "It's out of the question. Not until we try my way first," He punched his chest. "If that fails," He rested his hands at his sides. Naruto really couldn't stand Ino's plan but, Naruto balled his hands into tight fists. Regardless, it's a plan. "I'll let you," He answered in defeat. "But only then got it?"

"What is your plan?" Ino countered, Naruto blushed. Well, you see ugh… he didn't have one. Naruto sulked. "I figured as much," She let out a sigh accepting defeat. "You are such a knucklehead, all right Naruto, I'll grant you some time to come up with a plan. One condition, if you're plan fails, you convince Kiba to let me enter his mind. Kiba won't listen to me, every time I bring it up, he gets angry and we fight. But," She glanced over at Naruto. "Kiba might listen to you, the bond you have with him is different somehow. Kiba listens to you, it has to be you Naruto."

"Fine, I will talk to him after we try it my way first." Naruto reminded her. "Also, if you do enter his head, just know," His blue eyes formed a menacing glare directed at Ino, "I will be there watching your every move. If you so much as scratch his brain," Naruto's eyes shifted from blue to Nine Tail's red letting her know just how serious he was about protecting Kiba. He wouldn't hesitate to enter the Nine Tails Chakra Cloak and take her down. "You'll be answering to me got it." Naruto warned, Ino didn't seem to be bothered by his threat. "Like I said, Kiba is important to me, I will protect him no matter what. Believe it." Ino shook her head.

"I just told you, I have no intention of hurting him." She repeated. "That's the last thing I want," Ino placed her hand over her heart. "I don't want to do this to Kiba either. Whether I want to or not, doesn't matter," She explained. "Kiba is suffering because of us. we got to do something to help him. So if you can offer a better way, I'm willing to listen but we have got to think on it together."

"Okay, that's fine by me," Naruto smirked. "We'll help Kiba together," Ino smiled back at him. "So ugh, you love him," That confession earlier still bothered him. What if Ino said it to Kiba and ended this whole thing? What then? Don't think about it, only one thing mattered right now. "Ino, if you do love Kiba like you say do. Make me a promise, promise me," He forced a swallow. "If Kiba picks you over me, promise me that you won't hurt him. All I want from this is for Kiba to be happy."

"That's a promise, though," Ino chuckled, her lips formed a friendly smile. "I wouldn't want you to sell yourself short." She encouraged as she rose to her feet. "You have just as much pull with Kiba as I do. He cares about both of us the same. Kiba just expresses it differently. I only know this because," She started to leave the tent but stopped herself. "Kiba has told me how he feels about you. Did you know that sometimes Kiba talks in his sleep?" She knew, Naruto gasped that's right, he literally just learned that. "I'm sure you noticed it by now, when he does talk in his sleep it's only about you." She added. "Like I said I didn't know it was you from the beginning but now, it makes sense. Kiba cares for you more than you even realize,"

Ino knows, she knows, the feelings Kiba refused to share with him. Ino knew them all, if she told him, Naruto would know what's written in that letter. She could tell him, everything. Naruto wanted to know, more than anything and she could…Ino could…tell him. What was he going to do now? Pass it up or hear what's he's been dying to hear since…he left.

"If you're interested, I'm willing to talk but," She winked at him. "I want you to tell me how Kiba feels about me, it's a fair exchange, think about it Naruto." Ino draped her bag of belongings over her shoulder leaving the tent.

"This is so confusing," Naruto screamed. What the hell is he supposed to do? It's a fair deal but, Naruto made a promise to Kiba. He told the Inuzuka that he wasn't going to tell Ino what he knew. Naruto knew everything Ino wanted to know. She knew everything he wanted to know. No, he wouldn't do it, it went against his ninja way, breaking a promise it's the same as breaking his word. It's settled, Naruto would find out by the letter nothing else would do.

"Naruto," Kiba cracked the tent. "We're leaving," He tossed Naruto his gear and clothes. Ino must have woken him up. He changed clothes together they put up camp and pressed on. "So ugh," Kiba took Naruto's hand. Akamaru began to walk beside them. "What did you and Ino talk about?"

"Nothing," He answered, Kiba growled getting frustrated. Right, the Inuzuka knew when he was lying. Still, "We just had some girl talk that's all," Naruto shrugged. Kiba let out a sigh. Akamaru tilted his head a bit confused.

"Girl talk," Kiba repeated, "Like what Naruto? You're a guy," Akamaru barked in agreement. "What do you know about girl stuff?" He argued, "I mean what? is Ino…, is she," He brought his lips to Naruto's ear. "Pregnant?" Naruto shook his head at him. "Good cause if she were, there's just no way I'm the dad. I wore condoms every time, just because my Ma wants me to have lots of babies doesn't mean I want to." He explained, Akamaru barked. "Yeah well it's not up to you either Akamaru," Akamaru whimpered in defeat.

"It's not that," Naruto replied petting Akamaru's head. "I'm pretty sure if Ino were having a baby. She defiantly wouldn't risk going on missions." He added, the ninja hound licked his cheeks sniffing his pocket. Naruto laughed so he noticed, he pulled out plastic ball. Naruto sometimes used it to practice his Rasengan trying to pop the white ball like he did before in Pervy sage's training. "Go get it Akamaru," Naruto tossed the ball, Akamaru bolted off to get the ball. "I wouldn't worry about that Kiba. Look, I can't tell you, it's a secret. Just trust me on this," Kiba groaned, Akamaru came back with the ball wanting Kiba to throw it.

"Whatever," Kiba threw the ball for Akamaru like before, he bolted off. "So ugh," He scratched his nose a bit nervous. "I didn't say anything weird to you this morning did I," Akamaru laid down chewing on the ball, Naruto knew that plastic white ball was going to be covered in drool now. Not like he cared, it was just a training tool. "I had this weird dream," They continued to follow behind the girls, Akamaru followed behind them chewing on the ball. "I just wanted," Naruto cut his words.

"No, you didn't say anything," Naruto lied, Kiba's feet stopped for a moment. "Look can you just let me have this one lie?" The Inuzuka bit his lip. A loud pop was heard. Akamaru jumped back thinking it was an enemy attack. The ninja hound barked at the flat ball, even growling at it. The noise must have startled him. "Come on do you really want to talk about it if you did say something to me?" Akamaru sat in front of Naruto begging, he wanted another plastic ball. Shamefully Naruto was all out of toys for the hound to play with.

"Yeah, whatever I said, just do me a favor. Forget it." Kiba blushed as he tossed Akamaru a piece of beef jerky as a reward for popping the ball. "It just came out," He scrubbed his hands in Akamaru's fur, petting him. "I mean you leaving didn't bother me at all. I was training the whole time, ask Hinata or Shino. They'll tell ya," Naruto smiled at Kiba, odd, Kiba somewhat recalled what he said. Does that mean that the Inuzuka is aware that Ino knows how he feels about Naruto? If he did well, it made sense. Naruto knew about Ino, it only made sense for her to know about him. That would explain why Kiba didn't want them to two talking to each other.

"Naruto," Kiba yelled baring his canines in anger. "Don't smile at me like that, I said to forget what I said, you leaving with that Pervy guy didn't bother me. " Naruto chuckled, sure it didn't, yeah right, look at him. Kiba's blushing so hard right now. His cheeks were starting to match the Inuzuka clan tattoos.

"Okay, I'll forget it but, you got to kiss me first," Naruto leaned over Kiba's shoulder as he pet Akamaru. "One kiss might be enough to erase what you said," Kiba stood as they walked together Kiba holding his hand. His touch so warm, then again that's Kiba for you. "I don't know though. Those words were pretty intense," Kiba turned his head trying to hide his blushing face. "It could take two kisses to forget. Hell, we might have to have sex later. In order for me to forget, it's was bad, really bad." Kiba jumped biting his nails having a nervous breakdown.

"Oh man," Kiba covered his cheeks, "What did I say?" Naruto pressed his lips on Kiba's. This kiss lasted only for a short while. Naruto half smiled at him, he enjoyed messing with his Inuzuka.

"Would you look at that I forgot," He teased patting Kiba on the head. "So I guess it doesn't matter now does it?" Kiba replied with a nod. "You know," Naruto rested his head on Kiba's shoulder as they walked. "It's not weak to admit that you need someone even a little. Even if you did want to me stay Kiba, it only means that," Kiba loves him. Naruto didn't say it knowing if he did. Kiba would get defensive these were words, he just wouldn't say.

"Say that I asked you not to go with the Pervy guy?" Kiba offered, "Would you have stayed or," His eyes drifted over to him. Naruto brought Kiba closer placing his arm on Kiba's broad shoulders. He brought his lips to Kiba's sensitive ear. This time, Naruto wanted to make sure Kiba could hear his heart beating, so he'd know that this wasn't a lie.

"If you wanted me to stay, I would have Kiba." He whispered under his breath. "If I had known that leaving was only going to hurt you. I don't think I would have left." Naruto answered, Kiba closed his eyes taking in truth of those words. "Also, you chose to let me go why? If you really wanted me to stay, why not just say so?" Naruto shrugged.

"You were better off with that Pervy guy," Kiba answered. "He was going to train you, make you strong. If, you really wanted to keep yer promise to Sakura. You had to go with him, it was yer best shot." In other words Kiba cared enough to let him go. "Not like it hurt for me to be," Naruto kissed his cheek, Kiba tried so hard to be strong without him. It meant a lot that his Inuzuka. He was willing to put Naruto first even if it meant that he was getting hurt in the process. "Let's just finish the mission." Kiba's cheeks reddened.

"Oh boys," Sakura waved at them, "Don't forget, tonight we finish our game." Naruto and Kiba smirked, right, the game they were playing before. If Naruto remembered correct, he and Kiba were shirtless and Sakura and Ino were too, two garments left. Should be interesting, especially since if the girls lost, they had to make out in front of Kiba and Naruto, no way they were going to lose.

"That reminds me," Ino added, "Naruto, you never answered the truth. That means your team needs to be penalized, I think to Kiba should pay the price, no pants. Is that fair?" Kiba growled, great the girls had a head start.

"Fine, have them," Kiba allowed, "I'll still beat you both. In my boxers," He sneered. "Right Naruto," He held his hand out, Naruto gave him a high five. "Get ready to pucker up and kiss my ass," He screamed. "Cause we're gunna win."

End Note: What's going to happen on this mission? Will it bring Kiba to his choice? Can Naruto and Ino find a solution to fix the mental block? Find out in the next chapter, which as I mentioned before, it's almost done so be ready for it. Feel free to leave a review or even share a few thoughts. –Kiba Blackfire