I don't own Naruto.
Across Time
Chapter 9
Partners
Inuzuka and Aburmane, you probably think about dogs and bugs respectively. The members of the clans love nature and more in tune with it than anyone else in Konoha. Tsume is the hot-headed Clan head of the Inuzuka and Shibi is the calm, cool-headed Clan head of the Aburmane. Would it be so weird if someone told you they're best friends?
While they were friends with the Yondaime's team, Fugaku's team, and the Ino-Shika-Chou team, they graduated the year after. Because of all the war and such, there was an uneven number of graduates. The Sandaime ordered that Tsume and Shibi be a two-man team under Branch member of the Hyuuga Clan, Keiichi.
They passed the test that Keiichi set for them and became one of the first two man teams in Konohagakure because usually three man teams were required. Shibi balanced out Tsume and Shibi learned to be more open. They were like brother and sister, thus when Tsume started to date who would be her future husband, Tsume did not tell Shibi until she knew that the relationship was getting serious.
Shibi was not happy.
"Four months you've been dating him," asked Shibi, with all the calm of an Aburmane.
"Well, that's what I said isn't," asked Tsume, annoyed.
"I shall meet him, yes," asked Shibi.
"Yes," said Tsume. "But don't you dare threaten him or release your bugs or anything like that!"
"Now, Tsume, what makes you think I'll do something like that," asked Shibi, a smirk hiding under his jacket. But you see Tsume knew him so well.
"STOP SMIRKING," yelled Tsume. Shibi scowled which was hidden too. "Kuromaru doesn't like him either." The said dog just growled. He knew how to talk but he did not want to talk about this now or ever. Shibi just stared at her.
"I promise not to threaten the boy," said Shibi. He kept his promise once he realized that the guy was good for Tsume and besides him or Kuromaru could keep up with Tsume's energy.
"Okaa-chan, I'm on Team 8 with Hyuuga Hinata and Aburmane Shino. Che, that guy is so annoying, said Kiba; on the day he met his team. Tsume smiled, somewhat. It looks like she was going to have to bug Shibi about this, when they saw each other next.
Not so surprisingly, Shibi and Tsume see each other practically everyday. Ever since Kyuubi's attack and Tsume's husband died Shibi always made it his business to make sure Tsume and the children were doing alright. Of course, he had to do this in between missions, clan work, and raising Shino. Tsume was more worried about Shibi losing his wife in Kyuubi's attack, than he was of her.
Shibi's a great ninja but he's not too good with children. Tsume could never forget the day she made him hold Hana as an infant. Shibi's face was priceless as he panicked.
"Shino's a good boy," said Shibi.
"So is Kiba," said Tsume, as they walked to go get separate missions from Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage.
"It should be interesting to hear what tales our sons tell," said Shibi, giving a brief chuckle.
"We both know that Kiba and Shino were placed on a team to protect Hyuuga Hinata-chan," said Tsume, snorting at the elder Hyuuga twin's horribleness to his oldest daughter. Shibi did not reply, ever Clan head knew that Hiashi basically disowned poor Hinata. He could never to that to Shino and Shibi does not see how Hiashi did that to Hinata. Things happen, Shibi remembered.
There were rumors amongst the village gossipers that Shibi and Tsume were more than friends. Such tales reached the ears of Kiba and Shino who were skeptical but still wanted to know why things like that were going around the village (especially when everyone had to worry about other more important things like Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and Sound perhaps?).
"Okaa-chan, you're not in a relationship with Shino's father are you," asked Kiba. Tsume stared at her son for a good ten minutes before breaking out into a hysterical laughter. Kiba watched as his mother laughed for about twenty minutes. Kuromaru was laughing too, in his dog way of course.
"Shibi and me, together," snorted Tsume. She laughed some more. "Dear Kami-sama, boy where did you get that from? Shibi and I were teammates and he's my best friend but that's it. Stop listening to rumors, it'll get you killed someday."
Similarly, Shino asked his father the basically same question. To Shino's utter surprise, his father, Aburmane Shibi started laughing hysterically. It reminded him of that stupid mission with Naruto to that insane family's place.
"Otou-sama, are you alright," asked Shino.
"Tsume was my genin teammate and she's like my little sister, son," said Shibi, chuckling. "I wouldn't listen to rumors in this town. You should have heard the one about…Nah; I'll tell you when you're older." Shino raised an eyebrow, but you couldn't actually tell.
"Otou-sama, you scare me sometimes," said Shino. Shibi laughed.
"Okaa-chan, you're insane," said Kiba. Tsume crackled as Hana walked in and slowly walked back outside, fearing that she passed some random portal that threw her into an alternate universe.
"I've got to be," said Tsume. She left to go tell Shibi what her little silly son just asked her. People always believed that Shibi and Tsume were more than just friends, well they are.
Inuzuka Tsume and Aburmane Shibi are partners, now and until death.