Chapter 13

A/N: Hey guys! Trying to update as fast as possible! Thanks to everyone who faved, followed and reviewed! Hoping for an extra-long chapter with this one.

Guest: Awwh thank you! I'm using this as motivation!

SuomiTytt: I'd be lying if I said I didn't put in that snippet of Toshiro just for you ;) Glad you like Naruto's relatives, I was wondering how that would go over!

Kiba laid on his bed miserably staring up at the ceiling. His companion, Akamaru watched him sadly from the floor, disheartened by the atmosphere his friend brought.

Kiba couldn't even begin to fathom why he kissed her. It seemed so easy at the time, she was right there, more specifically, her lips were right there. He supposed her smell had something to do with it, despite having those strong hospital smells he didn't like on her coat, underneath it all she smelled quite pleasant and flowery. Her eyes possibly played a factor. They shined with understanding and empathy. He needed that at the time. Then maybe again it was the atmosphere, filled with tension after that awkward spat they had had earlier in the day. He honestly couldn't even think where to start to figure out the situation.

After it had happened he just ran out of there as fast as he could. He got weird stares from that creepy nurse Ami, but he pushed himself to rush out of the hospital as fast as possible. He even bumped into Karin holding a stack full of papers. He remembered her confused face as he was conflicted over whether he should stop, before he grudgingly did so, and scooped up her papers for her without another word.

He felt bad for being such an asshole, but he remembered the panicky adrenaline feeling that pushed him to hop rooftop after rooftop until he reached his clan compound. He even barged into his home before he could give himself a moment to finally breathe. His sister Hana, sitting at the kitchen table didn't seem alarmed, but her fiancé, not used to Kiba's antics was. After an odd look at the boy, he resumed planning their wedding with her.

Kiba had trudged up the stairs, sat on his bed freaking out, and had for the most part remained there for the past day and a half. 'Boy', he thought, 'I've done it now.'

Hana poked her head in. "Kiba, you've been in here for days. I'm making you go actually do something."

Kiba stared at her for a moment before getting up resignedly. There was no arguing with her. Hana sighed. "Look Kiba, I don't know what's going on, but whoever it is- go talk to them." She then walked out, and Kiba took a minute before finally emerging from his room, Akamaru at his heels.

Just like before, Kiba trudged to the hospital, dreading talking to Ino. Akamaru sat down outside the entrance with an earnest face, letting Kiba know he would be waiting. The Inuzuka scratched his war reassuringly, and steeled himself to go find Ino.

After entering, he didn't have to look very far, as Ino was filling out a clipboard at the nurses station. Tension built within him as he approached her, and softly tapped her arm. Ino turned and had to stifle a gasp when she saw him.

"Can we talk?" he asked her, his voice softer than he expected. She nodded slowly, speechless. She guided him a little up the hallway, away from the ears of gossipy nurses. "Listen Ino," he began "I'm really sorry for yesterday, I don't know what happened and I keep having to apologize and I feel bad and yeah."

Ino was quite for a moment, and opened her mouth to say something, before an alarm rang out in the hallway. "Yamanaka, we need you!" a doctor running along a stretcher called to her. She nodded and turned to Kiba sadly, "Look I have to go, but we'll finish this another time, ok?"

With that, she ran to join the doctor for their patient in critical condition. Kiba stared at the spectacle with frustration, slamming his fist on the wall in anger, leaving a dent.

Naruto sat happily at the breakfast table in the inn at which he and his team was staying at downing food at an incredible speed. Neji simply looked at him.

"What's gotten into you, Naruto? You disappeared for hours yesterday and now you look really happy."

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Yesterday, I went to see that Leader lady and she introduced me to some family I have that live here. I had dinner at their house last night, and I got to hear more about my Dad from my Aunt. Apparently I had grandparents too, but they died."

Neji softened slightly. "That's nice, it must be wonderful to be able to connect with family." Naruto smiled sadly. "My whole life I hadn't had any, y'know. It's nice though, we have a lot in common."

"I'm glad for you," Neji said, before looking up at Shikamaru who had approached the table.

"Finally awake, Shikamaru?" Naruto teased. The Nara scowled, and stated matter-of-factly, "Tsunade sent a response to Ryugakure."

"What does it say?" Neji asked.

Shikamaru pulled out a folded piece of paper and looked at it. "It says that Konoha has agreed to the alliance, and will be sending some medics to assist in training and a few more ninja. Trading contracts will be handled by the business sector soon. The treaty is included and signed by Tsunade."

"So we're going to train their ninja?" asked Neji, wondering what their job would be now that the treaty was signed.

"She said in the letter to wait for further instruction when the group arrives from Konoha. It papers she has yet to decide what to do with us." stated Shikamaru.

Naruto frowned. He had just found his family, and wasn't quite ready to leave Ryu yet. He rather liked the village as well, even if the ramen wasn't as good. He decided to speak up. "Have you brought this to the council yet?"

Shikamaru shook his head, "I was waiting for you guys to finish breakfast. However, since you're done, we can leave now."

And with that, the three Konoha ninja left.

Tsunade sat looking into her sake pondering who she could send out to Ryugakure. It would likely be a long-term mission, and some people were needed.

Naruto, Neji and Shikamaru were already there. Sai and Karin can't leave. Hinata was now more high profile than before. She wasn't left with many candidates.

Sighing, she down her little glass of sake and rose up from her desk, heading towards Shizune's with a slip of paper. "These are who I am sending to Ryu. Please gather them immediately."

With that, Tsunade went to do some paperwork.

Kiba whistled on his way down the hallway, towards the Hokage's office. He was happy to have an escape from his problems with Ino. He was going to a village quite far away and once he was back hopefully this whole thing would have blown over, and everything would be back to status quo.

He hoped anyway.

Shizune gave him a smile and pointed towards the Hokage's door. He couldn't believe his luck at this mission's timing, practically shouting out in happiness when he got news of it.

He opened up the door, and saw his teammates. 'Kakashi, that's cool' he thought, 'and oh look Sakura, and oh no...' His heart sank when he saw Ino standing next to Sakura. There could be no avoiding her now, not on the long journey it would take to get there with just the four of them.

"You four will be going to Ryugakure to help in training their ninja and medics. I can't say how long it will take, only that it will be lengthy and it will depend on how fast their training progresses. It's important to keep in mind that their ninja are competent and able, but don't have very many therefore we are assisting them. Go pack, you leave tomorrow morning." Tsunade said.

Kiba turned and left the office as soon as possible, not noticing Ino doing the same in the opposite direction.

A/N: Ok! Done with my second chapter in two days! I wrote like a fiend this morning because I wanted to pay you guys back for all those months you waited on the story! Next will be soon, hopefully by Monday I guesstimate?

Please leave a comment, concern, question or suggestion in a review! They inspire me to write much faster!

Love love love,

MyHikari