Warning(s): Same as before. And some bitchy Hana as well.

They had a group project to worry about. Even though Kiba was suspended, he still had to finish his school shit, no matter what. And one of the things he had been assigned before he'd gotten suspended for fighting with the son of a bitch that had everything in the world was a history group project.

Hinata's family didn't want the likes of her friends coming around their home, so they couldn't meet up there.

Shino's dad was never in the home, and he never wanted people around when he wasn't there. So it was obvious as to why they weren't able to go.

Kiba didn't have keys to his own house, so they couldn't go there either. Even though he didn't admit to it, this was because his mother actually believed that he would spend his whole day smoking weed if she allowed him to stay there. Which was the reason why he usually always found himself in either Hashirama or Tobirama's homes.

And Naruto lived with parents that were much too eager to invite their friends over, even though they didn't like having teenagers working in their home. They would rather have Naruto finish his group projects outside and pick him up later on.

"We should have asked Rock Lee to work with us, not this dumbass!" Naruto didn't know how to keep his mouth shut, but Kiba stopped himself from beating respect into the little shit out of respect for the only friend he had in the whole school.

Hinata Hyūga was the only person in the whole damn school that didn't judge Kiba for coming from a rough background. She tolerated his rough ways and even tried to encourage him to try and be nicer to other people without sounding like a condescending bitch. Which was pretty interesting, seeing how she came from the snootiest family to have ever lived in this small county.

"Well we didn't. We have Kiba. Now shut up." Shino hissed back at the idiotic blonde, which some may have seen as an act of friendship on his part.

But Kiba knew better. The Aburame spawn just wanted to shut Naruto up. He wanted them all to shut whenever they became annoying. Who it was did not matter. Just as long as they were not wasting oxygen, then Shino didn't give a damn about any of them. It was when they began to screech out irritating things that he decided to speak up and shut them up.

He'd even told Hinata at one point to think over what she was saying so she didn't stumble over her words like a child.

Bastard thought he could be a dick to everyone around him simply because he was one of the highest achieving students in the school... Well, Kiba didn't give a damn about him. He could jump off a cliff and die for all the Inuzuka cared. Just as long as he didn't bother him, then everything would be fine.

The Inuzuka frowned heavily as Naruto huffed in anger. He didn't like the blonde anymore that the blonde liked him. But they were stuck together for a project they needed to pass if they wanted at least a C in their History class. So they had to work together and work well.

The bell that rang whenever the door to the diner was opened let out a kind of annoying tune. Then Kiba heard heavy footsteps making their way towards their table. And when he glanced up from the booth where they sat, he found Tobirama heading towards them.

"Hey, Tobirama." He greeted, then asked, "What are you doing here? I thought I had told Hashirama I'd walk home after this meeting."

"It's already eight at night, Inuzuka. I'm not about to let you walk the thirty minutes it takes to get to your house from here." The older male snapped, red eyes focusing on the papers that were scattered all around their table.

Even though he didn't say anything about the work, Kiba knew he was somewhat curious. So he informed him, "Project on the Great Potato Famine. You know, when everyone died because there weren't any potatoes like a bunch of fucktards."

The man hummed with a stiff nod, then looked over the faces of Kiba's group mates. And when Kiba turned to all of them, he found Naruto and Hinata both staring up at him with wide, shocked eyes. Shino's face was always covered by an annoying hood and sunglasses, so Kiba wasn't really able to gauge his reaction.

"Hinata." He nodded at the girl, making her face light up like a christmas tree and just barely avoid a squeak, "I presume your father is doing fine?"

She nodded quickly but quietly, which wasn't much of a surprise. She wasn't the kind of chick to use many words. Although it was weird to hear that Tobirama knew her father.

"This doesn't seem like a good enough atmosphere to be working on your project." The man grunted, then motioned for them all to follow him. "I'll allow you to finish up your work in my house for now."

Kiba didn't argue with that, for he was already used to Tobirama ordering him around like some kind of child. Although from the way the other teens' movements seemed somewhat stunted, he guessed that they weren't used to being ordered around.

Lucky.

~/~

A month after the History project pairing, Kiba found himself working with Hinata once more. Not in the History class, but in the Literature one. And they were supposed to analyze a set of Pre-World War II era poems. Which was pretty fucking stupid considering that most of the poems were initially written in another language and had been (most probably) poorly translated into the English language.

This time around, though, Kiba was allowed to go to Hinata's home. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he guessed the reason for this pretty easily enough.

"Thank you for allowing the kids to work together, Hiashi! I have a lot of essays to correct and Tsunade needs to be picked up in two hours! I don't think I would have been able to watch over both of these kids if they stayed at my house."

Hashirama was smiling broadly as he thanked Hinata's father, who was merely nodding easily. "Of course, Hashirama. Do not worry about young Kiba's homework. It will be finished by the time you come to pick him up."

Kiba found it awfully hypocritical of this guy to accept him into his home now that he knew Hashirama and Tobirama Senju had taken him under his wing. And it was almost comically stupid of him to try and act as if he were a good friend of the eldest of the Senju siblings. The guy was a grade-A dick that needed to check himself before he made himself seem like even more of a social parasite.

"K-Kiba?" Hinata asked as she softly tugged at his jacket's sleeve, taking his attention away from both men so he could look at her. "We sh-should get to w-work."

"You really should. Kiba, if you don't mind, I'll be picking you up at around nine. Is that alright?"

Kiba didn't know why his chest began to flutter as if there were some butterflies trying to dance around inside of his ribcage. But it felt somewhat nice.

"Yeah. Course. Why wouldn't it be?"

Hashirama got a weird look on his face at that point. Somewhat exasperated, yet fond at the same time.

Kiba was used to staying up until early midnight on school days normally. And to staying outside of his home even longer. Being picked up at nine to return to Hashirama's house for a quick greeting to Tsunade before he went back to his house wasn't bad at all. Especially because it made him return to his house after his mother and sister had left for their respective jobs.

"I'll see you later, kid."

The long haired male then said his goodbyes to Hiashi as Hinata began to pull him towards the large family room inside of the almost mansion like house.

~/~

By the time winter time came around, Kiba found out that Hiashi was not, in fact, some social parasite. Instead, he had been a childhood friend of the Senju and had decided that if Kiba was good enough for them, then he could try and allow his daughter to spend some time with him.

"He's kind of like Tobirama in the sense that he's socially stunted." Hashirama explained to him as they sat on his couch, Tsunade nestled in between both of them with Akamaru's head on her lap as they watched a movie she had chosen.

Kiba wasn't completely sure of the plot. There was some loud blonde kid, ninjas and samurai, and some kind of chosen one storyline. He wasn't completely sure. Nor was he following it to closely, seeing how he was still finishing up projects some of his teachers had allowed him to raise his grades.

"He may seem like a jerk, but really, he just wants to protect his daughters. His wife died during childbirth to his youngest and they're his last reminders of her. You can understand him wanting to keep both Hinata and Hanabi safe."

Kiba could understand that. Hell, if he were in his shoes, he'd keep Hinata and Hanabi as far away as possible from himself. He knew he wasn't an upstanding citizen. And he wouldn't trust himself if he came anywhere the girls.

But he felt no shame in admitting that he had no feelings other than friendship for Hinata. So Hiashi certainly didn't have to leave Hanabi watching over them to make sure they didn't get up to 'teenage antics' if they were left alone. That wouldn't happen in a million years. Besides, he knew that Hinata's eyes were set on only one person. And it wasn't him.

"So you've known him for how long now?" He asked to continue the conversation, all the while he uncapped one of Tsunade's markers to fill in some of the letters on the poster he was using for his Biology project.

'The Hierarchy of Apes Explained'

He didn't really care all that much about primates. But out of the three topics his teacher had allowed, a sarcastic man they called Mr. Zero Shit's Given, this was the best. The other two were either about the reproductive rituals of four different species (which could be chosen) and the environmental impact of humanity and how the world was fucked no matter what people tried to fix.

"Well, I'm forty eight now... So it's been some thirty eight years, I think?" Hashirama hummed in thought, then craned his neck to look over at Kiba's work.

"Why aren't there any monkeys on there?"

"Because I'm talking about primates."

"Exactly. Why are there no long tails?"

Kiba smiled softly at the question, "Because those are monkeys. Not primates."

"I want a monkey!" Tsunade suddenly gasped, pointing at the television screen. "That one can talk and can fight! I want one!"

"Honey, there's no such thing as talking monkeys." Hashirama patted her head with a kind smile, "Kiba, explain to her why it is that monkeys can't talk. And why there aren't any on your project."

It was weird to have someone ask him to actually educate someone else. But Hashirama had made him do weirder, much more novel things in the few months they had known each other. So he didn't really mind telling Tsunade all he knew about monkeys and apes because, for once in his life, he actually felt like he knew the subject inside and out.

He'd never really cared so much about learning before. But now that he knew what it felt like to know, he kind of liked it a lot. He felt smart whenever he explained these kinds of things to either of them. Especially because both Hashirama and Tsunade seemed amazed by all of the knowledge he now held.

Sixteen years of his life had passed by without him knowing how good it felt to have people around him that actually cared for him. And now all he wanted was for Hashirama and Tsunade to always stay by his side.

Even though he knew that, eventually, they would both leave. He'd grow up. They'd grow old. He'd have to go to college and they'd forget all about him. It was just the way the world worked.

Although, he didn't feel like his destination was a grave anymore. Now he felt like he would actually be able to get a diploma in something that would help him get a nice and steady job.

Lawyer sounded pretty cool... Although college professors seemed to have much more flexible hours...

In the middle of his explanation to Tsunade's question; but why can't I adopt a gorilla and name him Charlie?; there was a knock on Hashirama's door. With a quick 'excuse me' the man stood up and went to the door, opening it without much hesitation.

"Okay... But can I adopt a gorilla and name him Bobby instead of Charlie?" Tsunade questioned curiously, making Kiba smile softly.

She was such a kid. It was adorable.

"Tsunade, you can't just take a gorilla out of its natural environment."

"Why? People do that all the time to put them in the zoo." The girl cocked her head to the side, "That's why I know that gorillas can be taken and named cool things like Rex or Munchy."

Kiba didn't hear when the door to Hashirama's home closed. But when he glanced up from Tsunade to look over at the hall that led into the receiving room, he found Hashirama walking back. With Hana standing behind him.

"So this is where you've been hiding this whole time?" The woman questioned, only to whistle as she looked over Hashirama's home. "Looks rich."

"Hana..." He warned, getting up to stop her from... Well, he wasn't sure. She wasn't the kind to start fights out of nowhere. She was the kind to bide her time and strike when one was most vulnerable. And she'd never been a fan of stealing from neighbors. But he still felt as if he had to protect Hashirama and Tsunade from his sister.

Wasn't that just fucked up?

"Mom wants you to go back home." Even though her tone was civil, her eyes were shining with a feral intent Kiba knew extremely well.

Taking in a deep breath, the teen reminded himself that there was no such thing as peace in his life. There was always drama and conflict. It was just the way the Inuzuka lived.

"Why? I'm finishing up school things." He tried to save himself from returning to his house, but Hana was nothing if not stubborn.

"As if you give a damn about 'school things'." She chuckled harshly, then glared at him. "Get your ass in motion before I tell your about the stash you keep hidden in the wall behind your Linkin Park poster."

Kiba's eyes widened at the threat, "But I don't have-"

"Think she'll believe it's not yours?" She smirked back, crossing her arms over her chest as she jutted her hip out in a pose Kiba knew all too well.

Her victory pose.

"Alright..." He breathed out, then looked at Hashirama.

The man's face was tight and there was a barely noticeable down turn to his lips. And Kiba immediately began to feel bad because he knew that he was the reason why the man wasn't smiling anymore. He most probably thought that stash was his... And he'd most probably never get to see Tsunade ever again after this.

"Bye, Tsunade." He ruffled her loose blonde hair and quickly picked up all of his materials, trying to rush out of the Senju household before Hashirama threw him out.

But as he was shoving his books into his bag, he found a soft, large, and kind hand falling on his shoulder. "Leave them. Just pick them up tomorrow."

He was surprised to hear Hashirama tell him this. But he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Quickly Kiba nodded. And then he rushed out of Hashirama's house, only stopping to make sure that Hana was right behind him.

~/~

When winter break hit, Kiba didn't rush home with his report card. Instead he ran all the way to Tobirama's house, knowing that the small family unit would be there for a family lunch. Usually they ate at Hashirama's home, but this time Tobirama had decided to make the food. And Kiba had been invited, but he'd thought of skipping out to sulk in his room over his bad grades.

Even though the school would let out early, he was sure he wouldn't have reason to head on back to the neighborhood that housed his home.

But he didn't get bad grades. And he had complete reason to show off his grades to the men that had made him getting good ones possible.

He knocked in a swift and quick manner, barely able to hold in his jitters as a large smile threatened to split his face. And when Tobirama opened the door, he couldn't help himself as he launched into the man and hugged him tightly.

"I got A's and B's!"

Tobirama remained frozen for a few seconds before he slowly began to hug him back. Then, with almost awkward motions, he pulled Kiba back to hold him by the shoulders and look him in the eyes.

"Did you just leave the school?"

"Yup!" Kiba nodded, then glanced over the man's shoulder to find Tsunade and Hashirama walking up from the inner working of the house. "Guys! I got my grades!"

Tobirama stepped to the side to allow him to run in. So Kiba rushed in scooped Tsunade up and hugged her tightly, beginning to twirl her. The girl squealed and giggled in glee, hugging Kiba around the neck so tightly she almost choked him.

Kid had quite the grip.

"I got good grades! I got awesome grades!" He cheered, then stopped spinning to face a fondly smiling Hashirama. "A's and B's! Just like you said I'd be able to get!"

Kiba had never had reason to celebrate over his grades. He'd never had reason to rush to anyone and tell them what his markings had been after a school semester. And he'd certainly never had a reason to like school so much.

But for the first time in his life, Kiba went into winter vacation without needing to get reprimanded for sub-par performance in school. And for the first time, he had someone that would be proud of him for actually trying.

"I told you it was possible if you worked for it, Kiba." Hashirama stepped up to ruffle his hair, then turned to smile at his brother. "What do you think, Tobirama? Do you think we should head out and buy some celebratory cake after your wonderful dinner?"

"Cake?!" Kiba and Tsunade gasped at the same time, then turned to look at each other. Only to break out in twin smiles of glee. "Frozen cookie dough cake!"

Hashirama belted out an amused and boisterous laugh at the excitement clear on both their faces then clapped his large hand over Kiba's shoulder. "We'll get the cookie dough cake after dinner then!"

Kiba was caught off guard by the sudden warmth that he felt coming from the large man. It was as if there was a fire within him, one that chased away the winter cold that had seeped into his bone from the run from the school to the house.

But Tobirama was soon closing the door and walking towards the dining room table, effectively bringing Kiba out of his surprised and warm trance. "Well then, if you two want that cake, we should hurry up and eat. I can't stay outside of the office the whole day."

"But you have to, Uncle Tobirama!" Tsunade chirped, "We've got to celebrate the whole day!"

The white haired man shook his head at the girl's words, then motioned for them to follow him into the dining room. "How about we eat first? We can discuss what is to be done when we go to get the cake."

There it was again. That odd fluttering feeling that came whenever these three decided to act like a family.

It was a good feeling. Kiba wished he never forgot what it felt like.

..~..~..

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